National Guard Youth Foundation Teams Up With Wal-Mart to Promote Vocational Education

    ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Guard
 Youth Foundation (NGYF), a certified 501(c)(3) charitable organization that
 supports the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, is honored to announce
 that vocational scholarships have been awarded to sixty-six(66) students
 across the country. The scholarships, made possible through a grant from
 the Wal-Mart Foundation, will allow deserving youth to continue their
 education at various vocational programs nationwide.
 
     The recipients of the scholarships are graduating cadets of the
 National Guard Youth Challenge Program (NGYCP) from 33 programs in 27
 states plus Puerto Rico. An additional sixty-six(66) scholarships will be
 awarded in December. The Wal-Mart Foundation contributed a total of
 $250,000 to the NGYF in support of continuing vocational education for 132
 NGYCP participants.
 
     "We are honored to have the support of the Wal-Mart Foundation," said
 Lt. Gen. (Ret) John B. Conaway (USAF), Chairman of the National Guard Youth
 Foundation. "Wal-Mart's support will allow 132 National Guard Youth
 Challenge program graduates to continue their education at vocational
 institutions across the country."
 
     "The National Guard Youth Challenge Program has given many of America's
 youth a second chance," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart
 Foundation. "Wal-Mart is honored to do our part to help these students gain
 the necessary job skills and technical training to enter the 21st century
 workforce."
 
     The National Guard Youth Challenge Program is a 17-month, co-ed program
 for 16- to 18-year-old high school dropouts that offers them the
 opportunity to enhance their life skills, earn their GED, pursue higher
 education, improve their employment potential and broaden their chances at
 success. Since being founded in 1993, the Youth Challenge has grown to 33
 programs in 27 states and Puerto Rico and has graduated over 81,100 former
 high school dropouts. For more information about the National Guard Youth
 Challenge Program, go to www.ngycp.org.
 
     About the Wal-Mart Foundation
 
     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:   WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud
 to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and
 associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs
 and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on
 enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability
 and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave
 $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit
 www.walmartfoundation.org.
 
     About the National Guard Youth Foundation
 
     The National Guard Youth Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3)
 organization formed to support the work of the National Guard Youth
 ChalleNGe Program through public awareness, scholarships, higher education
 assistance, mentoring and job development programs for graduates. The
 Foundation works to expand the number of states and sites per state to
 accommodate growing demand for the program. The Honorary Board of Directors
 is co-chaired by Former President George H. W. Bush and Senator Mary L.
 Landrieu (D-La). For more information about the National Guard Youth
 Foundation, please visit www.ngyouthfoundation.org.
 
 
 

SOURCE National Guard Youth Foundation