Children outgrow toys and clothes, but when you make a contribution to their Path2College 529 Plan college savings account, you are giving them a gift that grows with them. This holiday season, I want to encourage families to consider replacing at least one traditional gift this year with the gift of education through the state's college savings plan, the Path2College 529 Plan.

Through the 529 Plan's Ugift program, families can request and receive gifts that go directly to a child's college savings, and this has allowed family and friends to give this unique and meaningful gift in an easy, secure way. Contributing even $25 to a child's college savings plan can change their mindset about saving and empower them by letting them know there is a plan to help them achieve their goals. The State of Georgia has seen an increase in gifting to its college savings plan–the Path2College 529 Plan. In the past year, more than 20,000 citizens received gifts to their college savings accounts.

While the 529 Plan is intended primarily as a savings and investment vehicle for college expenses, these funds can be used for K-12 tuition, apprenticeship expenses, and payment of qualified education loans. Georgia citizens can invest in 529 Plans for themselves, children, siblings, grandchildren, and friends.

In certain cases, the contributor can receive state tax benefits. 529 Plan contributions are deductible from Georgia state income taxes up to $8,000 per year per beneficiary for joint filers, and $4,000 per year per beneficiary for all others. Georgia tax benefits related to the Path2College 529 Plan are available only to Georgia taxpayers. Qualified Withdrawals are not subject to Federal or Georgia income tax. You can learn more about Path2College 529 Plans at www.path2college529.com.

To give the gift of education this holiday season, or more information on Georgia's Path2College 529 Plan, visit www.Path2College529.com, and click on gift to learn more about the Ugift program.