Vincent Publishing - Index

Vincent Publishing - 2008 Travelers Championship Magazine - Index

Travelers – Covering the
Needs of the Community
Travelers has been doing business in Connecticut for nearly a century and a half,
and currently has more than 6,000 employees in the Greater Hartford area. The
company is well known for its support of community and non-profit organizations,
and its employees provide thousands of volunteer hours each year.
PHOTO: TRAVELERS’ EMPLOYEE
ERICA VOGEL PARTICIPATES IN
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AT THE
DR. RAMON E. BETANCES
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN 2007.
32 This is the new era.
T
he Travelers Championship’s commitment to
giving back to the community is a major
reason why Travelers decided to become the
title sponsor. Travelers’ support is focused on
investing in organizations committed to education,
community development and arts and culture, and
increasing opportunities for people to succeed by
increasing access to college.
Travelers believes a quality education can break
down barriers for underserved students and provide
limitless long-term opportunity. However, national
trends indicate that higher percentages of students
enrolled in K-12 schools will be from communities
underserved by the educational system. These
growing populations of students are less likely to
graduate from high school, enroll in post-secondary
education and complete a college degree.
Travelers is committed to increasing access to higher
education and providing underserved students
with the opportunity to excel. In 2007, the company
launched a program that provides a holistic
approach to education, the Travelers Education
Access Initiative (TEAI).
TEAI STRIVES TO:
• Increase the pipeline of
underserved students to
college
• Help students from
underserved communities
graduate from college
• Build awareness of careers
in insurance and financial
services
The program is building the
pipeline to college by supporting
community- and
school-based efforts to help
students progress from middle
school to a rigorous high
school curriculum which will prepare them to enter
college and to be able to compete on an equal level
with their peers.
Once students are enrolled in college, they benefit
from a combination of professional development,
mentorship and scholarship support.
“Underserved students face a unique set of obstacles
that can interfere with their ability to complete
their course work,” says Marlene Ibsen, CEO and
president of the Travelers Foundation. “By supporting
programs, such as financial assistance and peer
networks, that help to alleviate these obstacles, we
are increasing the students’ chances of graduating
ready to work.”
Professional development and mentorship opportunities
are also in place to build an awareness of, and
to help students access, careers in insurance and
financial services. Students are gaining a competitive
edge to career success, and upon graduation
they will be poised to enter the workplace.
“Research shows these students are much more