AUGUSTA, GA. - The Lenon family of Augusta took home more than a bouncing baby boy from the Doctors Hospital of Augusta. Today, Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan announced Darron Bebronski Lenon of Augusta as the winner of the 2012 Newborn Sweepstakes and awarded the 7-month-old with $5,529 toward a college savings plan.
Born on October 26, 2012 at Doctors Hospital of Augusta, Darron is not even a year old and already has a foundation for his future college savings. “When I saw that the Newborn Sweepstakes was open to any child born in 2012, I thought if my son were to be chosen, what a great gift to give my newborn child – a gift that will benefit him the rest of his life,” said Brandy Lenon, mother of Darron. “We are so grateful to Path2College for providing us with this wonderful opportunity for Darron. A college education has provided me with many opportunities and it is never too early to begin working towards saving for it.”
The winner’s family, Path2College and representatives from Doctors Hospital of Augusta presented the Lenon’s with a check for Darron’s college savings fund today at the hospital. “We were proud to be a part of Darron’s life from the beginning when he was born here in October and we are proud to stand with him, his family, and all of you today to present this check for a bright future. Thank you Path2College for including us in this excellent opportunity to excel our youth,” said Chris Cosby, COO of Doctors Hospital.
For the past two years, the Path2College 529 Plan has encouraged Georgia families to enter for a chance to win $5,529 toward their newborns’ college savings. Entries from 2,800 parents, grandparents and guardians of Georgia children were submitted throughout 2012. “Path2College takes every opportunity throughout the year to encourage families to think about the importance of saving early for their children’s future education.
While only one child can win the Newborn Sweepstakes each year, we reach thousands of families that hopefully start thinking about planning for college with the arrival of their new son or daughter,” said Mitch Seabaugh, director of the Path2College 529 Plan. “We hope that this college savings plan puts Darron one step closer to earning his college degree and achieving his goals.”
The Path2College 529 Plan is once again offering its Newborn Sweepstakes to Georgians. Parents, grandparents and guardians of Georgia babies born in 2013 may go to www.Path2College529.com until April 14, 2014 to enter for a chance to win the 2013 Newborn Sweepstakes. Entrants must be legal residents or taxpayers to Georgia and at least 18 years of age to register. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
But, it’s not only Georgia children who can benefit from the sweepstakes. The Path2College 529 Plan will also award $1,529 to partner hospitals if the baby selected was born at their hospital. Hospitals should contact a Path2College 529 Plan representative at (404) 463-0000 or deborahs@gsfc.org to become a partner hospital.
“We can’t reach every parent in Georgia alone, and that’s why establishing partnerships across the state is a crucial way for us to let families know about the state’s college savings plan,” said Seabaugh. “We hope that hospitals across the state will join us in encouraging families to save for college and to promote the Newborn Sweepstakes where a child and a hospital will both benefit.”
For more information about the Path2College 529 Plan or to enter the 2013 Newborn Sweepstakes, please visit www.Path2College.com or call (877) 424-4377.