Former Homeless Student to Receive Surprise $20,000 Scholarship From Horatio Alger Association

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - November 6, 2007) - The Horatio Alger Association has announced that it will award an academic scholarship of $20,000 to a very deserving Massachusetts student during the "Give Us Your Poor" concert this year. Give Us Your Poor is a homelessness awareness and prevention initiative based at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. The award will be made as a surprise announcement during a benefit concert on Friday, November 16 at the historic Strand Theater in Dorchester, MA.

Singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant and blues/soul singer Mighty Sam McClain will headline the concert, which will include performances by former homeless musicians. Also headlining is celebrated Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis, who has generously donated his time for several events with the Horatio Alger Association. All proceeds from the concert will go to local homeless service providers. The concert is part of the two-day, citywide initiative "Boston Helps the Homeless."

"We are very proud to provide a scholarship to this deserving student, because the work that Give Us You Poor is doing is similar to our mission. Many of our recipients are in foster care or without a home when applying for a scholarship," said Terrence J. Giroux, executive director of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. "This young scholar represents not only the power of hard work and determination, but the homelessness crisis that our nation is facing. We're honored to be contributing positively to this student's bright future."

The Horatio Alger Association has become one of the largest need-based scholarship programs in the country. Scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity and hardships in their lives while demonstrating strength of character, strong academics, commitment to pursue a college education and desire to contribute to society. Horatio Alger also provides $12 million in scholarships to students and military veterans.

Tickets to the concert are available at www.giveusyourpoor.org. Each concert artist mentioned above is featured on the music CD, Give US Your Poor: 17 New Recordings to Help End Homelessness.

About The Horatio Alger Association

This year, the Horatio Alger Association is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans continues to fulfill its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association offers three annual scholarship programs: the National Scholarship Program and various state scholarship programs for high school seniors and the Horatio Alger Military Veterans Scholarship Program for U.S. veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. For more information about the scholarship programs, please visit www.horatioalger.org

Contact Information: Contact: Kristin Perkins Magur Qorvis Communications 202-683-3112