Happy New Year!

As we head into 2010, we at the American Indian College Fund would like to thank you for your support over the past 12 months and your commitment to creating new beginnings for American Indian in the new year ahead.

Make an impact in 2009 and close your year with a tax-deductible gift of education.

Donations you make to the American Indian College Fund are tax-deductible for this year through midnight Dec. 31st.

Your commitment to end poverty through education is even more important in tough economic times. Through the American Indian College Fund, you are creating hope for American Indian people for a better life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

As Dominic Clichee (Navajo), a sophomore business administration and finance major and honor student at Haskell Indian Nations University, has said, “Without scholarships, there was no way I could afford to go to college... I have taken the lessons learned from the obstacles and applied them to life. Hard work has helped get me to where I am at, and hard work is going to help me in the future…I want to give back to the community where I grew up… With the hard work learned from my past and the assistance from this scholarship, I will be able to accomplish all my educational and career goals. Then maybe one day, I’ll be sponsoring a scholarship through your program.”

Let’s ring in 2010 by closing out 2009 with a rallying show of support and commitment to American Indian students to end poverty through education.

Ocankuye Wasté Yelo (In a good way),

Richard B. Williams

Donate by 12/31/09 for Your Tax Deduction!

It's not too late! You can still make a tax-deductible gift to the American Indian College Fund by 12/31/09. The Fund is helping change lives, one person at a time, in Indian Country by helping students achieve a college education.

Help people like Dominic Clichee (Navajo), a star basketball player and straight A student, stay in school and earn a degree so that he can return to his community and work as a hospital administrator.

Thank you for your continued support of American Indian students!

Cobell Settlement A Dream Come True

The U.S. government has settled a long-running lawsuit over royalties owed to American Indians. The Interior Department will distribute $1.4 billion to more than 300,000 tribe members to compensate them for historical accounting claims, and to resolve future claims. The department also will spend $2 billion to buy back and consolidate tribal land lost by previous generations. The program will allow individual tribe members to obtain cash payments for divided land interests and free up the land for the benefit of tribal communities.

Finally, the department will set aside $60 million in a Fund for American Indians wishing to pursue post-secondary vocational education or a higher education.

At the Fund, we could not be more thrilled. This means a chance for many more American Indian people to earn a higher education and brings hope for them for a better future.

To read details of the settlement visit Cobell v. Salazar.

Need a Holiday Gift Idea?

It's always hard to find the perfect gift for someone who has everything.

One donor shared that instead of purchasing another gift for her mother, a retired registered nurse, who claimed she didn't need any more "stuff," she decided to donate money for a nursing scholarship to the American Indian College Fund in her mother's name.

She recounts that at first her mother protested when she was handed a package to open, stressing that she had asked for no gifts. But when she opened the box to find a certificate announcing the gift in her name, she was speechless and tears welled up in her eyes.

This holiday season, consider a gift that gives twice-give to the American Indian College Fund! For details, contact us at 800-776-3863.