NEW YORK, Sept. 6 NY-AccessHybrid-TIME
NEW YORK, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Max Stephenson, a New York University
(NYU) student and executive director of www.AccessHybrid.org, is featured in
this week's Time Magazine (September 15, 2008) print edition for his
innovative approach to raising funds for college.
In a story entitled, "Getting Strangers to Pay My Tuition. Max
Stephenson's $25,000 quest via e-mail," Time Magazine published a question and
answer article with Stephenson, 18, revealing how he sent an email to friends
and family requesting $2.50 to help him with college costs in exchange for a
piece of his graduation gown at when he completes college.
Responding to a Time question regarding on how much he has raised so far,
the piece quotes Stephenson, "Over $5000. In two weeks. It's been a great
response. Most of the money is anonymous, sent by mail. It could be a dollar
or two or as much as a $10 bill. I also received some payments through
PayPal."
Stephenson goes on to say this is not his first business venture: "When I
was in middle school I started a little brownie and soda company selling items
that my school didn't have in stock. I had a micro-corporation of about four
or five kids, and we raised some money ... the last year we raised over $4000.
It was pretty impressive."
Time's online edition also featured a story on Stephenson entitled "An E-
Mail Plea: Help Pay My Tuition!" at
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1838738,00.html. According to
the reporter, "The 18-year-old is headed for New York University ... but his
mom is on disability, his dad works three jobs, and all his grants and loans
only cover half of the school's $50,000 annual tab. So to cover the gap, he's
hoping 10,000 friends of friends of friends will each put $2.50 in the mail or
send the money via PayPal."
In the online piece Stephenson says, "If you're worried I am one of those
internet rip-off artists, call NYU's admissions office at 212.998.4500 and ask
for someone in international admissions - they handled my admissions as I was
recruited to play ice hockey for Russia and spent last year there."
The online reporter goes on to say, "His plea is legit. Stephenson is
sending out his e-mail solicitation at a time when students' financial needs
are expanding and the loan market is shrinking."
The reporter continues, "Stephenson's solicitation explains that for
safety reasons, he provides potential donors with a P.O. box (Box 149,
Pottersville, NJ 07979) instead of his home address. And the natural-born
promoter also directs PayPal users to route the money using his e-mail
address, MStephenson@AccessHybrid.org."
Stephenson has plans to use his college education to improve the
environment. At 16-years-old, Stephenson founded www.AccessHybrid.org, also
known as Federal Assistance to Student Car Buyers, which through legislation
drafting, public education, research, volunteerism and lobbying seeks to
develop workable approaches to reduce the nation's dependency on oil and
improve the environment.
CONTACT:
Sheldon Kay
Media Relations Manager
SKay@AccessHybrid.org
+1.908.500.6920
SOURCE www.AccessHybrid.org
