Voya Helps Fund Innovative Teaching Programs by Offering $240,000 in Grants; Application Ends Soon

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

WINDSOR, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE:VOYA), is letting K–12 educators across the country know that there is still time to apply for a Voya Unsung Heroes® grant for the 2019 calendar year. Any eligible educator with an innovative program idea is invited to apply by visiting the Unsung Heroes website at Voya.com/UnsungHeroes and submitting their information online by April 30, 2019.

“We’re pleased to be able to support educators who go above and beyond their everyday responsibilities to inspire a love for learning in today’s classrooms,” said Heather Lavallee, president of Tax-Exempt Markets for Voya’s Retirement business. “In a world where funding is often less prevalent, our Voya Unsung Heroes program provides a great opportunity for teachers to be able to make an impact in their community and become recognized for their innovative teaching ideas.”

Voya handed out its first Unsung Heroes award more than two decades ago as a way to demonstrate its commitment to the education community, an important customer group for the company’s Retirement business. After awarding over $5 million in grants, the program continues to be a catalyst for innovative learning. Each year, 100 finalists are selected to receive a $2,000 grant. The winning projects are chosen based on the creativity of the idea, the teaching method applied and the ability to positively influence students. Out of the 100 finalists, three are selected to receive enhanced awards: $5,000 for third place; $10,000 for second place; and $25,000 for first place. In addition to their financial award, many Voya Unsung Heroes grant recipients are also recognized in front of their school community with a surprise check-presentation event.

The process to apply is simple. Every educator with a compelling idea and the need for some extra support is welcome to submit an application. Visit the Unsung Heroes website at Voya.com/UnsungHeroes to access the 2019 application and additional program information. Those interested must act soon — applications are currently being accepted through Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

Unsung Heroes is part of Voya’s broader efforts to empower teachers to become leaders by promoting the teaching career, recognizing high-achieving accomplishments, providing training opportunities and offering financial support to achieve their goals.

As an industry leader and advocate for greater retirement readiness, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its vision to be America’s Retirement Company® and its mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time.

About Voya Financial ®

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13.8 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $8.5 billion in revenue in 2018. The company had $467 billion in total assets under management and administration as of Dec. 31, 2018. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time — Voya’s vision is to be America’s Retirement Company®. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has been recognized as one of the 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute; as a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index; and as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index by Disability:IN. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya.

Laura Maulucci
Voya Financial
Office: (860) 580-1278
Cell: (508) 353-6913
[email protected]