FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2006
Media Contact: Michael Corby
904.632.3310

Prosperity Scholarship Fund recipients will share $100,000; reception to honor awardees and Founding Donors scheduled for October 11

The Governing Council of the innovative Prosperity Scholarship Fund has reviewed scholarship applications and will confirm the approximately 100 inaugural scholarship recipients in September. They will be honored in a reception tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, along with the founding donors. Winners will share $100,000 in scholarship funds, given by the donors for the purpose of providing a means for financially challenged students to obtain the higher education necessary to enter high-wage careers—keys to economic development, prosperity and quality of life.

A total of 125 applicants met all of the eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants for Prosperity Scholarship Funds include graduates of Duval County high schools and customers of JEA. Winners will be selected based on financial need. Scholarships may be used at University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Edward Waters College or Florida Community College. Students selected to receive the Prosperity Scholarships will be awarded $1,000 annually for full-time attendance or $500 annually for part-time attendance (of at least six credit hours).

All who live in the JEA service area are able to contribute to the fund monthly through their JEA utilities payment. JEA will then transfer the funds to the Florida Community College Foundation, which is acting as the management agent for the Prosperity Scholarship Fund. One hundred percent of the contributions go to a permanent endowment. Investment proceeds from the endowment will fund the scholarships.

For information on contributing to the fund call the Florida Community College Foundation at 904.632.3239 or visit www.jaxscholarship.org.

Prosperity Scholarship Fund Governing Council
Ex Officio Member	Incumbent
Mayor of Jacksonville (or designee)	John Peyton
President, Jacksonville City Council (or designee)	Kevin Hyde
CEO of JEA	James Dickenson
Chair, Duval County School Board	Brenda Priestly Jackson
President, Florida Community College Foundation Board	Charles “Bucky” Clarkson
President, University of North Florida	John Delaney
President, Jacksonville University	Kerry Romesburg
President, Florida Community College	Steven Wallace
President, Edward Waters College	Oswald Bronson
Chair, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce	Ed Burr
President, Urban League of Jacksonville	Richard Danford
Chair, Early Learning Partnership Council	Jim Van Vleck
Chair, Alliance for World Class Education	Lynn Pappas
Executive Director, Florida Community College Foundation	Susan Chappell
Chair, Duval Legislative Delegation (or designee)	Tony Hill
President, Communities in Schools	Jon Heymann

Founding Donors

Founding donors are corporations and institutions providing the seed money necessary to begin offering Prosperity Scholarships for Fall 2006.

• Alliance for World-Class Education
• Bank of America
• BellSouth
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• The Honorable Kevin Hyde, City Councilman
• The Clarkson Company
• Communities in Schools
• Florida Community College Foundation
• JEA
• Jacksonville University
• LandMar
• University of North Florida
• Wachovia Bank