Project Mentor

In 2007, through a unique partnership with Columbus City Schools and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, Nationwide helped launch Project Mentor as the lead financial sponsor with a grant from the Nationwide Foundation. This program aims to increase the school district’s graduation rate to 90% by 2012. Project Mentor engages people throughout the community to become mentors for at-risk students in the city.

In its first school year, Nationwide supported 300 associates as they attended weekly mentoring sessions with their students. For 2008-2009, more than 400 associates volunteered to be mentors. Nationwide backs their commitment with complimentary bus transportation to the schools in addition to time during the workday to mentor.