haiti In an earlier post, I noted my discomfort in merely reporting that insurers had little-to-no exposure in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, asking for examples of industry players helping to raise rescue, relief and recovery funds. While not up to the level of Hollywood stars pledging $1 million or more out of their own pockets, the industry has begun to respond to the humanitarian crisis on the island.

Among those contributing thus far, we've heard from the following:

• ACE Group announced that its ACE Charitable Foundation will donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The foundation will also match ACE employee donations to the Red Cross fund on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

“We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the immense loss of life, suffering and destruction that the people of Haiti have experienced,” said Evan G. Greenberg, chair and chief executive officer of ACE. “Our hearts go out to the Haitian people, who have lost many loved ones in this tragedy and face a difficult recovery effort ahead.”

• Allstate said its Allstate Foundation made a donation of $50,000 to the American Red Cross. The foundation will also match employee contributions up to an additional $50,000 for a total commitment of $100,000. In partnership with the American Red Cross, the foundation set up a Web site for employees and agency owners to give to the relief effort at http://american.redcross.org/allstate-emp.

• Aon Corp. announced it was making a $100,000 donation to the Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development efforts, and would match up to an additional $300,000 in contributions from its colleagues around the world.

• Chubb Groupsaid it would head up a $500,000 donation effort, contributing $125,000 to Doctors Without Borders and the same amount to Share Our Strength. In addition, Chubb will match employee contributions to qualified relief organizations on a two-for-one basis, up to $250,000. If total employee donations exceed $125,000, Chubb said it will continue to match those employee dollars on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

• The CPCU Society established a special fund to aid victims of the Haiti earthquake, matching the contributions of its members and chapters up to $25,000. The funds will be donated to the Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Society members and chapters have been asked to submit their contributions by Feb. 19 “so that the aid can be provided expeditiously.”

• Crawford & Company, a provider of claims management solutions, contributed $10,000 to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres to aid the group's medical relief efforts in Haiti.

“Due to the nature of our business, we have witnessed first-hand the ongoing crisis in Haiti caused by last week's earthquake,” said Jeffrey T. Bowman, Crawford's president and chief executive officer. “Because of the critical need for medical care, we believe that a contribution to Doctors Without Borders will be the most effective one we can make at this time.”

• The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America has created a matching fund for employees who wish to donate money to assist Haitian earthquake victims. Online tax-deductible contributions to the fund can be made at www.independentagent.com by clicking on “About Us” and then “Trusted Choice Disaster Relief Fund.” Contributions via check should be made payable to the Trusted Choice Disaster Relief Fund and sent to: Attn: Lillian Carter, Trusted Choice Disaster Relief Fund, 127 S. Peyton St., Alexandria, VA 22314

• New York Life Insurance Company said it would donate $100,000 and donate up to an additional $150,000 in matching contributions by employees and agents.

• Philadelphia Insurance Companies presented the American Red Cross with a $50,000 donation, teaming up with the Philadelphia CBS-affiliated television station for “Operation Brotherly Love Help for Haiti.”

• Zurich Financial Services Group said its Zurich Foundation would match up to nearly $250,000 in charitable contributions made by Zurich employees to recognized charitable organizations.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation called on the industry to lend help to two organizations it recently supported with grants for their humanitarian efforts. The IICF said the International Rescue Committee, with 75 years of expertise in emergency response, and World Cares Center, which supports local groups, are in need of funds to support the relief effort in Haiti.

Contributions can be made to IRC at www.theirc.org/donate/donatenow-haiti and to World Cares Center at www.worldcares.org/content/donate-world-cares-center.

There are undoubtedly more carriers, associations and individual agencies helping raise relief funds. If you'd like, let us and the world know by posting in the comment section below.

An industry that has taken so much flak for failing to pay claims after a disaster can go a long way to polishing its reputation by stepping up in a situation like this.

Special Reports /

Insurers Rally To Help Rescue Haiti

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