Here’s a chance to jump-start your child’s college savings journey. The CollegeCounts First Grade, First Step Giveaway can help Alabama families invest in their child’s future.
Each month from September 2025 through June 2026, up to 20 Alabama first graders will be randomly selected to receive a $100 contribution to their CollegeCounts 529 account. That’s up to $20,000 awarded throughout the 2025-2026 school year!
Parents and grandparents only need to register once to be eligible for the monthly drawings throughout the year. It’s an opportunity with multiple chances to win while you focus on what matters most: supporting your child as they take their first big step into elementary school.
Don’t miss this chance to make saving for college simple, exciting, and rewarding!
Keep reading to learn more about CollegeCounts and how you can register for a chance to win with the First Grade First Step Giveaway.
Enter the First Grade, First Step Giveaway!
Upon completing the online registration, you will automatically be entered into monthly drawings (September 2025 – June 2026) for the 2025-2026 school year. Each drawing offers a chance to win a $100 contribution to your first grader’s CollegeCounts account.
Eligibility Details:
- Account owner must be age 19 or older and an Alabama resident.
- 529 account beneficiary must be in the first grade in Alabama for the 2025-2026 school year (public, private, and home school students are eligible).
- Only 1 entry is valid per student.
- Winners must claim their $100 contribution for their child or grandchild’s 529 account within 21 days of being notified. If the winner fails to do so, the prize is forfeited, and a new winner will be selected.
Please note that individuals are not eligible to win more than once. The names of previous winners will be removed from the list every month.
How CollegeCounts Helps Families Plan for the Future
Saving for college doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With CollegeCounts 529, Alabama’s official 529 education savings plan, you can start small, stay in control, and take advantage of attractive tax benefits while helping to build a brighter future for your child.
Here’s why parents across Alabama are choosing CollegeCounts:
- Tax Benefits: Contributions by Alabama taxpayers may be eligible for an Alabama state income tax deduction up to $5,000 for individuals or up to $10,000 if married, filing jointly, and both spouses contribute¹. Plus, your contributions grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified college expenses².
- You Stay in Control: As the account owner, you retain control of the account even after your student begins college.
- Start Small, Dream Big: There’s no minimum contribution required to open an account. Whether you can contribute $25 each month or $2,500, every bit can add up over time.
- Use it Nationwide: Funds from the CollegeCounts 529 account can be used at most accredited colleges, universities, trade schools, and graduate programs across the U.S., not just in Alabama. Qualified expenses include more than just tuition: books, supplies, and equipment (i.e. computers) are also included². Certain apprenticeship program expenses also qualify.
Contribute what you can, when you can, and feel confident that you’re building something for your child’s future educational expenses.
No First Grader? You Can Still Get Started Today!
If your child isn’t currently in the first grade, don’t worry. You can still open a CollegeCounts account today and help set your child up for success. Any contributions made now can be the building blocks for a better tomorrow.
Visit CollegeCounts529.com to learn more, find helpful tools to guide you through the process, and open an account. You’ll also find resources on how to invite grandparents and other family members to give the gift of education for birthdays, graduations, or any special occasion.
Parents do so much to care for their kids day in and day out. Starting a CollegeCounts529 account is one more way you can invest in their future success. Let CollegeCounts help make dreams a reality by getting an account started today. And if you have a first grader, don’t miss the chance to win an extra $100 in your CollegeCounts account. Want to learn more? View the official rules and enter for your chance to win.
DISCLOSURE
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Enter the Sweepstakes by completing a sweepstakes entry form at the CollegeCounts 529 website, located at www.collegecounts529.com/firstgrade between August 7, 2025 and May 31, 2026. You must complete all required fields on the entry form. You must be the parent, grandparent, or legal guardian to a child who is a resident of Alabama and who will be a first grader at an Alabama public, private, or home school during the 2025-2026 school year. Only one entry per qualifying child. Up to twenty (20) prize winners will be randomly drawn each month between September 2025 and June 2026. You need not be present to win. Each prize winner will receive $100 in the form of a contribution to a CollegeCounts 529 College Savings Plan account established by the Sponsor for the benefit of a child, designated by the winner. Total prize value of each prize is $100 and the total prize value of all prizes awarded is up to $20,000. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Official rules available at the website identified above. The Sponsor of this Sweepstakes is CollegeCounts 529 Fund. This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
The CollegeCounts 529 Fund is a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code that is offered by the State of Alabama, administered by the Board of Trustees of the ACES Trust Fund (the “Trust” and plan issuer), marketed as the CollegeCounts 529 Fund, and Union Bank and Trust Company serves as Program Manager. Union Bank and Trust Company is registered as a municipal advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). Except for any investments made by a Participant in the Bank Savings 529 Portfolio up to the limit provided by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance, neither the principal contributed to an Account, nor earnings thereon, are guaranteed or insured by the State of Alabama, the State Treasurer of Alabama, the Board, the Trust, the Program, any other state, any agency or instrumentality thereof, Union Bank and Trust Company, the FDIC, or any other entity. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Account Owners in the Plan assume all investment risk, including the potential loss of principal.
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and the CollegeCounts 529 Fund Program Disclosure Statement (issuer’s official statement), which can be obtained by calling 866.529.2228 and at CollegeCounts529.com and should be read carefully before investing. You can lose money by investing in a portfolio. Each of the portfolios involves investment risks, which are described in the Program Disclosure Statement.
An investor should consider, before investing, whether the investor’s or designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state’s 529 plan. Investors should consult a tax advisor.
Not FDIC Insured*. No Bank Guarantee. May Lose Value.
(*except the Bank Savings 529 Portfolio underlying investment)
¹Individuals who file an Alabama state income tax return are eligible to deduct for Alabama state income tax purposes up to $5,000 per tax year ($10,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly if both contribute) for total combined contributions to the Plan and other State of Alabama 529 programs. The contributions made to such qualifying plans are deductible on the tax return of the contributing taxpayer for the tax year in which the contributions are made. In the event of a Non-Qualified Withdrawal from the Plan, for Alabama state income tax purposes, an amount must be added back to the income of the contributing taxpayer in an amount of the Non-Qualified Withdrawal plus ten percent (10%) of such amount withdrawn. Such amount will be added back to the income of the contributing taxpayer in the tax year that the Non-Qualified Withdrawal was distributed. Please consult with your tax professional.
²Withdrawals used to pay for qualified higher education expenses are free from federal and Alabama state income tax. Qualified higher education expenses include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment or attendance; certain room and board expenses incurred by students who are enrolled at least half-time; the purchase of computer or peripheral equipment, computer software, or internet access and related services, if used primarily by the beneficiary during any of the years the beneficiary is enrolled at an eligible educational institution; certain expenses for special needs services needed by a special needs beneficiary; apprenticeship program expenses; payment of principal or interest on any qualified education loan of the Beneficiary or a sibling of the Beneficiary (up to an aggregate lifetime limit of $10,000 per individual); up to $10,000 in 2025 (increasing to $20,000 in 2026) in K-12 expenses; and qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses. The earnings portion of a Non-Qualified withdrawal is subject to federal income tax and 10% federal penalty tax. In addition, Alabama provides in the event of a Non-Qualified withdrawal an amount that must be added back to the income of the contributing taxpayer. The amount to be added back will be the amount of the Non-Qualified withdrawal plus 10% of the amount withdrawn.
