State Treasurer Fitzgerald Announces Winner of Sesame Street Live Tickets

DES MOINES, IA (03/19/2010)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that a Mingo child and her family will get to enjoy a performance of Sesame Street Live, courtesy of College Savings Iowa.

The child's mother, Jen Kokke, entered her daughter Mackenzie's name, in a drawing at the College Savings Iowa booth during this year's KidsFest. Along with four free tickets, the family received information on College Savings Iowa, a 529 plan that helps families start saving toward their children's future education. "Families who start early will be in a better position to meet the challenge of paying for college when the time arrives," stated Fitzgerald. "College Savings Iowa is here to help."

College Savings Iowa is a state-sponsored 529 plan designed to give families a tax-advantaged way to save money for college. Investors can choose from thirteen Vanguard investment options, including four age-based investment tracks. Anyone – parents, grandparents, friends and relatives – can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $2,811 per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income,* and there are no income or residency restrictions. For more information about College Savings Iowa, please visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call toll-free 1-888-672-9116.

College Savings Iowa is proud to sponsor this year's Sesame Street Live performance tour of "Elmo's Green Thumb." Elmo and the gang will be in Cedar Rapids for three performances on May 11-12 and six performances in Des Moines on May 14-16. Tickets go on sale March 29th for as little as $13. To learn more about Sesame Street Live performances go to www.sesamestreetlive.com.

* If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The amount is adjusted annually for inflation.