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(Sarasota, FL, March 24, 2005) – The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee received a $100,000 donation from Jackson Hewitt Tax Services Inc. and Grace Dieterich, senior vice president of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. Technology Center.

“We are thrilled to give to such a fantastic project that will benefit future students and ultimately the economy of our area with a strong and talented workforce,” said Dieterich. “A university town offers diversity for all walks of life. It’s a Mecca that brings students and businesses here, and our communities benefit from that influx.”

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. and Dieterich provided a combined donation of $100,000 to enhance the state-of-the-art Crosley Campus Center scheduled to open fall 2006. Matching funds under the Alec P. Courtelis Facility Enhancement Challenge grant from the Florida Division of Colleges and Universities brings the total new dollars to $200,000. The Jackson Hewitt Technology Learning Center will be named in recognition of their gift.

As chairman of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Development Committee, Dieterich understands the direct connection between educational opportunities and economic growth. “Having USF Sarasota-Manatee in our community gives us the resources to expand our company through hiring qualified graduates, particularly in accounting,” she says. “The local campus also provides opportunities for our employees to pursue additional education, such as a master’s in business administration, which makes them more valuable and more likely to stay on board. That stability is good for our local economy.”

In addition to her position with the Sarasota Chamber, Dieterich serves on USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Community Leadership Council, a group of business and civic leaders that provide insight and advice on programs that best suit the needs of local communities.

“Education is an essential element in developing a talented workforce,” says Dieterich. “To attract the brightest and most talented, it is in our best interest to support our nationally ranked hometown campus, USF Sarasota-Manatee.”

USF Sarasota-Manatee is an upper-level campus for those with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree interested in pursuing a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit. The campus offers the prestige of a national Research 1 university with the convenience of a hometown campus, including classes in south Sarasota County at Manatee Community College Venice.