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RANCHO CORDOVA, CA— EDFUND, the nation's second largest provider of loan guarantee services under the Federal Family Education Loan Program, recently hosted representatives from 30 colleges and universities from throughout the U.S. in a symposium focused on innovative default prevention strategies. The two-day event offered participating schools an opportunity to share their accomplishments as recipients of borrower education grants under EDFUND's EDSHARE^® program.

EDSHARE^® is a three-year, $12 million competitive grant program offering colleges up to $40,000 per year – renewable for up to three years -- to develop borrower education, debt management and default prevention programs. In the past two years, EDFUND grants have funded programs at individual and multi-campus schools, as well as multiple-school consortia.

Held in San Diego last week, the symposium spotlighted the unique tools created by financial aid offices to build students' financial literacy and reduce student loan defaults. Through featured presentations and roundtable discussions, attendees demonstrated their programs, displayed materials and shared their success stories.

“EDSHARE^® allows us to help schools get some of their best ideas for new programs off the ground, and that's ultimately a huge benefit to students,” said EDFUND President Becky Stilling. “By offering the grantees a forum for showcasing their ideas, we ensure even wider dissemination of some extraordinary and effective techniques for educating students and lowering default rates.”

Examples of school projects featured at the symposium include a financial awareness game show; interactive videos and Web sites; peer counseling and community outreach; and financial management CDs and workshops.

In 2004, EDFUND will look not only to award additional funds to continue existing programs, but also to support new ones. EDSHARE^® is available to any institution or branch campus for which at least 30 loans were guaranteed through EDFUND in the prior fiscal year. Application materials are available at www.edfund.org/edshare . The deadline for postmarked applications is April 9, 2004.

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EDFUND, a nonprofit public benefit corporation, is the nation’s second largest provider of student loan guarantee services under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. EDFUND offers students a wide range of financial aid and debt management information while supporting schools with advanced loan processing solutions and default prevention techniques. Operating as an auxiliary corporation of the California Student Aid Commission, EDFUND processes more than $5.5 billion in student loans annually (including consolidation loans) and manages a portfolio of outstanding loans valued at $21 billion. EDFUND is headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California with regional offices located throughout the nation.

EDFUND, its associated graphic and EDSHARE are the registered trademark of EDFUND.

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