NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 31, 2024--
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), a leading provider of retirement plans for educators, announced today that a group of educators with Calvert County Public Schools in Prince Frederick, Maryland, has been selected as the grand prize winners as part of the company’s 2024 Unsung Heroes awards competition.
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As the first-place winners, Thomas Harten, Linda Subda, Jenna Lyons, and Jesse Howe received the $25,000 award in a surprise check presentation in addition to $2,000 they received as one of the 50 national finalists — bringing their total financial award to $27,000. This money will be used to purchase materials and expand the opportunities for the “Schoolhouse Rocks: Saving the Chesapeake's Oysters" program. The program aims to support the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay by engaging elementary school science students to learn about the importance of community ecosystems.
In addition to the 50 $2,000 grants to K-12 educators, Voya provides additional awards to the top three educational programs. All the applications received from teachers are evaluated by Scholarship America, Voya’s partner in the Unsung Heroes program. The second-place winner was at Peak to Peak Charter High School in Lafayette, Colorado, and received a total of $12,000, and the third-place winner was at East Lyme High School in East Lyme, Connecticut, and received a total of $7,000.
For 28 years, the Voya Unsung Heroes program has awarded grants to K-12 educators in the United States to recognize and support their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and their ability to positively influence the children they teach. Since the program’s inception, Voya has awarded more than $6 million in support of educators through this nationwide program.
“We recognize and celebrate our nation's unsung heroes: the teachers, staff, and administrators whose actions shape minds and nurture dreams,” said Angela Harrell, chief diversity & corporate impact officer and president, Voya Foundation. “Through Voya’s Unsung Heroes program and our various educational initiatives, we shine a light on the innovative teaching practices that spark a curiosity to learn and prepare students to become the leaders of tomorrow.”
The team's innovative teaching idea, “Schoolhouse Rocks: Saving the Chesapeake’s Oysters,” engages fifth-grade students to improve the ecosystem in their community. The project focuses on preserving the ecological role of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay through a Living Reef Action Campaign. The health of the Chesapeake Bay is central to the educational programming of CHESPAX. Perhaps no other species is more important to the bay than the oyster. The oyster reefs, known locally as “oyster rocks,” once were so plentiful in the bay that ships had to navigate around them. Today, these reefs are less than 3% of their historic levels in the Chesapeake Bay. Working with the Coastal Conservation Association, students will build 250 lb oyster reef balls at their schools and deploy them to restoration sites in Maryland waters. Each school will produce 20 oyster reef balls during this program. This will result in 5,000 lbs of artificial reef habitat produced at each elementary school. Students will also complete a science unit on the importance of oysters for the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. They will participate in a field experience at a bay tributary to learn about the environmental needs of oysters and their role as filter feeders and habitat for other organisms. The project will give students an opportunity to make a tangible, ecological impact on oyster populations.
“Fifth-grade students love supporting the oysters of the Chesapeake Bay by creating reef balls,” said Janel McPhillips, supervisor for the Elementary Science & Service Learning for the Chespax team. “With this award to Tom Harten and his partners, this program will be able to continue on for several years. Thanks to the Chespax staff, Coastal Conservation staff, fifth-grade teachers, and CCPS Administrators for their support of this project!”
To learn more about this year’s winning projects, as well as those from previous years, visit the Unsung Heroes website.
Unsung Heroes is part of Voya Foundation’s signature program, Voya Teacher Voices, that focuses on empowering teachers to become leaders by promoting the teaching career, recognizing high-achieving educators, providing training opportunities, and offering financial support to achieve their goals.
About the Voya Foundation
Voya Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in communities where Voya Financial operates and its employees and customers live. Voya Foundation provides grants and establishes signature partnerships in the areas of financial literacy and children's education and fosters employee engagement to deepen our positive impact on the community. For more information, visit VoyaFoundation.com.
