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RIVERWOODS, Ill.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Discover today announced a partnership with DoSomething.org, a non-profit organization that focuses on causes teenagers care about, calling on teenagers across the country to petition their high schools to bring financial education into their classrooms.

"As teens go back to school, our partnership with DoSomething.org is a great way to engage them and their schools in a cause that will give students an opportunity for a brighter financial future."

Students can visit [ DoSomething.org ] to sign the petition a" currently with more than 37,000 signatures a" hosted on the DoSomething.org [ education page ]. After signing the petition, students can either print it or email it to their school administrators and, by sharing the petition with five others, are eligible for a $3,000 higher education scholarship. DoSomething.org has randomly awarded two $3,000 scholarships and will award three more $3,000 scholarships and one $5,000 scholarship before the end of 2012.

The partnership coincides with Discoveras [ Pathway to Financial Success ] program, a 5-year, $10 million investment launched earlier this year, to bring financial education to public high schools across the country. Through [ Pathway to Financial Success ], Discover is providing grants to high schools to cover the cost of implementing a personal finance course, giving them access to a standards-based curriculum and offering teachers the training they need to deliver it. Discover has awarded more than $1 million in financial education grants in 2012 thus far.

aA poll released by Sallie Mae showed that 84 percent of high school students nationwide believe there should be more financial education in their classroom,a said Kathryn Beiser, vice president of corporate communications at Discover. aAs teens go back to school, our partnership with DoSomething.org is a great way to engage them and their schools in a cause that will give students an opportunity for a brighter financial future.a

aWith over 37,000 teens signing this petition to date, itas obvious that young people are demanding financial education at their schools,a said DoSomething.org COO Aria Finger. aThey donat want to wait for change; theyare young, passionate and ready to take action right now.a

Students also are taking advantage of social media sitesa sharing power. More than 3,100 students have recommended the petition on Facebook and 1,000 have taken to Twitter to spread awareness. The petition campaign runs through the end of December.

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the [ Discover card ], Americaas cash rewards pioneer, and offers home loans, private student loans, personal loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its [ direct banking business ]. Its [ payment businesses ] consist of [ Discover Network ], with millions of merchant and cash access locations; [ PULSE ], one of the nationas leading ATM/debit networks; and [ Diners Club International ], a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit [ www.discoverfinancial.com ].

About DoSomething.org

We love teens. They are creative, active, wiredaand frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesnat require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of five million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the U.S. for teens and social change. Join us at [ www.DoSomething.org ].