Nissan North America, Inc. Announces $85,000 Grant to American Indian College Fund for Scholarships and Support

DENVER, June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nissan North America, Inc. announced it is renewing its commitment to American Indian education in 2009-10 by donating $85,000 to the American Indian College Fund through its Corporate Scholars Program. The grant will fund ten tribal college scholarships and five mainstream scholarships for American Indian scholars. Nissan North America, Inc. also provided $20,000 for the Fund's 20th anniversary gala fundraising event to be held in Denver at the Seawall Ballroom, Denver Center for the Performing Arts October 28 to bring in further scholarship donations.

Scholarship recipients are chosen based on their financial need, education enrollment status, and community involvement. Students will be notified of their selection status in August 2009 for the 2009-10 academic year.

The American Indian College Fund supports qualified American Indian scholars by providing financial support to encourage them to remain in college and complete a college degree. The Fund believes in facilitating students, in a way that ultimately enables them to make a better life for themselves and their families, while providing valuable contributions to their communities and nation.

"Thanks to the support of our valuable corporate partner Nissan, American Indian college students will be closer to their dream of achieving a higher education so that they can make a better life for themselves and their families," said Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the Fund. "This support is even more meaningful in a time when so many are facing increased hardship," Williams said.

About Nissan

Nissan's mission is to SHIFT the way you move. It's the inspiration for everything we do: to shift your world and how you travel through it. For Nissan, it means rethinking the ordinary, pushing the boundaries, exceeding expectations, and anticipating the needs of an ever-changing planet. Every Nissan vehicle is a result of this passionate mindset, yet with a practical side that reflects the times. Nissan drivers experience driving enjoyment rooted in the highest standard of engineering and quality with fresh, modern designs matched with manufacturing excellence. The same philosophy also drives our look to the future through low emissions, better fuel economy and the emerging role of all-electric vehicles. Nissan is dedicated to innovative solutions for different -- and better -- ways to do things.

About the American Indian College Fund

With its credo "Educating the Mind and Spirit," the Denver-based American Indian College Fund is the nation's largest provider of private scholarships for American Indian students, providing more than 5,000 scholarships annually for students seeking to better their lives and communities through education at the nation's 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities. For more information about the American Indian College Fund or to make a donation, visit www.collegefund.org.