INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 31, 2011--USA Funds®, a nonprofit organization that helps Americans benefit from higher education, announced the award of $387,000 to help college students whose education plans were adversely affected by tornado outbreaks this spring. Stillman received $10,000 towards this effort.

Through the Disaster Relief Fund for Postsecondary Education Students, USA Funds has awarded grants to 30 postsecondary institutions in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. The schools may use the funds to assist lower-income students who suffered financial hardships as a result of the tornado outbreaks in the Southeastern states from April 15 to April 28 and the May 22 tornado in Joplin, Mo. The grants support supplemental financial aid of up to $1,000 per student to help them pay education-related expenses.

"These grants will help ensure students are not forced to drop out or interrupt their education because of financial hardships created by these natural disasters," said Denise B. Feser, USA Funds senior vice president, School and Student Services.

USA Funds originally established the Disaster Relief Fund for Postsecondary Education Students in 2005 to help college students affected by Hurricane Katrina and three other major hurricanes that year. Scholarship America administers the fund.

The following colleges and universities were awarded grants under the program.

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