An insurance company has committed
$1.4 million to AARP Foundation to extend
the Foundation’s Back to Work 50+ initiative
to help low-income older adults assess
opportunities to become entrepreneurs
and create microenterprises.
“We are thrilled to sponsor the Back to
Work 50+ program to educate and inspire
older Americans who are interested in developing
their own small businesses,” said
Diane Cantello, vice president of corporate
responsibility at The Hartford, which has
made the contribution. “By encouraging
entrepreneurship among older Americans,
this program will help foster small business
growth and contribute to the vibrancy of
our communities.”
“Older adults are redefining traditional
approaches to work and careers,” said Lisa
Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation.
“While many want to continue to work
or advance in their current jobs, a growing
number want to generate income by using
their talents and skills to start their own
business or microenterprise. Through this
effort, AARP Foundation stands ready to
help by equipping them with the information
and skills they need to achieve their
goals.”
The announcement of this new sponsorship
comes on the heels of the one-year
anniversary of The Hartford’s Communities
with HART Program, a five-year initiative
aimed at benefiting small businesses and
supporting students through partnerships
with the Accion U.S. Network (Accion) and
Junior Achievement USA (JA).
In its first year, The Hartford announced
a $1.25 million partnership with Accion to help small business owners who experience
difficulty in accessing the traditional loans
they need to sustain and grow their businesses.
Accion manages the loan process,
which focuses on community-oriented
businesses in low-and-moderate income
areas that hire and source locally, deliver
social value and make a positive difference
in their neighborhoods.
With an initial focus in four key markets
– Chicago, Hartford, San Antonio and San
Diego – Communities with HART also provides
training and web resources to help
small business owners succeed.
The Hartford is also helping to inspire
the next generation of small business owners
as the title sponsor of the JA Company
Program®, which includes a new online
blended learning model and offers students
the opportunity to launch their own small
business while learning the basics of entrepreneurship,
financial literacy and work
readiness. With the help of a $1.5 million
investment, JA has already seen more than
a 25 percent increase in the number of JA
Company Programs being conducted since
the new program was rolled out across the
country at the end of last year.
The three-year sponsorship, which
broadens The Hartford’s long-standing
relationship with AARP, is part of the
company’s national philanthropic program.
Communities with HART nurtures the
well-being of America’s communities by
inspiring new generations of business leaders,
enabling underserved neighborhood
business owners to achieve growth and
engaging the community in neighborhood
business support.