Comcast and NBCUniversal Donate Over $5 Million in Advertising in Partnership with American Indian College Fund to Raise Awareness about Higher Education Needs in Native American Communities

DENVER, Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund), a national Native education non-profit, today announced that Comcast and NBCUniversal is partnering with them to further the cause of Native American higher education with a donation of $5 million of advertising for its 2015 public service announcement (PSA) on its cable system and an additional gift of $500,000 of in-kind services and cash. The support will help the College Fund launch its 25^th anniversary goals to increase Native American scholarship support and financial assistance for the nation's tribal colleges and universities to increase the number of Native Americans with a higher education.

Comcast and NBCUniversal's commitment follows its 2013 donation of more than $6.35 million in television advertising time for the College Fund's 30-second Help A Student Help A Tribe (www.tribalcollege.org) PSA. Comcast and NBCUniversal played the advertisement over several weeks in nine major metropolitan markets at prime viewing times, resulting in increased public awareness about the need to support Native higher education. Internationally renowned advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy and award-winning director Joe Pytka donated their talents to collaborate on the production of the  PSA, which depicts the impact one person has on their Native American community after earning a higher education.  

"We are delighted to support the American Indian College Fund's mission to provide Native American students with access to affordable, high quality education, and congratulate them on 25 years of making a meaningful difference in the lives of Native American youth," said Charisse R. Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment for Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast Foundation. "As we prepare to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we are proud to support the next generation of Native American leaders who strive to continue their education through tribal colleges and universities."

Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund said, "As indigenous people, we honor storytelling as a means of sharing our values and our way of life. The American Indian College Fund's partnership with Comcast and NBCUniversal allows us to bring our story to a broader audience.  The engagement of all Americans in the education of tribal people is strengthened when they hear our story.  We appreciate that Comcast and NBCUniversal have allowed us to use their technology to share who we are with the rest of the country.  They are part of the movement to improve American Indian higher education and we are proud of our partnership with them."

About the American Indian College Fund
Founded in 1989, the American Indian College Fund has been the nation's largest provider of support for Native higher education for 25 years. The College Fund provides an average of 6,000 scholarships annually and support for the nation's 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities located on or near Indian reservations. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. For more information, please visit www.collegefund.org.

SOURCE American Indian College Fund

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http://www.collegefund.org/