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Montana College Program that Aids Soldiers’ Families Featured on ‘NBC Nightly News’

A nonprofit organization that offers full college scholarships and
outreach services to children of Montana soldiers killed in Iraq and
Afghanistan will be featured in the coming days, as a "Making a
Difference" segment on "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/

David Bell, an insurance executive and 1996 University of Montana
graduate, and John McCarrick, a New York attorney, founded Grateful
Nation http://www.gratefulnationmontana.com in 2007 as a way to give back to fallen soldiers and their
families. Their pilot program was created in Montana with the goal of
eventual implementation in all 50 states.

The NBC news segment will feature interviews with several widows and
children of Montana soldiers recently killed, as well as a teenage
recipient of a Grateful Nation scholarship who already is enrolled in
the program.

The new program, which can be used to attend any school in the Montana
University System, is administered at UM by Teresa Branch, vice
president for Student Affairs. Program funds are managed by the UM
Foundation.

UM President George Dennison said, "Grateful Nation offers an important
service for the children of Americans who have made the greatest
sacrifice for their country. We view it as a privilege for the
University to participate in this effort. I can think of nothing more
appropriate than a guarantee of education for the children of fallen
heroes."

Bell said Montana has lost more soldiers per capita than any other
state. Only about 10 percent of U.S. soldiers currently deployed in Iraq
and Afghanistan have a bachelor’s degree, and only 4 percent of all
enlisted soldiers have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Children
whose parents attended college are more likely to pursue higher
education.

"The low college attendance by our infantry troops, who are the most
likely to be killed in the line of duty, and the reality of a single
parent left to deal with the financial and socioeconomic issues of
raising a child alone, create a bitter irony," Bell said. "When an
American soldier pays the ultimate price for our country, the soldier’s
children are effectively sentenced to a life without the education and
tools needed to help them realize the American dream."

He said Grateful Nation is changing this with a unique program that
fosters a lifelong connection between universities and the surviving
families of America’s fallen heroes. When a Montana soldier is killed,
the Montana University System facilitates a connection between the
surviving parent and one of the state universities.

Children under age 12 and their parents are brought to campuses several
times a year for events to help them become part of the academic and
social community. The university system contacts teachers of elementary
school children with news of the scholarships, then monitors the
students’ academic and social progress.

Bell said when children reach middle school, they are assigned an
academic student tutor and a faculty mentor from the university. These
members of the university community tutor and counsel enrolled students
through high school, preparing them both academically and emotionally
and giving them the resources, support and academic assistance they need
to meet the challenges of a successful college experience.

Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Sen. John McCain, joined the Grateful
Nation board of directors last year after learning of the nonprofit,
which is neither political nor partisan. The organization has received
enthusiastic support from politicians and leaders of all parties,
including Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Jon Tester and Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

"We greatly appreciate the opportunities being created by Grateful
Nation Montana," Schweitzer said. "This innovative scholarship and
outreach program is a first-of-its-kind for children of Montana soldiers
who have paid the ultimate price. These children will now have access to
the financial resources and help with the academic requirements and
mindset to attend college in Montana."

Grateful Nation now is conducting a fundraising campaign to underwrite
current and future scholarships. A full description of Grateful Nation
Montana’s mission and activities can be found on the organization’s Web
site at http://www.gratefulnationmontana.com

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