Sallie Mae Partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware to Assist Local Families This Holiday Season

NEWARK, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Employees at the Newark, Del., headquarters of Sallie Mae – the nation's saving, planning, and paying for college company – responded to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware 2015 Holiday Appeal by collecting gifts that will be donated to needy local families. The company's employee-organized campaign yielded more than $5,000 in cash and gift cards, 126 large boxes of brand new toys, clothing, and household items, one full-size refrigerator, and 10 bicycles.

"The incredible generosity of our employees exemplifies Sallie Mae's commitment to giving back to the communities where we live and work," said Matt Sullivan, vice president, Sallie Mae, and volunteer vice president, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. "As a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware executive board of directors, I've seen firsthand how meaningful these gifts are to the kids, young adults, and families who receive them, and I am proud to be part of a company so dedicated to helping those less fortunate."

Sallie Mae employees also support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware by participating in the annual Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser, and by collecting clothing and shoes on a year-round basis for the Clothes for Kids' Sake program.

"Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware is all about making connections, and we are especially appreciative of the connection we have with Sallie Mae," said Mary P. Fox, executive director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. "This outpouring of care from Sallie Mae employees will brighten the holidays for many of our neediest families and make a welcome difference in their lives."

For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware has partnered with adult mentors and role models to provide at-risk children, primarily from single-parent homes, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-on-one relationships that help them gain self-confidence, realize their potential, and envision happy and successful futures. For more information, or to support the organization's efforts, visit www.bbbsde.org.

In other community support activities this fall, Sallie Mae employees collected 2,109 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Delaware, conducted a toy drive for CHILD, Inc., and helped McKean High School students apply for college during events sponsored by Delaware Goes to College.

Sallie Mae, which has been helping families make college happen for more than 40 years, has more than 700 employees at its corporate headquarters in Newark. For more information and free tips on how to save, plan, and pay for college, visit www.salliemae.com.

Sallie Mae SLM is the nation's saving, planning, and paying for college company. Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae offers products that promote responsible personal finance, including private education loans, Upromise rewards, scholarship search, college financial planning tools, and online retail banking. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151223005049/en/