Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings Public Entity PoolingPractice marked its 25th anniversary this year by noting thechanges its has seen since beginning operations in 1982.

Willis said that in recent years the demand for risk managementservices by states, cities, counties, political subdivisions,religious organizations and other nonprofit organizations has growndramatically in the face of an expanding definition of liability,new risks and legislative changes.

During this time, the Willis Pooling Practice said it hasassisted clients with all the traditional risks public entitiesface, as well as extraordinary and far-reaching threats like Y2K,terrorism, mold, harassment and occupational disease.

According to the practice, current trends in risk poolinginclude an increased focus on serving pool member's specific needs,creating networking and work-alike groups, and educating publicentities on risk prevention issues such as law enforcement trainingand bus rodeos.

The Pooling Practice provides risk transfer and insuranceservices to over 3,200 counties, cities, school districts, towns,religious institutions and hospitals. The firm said thecost-effective pooling of risk positively impacts the budgets ofmore than 750 school districts educating two million children.