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St. Paul Travelers Grants More Than $15 Million to Support Community Organizations in 2005

February 14, 2006

SAINT PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2006--St. Paul Travelers (NYSE:STA) and its two private foundations, St. Paul Travelers Foundation and St. Paul Travelers Connecticut Foundation, contributed more than $15 million to support the creation of strong, healthy and vital communities in 2005. A total of 418 grants were awarded to organizations that support community development, education, and arts and culture.

In the fourth quarter of 2005, more than 30 grants helped create opportunities and access to education for at-risk students. "The primary focus of our giving philosophy revolves around access," said Marlene Ibsen, president of the St. Paul Travelers Connecticut Foundation. "Whether it's access to education, housing or cultural enrichment, we're partnering with community organizations to build stronger communities and economic opportunities." Highlights of St. Paul Travelers' fourth quarter grants that support access to education include:

    --  In Minnesota, The Metropolitan State University Foundation
        received a $90,000 lead gift supporting "The Power of YOU."
        This ground-breaking program for at-risk youth in the Twin
        Cities is designed to increase post-secondary enrollment at
        three higher learning institutions.

    --  In Connecticut, the Capital Region Education Council received
        $20,000 in funding for a college support specialist at
        Hartford's Bulkeley High School to assist students one-on-one
        with college applications and financial aid.

    --  To help students in five elementary schools develop a love for
        reading, a $30,000 grant was awarded to the Connecticut
        Humanities Council for their extended-day literacy program
        called Book Voyagers.

    --  A project support grant of $25,000 for a pre-collegiate
        mentoring program through Saint Joseph Ballet in California
        will help provide mentoring and arts education programming for
        underserved youth ages 9-19.

"In 2005, we continued our focus on initiatives that revitalize communities and create opportunities for low-income people," said Mary Pickard, president of the St. Paul Travelers Foundation. "We strongly believe in supporting the work of nonprofits to ensure our communities have both strength and resilience."

Highlights of St. Paul Travelers' fourth quarter grants that support access to affordable housing include:

    --  The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter,
        received a $40,000 capital support grant for the Kingsley
        Commons project - the first-ever model of affordable housing
        and supportive services for people with MS.

    --  The Chinatown Community Development Center, Inc. received a
        $15,000 grant to support affordable housing services in
        low-income areas of downtown San Francisco.

    --  HousingLink in Minneapolis received a $15,000 operating
        support grant to help provide affordable housing opportunities
        to low-income families throughout the Twin Cities.

A complete list of grants made by St. Paul Travelers and its private foundations is available on the St. Paul Travelers Web site at www.stpaultravelers.com/about/community/index.html.

St. Paul Travelers is a leading provider of property casualty insurance. For more information, visit www.stpaultravelers.com.

    CONTACT: St. Paul Travelers
             Media:
             Gail Liebl, 651-310-6902
             or
             Marlene Ibsen, 860-277-9039

    SOURCE: St. Paul Travelers
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