SAN DIEGO, CALIF. — The Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) has announced a $10,000 donation in honor of the 400 speakers at RIMS 2008 Annual Conference & Exhibition to the Monarch School, a San Diego-based school that provides accredited educational programs and a stable environment for homeless and at-risk youth.

"RIMS is proud to assist Monarch School in its efforts to provide a better future for the homeless children of San Diego." says Mary Roth, RIMS executive director. "The gift will go towards Monarch School's After School Program, which includes enrollment in classes such as karate, tennis, dance, music, drawing and painting."

Founded in 1988, Monarch School operates through a partnership between the San Diego County Office of Education, which provides the basic education, and the Monarch School Project, a non-profit organization that fundraises for the needs of the students-such as medical and dental care, food and clothing supplements, mentoring and tutoring, bus passes and tokens, and a comprehensive after school program. Monarch serves nearly 500 children each year between the ages of 8 and 18. While the average student will arrive three years behind grade level, test results show that every six months a student is at Monarch School he/she will progress more than a year academically.

"We are truly grateful to receive this donation from RIMS," says Sarita Fuentes, principal and CEO for Monarch School. "This donation will help Monarch School make a positive difference and give our students a chance to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness."

For more information about the Risk and Insurance Management Society, visit www.RIMS.org.

For more information about the Monarch School, visit www.monarchschools.org.