Press Release Details

SAINT PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Travelers Companies, Inc. and its private foundation, the Travelers Foundation, provided more than $19 million in community support across the country in fiscal year 2008. Travelers has a long history of giving back to the communities where it does business and collaborating with community-based nonprofit organizations related to education, community development and the arts to increase quality of life for underserved populations.

Education

Travelers supports initiatives that improve academic and career success for underrepresented youth. In 2008, the company expanded its Education Access Initiative, a program designed to remove the barriers to college many low-income, first generation students face, to the University of Connecticut and Morgan State University in Baltimore. Additionally, the company announced that beginning in 2009, an increasing portion of charitable giving in Saint Paul, Minn., and Hartford, Conn., will be focused on public education reform and improving academic and career success for underrepresented youth.

"Travelers believes a quality education can break down barriers and provide limitless long-term opportunity," said Marlene Ibsen, CEO & President of the Travelers Foundation. "We are committed to ensuring that the students in our key communities are poised to successfully transition to post-secondary education and to launch meaningful careers. Today's students are our future workforce. The health of our businesses and our communities depends on an educated population."

Examples of more than $6 million in grants that improve academic and career success include:

    --  A $205,000 grant to the Minnesota Private College Fund for the Urban
        Education Scholars Program, designed to increase the numbers of teachers
        of color in the Saint Paul and Minneapolis schools.
    --  A $150,000 grant to support Achieve Hartford!, an organization working
        with the Hartford Public Schools to effect lasting improvements.
    --  $25,000 in funding to the Children's Storefront in New York City to
        support after-school and summer academic enrichment programs for
        low-income students.

Community Development

Ensuring the vitality of the communities where its employees live and work is a priority for Travelers. The company supports organizations that create and maintain stability in local neighborhoods through small business development, affordable housing and job readiness training. "At Travelers we believe building successful communities begins with creating opportunities in housing and economic development," said Ibsen. Highlights of the $4 million in community development giving include:

    --  A $125,000 grant to the Family Housing Fund in the Twin Cities to fund a
        network of support services to help people transitioning from
        homelessness.
    --  $100,000 in funding to the South Arsenal Neighborhood Development
        Corporation (SAND) for zero-net-energy housing in urban areas.
    --  A $25,000 grant to Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago to support
        efforts to broaden housing opportunities for low and moderate income
        families.

Arts and Culture

Travelers supports arts and culture organizations that contribute directly to academic learning and access for low-income and underserved communities. "The arts bring vibrancy to our communities, enhance learning and build multi-cultural understanding," said Ibsen. Examples of nearly $2.5 million in arts program supported include:

    --  $25,000 in support to Project SUCCESS, a Twin Cities program focused on
        arts education and college access designed to help students develop a
        sense of self and career aspirations.
    --  A $40,000 grant to Musical Dialogues, a program of the Hartford Symphony
        Orchestra specifically targeted to the African American and Latino
        communities to provide an interaction between Hartford Symphony
        Orchestra soloists and a diverse audience.
    --  $15,000 in funding to the Baltimore School for the Arts to support arts
        education programming for low-income families through the TWIGS program.

Click here for a complete list of grants made by Travelers and its private foundation.

About Travelers

Travelers provides support for charitable organizations in the community through the Travelers Foundation. Travelers (NYSE: TRV), is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. Travelers' community giving remains 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.

    Source: Travelers