Harlem Educational Activities Fund partnership helps students reach their potential

Chubb mentors offer career guidance and support.

They’re talented high school students with great potential and big dreams. Now, with help from mentors at Chubb, they are getting an opportunity to explore what it’s like to work as a professional in the insurance industry.

Chubb supports students through its participation in the Industry Immersion Program, which is  offered by the Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF), a nonprofit educational enhancement program helping underserved youth from diverse communities across New York City attend and graduate college. Since 2018, the Chubb Charitable Foundation has awarded $450,000 in grants to support HEAF programs.

HEAF’s Industry Immersion Program provides high school students with insights, knowledge and skills pertaining to a specific career field. Through a series of virtual meetings held over five weeks, mentors from Chubb share their experiences with students interested in careers in insurance or business.  Chubb managers and executives from roles such as underwriting, legal, IT and talent management meet with students in group discussions as well as one-on-one conversations.

“Sharing stories and personal experiences helps connect to and resonate with the students. Being able to help feels energizing and meaningful,” said Jana Radice, Assistant Vice President, Early Career Recruiting Manager at Chubb and an Immersion mentor. “Gaining their perspective has been so personally valuable and understanding their aspirations is thought-provoking and inspiring.”

“One student’s dream job is to be a CEO. I love that. As adults, we often live in the reality of what surrounds us and it sometimes holds us back. But their aspirations don’t let things get in their way,” said Radice.

Immersion mentor McKingsley Williams, Vice President IT, Global Technology Strategy & Transformation Office at Chubb, grew up as the son of Trinidadian immigrants in New York. “My conversations with HEAF students weren’t just about insurance,” said Williams. “We also talked about what they were looking forward to doing in their lives and helping them structure a path to get on that journey.”

HEAF has been helping students enhance their education, tap into their full potential and excel for more than 30 years. Starting in middle school, HEAF provides year-round extracurricular education and personal development activities. 100% of HEAF students have graduated from high school and been accepted to four-year colleges and universities, with 83% going on to receive a bachelor’s degree. The Chubb Charitable Foundation’s support for HEAF also includes its High Expectations program, which prepares middle-school students for admission to selective high schools in New York City. 

According to HEAF, Chubb’s partnership for both middle school and high school programming has not only helped to provide financial support, but has also offered incredibly valuable insights from highly engaged employee volunteers that have inspired hundreds of students.  Career exposure and exploration is a critical element of HEAF's program to help students broaden their view on the possibilities for the future and prepare for success in college and beyond.
 

"Chubb has been a tremendous partner for both our middle school and high school programming, helping to not only provide financial support but also incredibly valuable insights from their highly engaged employee volunteers to inspire hundreds of our students," said Ruth Rathblott, President and CEO of HEAF. "Career exposure and exploration is a critical element of HEAF's program to help our students broaden their view on the possibilities for the future and prepare for success in college and beyond."

“The mentors selected for this program understand and appreciate the significant impact career exposure and exploration can have for junior and senior high school students,” said Lori Dunstan, Executive Director of the Chubb Charitable Foundation.  “The mentors give students insight into possibilities they may not have otherwise considered as part of their academic and professional trajectories.”