Launch Set at Two Hartford Elementary Schools for Debit Card Program to Help Teachers Offset...

AVON, Conn. -- Evolution Benefits Uses Technical Expertise in Debit Card Technology to Automate TeacherDollars(TM) Program

Did you know that most teachers spend up to $1,000 out of their own pockets for classroom supplies? Hartford public schoolteachers will soon get relief through a

"The TeacherDollars(TM) Program is a unique collaboration among our Foundation, the Hartford Public Schools and Evolution Benefits to give teachers special purpose debit cards to buy instructional and motivational supplies for their classrooms," Mr. Patricelli said. "It's our way of saying 'thank you' for the job teachers do every day to teach the next generation of citizens and leaders. Funding cards is an easy way for individuals, businesses and foundations to support neighborhood schools, and we hope that other contributors will be attracted by this vehicle."

Jacqueline J. Jacoby, acting superintendent, Hartford Public Schools, commented, "The TeacherDollars(TM) Program will provide teachers with immediate, discretionary funds that they can use to support and enrich the day-to-day activities in their classrooms. This program will empower our teachers to act on the spur of the moment to energize their teaching and our students' learning. We are very grateful to the Patricelli Family Foundation and Evolution Benefits for making this program available in two of our schools."

The two public schools located in Hartford, Connecticut selected to pilot the TeacherDollars Program are Mark Twain Elementary, grades K-6, and Burr Elementary, grades K-8. A total of 78 teachers plus the principals and family resource aides from the two schools will receive special purpose debit cards, called TeacherDollar(TM) Cards, in August 2006. Each teacher will have $300 on their prepaid card to buy needed instructional and motivational materials for their students in the classroom during the September - June school year. Principals and family resource aides will have $1,000 on their cards to buy necessary supplies to positively impact student achievement and parental involvement school-wide. A TeacherDollars(TM) Program coordinator will manage the program on-site at each school.

Guidelines established for approved spending of TeacherDollars(TM) will help ensure that all purchases support the School Improvement Plan of the Hartford Public School system. Through the technology provided by Evolution Benefits, the TeacherDollar(TM) Cards will be activated only at selected merchants, such as bookstores, educational supply stores, discount stores, grocery stores, office supply stores and online vendors.

Funding for the TeacherDollars(TM) Program pilot is being provided by The Robert & Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation. The Foundation's focus is on funding programs in Hartford's neighborhoods and has provided several grants to selected Hartford schools and other educational programs in past years. Area businesses, foundations and organizations interested in contributing to expand the program to other schools in the Hartford area are encouraged to contact Lynda Godkin, TeacherDollars(TM) Program Coordinator at TeacherDollars@evolutionbenefits.com.

Card technology and services for the program pilot are being contributed by Evolution Benefits, Inc., headquartered in Avon, Connecticut. Its primary product, the Benny(R) prepaid benefits card (a "stored value card"), applies advanced payment technologies and pioneering electronic substantiation methodologies to health-related benefits accounts such as FSAs, HSAs, HRAs and Qualified Transportation Accounts. Evolution Benefits began operation in 2002 and now powers the programs of more than 80 managed care and administrative services organizations and covers more than 3,000 employers, including 40 of the nation's top-ranked Fortune and Forbes companies. For more information, visit www.evolutionbenefits.com.