Sallie Mae Employees Receive Award for Largest National Team at Lance Armstrong Foundation Fundrais...( RESTON Va. Oct. 15 /- Sallie Mae ...),Health

RESTON, Va., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sallie Mae employees were recognized by the Lance Armstrong Foundation with the National Team Messenger Award for fielding the largest team at the LiveStrong Challenge, a cycling and running/walking fundraising series of events held around the country.

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This year, a total of 276 Sallie Mae employees, family members, and friends participated in LiveStrong Challenges held in Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., and Austin. Through these events, the Sallie Mae team raised approximately $144,000 to support cancer research and programs for cancer survivors, including $30,000 in matching gifts from The Sallie Mae Fund.

At a ceremony in Austin, the team was presented with a framed, autographed poster of Lance Armstrong and LiveStrong Challenge participants, which will hang in Sallie Mae's headquarters building.

"In addition to our long-standing commitment to education, Sallie Mae employees are also proud to contribute to other causes that benefit the community," said Tom Joyce, senior vice president of Sallie Mae. "Sallie Mae and The Sallie Mae Fund have a long tradition of giving back through efforts like the LiveStrong Challenge."

"Our involvement with so many charitable causes is one of the things that makes Sallie Mae a special place to work," said Katie Schofield, a Reston, Va., employee and 25-year cancer survivor who served as Sallie Mae's national team captain.

Sallie Mae employees have supported the Lance Armstrong Foundation since 2001. The LiveStrong Challenge is the Lance Armstrong Foundation's annual series of events in cities across the country, enabling anyone to support its mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer.

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