Thanks for the ❤️

1. Participation in the Ascent’s Social Media Giveaway (the “Sweepstakes”) constitutes Entrant’s (as defined below) full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules. Entrant is free to disclaim any prize and status as Entrant, and as a result, will not be eligible to receive any prize. This Sweepstakes may be promoted via social media websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat or any other site or medium (collectively “Content Hosts”). The Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with the Content Hosts, even if the Content Host posts or publishes information about the Sweepstakes. Entrant is providing information only to Sponsor (as defined below) or its partners, and not to Content Hosts. The Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law.

2. Sponsor and Administrator. The Sweepstakes is sponsored and administered by Ascent Funding, LLC, 402 West Broadway, Suite 2000, San Diego, CA 92101 (“Sponsor”). All decisions related to, as well as all interpretation of, these Official Rules by Sponsor are final and binding. Neither Amazon.com nor any of the eligible charities are a sponsor of this Sweepstakes.

3. Sweepstakes Period. The Sweepstakes begins at 9:00 AM PST on December 31, 2019 and ends January 1, 2020 at 8:59 AM PST (the “Sweepstakes Period”). Only entries submitted and received during the Sweepstakes Period will be accepted. Sponsor is the official timekeeper of this Sweepstakes.

4. Eligibility of Entrant. The Sweepstakes is open only to: (i) citizens or permanent residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least the age of 18 at the time of entry and (2) who are enrolled in a high school or post-secondary educational institution or who are the parent or legal guardian of a person who is enrolled in a high school or post-secondary educational institution. Employees of Sponsor or its parent or affiliate companies or agents, as well as the immediate family members (e.g. spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee or agent, are not eligible. Legal entities are not eligible to enter as an Entrant.  Participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes full and unconditional agreement with all provisions of these Official Rules.

5. Eligible Charities. The following charities are eligible for the $1,000 donation by Sponsor. The winning charity will be selected based on the most number of votes by the Entrants during the Sweepstakes Period. The winning charity must be a non-profit organization with tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. The winning charity must accept these Rules in order to receive the donation.

1. • Swipe Out Hunger > https://www.swipehunger.org/
   • Students 4 Students > https://www.s4sla.org/
   • Sierra Club > https://www.sierraclub.org/
   • Active Minds > https://www.activeminds.org/

6. How to Enter. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PURCHASES DO NOT INCREASE ODDS OF WINNING. Eligible individuals who participate in the Sweepstakes will become an “Entrant.”  Each Entrant will receive one entry in the Promotion.  A maximum of one eligible submission per Entrant is permitted. Entrants may enter the Sweepstakes by following Ascent Student Loans on Instagram and submitting a vote for 1 of 5 eligible charities.

7. Conditions of Entry.  Entries not submitted in accordance with these Official Rules are void.  Only qualified entries received by Sponsor or its partner during the Sweepstakes Period are eligible for participation. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants may be required to provide the following information to be eligible for a Sweepstakes prize: first name, last name, , email address, complete mailing address (including city, state, and zip code) and phone number (including area code) (collectively or individually, “Personal Information”). All requested Personal Information must be provided to participate in the Sweepstakes and to be eligible to win a prize.

Entries with incomplete, invalid, incorrect or non-current information; entries that are counterfeit, damaged or tampered with in any way; and entries with printing, production or typographical errors will be disqualified.  Entries that are late, lost, damaged, misdirected, stolen or not delivered are not the responsibility of Sponsor and will be disqualified.  Sponsor is not responsible if a potential winner does not receive his or her prize because erroneous, expired, canceled, fraudulent, or fake information was provided during the Sweepstakes. Proof of sent entry and/or entry receipt (such as a copy of a “thank you” screen or message) does not constitute proof of actual receipt of entry by Sponsor for purposes of this Sweepstakes. Any attempt by any Entrant to obtain more than the stated number of daily entries by using multiple email addresses, phone numbers, identities, registrations, or logins; entries through a sweepstakes club or similar entity; or any other unauthorized method of entry will void all of Entrant’s entries and Entrant will be disqualified from the entire Sweepstakes and future sweepstakes. Submitting mass entries or entries generated by an automated program, script, or macro, or the use of any other similar device, program, or method to enter this Sweepstakes is prohibited and will result in disqualification.

