Hundreds of employees from Ashford University and Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI) will spend the morning of Saturday, April 20 giving back to America’s Finest City. The volunteer effort is part of Ashford’s biannual Heroes Day event in which employees collectively demonstrate their commitment to the community. For this employee volunteer event, Ashford teamed up with the San Diego River Park Foundation to help with nature trail creation, plant and debris removal and additional improvements as part of the San Diego River Garden Restoration Project.

The San Diego River Park Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of the San Diego River Park. Its mission is to restore the San Diego River back to a healthy waterway and create the San Diego River Park System. The area is comprised of a variety of parks, open spaces, and community places along the 52-mile San Diego River. It is connected by a river trail from the mountains to the ocean.

The San Diego Heroes Day event is part of a larger volunteer effort to support National Volunteer Month. All Ashford University employees and students were encouraged to take part in Heroes Day and volunteer in their communities. Planned Heroes Day volunteer events are taking place simultaneously at locations in Clinton, Iowa; Denver, Colo.; and San Diego, Calif.

At the last Heroes Day, held in October 2012, nearly 150 employees and their families helped revitalize the Mary Fay Pendleton School located on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The exteriors of five buildings were painted, totaling more than 600 manpower hours.

About Ashford University

Ashford University is defining the modern college experience by combining the heritage of a traditional campus with the flexibility and effectiveness of online learning. The University provides a vibrant learning community where high-quality programs and leading-edge technology create a dynamic, immersive and stimulating learning experience. The University offers practical and progressive associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs online, as well as bachelor’s degree programs at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. Ashford University – where heritage meets innovation. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Winet Rodriguez, vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) improves the way individuals learn. By harnessing creativity, knowledge and proprietary technologies, such as Constellation, Thuze and Waypoint Outcomes, Bridgepoint Education has re-engineered the modern student experience with innovative solutions that advance learning. Its academic institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies – embody the contemporary college experience. Ashford University offers associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs while University of the Rockies offers master’s and doctoral degree programs. Both provide progressive online platforms, as well as traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa (Ashford University), and Colorado Springs, Colorado (University of the Rockies). For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Winet Rodriguez, vice president of Public Relations, at 858.668.2580.