Tavis Smiley and Nationwide Insurance Make Stop in Dallas to Help Consumers Control Their Financial Future

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2008 Nationwide On Your Side® Tour with Tavis Smiley will make its final stop in Dallas, Texas, on November 8 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 400 N. Olive Street. In the wake of some of the more difficult economic times facing consumers everywhere, the tour helps people learn about ways to empower themselves and enhance their financial future. The event is part of an exclusive partnership between The Smiley Group and Nationwide.

“Now more than ever, it is vitally important for consumers to focus on taking the steps to plan for their financial future,” said James Lyski, chief marketing officer for Nationwide. “By partnering with Tavis Smiley, we’re engaging the community in very important dialogue regarding financial planning and financial responsibility.”

“These events are a unique way that Nationwide and I can engage consumers, while helping them clearly see their role in the journey toward economic empowerment and financial freedom,” said Smiley. “Economically speaking, times are getting tougher. Everyone needs to explore the resources and options to navigate through the challenges and this event is a perfect opportunity to begin that process,” Smiley says.

The tour, which has been held in Columbus, OH; Raleigh, NC; Richmond, VA; and Atlanta, GA, brings community partners together to discuss the need for greater financial literacy and the empowerment that comes with it. The tour also includes workshops designed to help individuals better understand the role of insurance, the need for strong financial planning, and recruitment.

"These tours have been a series of successful launches with Nationwide and their interest in our continuous efforts, derived from The Covenant, with financial literacy, wealth development and economic empowerment made sense for us to collaborate,” says Smiley.

Consumers interested in connecting with a strong economic message can visit http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/special/roadtowealth/ and click on the link road to wealth.

The partnership between Nationwide and TSG bridges two groups together with a commitment to help consumers protect their investment and prepare for the future by offering a broad range of insurance and financial service products and solutions.

“Knowledge is power and can provide families and individuals of all social and economic backgrounds the keys to a brighter future,” says John Raybuck, regional vice president for Nationwide’s Texas operation. “This partnership provides the community access to tools and resources that will help them take control of their financial future. That is the first step to economic empowerment,” Raybuck said.

The partnership between Nationwide and TSG also includes sponsorship of Smiley’s PBS television program as a provider of property & casualty insurance products and national sponsorship of the 2009 State of the Black Union event to be held next February in Los Angeles.

About Tavis Smiley and the Tavis Smiley Group

Smiley, who started his career as an aide to the late Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, also offers political commentary twice weekly on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. In addition, he has authored eleven books. Smiley made publishing history when the book he edited, the Covenant with Black America reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. His latest is What I Know For Sure: My Story of Growing up in America (Doubleday). The Smiley Group, Inc. is a communications corporation established in support of human rights and related empowerment issues. TSG serves as the holding company for various enterprises encompassing broadcast and print media, lectures, symposiums and the Internet. For more information, visit www.tavistalks.com.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $161 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #108 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.