NU Online News Service, Jan. 29, 2:41 p.m.EST

The CPCU Society said it has established a special fund to aidvictims of the Haiti earthquake and plans to make a matchingdonation of up to $25,000.

The Malvern, Pa.-based education society for insuranceprofessionals carrying the Chartered Property Casualty Underwritersdesignation said the CPCU Society Haiti Emergency Relief Fund willcontribute to the Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund of former Presidents BillClinton and George W. Bush.

Society members and chapters have been asked to submit theircontributions by Feb. 19 so that the aid can be providedexpeditiously.

"The Society's members hold a vast array of positions in theproperty and casualty insurance industry, including as agents,brokers, underwriters, risk managers, adjusters, accountants andattorneys," explained Society Chief Executive Officer James R.Marks.

His membership, he said, is "keenly sensitive to tragic eventsand deeply sympathetic with the suffering of the Haitian people.The establishment of the CPCU Society Haiti Emergency Relief Fund,as it is called, is a vehicle for them to express their greatconcern about the Haitians' plight."

CPCU in donating joins a continually expanding list of insuranceindustry members making arrangements to aid Haiti. Among the groupsdonating are:

o OneBeacon Charitable Trust, which said it will donate a totalof $71,000 ($48,000 from the trust and the rest in employeecontribution and matching grants) to five organizations--AmericanRed Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, Partnersin Health and UNICEF--to aid in Haitian relief. Almost $30,000 willgo the American Red Cross.

o Yesterday, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers ofAmerica established the Trusted Choice Disaster Relief Fund.Information for contributions is online at www.independentagent.com.

o The Risk and Insurance Management Society said it made a$10,000 donation to the Red Cross on Monday.

o Fireman's Fund and its employees donated $67,816 to theAmerican Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts.

o The Nationwide Insurance Foundation donated $150,000 to theRed Cross Haiti Disaster Relief Fund. The company said thefoundation will match contributions of Nationwide employees of $25or more to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Relief Fund, which isproviding assistance to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

o Atlanta-based claims services provider Crawford & Co. saidit contributed $10,000 to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins SansFrontieres to aid the group's medical relief efforts in Haiti.