Throughout the 2012 season, the Bengals have worked in partnership with two organizations – The Lumina Foundation for Education and CollegeAdvantage -- to promote awareness of the importance of higher education.
As part of that effort, the Bengals join them in announcing plans to assist two programs:
» Goal 2025, the Lumina Foundation signature initiative, which aims to increase the field of Americans with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025.
» CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plans, which assist students and their families in preparing financially to pursue higher education.
The Bengals are making awareness-raising offers to the community involving merchandise, autographs and a scholarship, and a visit to a selected school will be made by wide receiver Andrew Hawkins.
Information on how to win these offers can be found by clicking here.
Additionally, all college graduates on the Bengals roster are featured on a souvenir photo that is being distributed to schools (pictured above). The colorful photo shows each player wearing a T-shirt from his college.
"Lumina Foundation thanks the Bengals for their role in reaching Goal 2025," said Juan Kiko Suarez, Lumina's vice president of external affairs. "Professional athletes are important role models, and the Bengals' decision to champion college education can have a great impact on the lives of students across the nation."
Paul Paeglis, executive director of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, said:
"CollegeAdvantage is excited to partner with the Bengals and the Lumina Foundation on Goal 2025. We're proud to team up with some highly recognized athletes who have earned college degrees themselves. These players know first-hand the importance of a college education and want to help other families to prepare financially for their children's future education."
About the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority
The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority is a state agency within the office of the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents and was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1989. The Tuition Trust offers the CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan to provide families with a tax-advantaged way to save for college. The CollegeAdvantage program has over $7 billion in total assets as of September 30, 2012.
