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Celestial Wonders Await Thousands of Schoolchildren

Jean and Ric Edelman donate 10,000 telescopes to U.S. K-12 educators.

Press Release, 29 May 2015: Thousands of schoolchildren around the United States will be able to view the wonders of the night sky, explore the science of optics, and study cosmic history thanks to a donation by Jean and Ric Edelman in celebration of the 2015 International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies.

Jean and Rick Edelman

Jean and Ric Edelman

The Edelmans, founders of Edelman Financial Services, one of the country’s largest independent financial advisory firms,1 have donated $300,000 to the Carthage College Institute of Astronomy to facilitate the acquisition and distribution of 10,000 Edelman Galileoscopes to K-12 educators nationwide. The program is operated in partnership with Galileoscope, LLC.

The Edelman Galileoscope is a high-quality telescope kit originally designed for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. Assembling the kit requires no tools or adhesives, and lets users see the celestial wonders that Galileo Galilei first glimpsed 400 years ago. The craters of the Moon, Saturn’s rings and four moons circling Jupiter all come into view. Long-time astronomy buffs, Jean and Ric are making the donation to help improve math, science and technology literacy in America’s classrooms.

“The Edelman Galileoscope will help teachers reveal the mysteries of the universe to hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren across the country,” said Ric Edelman, Chairman and CEO of Edelman Financial. “Astronomy is the world’s oldest science. Discoveries just require the right tools and advice. Your financial goals can be realized with similar help.”

The donation Jean and Ric have made to the Edelman Galileoscope program will let teachers bring high-quality teaching tools to the classroom. Teachers can order a free case of six scopes, paying just $30 for shipping in the continental U.S. Free online resources will help teachers use the Galileoscope in the classroom. The 10,000 telescopes will provide hands-on learning experiences to hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.

Jean and Ric have a long-standing fascination with the study of celestial objects. The couple funded the Ric and Jean Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University, which includes a 16-inch telescope that feeds live images of the sky to the planetarium’s 40-foot-diameter dome.

K-12 educators throughout the U.S. are encouraged to tune in to Ric’s The Truth About Money radio program (http://www.edelmanfinancial.com/radio) this weekend to find out how to get their free case of Galileoscope kits.

Contacts:
Sarah Kenney Rick Fienberg
Vice-President, Edelman Financial Services Vice-President, Galileoscope, LLC
sarah.kenney@ricedelman.com rfienberg@galileoscope.org
+1 703-246-6748 +1 857-891-5649

About Edelman Financial Services
Edelman Financial Services provides financial planning and investment management services for individuals and families, as well as 401(k) plans and institutional investment management for businesses. The firm has won more than 100 financial, business, community and philanthropic awards.2 For investment advice and other financial planning services, or to speak with an advisor, call 888-PLAN-RIC (888-752-6742) or visit EdelmanFinancial.com.

About Galileoscope, LLC
Galileoscope, LLC, was founded to design, produce, and distribute the Galileoscope educational telescope kit for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. Principals Douglas N. Arion (Carthage College) and Richard Tresch Fienberg (American Astronomical Society) operate the company as volunteers to ensure the lowest possible price for the kit. Since 2009 more than 225,000 Galileoscopes have been distributed to teachers and students in more than 100 countries.

Images (click on each for high-res version; credit: Joson Images/Galileoscope, LLC)

EFS Galileoscope Kit, Assembled

EFS Galileoscope Kit, Assembled

EFS Galileoscope Kit, Package Contents

EFS Galileoscope Kit, Package Contents


Ric Edelman is Chairman and CEO of Edelman Financial Services LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. He is an Investment Advisor Representative who offers advisory services through EFS and a Registered Principal of (and offers securities through) Sanders Morris Harris Inc., an affiliated broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC.

1WealthManagement.com’s 2014 Top 100 RIAs are ranked by assets under management based on data from Meridian-IQ. For each firm, at least 10% of clients are high-net-worth, and at least 10% are not but get financial planning; institutional clients cannot comprise substantial part of business. Investor returns were not considered. Edelman Financial Services ranked 3rd.

2Throughout the firm’s 27 year history, EFS and Ric Edelman have been presented with more than 100 business, advisory, communication and community service awards. A complete list of awards won can be requested by contacting the firm at (888)-PLAN-RIC.