Siebel Foundation Establishes Dearborn Ranch Scholarship Program for Crow Teens; Scholarships Give Eligible Montana High School Students Opportunity to Attend Colleges Throughout the Country

Business Wire, Dec 13, 2005

HELENA, Mont. -- The Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation today announced that it is establishing a Dearborn Ranch scholarship program for high school students from the Crow Tribe. The scholarship program will award a total of 5 scholarships per year to members of the Crow tribe graduating from Hardin High School, Lodge Grass High School, Plenty Coups High School, St. Lebre Indian School and Busby Tribal School.

"This scholarship program is a tremendous opportunity for the youth of the Crow Tribe here in Montana," said Carl Venne, Crow Tribal Chairman. "Education is so important for the future of our young people, and these scholarships will allow kids to go to college that may have otherwise been unable to do so."

This new program, administered locally by the Montana Community Foundation, takes effect in February of 2006 when applications are solicited for the 2006-2007 school year. Applications are due to the Montana Community Foundation by April 1, 2006, and scholarships are awarded at or around graduation. Applications are available through high school guidance counselors for the Crow tribal members.

Scholarship winners are selected first on academic merit, and then demonstrated leadership abilities. Applicants are nominated by a committee made up of Crow Tribe and Montana Community Foundation members. All applicants are reviewed by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation for final selection.

"The Montana Community Foundation is privileged to be associated with the generosity shown by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation to Montana's youth," said Linda Reed, Executive Director, Montana Community Foundation. "We have enjoyed working with the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation over the past four years to select students for the Dearborn Ranch scholarships, and we are looking forward to expanding that work to members of the Crow Tribe."

The Dearborn Ranch scholarship program fund was established in February of 2002 for children of the uniformed members of the Montana Highway Patrol and Montana Game Wardens. To date, 57 scholarships have been awarded to benefit Montana youth. Scholarships are $2,500 per academic year, and can be used to attend any accredited post-secondary school in the United States. Students can apply for up to four years as long as they are continuously enrolled in a degree program and maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA.

About the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation:

The Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation is a non-profit, public benefit corporation, established as a private foundation in 1996. The foundation works in four key areas: homelessness, education and student youth programs, land and wildlife preservation, and youth drug prevention programs.

About the Montana Community Foundation:

The Montana Community Foundation is Montana's the only statewide philanthropic organization. It currently manages over 550 endowed funds that benefit all types of charitable work in every corner of the state.