The more opportunities students have to learn, the more chances they have to succeed in life. That’s just one of the reasons Unum supports education. Whether it’s time, talents or financial assistance, Unum and its employees devote a lot to help prepare students of all ages for a better future. Here are just a few ways in which we support education programs:
Improvements In The Classroom
South High in Worcester is one of the many places where we can have an immediate impact through initiatives that enhance the classroom experience for students.
Dozens of schools in Chattanooga, Tennessee, are benefiting from a multi-year partnership between Unum and the Hamilton County Department of Education. More than 45 schools received the company’s Strong Schools grants, which encourages new ways to engage students and improve their achievement levels. Seven schools also received Elementary Technology Grants, which provide state-of-the-art equipment to help educators teach. The grants total more than $500,000 over four years.
And throughout our company, employees have adopted schools, mentored students and helped in countless other ways to improve education in the classroom. Just as importantly, each of these students has learned the meaning of giving back.
Teaching Life Skills
Opportunities to educate exist outside of the classroom as well, and throughout the company we’ve partnered with organizations to touch the lives of children. In Portland, Maine, Unum strengthened its support of programs such as Jobs for Maine’s Graduates, the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education and the Compact for Higher Education. One of the company’s new partnerships in Portland was with The Telling Room, a nonprofit writing center that turns children and young adults into natural storytellers. Unum provided the organization with funding and leadership.
In Columbia, South Carolina, volunteers from Colonial Life taught Junior Achievement classes to seventh-grade students at St. Andrews Middle School through the school’s social studies curriculum, while the company’s investment in Youth Corps allowed dozens of high-school students to attend a nine-month leadership class about business.
Another one of the five programs that are part of the Colonial Life/St. Andrews Middle School partnership is the Ravenous Readers program, designed to instill a love of reading in students and to encourage them to read accelerated books. Students who read at least 20 accelerated reader books and pass the tests associated with the readings are given a chance to participate in SAMS Field Day as a reward.
Employees at Unum UK in the city of Dorking coached and mentored students from the Ashcombe School in simulated business skills. The goal was to help young people improve their business awareness and prepare them to enter the workforce.
In Worcester, the company strengthened its partnership with Girls Inc., a program that helps young girls build leadership skills and prepare for life’s challenges. Unum sponsored a yearlong series of events for girls.
Beyond The Early Years
Unum’s support of education also extends to programs for college-aged individuals and adult training.
Eight colleges and universities in South Carolina, such as Clemson University, University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College, received support from Colonial Life. And for adults, Colonial Life partnered with the Trinity Housing Corporation to teach its residents life skills about budgeting, parenting and credit repair.
In Worcester, Unum supported Teen Care, a program to help teen parents finish high school. Teen Care offers free on-site child care and support services for teen parents and pregnant teens.
