Travelers Awards College Scholarships to Baltimore City Students
Launches Partnership with CollegeBound Foundation and Morgan
State University
BALTIMORE, July 23, 2009 - The Travelers Companies, Inc., (NYSE: TRV) today officially announced its partnership with the CollegeBound Foundation as part of Travelers EDGE: Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment, a program designed to remove the barriers to college that many low-income, first generation students face, especially in Baltimore City.
One of the top 50 largest school districts throughout the country, Baltimore City High School reported graduation rates in 2007-2008 (62.6 percent) were the highest they have been in 10 years. However, to help bridge the gap from high school to college and to further enhance the success of students in the Baltimore community, Travelers has partnered with CollegeBound to support the organization’s “Pipeline from High School to College to Work” program. Specifically, Travelers has provided a $350,000 grant to aid the following initiatives:
“Through this collaborative partnership, we want to empower and provide the needed resources to disadvantaged Baltimore students to further their education and attend college,” said Jimmy Tadlock, Program Director, CollegeBound Foundation. “We’re grateful to Travelers, as they not only help make it possible for students to achieve a secondary education, but the company understands the true power that education has to build a stronger workforce and community.”
Travelers EDGE provides a holistic approach to education through partnerships with colleges, universities, and community-based programs, like CollegeBound, to help increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to college. Once students are enrolled in college, they benefit from scholarship support and a combination of professional development and mentorship opportunities to build an awareness of, and to help them access careers in, insurance and financial services.
“At Travelers, our mission is to alleviate obstacles unique to underrepresented students and better prepare them to enter college so that they are able to compete on an equal level with their peers,” said Marlene Ibsen, Vice President of Travelers Community Relations. “Together, with CollegeBound and Morgan State University, we’ve structured a comprehensive program that will not only bridge the expanding gap to college, but will also position students for success throughout their collegiate experience and well into their career.”
Travelers EDGE programs are also in place in Connecticut through partnerships with the University of Connecticut, Capital Community College, Career Beginnings and CPEP, as well as in Minnesota through partnerships with the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University, the Page Education Foundation and Admission Possible.
For more information on Travelers EDGE or other community relations initiatives, visit www.TravelersCRpresskit.com.
About Travelers
Travelers (NYSE: TRV), is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. Travelers’ community giving is focused on community development, education and the arts. The company’s employees are consistently active in community initiatives and give thousands of hours in volunteer time each year. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
About CollegeBound Foundation
Established in 1988, the CollegeBound Foundation mission is to encourage and enable Baltimore City youth to go to college. Its college-access program places College Access Program Specialists (CAPS) in Baltimore's public schools. CollegeBound encourages students to take the SAT, assists with college selection, helps fill out financial aid forms, provides fee waivers for college access tests and applications, advises on the entire college admissions process, chaperones and funds campus visits, and awards eligible students last-dollar funding. The broader goal is to prepare students to be members of Baltimore’s workforce and to contribute to the strengthening of the social and economic fabric of the city.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erin Haberman
860.277.3617, or
860.305.9130
BALTIMORE, July 23, 2009 - The Travelers Companies, Inc., (NYSE: TRV) today officially announced its partnership with the CollegeBound Foundation as part of Travelers EDGE: Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment, a program designed to remove the barriers to college that many low-income, first generation students face, especially in Baltimore City.
One of the top 50 largest school districts throughout the country, Baltimore City High School reported graduation rates in 2007-2008 (62.6 percent) were the highest they have been in 10 years. However, to help bridge the gap from high school to college and to further enhance the success of students in the Baltimore community, Travelers has partnered with CollegeBound to support the organization’s “Pipeline from High School to College to Work” program. Specifically, Travelers has provided a $350,000 grant to aid the following initiatives:
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- Travelers Scholars – Up to 12 Last Dollar Scholarships to CollegeBound students who choose to continue their education at Morgan State University, a Travelers EDGE partner college. The scholarships will provide five years of support at the $5,000 level.
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- College Retention Program – This five-year program will help to improve CollegeBound students’ college graduation rate from 40 percent to 80 percent. The Harvard University Graduate School of Education has initiated a longitudinal study to evaluate this project, to measure the treatment effect of a comprehensive college retention program.
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- CollegeBound Scholar of the Week – For 2009 and 2010, Travelers will sponsor weekly television promotions highlighting select CollegeBound Scholars.
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“Through this collaborative partnership, we want to empower and provide the needed resources to disadvantaged Baltimore students to further their education and attend college,” said Jimmy Tadlock, Program Director, CollegeBound Foundation. “We’re grateful to Travelers, as they not only help make it possible for students to achieve a secondary education, but the company understands the true power that education has to build a stronger workforce and community.”
Travelers EDGE provides a holistic approach to education through partnerships with colleges, universities, and community-based programs, like CollegeBound, to help increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to college. Once students are enrolled in college, they benefit from scholarship support and a combination of professional development and mentorship opportunities to build an awareness of, and to help them access careers in, insurance and financial services.
“At Travelers, our mission is to alleviate obstacles unique to underrepresented students and better prepare them to enter college so that they are able to compete on an equal level with their peers,” said Marlene Ibsen, Vice President of Travelers Community Relations. “Together, with CollegeBound and Morgan State University, we’ve structured a comprehensive program that will not only bridge the expanding gap to college, but will also position students for success throughout their collegiate experience and well into their career.”
Travelers EDGE programs are also in place in Connecticut through partnerships with the University of Connecticut, Capital Community College, Career Beginnings and CPEP, as well as in Minnesota through partnerships with the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University, the Page Education Foundation and Admission Possible.
For more information on Travelers EDGE or other community relations initiatives, visit www.TravelersCRpresskit.com.
About Travelers
Travelers (NYSE: TRV), is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. Travelers’ community giving is focused on community development, education and the arts. The company’s employees are consistently active in community initiatives and give thousands of hours in volunteer time each year. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
About CollegeBound Foundation
Established in 1988, the CollegeBound Foundation mission is to encourage and enable Baltimore City youth to go to college. Its college-access program places College Access Program Specialists (CAPS) in Baltimore's public schools. CollegeBound encourages students to take the SAT, assists with college selection, helps fill out financial aid forms, provides fee waivers for college access tests and applications, advises on the entire college admissions process, chaperones and funds campus visits, and awards eligible students last-dollar funding. The broader goal is to prepare students to be members of Baltimore’s workforce and to contribute to the strengthening of the social and economic fabric of the city.
###
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erin Haberman
860.277.3617, or
860.305.9130