Tavis Smiley and Nationwide Insurance Bring Message of Empowerment and Personal Accountability to Raleigh

2008-05-31 18:06:21 -

www.nationwide.com/nw/index.htm - Nationwide Bob Cunningham, 614-249-3091 cunninb1@nationwide.com OR The Smiley Group, Inc. Vanesse J. Lloyd-Sgambati, 215-877-2012 vlloydsgam@aol.com On Saturday, May 31, people gathered in Raleigh to hear Tavis Smiley and learn about ways to empower themselves and enhance their financial future. The event, held at the Sheraton Hotel, was the second stop of a five-city campaign called the On Your Side(R) Tour with Tavis Smiley and part of the exclusive partnership with Nationwide Insurance.

"Many people view economic empowerment as something that just falls into their lap, but we must realize that steps must be taken to foster economic empowerment. Financial literacy, understanding how insurance is part of a strong financial plan, and understanding what resources are available to build a stronger future, are key building blocks to economic empowerment," said James Lyski, chief marketing officer for Nationwide.

Through the five-city On Your Side Tour events, Mr. Smiley offers a powerful message to encourage individuals of ways to take control of their lives and take personal responsibility for their financial future. The partnership between Nationwide and Tavis Smiley is also bringing community partners together to discuss the need for greater financial literacy and the empowerment that comes with it.

Saturday's event included several workshops designed to help individuals better understand the role of insurance, the need for strong financial planning, and various other topics. The next tour stop is June 14, in Richmond, Virginia, with additional stops planned for Atlanta, Georgia; and Dallas, Texas.

"We are pleased to launch the five-city Nationwide(R) 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.

"Knowledge is power and can provide families and individuals of all social and economic backgrounds the keys to a brighter future," says Lee Morton, regional vice president for Nationwide's North Carolina operations. "This partnership provides the community access to tools and resources that will help them take control of their financial future. That is the first step to economic empowerment," Morton said.

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.

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