For years the rising costs of a college education have been creating tremendous financial burdens for students and their families. It seems that there's no end in sight to the growing debt college grads acquire over the course of their academic careers. That is until Michael Bronner, founder of the award winning marketing firm Digitas, decided that he could make going to college easier for families around the country. Bronner launched Upromise in 2001, with the soul purpose of making higher education affordable for American families. Upromise works with major corporations that give families a percentage of their spending back to their Upromise accounts. In addition to creating a cash back savings program, Upromise also works to educate families on savings options and investment opportunities in order to create a long-term plan for financial stability.

It's free to become a Upromise member, and you can immediately begin saving through companies like Citi, ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, and more. There are nearly 10,000 restaurants and 400 online shopping sites that also belong to the Upromise network. In the last five years more than six million families have joined Upromise, with the hopes of planning for a brighter future. There's also Upromise Grocery, a program that gives members money when they buy grocery, health, and household items that include products from manufacturers like Huggies, Tide, and Tylenol.

Upromise also has a program called Upromise Investments where you can go to learn about college savings options like the Upromise College Fund. With this 529 plan, members can get an online account, receive online statements, and choose from a number of Vanguard investment options.

We applaud Upromise for giving a good gift that grows with the recipient. It's encouraging to see an organization working to change the financial landscape of college educations around the world regardless of class, race, or location. Upromise is giving people the chance to actualize the dream of providing a better tomorrow for their kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews.