National Penn Donates $5,300 to Support the Pennsylvania Institute for Children’s Environmental Health

Boyertown, Pa. – August 31, 2009 – National Penn announced today a $5,300 contribution to Kutztown University Foundation. The donation was made under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, through which National Penn and its divisions are contributing more than $300,000 in 2009.

National Penn’s donation will be administered through the Kutztown University Foundation to the Pennsylvania Institute for Children’s Environmental Health (PICEH). PICEH, known for the partnerships it has built with a number of public schools, hospitals, doctor’s offices, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations, is assisting with an educational pilot program for Oley Valley School District. A large portion of National Penn’s donation was used to help the school district develop an air monitoring system on the roof of the Oley Valley Middle School. Students from both the middle school and the high school are utilizing the air monitoring system to gather and read air quality data through this hands-on pilot program.

“The funds donated by National Penn are working to further the education of students on the environment”, said Patricia Zong, administrator for PICEH. She added, “The generosity of National Penn and our partnership with Kutztown University and Oley Valley School District are helping us succeed in our mission of understanding the differences between a child and an adult and creating solutions to protect children from environmental harm via education, research and outreach.”

PICEH, which was created through the Berks County Environmental Advisory Council, continually works to promote public education of children’s environmental health issues and is one of only 15 groups recently honored by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania Department for Environmental Protection for its work on children’s health issues.

“At National Penn we believe we have a social responsibility to our local communities. Part of this responsibility includes starting our youth off on the right educational path. We are pleased to support this pilot program as it not only proves to be a hands-on educational program but also raises environmental awareness among the students and the surrounding community,” said Scott Gruber, National Penn Central Region president.

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About National Penn Bancshares, Inc.

National Penn Bancshares, Inc., with $9.8 billion in assets, is the fourth largest bank holding company based in Pennsylvania.  In addition, wealth assets under administration or management amount to $8.1 billion.

Headquartered in Boyertown, National Penn operates 127 offices. It has 124 community banking offices in Pennsylvania and one office in Maryland through National Penn Bank and its HomeTowne Heritage Bank, KNBT and Nittany Bank divisions. National Penn also has two offices in Delaware through its wholly-owned subsidiary Christiana Bank & Trust Company.

National Penn’s financial services affiliates consist of National Penn Wealth Management, N.A., including its National Penn Investors Trust Company division; National Penn Capital Advisors, Inc.; Vantage Investment Advisors, LLC; Institutional Advisors LLC; National Penn Leasing Company; National Penn Insurance Services Group, Inc., including its Higgins Insurance division; and Caruso Benefits Group, Inc.

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “NPBC”. Please visit our Web site at www.nationalpennbancshares.com to see our regularly posted material information.