Unum is committed to building a foundation for our children's future by supporting educational systems and the families they serve. In 2008, as part of our commitment to education, we began a four-year partnership with Hamilton County Schools to fund specific school programs and identify volunteer opportunities in the classroom for our employees. An important part of this relationship is the Unum Strong Schools grant program.

The Unum Strong Schools grant program provides financial support for effective and creative initiatives that engage students and improve their learning and achievement levels. Mini-grants will be awarded for up to $1,000 for classroom or school-based projects and lessons in the Hamilton County school system, grades K-12.

Grants will be awarded based on whether the project:

• Improves student achievement
• Develops student leadership skills
• Develops student critical thinking skills
• Provides real-world applications or experiences
• Outlines measurable results that can be modeled as best practice
• Can be adapted for use by other teachers

Teachers may apply for the mini-grants to benefit students and classroom instruction, and request up to $1,000 to fund innovative educational projects. Teachers may only apply for one grant per year. Several teachers or a grade level may submit a single application.

All proposed projects must enhance the classroom curriculum or support some specific educational initiative within the school. Preference will be given to projects that integrate career preparation with academic content. Grant recipients will be asked to complete a brief program summary at the end of the project.

Funding obtained through this grant may be used to purchase equipment or to provide field trip transportation, but not when these are the end in themselves. Equipment and trips should be just one component of a well-planned unit of instruction. The following will not be funded by the mini-grant program and should not be requested:

• Capital improvements
• Classroom furniture
• Playground equipment

The application process for the 2011-12 school year has closed.

For questions regarding the Unum Strong Schools grant program or the application process, please contact Cathy Barrett, Unum manager of community relations, at 423-294-7579 or by e-mail.

A committee representing volunteers from a cross section of the community will review the applications anonymously without regard to applicant name or school. Recipients will be notified of the awards by December 16, 2011 and invited to an awards luncheon on January 5, 2012.