New Student Loan Company, StuFund, Announces Launch
(Liberty Corner, New Jersey – May 22, 2006) – Student Funding Group, LLC. – or StuFund – today launched its student loan business, offering FFEL and private loans to college-bound students nationwide, and support services to help families navigate the maze of educational lending options on the market.
The new company, believed to be the first minority enterprise in the student loan origination arena, presents an important option for students and families needing guidance in seeking financial aid. In addition to securing student loans, StuFund focuses on providing families with an array of educational and counseling services to help them understand the various products available to meet their needs.
“While other companies may also offer student loans, StuFund is different in that in addition to providing very competitive, cutting-edge products, we offer a range and quality of support services that is generally unheard of in this business,” says Chairman and CEO Sergio Sotolongo, a former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. “Our aim is to ensure that families have all the information they need to make informed decisions when securing school loans.”
Joining Sotolongo on StuFund’s strong management team are President and COO Curtis Johnson, formerly EVP and COO with the Access Group, the leading graduate student loan provider; Donna Sotolongo, Psy. D, EVP, Head of Corporate Relations and owner of Sotolongo Consulting Associates, which provides family, students and schools a variety of counseling services; and Trish Green, EVP, Head of Marketing, formerly a Senior Marketing Executive with powerhouse direct marketer Columbia House.
In addition to its highly experienced in-house team, StuFund’s partnerships with high school counselors, college admissions boards, community organizations and private companies makes it well-positioned to deliver fast, convenient and expert solutions to students and families seeking financial aid. Families may apply online or by phone, with step-by-step instructions.
“More than 75 percent of students who do not attend college cite financial hardship as a reason,” says Carl Brooks, President and CEO of The Executive Leadership Council, a group of top Fortune 500 African-American executives, which has higher education as a key initiative. “These students would gladly attend college if financial aid were available. StuFund makes funding available to needy families and shares some of the same educational goals as The Executive Leadership Council—helping students achieve their educational dreams.”
StuFund is built on the philosophy that each and every student can and should have access to funding for quality higher education. The company’s mission is to provide loans, particularly for students who could not afford college without such financing and to support and guide families through the financial aid process.