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DENVER, CO - The American Indian College Fund has received a $60,000 grant from The Citigroup Foundation, the charitable arm of Citigroup (NYSE: C). The two-year grant helped 98 Native American students from 19 tribal colleges to obtain scholarships in teacher training.

"We appreciate Citigroup's commitment to teacher training at the tribal colleges", said Richard Williams, executive director of the Denver-based non-profit organization. "This funding will enable students to pursue their educational goals and will in turn have a direct impact on K-12 education in native communities that are facing a shortage of qualified teachers."

"Citigroup and its family of companies strongly believe that education is the key to building strong communities", said Cathy Grant of the Citigroup Foundation. "This can only be achieved by having qualified teachers available. We are very gratified that The American Indian College Fund has been addressing this critical issue, and has made our scholarships available to deserving Native American students."

The American Indian College Fund, established in 1989, has spent more than a decade helping to increase educational opportunities for Native students. With its credo 'Educating the Mind and Spirit', the Denver-based non-profit distributes scholarships and support to tribal colleges across the country. This aid directly supports more than 5,000 students in achieving their college education. The College Fund also supports endowments, developmental needs and public awareness, as well as college programs in Native cultural preservation and teacher training.