In the event of a dispute as to the identity of Entrant, the authorized account holder of the email address submitted with the entry will be deemed to be Entrant. A potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. The “authorized account holder” of an email address is the natural person assigned to that email address by any organization (business, educational institution, etc.) responsible for assigning accounts to that email address.  If the identity of the individual who actually participated in the Sweepstakes cannot be resolved to Sponsor’s satisfaction, the affected individual’s entry will be deemed ineligible. Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, disqualify any individual it finds to be in violation of these Official Rules, tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes (including, but not limited to, tampering with websites, email addresses, or phone numbers), or acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner.  Any attempt to undermine the operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal or civil law, and Sponsor may seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law from any person it finds to have made such an attempt.

8. One winner will receive one (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card at the end of the Sweepstakes Period. All prizes must be accepted as awarded without substitution and are not, in whole or in part, assignable, transferable, or available for resale. Sponsor is in no way responsible for any cancellations  or delays, or any other act, omission, or result thereof, caused by any third party.

Federal, state, and local taxes and all other costs and expenses associated with acceptance and use of the prize are the winner’s sole responsibility.

Prize specific terms and conditions may apply. If the winner elects not to partake in any portion of the prize, any remainder of the prize that is unused will be forfeited and will not be subject to further or additional compensation. Any prize details not specified above will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. If any potential winner is disqualified, not eligible, or for any other reason cannot accept the prize as stated, then Sponsor may randomly select a new potential winner from the remaining pool of eligible Entrants.

9. Winner Determination and Verification.  One potential winner will be randomly drawn from the pool of all eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. The process leading to the random selection of a potential prize winner is within the sole discretion of Sponsor. Potential winners are each subject to eligibility verification by Sponsor, whose decisions are final and binding. An Entrant is not a winner of any prize, even if notified of being a winner and/or issued any item of value, unless and until Entrant’s eligibility has been verified to the satisfaction of Sponsor. To be verified as eligible to receive a prize, each potential winner must fulfill all requirements and continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and not be disqualified for any reason. Each potential winner will be notified by email and social media (subject to Sponsor’s discretion).

If a potential winner of any prize cannot be contacted using the information provided or fails to respond to Sponsor’s attempt to notify them of selection within three (3) business days; if any prize or notification is returned as undeliverable or yields an error or undeliverable type “bounce back” email (regardless if the message is ultimately delivered to the recipient); if the potential winner fails to sign and return the Release or any other required documentation or fails to comply with these Official Rules; if a potential winner is unable or unwilling to accept the prize as stated; or if the potential winner cannot be verified as eligible for any reason at any time before, during, or after the Sweepstakes Period, the potential winner is disqualified and forfeits the prize and an alternate potential winner will be randomly selected from among the remaining eligible entries. In the event that an Entrant is disqualified for any reason, the foregoing process will be repeated until the prize is awarded or until three (3) attempts have been made to award the prize and each attempt has failed. The winner may be published by Sponsor on a Content Host site.

10. Prize Fulfillment:The prize will be delivered to the winner by mail at the winner’s address as provided in the applicable tax forms, i.e. W9, within (1) week following announcement of the potential winner by Sponsor. Sponsor will not be responsible for any delays by potential winner.

11. Donation, Charity Determination and Verification, Fulfillment. One charity will receive one (1) $1,000 donation at the end of the Sweepstakes Period based on the most number of votes by Entrants. The donation must be accepted as awarded without substitution and are not, in whole or in part, assignable, transferable, or available for resale. Sponsor is in no way responsible for any cancellations or delays, or any other act, omission, or result thereof, caused by any third party.

Federal, state, and local taxes and all other costs and expenses associated with acceptance and use of the donation, if any, are the charity’s sole responsibility.

Specific terms and conditions may apply. If the charity elects not to partake in any portion of the donation, any remainder of the donation that is unused will be forfeited and will not be subject to further or additional compensation. Any donation details not specified above will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. If any potential charity is disqualified, not eligible, fails to abide by these Official Rules, or for any other reason cannot accept the donation as stated, then that charity will not receive the donation and Sponsor will select the charity with the second most number of votes by the Entrants during the Sweepstakes Period as the new winning charity.

