California Casualty Awards $101,500 in Athletics Grants to Public High Schools in 38 States

San Mateo, CA, April 12, 2013. . . California Casualty announced it has awarded $101,500 in grants to 85 public high schools in 38 states. This is the third year the company is helping ensure youth can participate in athletics programs, which are often first on the chopping block of education budgets. The company’s financial support this year more than quadruples what was donated when the program launched in 2011.

Shrinking state education budgets and pressure to improve academic performance have forced many schools to trim and in some cases even eliminate athletics. Oftentimes coaches subsidize programs out of their own pockets, and many student athletes risk injury practicing with old and insufficient equipment. To a greater and greater extent, families are being asked to foot the athletics bill – and some students from economically disadvantaged homes end up not being able to participate.

This state of affairs disheartened Chairman Emeritus Thomas R. Brown, a retired third generation leader in the California Casualty family business. Brown said his own athletic participation as a youth impacted his self-esteem and leadership development.

“Youth sports teach teamwork, discipline and that hard work pays off,” Brown stated. “They’re a valuable complement to lessons learned in school.”

The California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program began two years ago, with $25,000 in grants across four states. In 2012, the program awarded a total of $75,000 to 59 high schools across the country. There were 457 grant applications this year, a 70 percent increase.

California Casualty has a 62-year relationship with education and school administration associations. “We understand the struggles they face every day,” said Doug Goldberg, Senior Vice President. “This is our way of giving back.”

A detailed listing of this year’s grant recipients is attached. For more information about the Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program, visit www.CalCasAthleticsGrant.com.

California Casualty is a 99-year-old policyholder-owned company headquartered in San Mateo, CA with service centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas. Learn more about its auto and home insurance for firefighters, peace officers, educators and nurses at www.calcas.com.