Education Resource Center Gives At-Risk Students the Chance of a Lifetime

VERO BEACH, FL (August 11, 2008) - For most students, back-to-school time typically involves a trip to the mall for new clothes, shoes and other accessories. For some local students, the mall is much more than a shopping destination: it's where they go to school.

Indian River Mall has been the setting for an alternative high school since August 2007 . The school, known as The Indian River Commons Education Resource Center, is part of a network of 21 Education Resource Centers (ERCs) nationwide that have been established by national non-profit Simon Youth Foundation (SYF). Locally, The Indian River Commons Education Resource Center is home to more than 20 students, ranging between the ages of 16 and 18, each attempting to satisfy the goal of obtaining a high school diploma.

SYF, now celebrating its 10 th anniversary, develops schools in partnership with public school districts, Simon Property Group and the communities the schools serve. The ERCs provide an option for students at risk of not graduating due to teen pregnancy, different learning styles or social interaction problems, to name only a few reasons.

"Simon Youth Foundation is proud of its school in Vero Beach and the partnerships it has formed within the community," said SYF Executive Vice President, Dr. Richard Markoff. "A high school education is essential and it's a truly special endeavor to provide ERC students with a second chance."

In 10 years, 5,000 students have earned their diplomas at an ERC and the national graduation rate is 89 percent. Additionally, SYF created a scholarship program in 2000 for ERC graduates and high school seniors across the country that has awarded $5.9 million.

The success of the ERC program was recently recognized when SYF received a prestigious award from the Education Commission of the States ( www.ecs.org) for its sustained commitment to, and significant investment in, improving public education in the United States. Members of the ECS include the governor and state superintendent of education from every state, education officials and community leaders who work to improve public education by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas and experiences.

The Indian River Commons Education Resource Center will host an Open House on Fri., August 15, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parents and students are encouraged to come out and learn about what this great resource center has to offer. For more information, call 772-564-6268.

To learn more about Simon Youth Foundation and its programs, log on to www.syf.org or stop by the guest services booth at Indian River Mall.

About Indian River Mall
Indian River Mall is located on State Road 60 at 66 th Avenue and is managed by Simon Property Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indian River Mall is a single-level regional mall anchored by Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney and Sears and has over 80 specialty stores.

About Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the largest public U.S. real estate company. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers®, The Mills®, community/lifestyle centers and international properties. It currently owns or has an interest in 383 properties comprising 261 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. Simon Property Group, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.simon.com.

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