Virginia529 Joins ‘March Forth’ In Addressing Student Debt
RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia529, the nation’s largest higher education savings plan, is joining a 27-state effort to take on the student debt problem in a national campaign launching March 4. The aim of the campaign, dubbed the “For Their Future Movement” and led by the 529 College Savings Plans Network, is to limit college debt for new generations.
“More than 44 million Americans have student debt that eats away at paychecks, limits opportunities and leads them to put off buying homes and having children,” said 529 Campaign Chairman Young Boozer III. “On March 4 we start our march forth, joining together to set our kids and grandkids on a better path with 529s.”
The 27-state alliance, which includes Washington D.C., involves 46 partners that include state treasurers, financial service firms and other state officials. The public-private partnership was formed with the goal of increasing awareness of 529s, the state-led college savings plans designed to help families save for education and lessen reliance on student loans.
“Chances are when we meet folks in our day-to-day lives either they have student loan debt, will have it, or know someone who does. That’s the reality of the world we live in,” said Scott Ridgely, Virginia529 Chief Marketing Officer. “We are excited to work with the 529 College Savings Plans Network to help build awareness of 529 plans as a tool to combat student debt.”
The movement’s 529 message will be amplified throughout 2019 and into 2020 under an agreement with Fred Rogers Productions, the company founded by Mister Rogers, the beloved advocate of children’s education. The campaign’s spots will air before and after episodes of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. The series is one of the highest co-viewed children’s shows between parents and young children and is based on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.