JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the seventh consecutive year, The Main Street America Group is continuing its impactful private business-public school partnership with Jacksonville’s Woodland Acres Elementary School, a Duval County (Fla.) Public School located in the city’s Arlington neighborhood.
Main Street America’s annual Back-to-School Supply Drive is one of the highlights of the Jacksonville-based property/casualty insurance carrier’s year-round support of the local elementary school. The company’s Jacksonville employees recently donated thousands of much-needed items, including notebook paper, pencils, erasers, copy paper, washable markers, highlighters and other items to the school. More than 50 large boxes of items, the most ever donated by Main Street America’s employees, were packaged and delivered in time for the school’s teachers to set up their classrooms for the first day of school, which was on Aug. 24.
“The supplies donated by Main Street America’s employees go a long way toward helping our students start the school year right,” said Christie Stevenson, the school’s resident clinical faculty member from the University of North Florida. “Many of our students cannot afford the supplies needed to complete their assignments. Teachers personally spend a lot for their classrooms and these supplies greatly alleviate costs and are very much appreciated.”
“It is so generous of Main Street America to support our students and teachers,” said Woodland Acres first grade teacher April Bradford. “As a teacher, Main Street America helps us be more prepared for our students especially during the first few weeks of school and beyond. Their support means the world!”
“I cannot express how much of an impact the supplies donated by Main Street America this summer will have on my students and my classroom,” added Woodland Acres second-grade teacher Brittney Villmow. “Main Street America just made my whole year!”
In addition to the supply drive and a student book fair held last spring, which enabled every Woodland Acres kindergarten through second-grade student to select a book to take home and keep for summer reading, a team of dedicated Main Street America employees tutors students onsite each month throughout the school year. Employees spend valuable one-on-one time with assigned students on campus, focusing on literacy learning.
“Woodland Acres is delighted to have the opportunity for our continued alliance with Main Street America,” said Tiffany Fullwood, Woodland Acres’ recently appointed principal. “The donations of books and school supplies throughout the year help our students and teachers. More importantly, the generous gift of time from Main Street America’s employees is invaluable. The impact each of their volunteers has on a child cannot be overestimated. We are excited to continue to grow our partnership with Main Street America and its employees in the upcoming school year.”
Main Street America’s partnership with Woodland Acres began in 2009 through the University of North Florida’s College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) Urban Professional Development Schools (UPDS) program. What started small has grown into impactful hands-on involvement with the elementary school, considered the “flagship” for the university’s award-winning UPDS program.
Fifth-Grade Field Trip to Main Street America’s Corporate Headquarters
Main Street America’s impactful partnership includes hosting an interactive field trip at its corporate headquarters. Each spring, Main Street America welcomes Woodland Acres’ entire fifth grade class to its Southside offices, about a 10-minute drive from the school. More than 90 students typically participate, learning the basics of the property/casualty insurance industry and what it’s like to work at a locally based company. Activities include an office tour and brief presentations from members of the company’s claims, underwriting, information technology and products teams.
Funding for Technology-Enhanced Instruction and Other Powerful Programs
Main Street America has funded the purchase of 25 tablet devices that are being used to tutor struggling readers at Woodland Acres. This use of technology-related instruction at Woodland Acres complements the efforts of the company’s employee tutors who work with struggling readers in grades 3-5. In addition, Main Street America has financed the launch of the school’s Positive Student Behavior Rewards Program and spearheaded funding to create a community outreach initiative to get parents more involved in their children’s education.
About The Main Street America Group
With roots dating back to 1923, The Main Street America Group is a mutual insurance holding company which writes business through its nine property/casualty insurance carriers: NGM Insurance Company, Old Dominion Insurance Company, Austin Mutual Insurance Company, Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Company, Main Street America Assurance Company, Great Lakes Casualty Insurance Company, MSA Insurance Company, Spring Valley Mutual Insurance Company and Main Street America Protection Insurance Company. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., Main Street America offers a wide range of commercial and personal insurance, as well as fidelity and surety bond products, to individuals, families and businesses throughout the United States.
With nearly $1 billion in premium written exclusively by more than 3,000 independent insurance agents, the 92-year-old company insures over 650,000 policyholders in 36 states and writes bonds in 47 states and the District of Columbia. A.M. Best Company rates The Main Street America Group with an "A" (Excellent) financial strength rating and “a+” issuer credit rating. The company has $1.04 billion in surplus (capital) and $2.4 billion in total assets.
Main Street America is the founding company partner of Trusted Choice®, the global branding program of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Main Street America is also a founding company partner of the TrustedChoice.com consumer agent portal and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Research Center. For more information about Main Street America, please visit our newsroom at http://news.msagroup.com or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MainStreetAmerica.
