Friends of Saint Paul College has received a grant of $55,000 from The Travelers Foundation. The grant supports Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment), a program designed to prepare low-income and students of color for careers in the insurance and financial services industries.
“We are honored to receive a second year of Travelers EDGE funding from the Travelers Foundation,” said Friends of Saint Paul College Executive Director Laura Savin. The Travelers Foundation investment will provide funds for scholarships averaging $3,200 per student and support services including comprehensive advising, networking, and entry into internships.
Career pathways for low-income students and students of color are increasingly important as demographics change in the Twin Cities region. According to a 2015 report of the Minnesota State Demography Center, a growing share of Twin Cities’ high school graduates are from very low-income households. Of those, 40% are African American, 28% are Hispanic and 23% are Asian, while only 8% are White. Among the increasingly diverse population of young adults, a higher proportion will face academic and financial barriers. “As one of the most diverse colleges in Minnesota with 60% students of color, Saint Paul College relies on programs such as Travelers EDGE to offer pathways out of poverty for students of color and students from low-income households,” said President Rassoul Dastmozd.
Travelers is ensuring opportunity by contributing to efforts that create strong, vibrant communities and offer pathways to success. Through corporate funding and the Travelers Foundation, Travelers targets its giving to three key outcomes: academic & career success, thriving neighborhoods and culturally enriched communities. With the primary focus of educating underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce, Travelers also contributes to organizations that aid in developing communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and enriching lives and learning through arts & culture.
About Friends of Saint Paul College: The purpose of the Friends of Saint Paul College (Foundation) is to support and uphold the mission of Saint Paul College (College) and to secure charitable gifts and grants in support of Saint Paul College in accordance with funding priorities established by the College.
About Travelers: The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home, and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $27 billion in 2015. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
Saint Paul College 2015-2016 Travelers EDGE Scholars