About Voya Financial ®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) is a leading health, wealth and investment company with approximately 9,000 employees who are focused on achieving Voya’s aspirational vision: “Clearing your path to financial confidence and a more fulfilling life.” Through products, solutions and technologies, Voya helps its 15.2 million individual, workplace and institutional clients become well-planned, well-invested and well-protected. Benefitfocus, a Voya company and a leading benefits administration provider, extends the reach of Voya’s workplace benefits and savings offerings by engaging directly with more than 12 million employees in the U.S. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work ® Institute, Voya is purpose-driven and committed to conducting business in a way that is economically, ethically, socially and environmentally responsible. Voya has earned recognition as: one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere; a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
VOYA-CR
Prince Frederick, Maryland, Oct. 31, 2024 — Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), a leading provider of retirement plans for educators, announced today that a group of educators with Calvert County Public Schools in Prince Frederick, Maryland, has been selected as the grand prize winners as part of the company’s 2024 Unsung Heroes awards competition. As the first-place winners, Thomas Harten, Linda Subda, Jenna Lyons, and Jesse Howe received the $25,000 award in a surprise check presentation in addition to $2,000 they received as one of the 50 national finalists — bringing their total financial award to $27,000. (Photo: Business Wire)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rowdy crowds took to the streets of Los Angeles after the Dodgers won the World Series, setting a city bus on fire, breaking into stores and lighting off fireworks. A dozen arrests were reported by police Thursday, but officials emphasized that most fans celebrated peacefully.
Video showed revelers throwing objects at police in downtown LA as sirens blared and officers told them to leave the area late Wednesday after the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in Game 5 in New York.
Other video showed someone standing atop a bus waving a Dodgers banner and people running from a boarded-up Nike store with armfuls of sneakers before throwing the merchandise into cars parked outside. No injuries were reported.
Despite some unrest, “the overwhelming majority of celebrations last night were joyful and peaceful,” Mayor Karen Bass said at a Thursday news conference discussing the logistics of Friday's planned victory parade.
“We will work to keep Angelenos safe as always,” Bass said, emphasizing that “violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”
The mayor, who wore a Dodgers jersey with her name on the back, noted that the parade will be held on what would've been Fernando Valenzuela 's 64th birthday. The beloved Dodgers pitcher died last week.
Bass said she will be sending a Dodgers jersey to New York Mayor Eric Adams to wear at his City Hall “because he has lost the bet.”
Officials said the Los Angeles Police Department will be on high alert throughout the week to protect communities and businesses in the city, which has been the site of previous unrest after championship wins by both the Lakers and the Dodgers.
There were some “unruly, and at times violent and hostile celebrations” after Wednesday's win, with several acts of vandalism, including the burning of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, LAPD spokesperson Officer Drake Madison said in an email.
Arrests were on charges such as failure to disperse, receiving stolen property or commercial burglary, Madison said. There were also several instances of street takeovers downtown and police used less-lethal munitions to control several hostile and violent crowds, Madison said. In the coming days, detectives will attempt to identify those responsible for crimes, he said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his deputies will be on full alert for various events, including the celebrations of the Dodgers’ win, Halloween festivities and the upcoming elections. Luna said Wednesday night’s problems were caused by “a very small segment of east Los Angeles communities. Most of them were out celebrating because they love their Dodgers.”
The Dodgers plan to commemorate their championship Friday with a downtown parade followed by a celebration at Dodger Stadium. The team said Wednesday that because of logistics, traffic and timing, fans won’t be able to attend both events.
The parade was expected to include members of the Dodgers traveling atop double-decker buses along a 45-minute route on city streets.
Officials urged people to work from home and to use public transportation when possible Friday.
Associated Press journalists Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C., and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
This story corrects that Bass was not wearing a Valenzuela jersey, but one with her name on the back.
A person covered in blue paint runs from a police officer as fans celebrate on streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fans dance while celebrating on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fans celebrate after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles.
A fan confronts police on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person covered in blue paint runs from a police officer as fans celebrate on streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person covered in blue paint, paints on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A police officer on horseback grabs a Los Angeles Dodgers flag as people gather on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Police officers attempt to detain a man as people gather on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
An LAFD arson investigator inspects a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters douse water on a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters douse water on a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
People carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A fan wearing a Shohei Ohtani taunts Los Angeles Police officers as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Firefighters douse water on a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A fan looses control of his skateboard as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
