Futuretrust(R) Helps Save Now for a Stress-Free Tomorrow PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Saving for college may seem unnecessary when families are newly pregnant or when children are very young, but when it comes to saving for college, time is of the essence. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070802/NETH021) To help families prepare for the future, the United States Congress has declared the month of September National College Savings Month. Forty states will join together to raise public awareness and to promote the idea that it is never too early to start saving for your child's education. With college costs increasing yearly at a steady 8%, children born today will face college tuition costs that are three to four times the current average amount. The sooner parents and families start to save, the more their money will grow and with Futuretrust(R), the process of saving becomes a little easier. Developed by Founder and President Rebecca Matthias, the Futuretrust college savings program was created for parents by parents and recommends that families begin to save for their children's education prior to their being born and throughout their lives. The MasterCard(R)-linked college savings program helps parents get a head start on college savings with rebates that are automatically deposited into a tax-free 529 college savings plan of their choice. The program is simple. The Futuretrust MasterCard and its merchant partners contribute a portion of every purchase into the cardholder's tax-free 529 college savings plan. Unlike other programs, Futuretrust can be linked to any 529 plan and Futuretrust can help members open a 529 plan through partners such as TIAA-CREF(R)and AXA Advisors(R). Unlike other programs, Futuretrust has no cap on the amount of rebates that can be earned, so there is no limit to the amount members can save. Members earn 1% back every time they make a purchase with their Futuretrust MasterCard. They'll get bigger rebates when they shop at any of the over 1,000 retail partners in the Futuretrust Preferred Merchant Network. There is no cost to join and no annual fee. Gone could be the days of college cost woes and worries. Joining the Futuretrust MasterCard program now puts time on their side. And after all, time is money. For Futuretrust college savings information or to apply, visit http://www.futuretrust.com/ or call 1-888-TRUST68. Applications are also available at any of the following leading maternity retailers: Motherhood(R) Maternity, Mimi Maternity(R), A Pea in the Pod(R), and Destination Maternity(R). About Futuretrust Futuretrust(R) is a MasterCard(R)-linked college savings program that enables families and friends to get a 'jump' on saving for college. Futuretrust has no membership fee. Rebates are automatically contributed to a tax-advantaged 529-college savings plan of the member's choice. Members earn a minimum of 1% every time they make a purchase with the Futuretrust MasterCard, accepted at millions of locations. Members also earn additional college savings when they use the Futuretrust MasterCard at thousands of partners in the Futuretrust Preferred Merchant Network consisting of major retail chains, catalogs, restaurants and on-line merchants. Members can also earn college savings rebates when they buy, sell, finance, or refinance a home, as well as use moving services or participate in home warranty transactions. Applications are available at over 750 Motherhood(R) Maternity, Mimi Maternity(R), A Pea in the Pod(R) and Destination Maternity(R) locations, online at http://www.futuretrust.com/ or by calling 1.888.trust68. Futuretrust is a Mothers Work, Inc. brand. About 529 Plans A 529 College Savings Plan is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged savings plan that can help families and individuals save for higher education expenses. These plans offer a number of benefits, including tax-deferred growth and federal income tax-free withdrawals when used for qualified education expenses. This federal income tax-free treatment of qualified withdrawals and other federal tax benefits are now permanent for 529 plans through the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Savings can be used at most accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. and at many colleges abroad. Qualified expenses include tuition, fees, eligible room and board, books, supplies and required equipment for attendance at a higher education institution. In addition to the federal tax benefit, many states offer a state income tax deduction for contributions to their plans as well as state income tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070802/NETH021 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Futuretrust CONTACT: Judie Ashworth Publicity Manager of Futuretrust, +1-215-873- 2283, ; or Linda Falcone, , or Erin Doyle, , both of Blue Sky Communications, +1-212-995- 1777, for Futuretrust Web site: http://www.futuretrust.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/581877.html

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