Southwestern Vermont Medical Center to Participate in 529 Day Celebration

Bennington, VT—May 10, 2019— Research shows that children with college savings accounts are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate than children without accounts.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), will participate in a statewide initiative to encourage college savings. It’s called 529 Day, after the 529 college savings plan, and it happens on May 29. The program is a partnership between Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) and the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC), which administers Vermont’s 529 college savings plan.

Babies born at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) on May 29 will receive $100 deposits into Vermont 529 college savings accounts opened by the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC). Plus, one lucky Vermonter—baby or not—will be chosen to receive $529 in a college savings account in an online month-long drawing. For more information and to enter, visit vsac.org or vheip.org between May 1 and May 31. 

About VSAC:
Vermont Student Assistance Corporation is a public, nonprofit agency established by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to help Vermonters achieve their education and training goals after high school. VSAC serves students and their families in grades 7-12, as well as adults returning to school, by providing education and career planning services, need-based grants, scholarships and education loans. VSAC has awarded more than $600 million in grants and scholarships for Vermont students, and also administers Vermont’s 529 college savings plan. Visit www.vsac.org for more information.

About VAHHS:
VAHHS is a member-owned organization devoted to improving the health status of communities throughout Vermont. Its activities include advocacy, policy development, education and research. VAHHS works in partnership with dozens of Vermont health care organizations on a wide variety of issues, providing educational and research services for members and non-members alike. VAHHS supports coordination of our members' health care services with other health or social service organizations. For more information, visit www.vahhs.org.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices. For more information, visit svhealthcare.org.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.