12. Limitations of Liability. Sponsor makes no warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, with respect to any prize or donation. This includes, without limitation, any warranty, representation, or guarantee related to any prize’s or donation’s quality or fitness for a particular purpose. By entering or participating in this Sweepstakes or any prize or donation in any way, each Entrant and charity agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless, and thereby does release and discharge Sponsor, Content Hosts, and each of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, vendors, advertising or promotional agencies and distributors, and each of their respective parent companies and each such company’s officers, directors, employees and agents, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such individual (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any loss, damage, injury, claim, or cause of action related in any way whatsoever to this Sweepstakes, these Official Rules, or the rights, consents and licenses granted to Sponsor under these Official Rules, including, but not limited to, infringement of any right of publicity or intellectual property; threatened or actual injury, loss or damage to any person, including death and disability; defamation or portrayal in a false light (intentional and unintentional); invasion of privacy; and damage to or loss of property, arising out of such Entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use, non-use or misuse of any prize or donation. In no event will Released Parties be responsible or liable for any damages or losses of any kind, including indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages arising out of this Sweepstakes.  Some jurisdictions may not allow the limitations or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages or exclusion of implied warranties. Check local laws for restrictions regarding these limitations or exclusions.

Entrants and charities waive any right to claim ambiguity in these Official Rules. The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) technical failures of any kind; (2) incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Entrants, charities, any internet or email service provider, any promotional or advertising agency, printing or computing errors, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; (4) technical or human error that may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries or the announcement of the winner and prize; (5) any injury or damage to persons or property that may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by Entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes; (6) the receipt, use or misuse of any prize or donation; or (7) any other errors in any materials, information or announcements associated with the Sweepstakes.  If for any reason an Entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted by Sponsor, Entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Sweepstakes, subject to availability and provided that the Sweepstakes has not then expired.

EACH ENTRANT WAIVES CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE § 1542 (AND ALL SIMILAR LAWS OF ANY STATE OR TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES), WHICH READS: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” EACH ENTRANT REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS FULL UNDERSTANDING OF, AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE SIGNIFICANCE AND CONSEQUENCE OF, WAIVER OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE § 1542 (AND ALL SIMILAR LAWS OF ANY STATE OR TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES).

13. LICENSE FROM ENTRANT AND CHARITY. To the extent allowed by law, participation in the Sweepstakes in any way and/or acceptance of, or participation in, any prize or donation constitutes each Entrant’s and charity’s irrevocable consent for, and grant of a non-exclusive, sub-licensable and assignable license to Sponsor to use, publish, post, or display Entrant’s or charities’ name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, statements, prize information, biographical information, and/or hometown and state, province, or territory, regardless of whether altered, modified, distorted, edited, or used alone or with other material, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, for promotional, advertising, trade, and publicity purposes in any medium now known or later discovered, worldwide and in perpetuity, without review or approval by Entrant or charity, and without further notice, payment, or consideration of any kind to Entrant or charity. All rights, consents and licenses granted to Sponsor under these Official Rules will survive the termination of this Sweepstakes. Entrant’s or charity’s consent and license may only be revoked in writing, and the mere ending of this Sweepstakes or Sweepstakes Period is not sufficient to revoke such consent or license.

14. Right to Modify or Cancel. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, these Official Rules will otherwise remain in effect in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was never included. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules does not constitute a waiver of that provision. Sponsor may cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes or any part of it, in any way, if Sponsor determines in its sole discretion that the Sweepstakes is not capable of executing as Sponsor intended, or some factor, technical or otherwise, beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control, impairs or may impair Sponsor’s ability to properly conduct the Sweepstakes, subject to any applicable law or regulation.  In such event, Sponsor may, but is not obligated to, award any applicable prize(s) by conducting a random drawing from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the cancellation, suspension, or modification of the Sweepstakes.  Inclusion in such random drawing is Entrant’s and/or charity’s exclusive remedy under such circumstances. In the event of an inconsistency between these Official Rules and any disclosure or other statement contained in any Sweepstakes-related materials, including, but not limited to, a Sweepstakes entry form or any point-of-sale, radio, television, print, or online advertising, these Official Rules will prevail and govern.

15. Except where prohibited by law, Entrant and charity agrees that: (1) all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate federal or state court located in San Diego County, California; and (2) all claims, judgments and awards will be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys’ fees. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights or obligations of Entrant, charity or Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, no matter what jurisdiction, that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than as stated.

16. Privacy. By entering this Sweepstakes, Entrant and charity agrees to Sponsor’s manner of collection, use, retention, and disclosure of Entrant’s or charity’s Personal Information submitted in connection with the Sweepstakes. Personal Information collected from Entrant is subject to Sponsor’s privacy notice, which can be found at ascentstudentloans.com/privacy-notice.

17. Official Rules. For a printed copy of the Official Rules, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope (VT residents need not affix return postage) to: Ascent Student Loans Sweepstakes Rules, 501 West Broadway, Ste A150, San Diego, CA 92101 Attn: Sweepstakes Team, within six (6) months following the prize drawing.