<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1561" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><SPAN class=767304114-07012009>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><A name=OLE_LINK4></A><A name=OLE_LINK3><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4"><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn"><IMG height=77
src="cid:767304114@07012009-3385" width=131
v:shapes="_x0000_i1025"></FONT></SPAN></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. <SPAN
class=767304114-07012009>7</SPAN>, 2008<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">For more information,
contact Kim Asbill at 803-400-1157 or </FONT><A
href="mailto:kasbill@edventure.org"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">kasbill@edventure.org</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">EdVenture To
Honor <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:City></st1:place> Woman with SC Great Friend to Kids
Award<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">COLUMBIA</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">, <st1:State
w:st="on">S.C.</st1:State></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> –<A name=OLE_LINK10></A><A
name=OLE_LINK9><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"> EdVenture will honor Dr.
Suzan Boyd as the 2009 recipient of the S<SPAN
class=767304114-07012009>.</SPAN>C<SPAN class=767304114-07012009>.</SPAN> Great
Friend to Kids Award at a dinner Thursday, <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">January 15, 2009</B> at the Columbia
Metropolitan Convention Center<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">.</B><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></A></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 9pt 0in"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">This year’s event,
presented by First Citizens Bank, will address a critical community issue – the
health of our youth.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Boyd is being
honored for her lifelong service and tireless dedication to the health and
welfare of children in our state.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN">Boyd
has been involved in health care for more than 25 years with experience in
management, primary care activities, and strategic planning.
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The Unsung Hero Award will
be presented to the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">The event will begin with a private reception for the
honorees and major sponsors at EdVenture, beginning at 5:45 p.m.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Following this reception, a seated
dinner will be held at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Metropolitan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Convention
Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, beginning at 7 p.m.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">Corporate tables and individual tickets are still
available. For details, contact Margaret Wallace, Director of Development at
EdVenture (803-400-1152) or </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><A
href="mailto:info@edventure.org"><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">info@edventure.org</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></A><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 96.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 96.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">Dr. Suzan Boyd is a
public health leader and advocate who has worked on behalf of young women and
youth throughout her professional career.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Dr. Boyd completed her BS at <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Boston</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType>, an MS at <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Yale</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>, an MBA from <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Simmons</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType>, and a Doctorate in Public Health from the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">South Carolina</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. Her
professional activities have included serving as the Vice President of
Ambulatory and Ancillary Services at <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">St.
Joseph</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType> in
Chicago; an Associate Director at Brookside Park Family Life Center in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Jamaica Plain</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Mass.</st1:State></st1:place>, and a professor and Director of the MHA
Program at the Arnold School of Public
Health.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 96.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 96.0pt"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Dr. Boyd joined
the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in 2002. Under her leadership the
Campaign grew from an organization with 3 to 15 employees and an annual budget
of $400,000 to over $1.5 million plus. Most importantly the Campaign expanded
their work to every county in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South
Carolina</st1:place></st1:State> and their annual Summer Educational Institute
grew from 39 to over 500 youth serving educators. The Campaign was one of five
programs in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> selected
by the CDC to receive a grant to implement science based programs to reduce the
incidence of teen pregnancy in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South
Carolina</st1:place></st1:State>.</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 96.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 96.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">Previous SC Great Friend to Kids honorees include
Charles P. Darby, MD and C. Warren Derrick, MD in 2007 and the Honorable James
B. Edwards and the Honorable Richard W. Riley in
2006.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">In 2006, EdVenture embarked on a mission to recognize
and celebrate the accomplishments of <st1:place w:st="on">South
Carolinians</st1:place> who have been in the forefront of addressing the needs
of children in our state through the creation of the <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">South Carolina Great Friend to Kids</I>
Award. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 96.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">Funds raised through the South Carolina Great Friend
to Kids Initiative will be used to directly impact children in communities
across <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South
Carolina</st1:place></st1:State> through EdVenture’s efforts to achieve our
vision of “creating new generations of lifelong learners.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"><SPAN style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK10"></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK9"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">EdVenture seeks to use the strength of its educational
mission and the power of hands-on learning to raise the level of educational
experiences for all children, with a particular focus on children living in
less-advantaged environments and smaller communities across the state.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition to serving visitors from all
46 counties, EdVenture continues to work actively providing outreach and
educational programs in eleven counties where there is a high percentage of
children living in poverty. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">EdVenture Children’s
Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring children to
experience the joy of learning. Celebrating its five-year anniversary in
2008, the museum features more than 67,000 square feet of hands-on, minds-on
learning for children and adults. EdVenture is one of
the largest children's museums in the nation and home of Eddie, the
world's largest child.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>EdVenture is
located at <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">211 Gervais
Street</st1:address></st1:Street> in downtown <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>To learn more about EdVenture, visit </FONT><A
title=http://www.edventure.org/ href="http://www.edventure.org/"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">www.edventure.org</FONT></A><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn">###<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Frutiger 47LightCn"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">Kim Asbill, APR</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">Public Relations Senior
Manager</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">EdVenture Children's Museum</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">211 Gervais Street</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">Columbia, SC 29201</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">803-400-1157 (direct)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn">803-779-3144 (fax)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn"><A
href="mailto:kasbill@edventure.org">kasbill@edventure.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn"><A
href="http://www.edventure.org/">www.edventure.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Frutiger 47LightCn"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>