Drury SIFE receives Edward Jones grant

The Drury University Students in Free Enterprise team is getting some financial assistance in its efforts to bring clean water to developing nations.

Drury SIFE is receiving $78,000 from Edward Jones Investments to help fund its work installing bio-sand water purifiers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The purifiers significantly reduce the risk that accompanies the use of locally sourced water, according to the university. The grant will fund the program through the 2009-10 school year.

"It is an honor for Edward Jones to join forces with the Students in Free Enterprise at Drury University," said John Beuerlein, general partner at Edward Jones and chairman of the Drury University Board of Trustees, in a news release. "Our financial advisers look forward to working alongside these fine students in the important work of improving lives all across the world."

The SIFE team donation is not the first Edward Jones has made to Drury; the company, in conjunction with John and Crystal Beuerlein, donated $2 million in 2006 to create the Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Drury's SIFE team conducts more than 35 projects each year, ranging from health issues such as the water-purification program to business incubators and entrepreneurship advocacy efforts.