AXA Foundation Provides $670,000 in Annual Scholarships in Association with U.S. News & World Report

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report and the AXA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AXA, announce the offering of the AXA Achievement(SM) Scholarship, awarding $670,000 in annual scholarships to students nationwide for the 13^th consecutive year.

Through AXA Achievement(SM), AXA awards more than $1.4 million to students each year, making it one of the nation's largest corporate providers of scholarships. Since the program's inception in 2003, AXA has awarded $24 million to more than 5,600 students across the country.

Applications are available now at www.axa-achievement.com, and the deadline for submission is December 15, 2014. Additional details of the AXA Achievement(SM) program are featured in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges 2015" guidebook, available at the U.S. News Store and on newsstands Sept. 23, 2014.

"As college costs keep rising, scholarship assistance is invaluable for students and their families," said Kerry Dyer, publisher of U.S. News. "U.S. News is proud to partner with AXA Achievement(SM) in support of students and their dreams to attend college."

Under the AXA Achievement(SM) Scholarship program, 52 students – one from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico – are awarded scholarships of $10,000. Of those students, 10 are selected as national winners and receive an additional $15,000 scholarship award. This brings the top AXA Achievers total scholarship awards to $25,000 each.

"AXA Achievement(SM) helps students take the next step toward college," said Faith Frank, president of the AXA Foundation.  "That's a natural fit for AXA, a company whose purpose is to help provide financial security." 

Qualified candidates will have ambition and drive; determination to set and reach goals, and the ability to succeed in college. The scholarship is administered by Scholarship Management Services™, a program of Scholarship America(SM), one of the nation's largest nonprofit private sector scholarship and educational support organizations.

The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, which groups schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

About AXA Foundation

The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of "AXA," which is the brand name of AXA Equitable financial Services, LLC, and its family of companies, including AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY), MONY Life Insurance Company of America (AZ stock company, administrative office: NY,NY), AXA Advisors, LLC and AXA distributors, LLC.  In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation's premier providers of life insurance, annuity, and financial products and services.  AXA Group refers to AXA S.A., a French holding company for a group of international insurance and financial services companies, including AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC. The Foundation directs the company's philanthropic and volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life in communities across the country where AXA has a presence. The AXA Foundation's multifaceted signature program, AXA Achievement(SM), supports the company's strong commitment to Corporate Responsibility and AXA Group's flagship theme of "Risk Research and Education," by providing America's youth with the access and advice to help them succeed in college and beyond. For more information, visit www.axa-achievement.com or AXA's Facebook page.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a multimedia publisher of news, consumer advice, rankings and analysis. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, usnews.com has earned a reputation as the leading provider of consumer advice and analysis that helps its readers make informed life decisions. U.S. News & World Report's signature franchise includes its "Best" series of consumer advice guides and publications that include rankings of colleges, hospitals, mutual funds, cars and more.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report