Voya Financial to award $140,000 to educators with innovative teaching ideas

By: Voya Financial, Inc. via Business Wire

March 26, 2024 at 09:05 AM EDT

Annual Unsung Heroes program now accepting applications through April 19

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that the application window has opened for the 2024 Unsung Heroes program, a nationwide initiative that funds innovative teaching ideas to improve curriculum and learning techniques.

Open to K-12 educators, Voya’s Unsung Heroes program provides an opportunity for educators to secure resources to implement novel initiatives to help their students. Through the program each year 50 finalists are selected to receive a $2,000 grant based on the creativity of their ideas; the teaching method they apply; and the ability to positively influence students. Of the finalists, three will be selected to receive additional awards, including: $5,000 for third place; $10,000 for second place; and $25,000 for the grand prize winner.

“In Voya’s more than 25 years supporting the Unsung Heroes program, we have met many educators who are in need of more resources to help turn textbook concepts into real-world applications,” said Braeden Mayrisch, vice president, Stakeholder Equity and Impact at Voya Financial and vice president, Voya Foundation. “By helping to inspire a love for learning in today’s classrooms, these grants can give teachers a leading role in preparing children for the workforce, and their future financial journeys.”

Voya first established the Unsung Heroes program to reward educators who have the vision to try new methods to inspire kids’ learning. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $6 million in grants to educators who work tirelessly to make a lifelong impact on their students. The program is administered by Scholarship America, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships, tuition assistance, and other educational support programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals.

The process to apply is simple. Educators (including teachers, principals, counselors, librarians or coaches) with a compelling idea and the need for extra support are encouraged to submit an application. Visit Unsung Heroes to apply, learn more about the program, or view past recipients. Those interested must act soon — the deadline to apply is Friday, April 19.

Unsung Heroes is part of Voya Financial’s signature program, Voya Teacher Voices, which is focused 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. Voya’s commitment to educators also includes its longstanding support for the National Teacher of the Year program, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and several other initiatives focused on recruiting, training, and retaining America’s teacher workforce.

As an industry leader focused on the delivery of benefits, savings and investment solutions to and through the workplace, Voya is committed to delivering on its mission to make a secure financial future possible for all — one person, one family, one institution at a time.

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 over 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.

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