The Scioto Foundation announces that the Trust Company of Sterne Agee has made a gift of $5,000 in support of the Scioto Foundation’s ongoing UCAN (University/College Access Network) Endowment Campaign. Sterne Agee of Birmingham, Alabama is one of the Foundation’s current investment managers.

“Sterne Agee is proud to support the UCAN Endowment, a campaign that funds college scholarships for local residents,” said Kay Donnellan, Director of Personal Trust. “The Scioto Foundation has identified a key component that will improve the regional standard of living with the offering of this educational opportunity.”

“The UCAN program is a big step toward bringing about a positive change,” Donnellan continued. “A good education can be a springboard for the future, proving self-sustaining citizens with diverse talents and leadership skills. We applaud the manner in which the program has been introduced and implemented."

“The Scioto Foundation Board of Governors and staff are thrilled that Sterne Agee sees the importance of UCAN to our community and has chosen to give the Scioto Foundation this wonderful gift,” said Kim Cutlip, Scioto Foundation executive director.

Established in 1901 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Sterne Agee is one of the oldest and largest privately owned investment banking firms in the country with nearly 1,200 employees in 50 offices in 22 states. Sterne Agee is the trade name used by all affiliates of Sterne Agee Group, Inc., including Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc., member of NYSE, FINRA, and SIPC. The Trust Company of Sterne Agee has created a niche serving endowments and the nonprofit community with its cutting edge technology, sub-accounting capabilities and broad investment choices.

Sterne Agee’s donation will greatly assist the Foundation’s efforts to build a matching grants fund large enough to provide annual challenge grants to Scioto County school systems on a permanent basis, according to Scioto Foundation Executive Director Kim Cutlip.

The Scioto Foundation’s vision for the UCAN program is to ensure that every student in Scioto County will have the financial resources to attend the college or university of his or her choice.

To create more scholarship dollars enabling local students to attend college, the Foundation initially pledged a 1:1 matching grant program for each school district in Scioto County that established an endowed scholarship fund with the Foundation.  All 12 schools districts in Scioto County are participating in the program and have the opportunity to receive matching grants of up to $10,000 each year for a period of five years.  The program is now in its fourth year and the UCAN Endowment Campaign seeks to extend the matching grant program.

“A UCAN endowment of $3 million will assist the Scioto Foundation in offering challenge grants to local school districts for their scholarship funds in perpetuity,” said Cutlip. “With the community’s support, the Foundation’s ultimate goal is for every participating school district to reach a $1 million endowed scholarship fund at the minimum.”

Additional information about the UCAN Endowment Campaign and program may be obtained by contacting Cutlip at (740) 354-4612 or kim.sciotofoundation@frontier.com.