Community Relations Information
- The Travelers Foundation
- Education
- Travelers EDGE: Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment
- Travelers Community Connection
- Marlene M. Ibsen
The Travelers Foundation
Travelers provides support for charitable organizations through the Travelers Foundation. The Foundation has a strong focus on education initiatives in Travelers’ key cities of Saint Paul, Minn., and Hartford, Conn. The remainder of the Travelers Foundation's giving in those cities supports targeted local needs in the areas of community development and the arts. Travelers Foundation also provides funding related to education, community development and arts & culture in other geographic regions where we have a significant business presence.
Education
Travelers supports initiatives that improve academic and career success for underrepresented youth, specifically targeted at public school children in grades 5-12, in transition to post-secondary education, and students in the post-secondary learning environment. The company is committed to increasing access to higher education and providing students with the opportunity to excel.
Travelers EDGE: Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment
Travelers EDGE is designed to remove the barriers to college that many low-income, first generation students face. Through partnerships with colleges, universities, and community-based organizations, the program provides internship and mentorship opportunities, professional development initiatives and financial support before and throughout the college experience. The program also helps build awareness of careers in insurance and financial services.
To date, programs are in place in Connecticut through partnerships with the University of Connecticut, Capital Community College, CPEP, and Career Beginnings; in Minnesota through partnerships with the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota, the Page Education Foundation, Admission Possible, and Metropolitan State University; and in Maryland through Morgan State University and CollegeBound. For more information, visit Travelers EDGE backgrounder.
Travelers Community Connection
Volunteerism is an integral part of the company’s corporate culture. Each year, our employees donate tens of thousands of hours through company-sponsored partnerships with nonprofit organizations and through countless individual initiatives that are making a positive and meaningful contribution in the communities where we live and work. Our employees’ skills, expertise and compassion can make all the difference in helping our community partners to achieve their goals. To that end, we have recently launched Travelers Community Connection, an intranet tool to help us better recruit, manage and track the tremendous work being done by our employees in the community.
Marlene M. Ibsen
Marlene M. Ibsen is chief executive officer and president of Travelers Foundation and vice president, Community Relations, for Travelers. In her role, she manages the company’s community relations program, overseeing the distribution of more than $19 million in charitable and civic support each year.
Prior to her role in Community Relations, Ms. Ibsen worked as a vice president in Corporate Communications, supervising the communications staff responsible for media relations, corporate issues and business unit support. She also served as a spokesperson for the company.
Previously, Ms. Ibsen worked as a television writer/producer and public relations consultant. In addition she has experience working in communications and fundraising for nonprofit organizations. In addition, Ms. Ibsen serves as chair of the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England and is a member of the boards of directors of The Connecticut Forum and the Governor’s Prevention Partnership. She is also a corporator of Hartford Hospital.