Stronger
communities,
brighter futures
Fostering inclusion in tangible ways
The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE) was created in 2020 to increase racial diversity, drive greater equity and foster inclusion within the financial services industry and the communities it serves.
This year, the Coalition has continued to produce results and attract attention in the industry. As a co-founder of the organization along with several other leading financial services firms and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Nationwide co-sponsored scholarships for young Black professionals to help pay for
Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certifications. Additionally, we hosted and co-sponsored the first in-person/virtual event — “Finding Your Fit in Financial Services: Learn. Connect. Network.” — for HBCU students and young professionals.
FARE partnered with HBCU Connect to help students and young professionals learn about financial wellness, internships and full-time career opportunities at FARE firms as part of their mission to increase and empower Black and diverse representation in financial services.
Player development on and off the field
As an extension of our partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League, Nationwide created a two-week immersive experience to offer players professional development opportunities, and a chance to network and explore career paths that align with their interests. This year, four players joined team Nationwide as program participants: Imani Dorsey (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Katie Lund (Racing Louisville FC), Darian Jenkins (Orlando Pride) and Celia Jimenez Delgado (Orlando Pride).
“We’re proud to partner with the NWSL and sponsor the Community Impact Award, but launching this program is a unique way we can support the players more directly,” said Ramon Jones, Chief Marketing Officer. “We’re sincere when we say Nationwide is ‘more than a business,’ and this is an example of what we mean by that mission statement.”
Opening doors of opportunity
Nationwide Financial’s apprenticeship program is taking Nationwide’s partnership with schools and the community to the next level. Launched in 2021 with Columbus City High Schools and Columbus State Community College, the program has seen two apprentices graduate and accept full-time roles at Nationwide. At year’s end, NF had four apprentices with another seven planned to start at the beginning of 2023. By providing tuition assistance, paid job training and technology tools such as laptops and home internet service, NF is attracting and training a diverse workforce that otherwise would not have considered the financial services industry.
Setting records to break stigmas
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 1 in 5 children live with a mental health disorder, and 50% of lifetime mental illness presents before the age of 14. The stigma associated with children’s mental health is a massive problem, so breaking those stigmas requires a massive effort.
On May 11, 2022, a team of volunteers and partners of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and On Our Sleeves, the national movement for children’s mental health, laid out a chain of more than 1,000 specially designed Wrap Them In Support fan scarfs around Lower.com Field, the home of the Crew.
The chain measured nearly one mile in length at 4,848.56 feet, successfully setting the Guinness World RecordsTM title for Longest Chain of Sports Fan Scarfs. The prized scarf tied together a communitywide commitment through the Wrap Them In Support campaign, where all proceeds benefit On Our Sleeves to provide free mental health educational resources to every community in America.