ATLANTA —Governor Nathan Deal has joined states across the country with an official proclamation making September College Savings Month in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of saving for college and to educate Georgians on the state’s educational resources including its college savings plan, the Path2College 529 Plan. To celebrate this month, and to encourage families to learn more about their college savings options, Path2College launched the “What If…? College Savings Giveaway” where two Georgia children will win $5,529 each toward a Path2College 529 Plan account.
Path2College 529 Plan account owners and Georgia parents, grandparents and legal guardians (21 and over) who have a child age 18 and under (at the time of entry) who is a Georgia resident may enter for a chance to win until Nov. 15, 2016. Two winners will be drawn randomly from all eligible entries. For prize details, official rules and an entry form, visit www.Path2College529.com/whatif.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by the Path2College 529 Plan.
As of June 30, 2016, families have established Path2College 529 Plan accounts for more than 134,000 beneficiaries and have saved more than $2 billion for higher education expenses. Additionally, more than 30,000 beneficiaries have used more than $477 million of their Path2College 529 Plan accounts to pay for education-related expenses.
“We are extremely proud of the plan that we’ve created—it has low fees, can be used for a variety of educational expenses and it is very user-friendly. The Path2College 529 Plan has helped tens of thousands of families establish strong financial foundations for their children,” said Mitch Seabaugh, executive director of the Path2College 529 Plan. “But there are still so many that aren’t aware of this opportunity, and that’s why we hold sweepstakes like the ‘What If…? College Savings Giveaway.’ We want to get the attention of parents and grandparents, and hopefully get them on the website where they can see for themselves how simple it is to save for their loved ones.”
This year marks the fourth year for the sweepstakes that has awarded more than $100,000 to Georgia children and schools.  Each year the sweepstakes has changed slightly to keep it fresh and interesting to families.
The 2015 winner of the “What If…? Sweepstakes” was three-year-old Sophia Hinson of Fayetteville who was awarded a $30,000 contribution to her Path2College 529 Plan account, and her future school, Spring Hill Elementary, was awarded $10,000. The 2014 winner of the “25,000 Reasons to Save Sweepstakes” was Alden Annis, an eight-year-old, third-grade student who received $15,000 for college. Annis’ school, Shelton Elementary School, was also awarded $10,000 as part of the sweepstakes. In 2013, Anand Shah, a 17-year-old from Snellville, and Isabelle Stoltz, a one-year-old from Watkinsville, were each awarded $10,529 for their college savings plans as the winners of “10,000 Reasons to Save Sweepstakes.” Shiloh High School, Shah’s school, and the Oconee County School System, Stoltz’s school district, were also each awarded $10,529.
To enter the “What If…? College Savings Giveaway” and for additional information about the Path2College 529 Plan or to open an account, please visit www.Path2College529.com.