NU Online News Service, March 19, 10:40 A.m.EDT

The Travelers Companies, Inc. has donated a $500,000 grant tosupport The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and Capitol InsuranceCompanies donated a total of $50,000 to 160 charities from aroundthe country, the companies said.

With its donation of a half-million dollars, Travelers supportsThe Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a nonprofit residential summer campand year-round center for children suffering from cancer and otherserious illnesses. The grant will expand the Camp's hospitaloutreach program, bringing the activities of the Camp to childrenin hospitals from New York to Boston, according to Travelers.

Jimmy Canton, chief executive officer of The Hole in the WallGang Camp said in a statement, "This grant will enable us to bringthe talented counselors and specialists from The Hole in the WallGang Camp Hospital Outreach Program right to the bedsides of moreseriously ill children in hospitals."

The Camp's Hospital Outreach Specialists work collaborativelywith hospital staff to implement programs focused on improving thequality of life for children during treatment. Daily activities aretailored to the hospital setting. The specialists also providevarious support services to the children's families. Consistentwith the Camp's other activities, the program is available tohospitals and families at no cost.

"The Camp is a magical place for the children who attend," saidAndy Bessette, Travelers Executive Vice President and ChiefAdministrative Officer. "Travelers is pleased to support theHospital Outreach Program and its efforts to bring some of thatmagic to children too ill to leave the hospital."

Over the last five years the company has provided more than $85million in community support and its employees have contributedtens of thousands of volunteer hours, the company said.

Capitol Insurance Companies recently concluded the celebrationof its 50^th anniversary by donating a total of $50,000to various charities. The contributions were based entirely uponsuggestions received from the company's employees and agents andrepresented a combination of large, national organizations as wellas small, local organizations.

The list of the 160 organizations includes the American CancerSociety, American Civil Liberties Union, American HeartAssociation, and the American Red Cross. Also among the charitieswere, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, and WildlifeConservation Society.

The $50,000 was in addition to the contributions Capitol and itsemployees make each year to various charitable organizations.

"Capitol has always had a strong focus on serving our customersas well as giving back to the communities in which we live andserve," said Diane West, vice president, administration and humanresources of Capitol. "Our agents and employees are responsible formaking this company successful and we realize the importance ofgiving back to the people who have been loyal to us for so manyyears."

Jim McIntyre, president and chief operating officer said, "We'vebeen fortunate to be a successful company over the past 50 years,and would sincerely like to thank our dedicated customers andemployees for putting their trust in Capitol. We couldn't have donethis without you."