Advance America Awards Raise of a Lifetime

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Aug 23, 2010, 04:00 ET

'America Deserves a Raise' Essay Contest Announces Grand Prize and Runner-up Winners

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Advance America, the nation's leading provider of non-bank cash advance services, today announced the winners of the "America Deserves a Raise" campaign, a nationwide essay contest and sweepstakes to reward hardworking Americans for extraordinary service.

Joan Dalton of West Linn, Oregon has been awarded the Grand Prize among thousands of contestants; she and the person who nominated her, Nancy Hill of Portland, will receive $40,000 each. Hill's essay described Dalton's exceptional efforts to provide a "second chance to two groups many consider untouchable: incarcerated youth and dogs nobody wants."

Dalton runs an educational program for incarcerated boys within a youth correctional facility. She developed a program in which the boys adopt dogs facing euthanasia from a nearby animal shelter, and train and groom the dogs before finding them loving homes. Hill said this about Dalton's achievements:

"She transformed an unused building on the correctional facility's ground into a kennel and sold her house to expand the program, creating components for job, computer, and communication skills… General contractors worked with participants to renovate the building, and soon dogs and youth were learning from each other; the dogs teaching the youth patience, trust, and compassion… A 2001 study showed the 100+ youth who'd then been through it had a zero-percent recidivism rate. To Joan's knowledge, that hasn't changed."

The America Deserves a Raise runner-up, Violeta Singson of New Berlin, Wisconsin, has also devoted her time to helping the less fortunate. She and her nominator, Brenda Quinn of Milwaukee, will each receive a $5,000 bonus. Quinn described Singson as someone who "never stops doing amazing things," adding:

"Despite lower pay and other difficulties, Violeta chose to focus on serving children in the inner city. She also teaches at the local medical college and is an active volunteer in several community groups, including one that travels to and provides medical care and supplies in the Philippines...Violeta has also established a free medical clinic, which operates two mornings a month and serves people regardless of race, age, gender, religion, employment or immigration status. Services and medications are provided to all absolutely free."

"This campaign brings to life an ethic that is very important to our Company – supporting and applauding the efforts of those who continually seek to improve their communities and the lives of others," said Ken Compton, Advance America President and CEO. "We are pleased to honor these four individuals for their deep commitment to helping people in need and for recognizing the importance of such contributions to society."

The essay contest and sweepstakes sought to honor and reward hardworking Americans. More than 5,000 people nominated someone they know, or themselves, for the contest's Grand Prize by submitting essays explaining why a special individual "deserves a raise." The general public was invited to read and rate the stories on the contest's website to help determine the most deserving nominee, and more than 650,000 people participated. A panel of judges reviewed the top 100 essays, based on votes from the public, and the winners will be presented with their awards during events planned in the coming weeks.

As part of the "America Deserves a Raise" campaign, the Company also donated $50,000 to United Way of the Piedmont and the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen to support activities in the local Spartanburg community, where Advance America is headquartered. United Way of the Piedmont plans to use the contribution to support its Gifts-In-Kind Center, which helps provide supplies to more than 130 non-profit organizations that offer assistance to those in need, while the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen intends to use Advance America's contribution to help finance the construction of a new facility.

About Advance America:

Founded in 1997, Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (NYSE: AEA) is the country's leading provider of cash advance services, with approximately 2,500 centers and 72 limited licensees in 32 states, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company offers convenient, less-costly credit options to consumers whose needs are not met by traditional financial institutions. The Company is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), whose mission is to promote laws that provide substantive consumer protections and to encourage responsible industry practices. Please visit www.advanceamerica.net for more information.

SOURCE Advance America