CIAA students get educational boost

Nationwide Insurance donates $130,000 for college scholarship

Celebrity guest Idris Elba joins the excitement

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2011

Contact:
Gayle Saunders (614) 203-4772
saundee4@nationwide.com

Columbus, OH — Students attending CIAA colleges got a $130,000 boost to help them reach their educational goals today during the 66th annual CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament in Charlotte, NC. The appeal of this tournament is so strong that it draws more attendance than almost all of the Division I conference tournaments. The five-day tournament returned for its fifth year in the Queen City with great basketball and countless events and activities.

Fans and teams come to the annual CIAA basketball championships for more than just the game, and Nationwide Insurance is proud to be there to enhance their experience.

More than 175,000 people are expected to attend and participate in any number of the wide-ranging events that include spirited student step shows, concerts, networking opportunities with business professionals, alumni reunions and a career expo, as well as a post tournament celebration featuring the Temptations. For more information about how to purchase tickets and a complete list of official events, fans can visit www.ciaatournament.org and click on the schedule of events tab.

Nationwide Insurance, the official auto, home, and life insurance provider of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), announced its donation to the CIAA college scholarship fund, as part of its ongoing support of CIAA institutions and students. To date, Nationwide Insurance has contributed more than $500,000 to the CIAA scholarship fund, which helps students pursue the education that is crucial to their future. Nationwide has an ongoing relationship with the CIAA, which includes on-site career fairs at various universities, working with students on career options, corporate internships, student scholarships and more.

“We are proud to contribute $130,000 to the CIAA scholarship fund that helps students reach their educational and career goals,” said Lee Morton, Nationwide regional vice president. “We believe our commitment to the CIAA and our work together helps us to deliver on our On Your Side promise.”

The multi-year sponsorship also includes support for recruitment efforts, such as providing student corporate internship opportunities with Nationwide and on-site job fairs; sponsorship of a number of activities during tournament week; and sponsorhip for the CIAA Football Championship Game and all 16 CIAA Conference Championships.

"Nationwide is very excited about sponsoring the tournament again this year,” said John Aman, Nationwide Insurance associate vice president of strategic sponsorships. "This is a great opportunity for us to meet CIAA students, alumni and friends, emphasize our focus on supporting education and gives us a chance to connect with attendees during tournament week.”

Nationwide also announced that special celebrity guest Idris Elba (English television, theatre and film actor who has starred in both British and American productions) will appear at the Nationwide Studio in the Fan Zone at the Charlotte convention center and will make other event appearances.

About Idris Elba
British-born actor Idris Elba mesmerized American TV viewers on three seasons of HBO's gold-standard crime drama, "The Wire" (2002-08), playing Stringer Bell. The career-defining role catapult Elba from obscure British actor to international acclaim as one of Hollywood's most wanted men. Also a singer and deejay, releasing records in the former capacity as Driis and working in the latter as Big Driis or DJ Driis, Elba rode his smoldering "Wire" ethos to "It" status in both the hip-hop community and broader popular culture, which included a feature lead opposite Beyoncé Knowles in the thriller "Obsessed" (2009) and a prominent multi-episode guest role on the hit comedy, "The Office." As he continued to showcase his versatility, Elba carved a niche as a go-to actor for characters exuding a quiet strength and deliberative cool.

He was born in London, U.K., on Sept. 6, 1972, the only child of African immigrants. By his early twenties, he was auditioning for TV and stage roles, netting his first credited small screen part in "Absolutely Fabulous.” He followed with a series of guest shots. Eventually, Elba moved to New York seeking a market where lead roles were open to black actors. He worked constantly to pick up American accents and managed to win the roles of Achilles in a 2001 New York stage production of "Troilus and Cressida;" a small role in the ill-fated "Buffalo Soldiers" (2001); and a guest shot on NBC's "Law & Order;” all before scoring an audition for "The Wire."

Essence magazine would dub him one of the "Ten Hottest Men on the Planet" in 2004 and 2005. He stole the show as a young Southern minister in the drama, "The Gospel" (2005), then earned the lead as a conscientious Rwandan army captain in "Sometimes in April," a made-for-HBO piece. He scored roles in bigger-profile projects, including a major role opposite Hillary Swank in the A-horror flick "The Reaping" (2007); "Prom Night" (2008); and supporting parts in "American Gangster" (2007); the zombie flick "28 Weeks Later" (2007); and as the love interest of Gabriel Union in "Daddy's Little Girls" (2007).

Elba's success allowed him to revive his musical predilections. He issued an EP, Big Man, and his Hollywood networking would see "Driis" land tracks on movie soundtracks such as those of "Prom Night" and Perry's "Madea Goes to Jail" (2009). Elba’s next film was 2010's “Legacy.” Elba then starred in “The Losers.” Elba would next be seen in the 2010 thriller “Takers.” Elba has joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh's upcoming “Thor” film. Elba will appear in the 2012 sequel “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” alongside Nicolas Cage as an alcoholic warrior monk tasked with finding Ghost Rider.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, 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.}