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Nationwide Insurance Wins United Way’s 2008 Spirit of America Award
Nationwide Insurance, its associates, agents and retirees were honored with a second Spirit of America Award during a recent United Way of America event in Baltimore, Md., making it only one of three companies to win the prestigious award more than once.
The Spirit of America Award is given to only one company nationally each year and recognizes Nationwide’s commitment to philanthropy, volunteerism, workplace giving, and overall partnership with United Way. Nationwide previously earned the award in 2000 and joins only two other companies – UPS and Valero Energy Corp. – as two-time winners.
Last year, Nationwide’s associates, agents and retirees pledged $8.75 million to 800 local United Way Chapters across the country. The Nationwide Foundation matches associate gifts dollar-for-dollar, resulting in a donation of approximately $17 million benefiting 800 local United Ways across the country.
“Locally, Nationwide in Harrisburg exemplifies the United Way Spirit of America Award,” said Joseph M. Capita, United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) president and CEO. “They are a valued partner of UWCR and work to improve our region through their philanthropy and volunteerism. We are proud they choose UWCR as a way to connect with our community.”
Nationwide’s employees have helped UWCR make positive and sustainable changes in our community. Company volunteers include:
- Cynthia Tolsma, Regional Vice President, who served as chair of UWCR’s Board of Directors in 2005. Under Tolsma’s leadership, UWCR transitioned from a fundraiser to a community impact organization. This meant increased accountability standards for program partners to show how lives were being changed in the Capital Region. To this end, UWCR formed focused care areas to concentrate on the most pressing needs of our community. Tolsma currently serves on UWCR’s Women’s Leadership Network Advisory Council and Strategic Plan Committee.
- Edwin Nieves, Human Resources Director, who serves on the UWCR Board of Directors and Human Resources Committee. Recently, Nieves chaired the board’s Latino Task Force, which led an extensive needs and assets study of the local Latino population. This study was the first of its kind in the Capital Region.
- Regina Camut, commercial underwriter, who serves as co-chair of UWCR’s Allocations Committee. This committee works with more than 200 local citizen volunteers to decide how United Way dollars can be best spent.
Recently, Nationwide was one of 21 companies who received the Pillar Award for donating $100,000 or more in combined employee and corporate gifts to UWCR’s annual fundraising campaign. In 2007, Nationwide contributed $253,933 to help those who need it most in the Capital Region.