SEATTLE & BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Symetra, a national provider of employee benefits, annuities and life insurance, has committed $250,000 to the GSBA Scholarship Fund, one of the oldest and most active LGBTQ scholarship programs in the country. The multi-year pledge will also help launch a new “Symetra Empowers Scholarships” program.

“Our GSBA relationship is grounded in a mutual commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and our deep respect for the opportunities the GSBA Scholarship Fund provides,” said Trinity Parker, Symetra senior vice president, Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs. “Symetra believes in the power of education and its ability to inspire and empower students to pursue their dreams and make a transformative difference in our communities. We’re proud to help support those dreams through the ‘Symetra Empowers Scholarships’ program, which underlines our long-term commitment to supporting at-risk youth and the LGBTQ community in the Puget Sound region.”

The “Symetra Empowers Scholarships” contribution will focus on LGBTQ+ students who have overcome hardships with an emphasis on diversity. The grant will fund three workforce scholarships on an annual basis for the next five years, representing a combined 15 scholar-years of investments. The grant will also support leadership training and development for scholarship recipients as well as GSBA’s outreach work.

“We’re excited about the possibilities that the Symetra grant, the largest multi-year corporate gift in the GSBA Scholarship Fund’s history, will offer LGBTQ and allied students. Education is the great equalizer and Symetra not only understands this, but is committed to opening up access to those who often face huge barriers to achieve success,” said Louise Chernin, president and CEO of the GSBA. “We’re grateful to Symetra for taking a bold step and investing in opportunity for students who often get left behind.”

The GSBA Scholarship Fund invests in LGBTQ+ students who exemplify leadership potential, strong academic ability, and community involvement and dedication. The scholarship program works to empower students with marginalized intersectional identities within the LGBTQ+ community and provides not only financial support for LGBTQ+ students, but also a network of support, skills-based workshops, and an annual leadership immersion camp.

About Symetra

Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation, a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.

About GSBA

Established in 1981, GSBA is Washington State’s LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce. It represents over 1,400 small business, corporate and nonprofit members who share GSBA’s values of promoting equality, equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. GSBA is widely respected throughout the region for its effectiveness in business development, representing the business voice, connecting community through business, advocating for civil rights and business, promoting LGBTQ tourism through Travel Out Seattle, and investing in the next generation of leaders through the GSBA Scholarship Fund. For more information on GSBA, visit www.thegsba.org.