A Better Chance to Honor Jeffrey R. Immelt, Chairman & CEO, GE & Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute For Their Long-Term Leadership & Commitment to Both Education & Diversity At the 2009 A Better Chance Awards,

*   *   *

Lester Holt of TODAY Weekend Edition & NBC Nightly News to host

*   *   *

2009 A Better Chance Scholars to be saluted and recognized

NEW YORK, NY (April 14, 2009) –– A Better Chance, a national nonprofit that changes the life trajectory for academically talented youth of color via access to rigorous and prestigious educational opportunities for students in grades 6-12, today announced it will honor Jeffrey R. Immelt, Chairman and CEO, GE and Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (who became the first African American woman to earn a doctorate from M.I.T.) for their long-term leadership and commitment to both education and diversity at the 2009 A Better Chance Awards luncheon at the Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City on Friday, June 5th.  The nonprofit will also recognize exceptional 2009 A Better Chance Scholars from around the country who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership within their school community by promoting equity and justice and offering special encouragement to peers, and an extraordinary and steadfast determination to achieve.

Distinguished A Better Chance Alumni include Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts; Luis A. Ubiñas, President the Ford Foundation and Tracy Chapman, singer-songwriter and Grammy Award-winner.  For reservations and/or information about tickets for the luncheon contact Kira Marshall at 212.675-9474 or by email at kmarshall@sualtd.com.

“This year represented a groundbreaking milestone for our nation with the election of our first African-American president.  Though we cannot claim the 44^th President of the United States as an Alumnus of A Better Chance, we help write stories like his everyday.  President Barack Obama’s journey to leadership was accelerated because he had access to rigorous educational opportunities at some of the best educational institutions in the country.  A Better Chance has been opening doors to these kinds of opportunities for more than 45 years.  We know that great talent lies in every community and our mission is to nurture that talent through transformative educational experiences,” said Sandra E. Timmons, President, A Better Chance.

A Better Chance is the oldest and only national organization of its kind. Its mission is to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society.  A Better Chance carries out its mission through its signature College Preparatory Schools Program which annually recruits, places and supports about 500 Scholars at more than 300 Member Schools in 27 states.  A Better Chance has been opening the doors to greater educational opportunities since 1963. More than 12,000 A Better Chance Scholars have graduated from Member Schools. An overwhelming majority of Alumni have gone on to graduate from competitive colleges, graduate programs, or professional schools. A Better Chance distinguished Alumni now include leaders in business, law, medicine, government, education, and the arts.