Capital One Partners with Bruce Willis' National Foster Care Fund to Launch Fostering a Future A National Scholarship Program to Benefit Foster Care Children December 6, 2004; McLEAN, VA - Capital One is partnering with Bruce Willis' National Foster Care Fund (NFCF) to create a national scholarship program, Fostering a Future, to benefit youth and children in foster care. Capital One will launch the scholarship program and award its first recipient during the taping of CBS' special holiday program "A Home for the Holidays," which will air on December 22 and is produced in association with the Children's Action Network. Bruce Willis, Hollywood actor and champion for foster care is the founder of the NFCF. "Children in foster care must rely on the kindness and compassion of those in our community and I welcome the commitment that Capital One has shown in joining our efforts to support these children and give them greater opportunities," said Mr. Willis. "Together, we need to increase the resources given to foster care children and youth as it is vital to their well-being, and through this commitment we can make strides in improving the opportunities and support for these children and their families." In the United States today, more than half a million children are living in foster care. Capital One's Fostering a Future scholarship program is designed to help youth and children in foster care reach their potential by empowering them with the educational skills and tools they need. The mission of the scholarship is to help eligible children and adolescents currently living in, and adopted from, foster care develop concrete plans for his or her path towards career, education and personal goals based on their own aspirations. "Capital One is proud to establish the Fostering a Future scholarship program to help foster care children reach their full potential," said Richard D. Fairbank, Capital One's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This scholarship program represents an investment in our children's future." To kick-off this scholarship, Capital One hosts Bruce Willis in the nation's capital and the backyard of its corporate headquarters, and throws a holiday party to celebrate Fostering a Future with District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A.Williams and 40 local foster children. More than 20 percent of the national Fostering a Future scholarship fund is allocated specifically for DC foster children to sustain the local community leadership Capital One provides in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. This 2005 scholarship program complements the outreach that Capital One has initiated in the past, including joining forces with four of the nation's leading foster care organizations -- National Foster Care Coalition, Casey Family Programs, Child Welfare League of America and National Foster Parent Association -- to identify what will motivate the public to support children and youth in foster care. About Capital One Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One Financial Corporation (http://www.capitalone.com), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest providers of MasterCard and Visa credit cards in the world. Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 500 index. Capital One is dedicated to sharing their success with the communities they operate. They have built long-term collaborative alliances with agencies that are dedicated to revitalizing communities and helping youth at-risk. Capital One offers leadership grants to non-profit organizations, volunteer community outreach programs, donations to underprivileged children, and other corporate charitable giving. About NFCF The National Foster Care Fund (NFCF) was founded in 2004 by Bruce Willis and provides strategic outlets for celebrities, community-based organizations, private and public corporations, traditional foundations, and government agencies to pool resources to enhance and improve the lives of foster youth throughout the nation. Targeting marked improvements in the environments of children affected by foster care, the NFCF focuses on four primary areas: Public Awareness; Education; Health/Mental Health; Family Preservation. A Home for the Holidays is scheduled to air on CBS on Wednesday, December 22nd at 8:00PM ET. [<RETURN HOME]