A Creston baby, Ayden Claybaker, was awarded a $1,000 College Savings Iowa account by State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald in a special ceremony held at Greater Regional Medical Center last week. Ayden is the ninth recipient of the award, which is given out monthly. The parents of the baby, Misty and Christopher Claybaker, received information about the college savings giveaway program before leaving the hospital after their son’s birth.

The College Savings Iowa BABY 529 Giveaway awards one college savings account each month to a randomly selected baby. All babies born in participating Iowa hospitals are eligible to win if they are registered for the monthly drawing. Sixty-three hospitals currently participate in the program.

“New parents are busy, but it doesn’t take much time or money to start saving with College Savings Iowa. They can open an account in about ten minutes with just $25,” said Fitzgerald.

College Savings Iowa is a state-sponsored 529 plan designed to give families a tax-advantaged way to save money for college. Anyone – parents, grandparents, friends and relatives – can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. Iowa taxpayers can deduct a portion of what they contribute to each account from their state taxable income and there are no income or residency restrictions.

View the full release from College Savings Iowa.