WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Aug. 29, 2007—Sallie Mae employees ran, walked, and biked to fight cancer through the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LiveStrong Challenge in Philadelphia on Aug. 26. The team of 127 employees, family members, and friends raised approximately $100,000 to support cancer research and programs for cancer survivors, including $25,000 in matching gifts from The Sallie Mae Fund.

The team’s participation more than doubled from 62 team members last year and, for the second year in a row, won Sallie Mae the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Messenger Award for largest team.

“All of us have been affected by this disease, and this was our opportunity to give in memory of the special people we have lost and to stand with those battling cancer now,” said Tom Adams, vice president for operations for Sallie Mae’s Loan Servicing Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and honorary captain of Sallie Mae’s LiveStrong Philadelphia team. Adams walked in memory of his father and with two friends who are cancer survivors.

“Thank you to our strong contingent from the Pennsylvania center, and our team members who came from 10 other states and the District of Columbia,” said Katie Schofield, a Reston, Va., employee and 25-year cancer survivor who serves as Sallie Mae’s national team captain. “We look forward to continuing our commitment to this cause at LiveStrong Challenges in Portland and Austin later this fall.” Sallie Mae employees have supported the Lance Armstrong Foundation since 2001.

The LiveStrong Challenge is the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s annual series of events in cities across the country, enabling anyone to support the LAF’s mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer.

Sallie Mae’s opened its Wilkes-Barre, Pa. loan servicing center in 1987. Today, it is the largest operation of its kind in Luzerne County, employing 800 Pennsylvanians and serving 10 million customers.

For more information contact:
Patricia Nash Christel (703) 984-5382