January 17, 2008

MAJOR GIFT FROM LOCAL BUSINESSMAN BRINGS SUPPORT FOR 2015 VISION PROJECTS TO MORE THAN $35 MILLION

Lincoln, Neb. – Jan. 17, 2008 – 2015 Vision announced today a major gift from Terri and Mike Dunlap. The gift from the Dunlaps brings total private gift commitments to 2015 Vision and its pillar projects to more than $35 million. Their gift will be used to help advance plans for the West Haymarket projects as well as the research initiatives of the University of Nebraska.

The pillar projects supported by 2015 Vision will expand university research, add jobs and grow entertainment and cultural opportunities in Lincoln.

Dunlap is the chairman and chief executive officer of Nelnet, a leading education planning and financing company headquartered in Lincoln that employs approximately 1,000 associates in the city.

“The reason I am involved in 2015 Vision and the reason for my donation is that Nelnet has a significant number of associates in Lincoln, and I want to ensure the city is a vibrant community for them to live and work,” Mike Dunlap said. “I have a particular interest in the arena project, as I believe it will provide families with exciting entertainment options and spur economic growth in the city.”

Mike Dunlap is a member of 2015 Vision and serves on its West Haymarket Action Team, a group working on a plan to replace the 50-year old Pershing Auditorium with a new arena, convention center and hotel in the West Haymarket. The City Council voted this week to spend $1.2 million toward the development of an arena design, so voters can have a more accurate assessment of the costs and features of such a project. Private funds from 2015 Vision will add an additional $1.65 million needed for the design process.

“Mike Dunlap is generously giving his time by serving on the arena committee and helping this community address issues such as site selection, financing and management of an arena,” said Mayor Chris Beutler, one of the chairs of the arena action team. “The fact that he and his wife are also willing to make a personal investment to help make this vision a reality says a great deal about their commitment to the project and this city.”

In early 2007, Mike Dunlap entered into a securities trading plan to transfer a gift of 500,000 shares of Nelnet common stock later that year to the UNF Charitable Gift Fund, a donor advised fund established in 2003 by the University of Nebraska Foundation as a separate charitable organization to help meet the philanthropic needs of donors. The shares were transferred to the fund in July 2007. From this fund, the Dunlaps have directed donations to 2015 Vision, the university and other organizations.

“The donor-advised fund was created to assist donors who desire to support the University of Nebraska as well as any number of other charities important to them,” said Tracy Edgerton, president of the UNF Charitable Gift Fund. “This is certainly true of the Dunlap’s giving, as they have chosen to direct gifts from the fund to the University of Nebraska as well as to other local organizations they enjoy supporting.”

In addition to a new arena for the city, 2015 Vision is supporting several other initiatives across the community, including building Lincoln’s Central Park to complement the Antelope Valley Project that winds through downtown Lincoln, expanding the research capacity of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, expanding arts and humanities projects, growing retail opportunities downtown and several West Haymarket projects.

“The gifts committed to these pillar projects indicate a growing interest and excitement in moving Lincoln forward,” said Terry Fairfield, a 2015 Vision member.

In addition to Dunlaps’ gift, a $7 million gift from John Breslow was announced last month to provide significant support for a new ice center in the West Haymarket area.