Print

Corporate Kindness

Hartford Courant

February 25, 2009

True friends are there in tough times. The Travelers Companies Inc. is a great friend to the Hartford public schools and the charities that benefit from the professional golf event named after the insurance company.

Only a score of states play host to PGA Tour events, and some corporate sponsors are dropping out because of financial losses. But Travelers has committed, through 2014, to a sponsorship level so high that the company gets to put its name on the tournament played at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. The insurer is paying two-thirds of the $9 million needed to run the Travelers Championship, which brings prestige to the state, plus 225,000 fans and famous golfers.

Every penny of net proceeds from the golf event goes to charities. Last year the tournament gave $770,000 to more than 120 charities. Ticket buyers should feel good knowing they're helping children at Hole in the Wall Gang and many other worthy causes.

Travelers is also giving $1 million to the Hartford public schools' efforts to become an all-choice system of high-performing schools. Another $500,000 in Travelers donations will go to groups and programs that serve Hartford students.

Such generosity is a smart workforce investment. But it's also a lifeline to a school system and a city in need of such compassionate rescuers right now.