FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2012

Contacts: Judy Iannaccone, Director, Communications, Phone: (714) 480-7503

SAC Foundation Receives $25,000 Gift from Edison International

Donation to Support Santa Ana ¡Adelante! Program

(Santa Ana)—The Santa Ana College (SAC) Foundation has received a $25,000 donation from Edison International. This charitable gift will support all aspects of the Santa Ana ¡Adelante! program, including peer mentoring, and scholarships.

The Santa Ana ¡Adelante! program guarantees that all Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) students who graduate from high school, enroll at SAC, and complete all academic requirements and application paperwork will be admitted as transfer students to California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) or to University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine.) Santa Ana ¡Adelante! begins with all SAUSD sixth graders and their parents signing a college-going pledge and completing a related curriculum. The college-going pathway is strengthened as students enter high school, renew their educational plans, and apply for college admission.

“We are thrilled about this partnership with Edison International,” said Kristin Crellin, Executive Director, School and Community Relations at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Executive Director, School and Community Relations at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Unionexecutive director, school and community relations at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and SAC Foundation board president. “Edison International’s generous support of Santa Ana ¡Adelante! speaks to the promise and potential of this very important program. The future of our community depends on ensuring access to higher education for all.”

To help boost the success of students in Santa Ana, program strategies include:

· All SAUSD seniors will receive help in completing SAC admissions and financial aid/scholarship applications;
· All SAUSD seniors will receive priority registration at SAC and will be fully matriculated before high school graduation;
· All students will have access to specialized transfer planning and transfer application workshops, individualized case management, and peer mentoring;
· Guaranteed funding assistance to all students with unmet need who complete financial aid applications; and
· Bridging activities once SAC students transfer to universities, including direct linkages for academic and financial support.

“Edison International is proud to be a part of the Adelante Program. We believe investments in education translate to strong, sustainable, and vibrant communities and have always enjoyed a great partnership with Santa Ana College,” said Eddie Marquez, regional manager, Edison International.
Partners in the Santa Ana ¡Adelante! program include SAC, SAUSD, CSUF, UC Irvine, University of Southern California Center for Urban Education, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the White House Office on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, Padres Promotores de Educación, MANA de Orange County, the League of United Latin American Citizens, KidWorks, National Hispanic Business Women Association, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, City of Santa Ana, Comunidad Latina Federal Credit Union, SAC Foundation, Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, Miniondas, La Rockola 96.7 FM, Union Bank, and the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
For more information about the Santa Ana ¡Adelante! program or the SAC Foundation, please contact (714) 564-6091 or visit www.sac.edu/foundation.
About Santa Ana College

Santa Ana College (SAC), which will turn 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 13,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Visit http://www.sac.edu to learn more.

About Edison International

Edison International, through its subsidiaries, is a generator and distributor of electric power and an investor in infrastructure and energy assets, including renewable energy. Headquartered in Rosemead, Calif., Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, and Edison Mission Group, a competitive power generation business.

# # #