Pontiac School District Announces $50,000 Grant From General Electric

    PONTIAC, Mich., Jan. 29 The Pontiac School District said
today that the GE Fund, General Electric's philanthropic foundation, has
awarded a $50,000 grant to the district's Jefferson-Whittier Middle School as
part of GE's College Bound Program.
    "We are very grateful to the GE Fund for this grant and for its support of
Jefferson-Whittier Middle School," said Arlee Ewing-Jefferson, Principal.
"The funds will be invaluable as we work to meet the needs of our students."
    GE's College Bound Program is a 15-year, $30 million initiative to
increase college matriculation from selected high schools in GE communities
around the country.
    The program supports a combination of strategic planning, professional
development, curriculum enhancement, student enrichment activities, and GE
employee and retiree volunteer participation in the schools.
    Independent evaluations in 1994 and 1999 confirmed significant and lasting
results from the GE College Bound program.  U.S. Secretary of Education
Richard Riley referred to the success of the GE program in his 2000 State of
American Education address.
    Murray Jones, Executive Director of GE Automotive said, "Finding ways to
allow every student to reach his or her full potential is critical to the
success of our businesses and society in general.  College Bound is a proven
model for strengthening schools and releasing the power of our young people to
lead us into the future."
    The grant to Jefferson-Whittier will help finance a five-part program:
science/math; sports; reading; culture/arts; and physical improvements in the
school.
    On February 2, 70 GE volunteers also known as "Elfuns," including GE
senior executives will descend upon Jefferson-Whittier to paint and repair
certain areas of the building.
    The GE Fund invests in improving educational quality and access and
strengthening community organizations in GE communities around the world.  All
told, GE, the GE Fund and GE employees and retirees contributed more than $90
million to community and educational institutions in 1999.
    More information on the fund can be found on the Internet at
http://www.ge.com/community/fund.htm