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Tavis Smiley Hosts First On Your Side® Tour Stop with Nationwide Insurance
Consumers Dialogue Around Empowerment and Control of Their Own Destiny
Columbus, OH (BlackNews.com) - On Saturday, May 17, people gathered in Columbus to hear Tavis Smiley and learn about ways to empower themselves and enhance their financial future. The event at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Columbus was the first stop of a five-city campaign called the On Your Side® Tour with Tavis Smiley. The tour is part of an exclusive partnership between Nationwide Insurance and The Smiley Group.
"Tavis offers a powerful message encouraging individuals to take control of their life and take personal responsibility for their financial future," said James Lyski, chief marketing officer for Nationwide. "One of the main purposes of our partnership with Tavis is to bring community partners together to discuss the need for greater financial literacy and the empowerment that comes with it. Knowledge is power and can provide families and individuals of all social economic backgrounds the keys to a brighter future," Lyski said.
The event engaged various local community organizations and allowed individuals to participate in workshops designed to help them better understand the role of insurance, the need for strong financial planning, and various other topics. The next tour stop is May 31, 2008 in Raleigh, North Carolina, with additional stops planned for Richmond, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Dallas, Texas.
"We are pleased to launch the five city Nationwide On Your Side tour, says Smiley. "The work is important. The conversation is relevant. The tools and resources are available. Nationwide's interest in our continuous efforts, derived from The Covenant, with financial literacy, wealth development and economic empowerment made sense for us to collaborate. Alongside with other community organizations, we planned a day to encourage, enlighten and empower around securing our families."
Both Nationwide and TSG are committed to helping consumers protect their investment and prepare for the future by offering a broad range of insurance and financial service products and solutions.
"This sponsorship gives us an opportunity to connect our brand with a noted community leader and helps us connect with key market segments," says David Arango, regional vice president of Ohio and West Virginia operations for Nationwide. "Our goal is to foster constructive dialogue and create a better understanding of how proactive financial planning plays a key role in a strong financial future, Arango added.
Tavis Smiley reaches millions of people each week through his daily national programs on PBS and PRI. He uses these media outlets to influence and engage audiences through respectful dialogue, while addressing today's most pressing issues.
The partnership between Nationwide and TSG also includes sponsorship of Smiley's PBS television program as a provider of property & casualty insurance products and national sponsorship of the 2009 State of the Black Union event to be held next February in Los Angeles.
About Tavis Smiley and the Tavis Smiley Group
Smiley, who started his career as an aide to the late Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, also offers political
commentary twice weekly on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. In addition, he has authored eleven books. Smiley made publishing history when the book he edited, the Covenant with Black America reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. His latest is What I Know For Sure: My Story of Growing up in America (Doubleday). The Smiley Group, Inc. is a communications corporation established in support of human rights and related empowerment issues. TSG serves as the holding company for various enterprises encompassing broadcast and print media, lectures, symposiums and the Internet. For more information, visit www.tavistalks.com
About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $161 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #108 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
CONTACT:
Nationwide
Bob Cunningham
614-249-3091
Cunninb1@nationwide.com
For The Smiley Group, Inc.
Vanesse Lloyd Vgambati
215-877-2012
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