Tavis Smiley and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company announce exclusive three year partnership
Includes 2008 five-city tour and 2009 State of the Black Union sponsorship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2008
Contacts:
Nationwide
Bob Cunningham (614) 249-3091
cunninb1@nationwide.com
The Smiley Group, Inc.
Jenny Park (415) 867-1166
jpark@fenton.com
Columbus, Ohio—Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (Nationwide) and the Tavis Smiley Group (TSG) today announced an exclusive three-year partnership.
Under terms of the new partnership, Smiley’s exclusive affiliation with Nationwide will include:
• Nationwide’s exclusive sponsorship of Smiley’s PBS television
program as a provider of property & casualty insurance products.
• Nationwide’s national sponsorship of the 2009 State of the Black
Union event to be held next February in Los Angeles.
• Nationwide’s sponsorship of an exclusive five-city tour in which
Smiley and Nationwide will join forces to promote economic empowerment
and financial literacy. 2008 tour stops will include:
o Columbus, Ohio, May 17
o Raleigh, North Carolina, May 31
o Richmond, Virginia, June 14
o Atlanta, Georgia, June 28
o Dallas, Texas, November 8
Nationwide is dedicated to helping customers protect their investment and prepare for the future by offering a broad range of insurance and financial service solutions.
“We’re proud to partner with Tavis Smiley to further empower and educate the Americanconsumer regarding what is most important to them” said James Lyski, chief marketing officer for Nationwide. “Nationwide shares many of the same values that Tavis represents. We believe there is a tremendous opportunity to reach the marketplace through this unique partnership with one of the nation’s most recognized thought leaders.”
Reaching an audience of millions every week, Smiley is the first person in the history of public broadcasting to host a daily national program on PBS and NPR. Smiley uses his media properties and influence to engage audiences in a respectful dialogue addressing today’s most pressing issues.
“We are pleased to share the journey of empowerment alongside Nationwide. The synergy of the partnership was founded on shared principles of advocacy and service” says Smiley. “The work is important. It’s encouraging when corporations commit to demonstrating involvement. Nationwide’s interest in these efforts, that were derived from The Covenant, help us to collaborate around issues such as financial literacy, entrepeneurship, accessing jobs, wealth development, and securing our families future.”
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 under management. Nationwide ranks #104 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.
