Communities In Schools Is Among the Most Accountable Nonprofits in the Country

The Better Business Bureau and Charity Navigator Rank Communities In Schools
In the Top Tier of Nonprofits for Its Financial Stewardship and Sound
Operations

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools is
proud to show its commitment to the highest standards of charitable giving by
being recognized by the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. Along
with the organization's second four-star rating from nationally recognized
Charity Navigator, participation in the Wise Giving Alliance places
Communities In Schools in the top tier of nonprofits for its financial
stewardship and operational transparency.

"At Communities In Schools, we believe our mission is a trust - one that we
take very seriously and that is a core part of helping young people achieve
their true potential and succeed both in school and in life. Recognition from
two nationally respected charity evaluators with such rigorous criteria is
another example of how we validate that trust in what we do every day," said
Daniel J. Cardinali, president, Communities In Schools, Inc.

While many nonprofits continue to receive support despite tough economic
times, the public and key funders are demanding that organizations such as
Communities In Schools show unprecedented transparency and proven results to
justify continued contributions. In many cases, nonprofit organizations are
being asked to do more with less, and donors are looking for proof that a
nonprofit's operations are effective.

The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance is nationally recognized for
their rigorous evaluation process that helps foster sound giving decisions and
advances high standards of conduct among nonprofits. Formed by the merger of
the National Charities Information Bureau and the Council of Better Business
Bureau's Foundation (which housed the Philanthropic Advisory Service), the
Wise Giving Alliance offers a century of experience in providing the public
with the information they need when deciding whether to contribute money, time
and effort to a nonprofit.

Charity Navigator is the nation's largest nonprofit evaluator, issuing
comprehensive reports on more than 5,000 national organizations that are used
by more than four million donors.

The endorsement of the Better Business Bureau and Charity Navigator are born
out by CIS' numbers. The organization has network-wide revenues of more than
$222 million. There are 214 CIS affiliates across the country and a labor
force that is 94 percent non-paid volunteers. These resources mean that
nearly 2.1 students across the country have access to services and attend
schools in which CIS has a presence. Organizational accountability is at the
heart CIS' 30-year promise to the public and young people it serves.

Communities In Schools is the nation's largest dropout prevention
organization, working in more than 3,200 K-12 public schools. Founded in
1977, Communities In Schools is headquartered in Arlington, Va. Today, more
than 1.3 million young people annually receive direct services through nearly
200 Communities In Schools local affiliates in 26 states and the District of
Columbia. Between 80-90 percent of Communities In Schools' tracked students
show improvement in academic achievement, attendance, behavior and promotion
to the next grade level. Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

SOURCE Communities In Schools

Deborah Veney Robinson, +1-703-518-2545, mediarelations@cisnet.org