Travelers Cos. says its philanthropic arm dispersed nearly $19 million in 2009, much of it to public schoolkids in the property-casualty insurer’s dual Hartford and St. Paul, Minn., headquarters and other markets.
However, overall contributions were down from the more than $19 million Travelers Foundation said it handed out in 2008 in U.S. communities where it has employees and operations.
The foundation said nearly $8 million in 2009 grants went pupils in grades 5 to 12 in those markets as part of its initiative to reform public education and improve academic and career success for underrepresented youth.
“The Hartford and Saint Paul public school systems have laid out inspiring, measurable reform programs that should and will serve as a model for other public school systems throughout the country,” said Travelers Foundation CEO Marlene Ibsen.
In addition, Travelers’ employees volunteered 12,000 hours in their local communities.
Among its community grants to support arts and culture in Hartford and elsewhere, the foundation issued $50,000 to Hartford Stage Co. to support InterAct, an education outreach program for middle and high school students in Greater Hartford.
