Fortitude Reinsurance Company has committed a US$200,000 donation to the Educational Arts Team through its Fortitude Re 4 Good community partnership program.
The funding is aimed at expanding arts-based learning initiatives for students in Jersey City and nearby communities.
The Educational Arts Team, a nonprofit, uses visual and performance arts to support learning and youth development. Its programs link creativity with critical thinking, with a focus on building skills that support academic performance and personal growth.
“Fortitude Re is proud to continue our partnership with the Educational Arts Team and to support the incredible work they are doing for families across Jersey City,” said Sean Coyle, COO and Educational Arts Team board member.
Fortitude Re’s latest contribution will help sustain the organization’s Family Literacy workshops, which use interactive storytelling and arts activities to engage both children and adults. It will also support Camp Liberty, a summer program that offers children a structured space to explore art, nature and collaborative activities.
In addition, part of the funding is earmarked for training educators and youth professionals who want to integrate creative education methods into local classrooms. Fortitude Re said this component is intended to extend the reach of arts-based learning beyond standalone programs and into day-to-day teaching.
Fortitude Re said its collaboration with the Educational Arts Team aligns with the Fortitude Re 4 Good program’s emphasis on long-term community relationships.
The initiative comes as other Bermuda-linked re/insurers expand their own community programs, with Ariel Re reporting US$240,000 in charitable donations in 2024, an increase of US$45,000 on the prior year, across 35 initiatives supported from its Bermuda and London offices.
Larger international groups are also formalizing long-term giving frameworks, such as Aegon’s community investment program in Bermuda launching in 2025, which will run for an initial three-year term and channel funds through the Bermuda Foundation.
Sector-level data also point to rising community investment, with Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers members reporting US$7.3 million in charitable donations in 2024, alongside US$1.25 million in scholarships for Bermudian students and nearly 100 paid internships.
