A Chattanooga-based Unum executive will tell congressional staffers in Washington, D.C., today how important it is that their representatives support legislation to give children the educational backing they need to be part of a trained, competitive work force.
Tom White, the company's senior vice president of investor relations, said he will point to the benefits of the Ready by 21 program, which the United Way of Greater Chattanooga sponsors.
"It makes sense," he said of Ready by 21, which uses partnerships to support children from birth through young adulthood. "It fits into what we're trying to do as a company."
In 2009, Unum gave 40 percent ($457,000) of its local charitable funds to education initiatives. Ready by 21 is among more than 15 education partnerships the company supports in Hamilton County.
Dorian Friedman, director of work force readiness for Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Voices for Working Families, which engineers Ready by 21's efforts on Capitol Hill, said some individual staff members are up to date on the program. However, today's briefing is a first for a targeted audience of congressional staff members.
"We want to hear from people like Tom and other local and state leaders who can share best practices their communities are pursuing," she said.
White, one of a half-dozen professionals who will testify at the briefing, said he will have about 10 minutes to help staff members understand more about the program and to talk about the company's business and philanthropic efforts and how they work together.
Linda McReynolds, the local United Way's senior vice president of community impact, said having an executive from one of Chattanooga's largest employers testify on the program's behalf is an honor.
"It's an affirmation Chattanooga is on the right track in accepting the challenge children and youth have for success by 21," she said. "The future of Chattanooga depends on that skilled and educated work force."