JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A team of employees from Jacksonville-based The Main Street America Group is tutoring students at Woodland Acres Elementary School this week. For the sixth consecutive school year, tutoring will be a key component of Main Street America’s long-term partnership with Woodland Acres, a Duval County (Fla.) Public School in the city’s Arlington neighborhood.
In addition to onsite tutoring at the school, the super-regional property/casualty insurance carrier’s year-round support of Woodland Acres includes hosting an interactive field trip at its corporate headquarters and conducting a summer reading book drive and back-to-school supply drive. In addition, Main Street America spearheaded funding to create a community outreach initiative to get parents more involved in their children’s education, and financed the launch of the school’s new positive student behavior rewards program.
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.
“Main Street America is an amazing business partner in education for our students,” said Timothy Feagins, principal at Woodland Acres. “Their generous support throughout the year is unprecedented and has set a benchmark for other Northeast Florida companies to follow. The community of Jacksonville is lucky to have a corporation like this that truly invests in the lives of its youngest citizens.”
Fifth-Grade Field Trip
This past spring, Main Street America hosted Woodland Acres’ entire fifth grade class at its corporate headquarters for an interactive field trip. More than 90 students participated, learning the basics of the property/casualty insurance industry and what it’s like to work at a locally based company. Activities included an office tour and brief presentations from members of Main Street America’s claims, underwriting, information technology and product teams.
“The annual field trip to Main Street America gives our students an introduction to corporate America and the career possibilities that exist outside of school,” Feagins said.
Back-to-School Supply Drive and Summer Reading Book Drive
Main Street America’s 2014 summer reading book drive led to a record number of books (nearly 800) being donated by its Jacksonville office employees. Following the book drive, Main Street America helped organize a book fair at the school. Stacks of age-appropriate books were neatly organized throughout the school’s media center for the event where student helpers assisted younger schoolmates with their selections. Employee contributions enabled each primary grade student (kindergarten through second grade) to select a book of their choice to take home and keep for summer reading. Because of the successful drive, the extra books will be housed in Woodland Acres’ Resource Center and used by its teachers and students throughout the school year.
Prior to the start of the 2014-15 school year, Main Street America conducted a two-week drive to collect school supplies donated by its employees. Hundreds of much-needed items, including notebook paper, pens and pencils, erasers, construction paper, washable markers, highlighters and other items were collected and delivered in time for the first day of school.
“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, UNF resident clinical faculty member at Woodland Acres. “Many of our students cannot afford the supplies needed to complete their assignments. Teachers spend so much for their classrooms and these supplies greatly alleviate costs and are very much appreciated.”
About The Main Street America Group
With roots dating back to 1923, The Main Street America Group is a super-regional insurance company which writes business through its nine property/casualty insurance carriers: NGM Insurance Company, Old Dominion Insurance Company, Main Street America Assurance Company, MSA Insurance Company, Great Lakes Casualty Insurance Company, Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Company, Main Street America Protection Insurance Company, Spring Valley Mutual Insurance Company and Austin Mutual 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 more than $1 billion in premium written exclusively by 3,000 independent insurance agents, the 91-year-old company insures more than 650,000 policyholders in 36 states and writes bonds in 45 states. A.M. Best Company rates The Main Street America Group with an "A" (Excellent) financial strength rating and “a+” issuer credit rating. 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 independent agency system’s consumer agent portal, TrustedChoice.com, and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Research Center. For more information about Main Street America, please visit our newsroom at http://msagroup.newshq.businesswire.com/ or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MainStreetAmerica.
