2008-10-06 22:10:01 -

- New York Life Lacey Siegel, 212-576-7937 nylfoundation@newyorklife.com or Sloane & Company Amanda Kiely, 212-446-1896 akiely@sloanepr.com The New York Life Foundation announces its Request for Proposals for its 2009 Awards Program for organizations serving youth in New York City and Westchester. This year's focus is on Educational Enhancement. The Foundation will award six $25,000 grants --

one in each of New York City's five boroughs and one in Westchester County -- to nonprofit organizations with an existing program that supports the Foundation's Educational Enhancement category as part of its Nurturing the Children initiative. It is open to organizations with operating budgets of $5 million or less. Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a competitive basis.

Educational Enhancement programs should prepare young people for higher education or the workplace and equip them to be responsible citizens. Activities should: enrich academic performance and educational commitment; provide a foundation in basic skills, such as reading, writing, mathematics, science and communication; and enhance thinking skills, such as decision-making, problem-solving and reasoning. We are particularly interested in programs serving disadvantaged youth, including those who are in foster care or aging out of foster care, are homeless, or are neither in school nor working.

Complete guidelines for the 2009 Awards Program are available at the Foundation's Web site, www.newyorklifefoundation.org/award.

Applications will be accepted online only from October 1 to December 15. Awards will be announced in March 2009.

About The New York Life Foundation

The New York Life Foundation is the major vehicle through which New York Life Insurance Company channels contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. Through its Nurturing the Children initiative, the Foundation supports organizations, programs and services that target young people, particularly in the areas of mentoring, safe places to learn and grow, and educational enhancement opportunities. Since 1979, the New York Life Foundation has donated more than $100 million to national and local nonprofit organizations.

Please visit the Foundation's Web site at www.newyorklifefoundation.org.

Grants of $25,000 To Be Given To Nonprofits Dedicated To Mentoring
Youth