Year after year, insurance agencies, both large and small, demonstrate personal dedication and leadership through volunteerism in the local community. It's an American tradition that has great impact from coast to coast.
“We view our support, both through volunteer hours and financial contributions to community non-profits, as the 'rent' we owe for the honor of providing insurance for citizens in our community,” said Claudia McClain, president of McClain Insurance Services in Everett, Wash.
Read the sidebar “McKinsey: Volunteerism is 20% of Industry Giving.”
Four key aspects make community involvement a positive for insurance agents:
- Community involvement gives insurance agents a personal voice and face in the community. Agents who volunteer become known as leaders, and leadership demonstrates that agents and their products and services are part of a healthy community.
Active community participation provides a human touch to the industry. When clients and residents see agents personally committed and engaged with causes important to their local communities, the public gains a better awareness, understanding and appreciation of the insurance industry.
- Community involvement is good for business.Volunteering, charitable giving and leadership is a perfect path for agency principals, producers and employees to meet the public and its influential leaders. It gives agencies extended insight into a community.
Community engagement builds personal relationships and opens new doors. Gaining familiarity with local leaders is a significant advantage for the insurance agent when business needs arise.
-
Community involvement is good for morale. Many volunteers report “I always get more than I give.” It's a feeling of making a difference. Volunteering brings forth positive feelings and a can-do attitude, which cascades over into the workplace, giving a bump to employee morale, positive energy and empathy to others.
Active community participation provides a human touch to the industry. When clients and residents see agents personally committed and engaged with causes important to their local communities, the public gains a better awareness, understanding and appreciation of the insurance industry.Having a positive work environment and a workforce committed to the community makes an agency a more attractive employer. The young workforce especially is interested in seeing employers engaged with social needs and giving back to the community.
Community involvement fulfills agents' aspirations. Agents report they feel a personal call to serve others because of civic pride, charitable motivations, patriotism or religious convictions. Some have had personal or family experiences that have driven them to support a special cause.
Robert Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, noted that community involvement is widespread. “Many Big 'I' Trusted Choice independent insurance agents and brokers are heavily involved in their local communities as civic leaders, philanthropists and volunteers on a myriad of causes.”
IIABA presents the annual Bob Fulwilder award to an agency or agent “who has gone beyond the call to serve others,” Rusbuldt said, adding that the national association raises awareness and funding for Make-a-Wish through social media campaigns. It also partnered with Orange County Choppers to sponsor a motorcycle for charity that was unveiled on the television show “American Chopper” and is currently touring the country.
Here are some examples of how agencies are involved with their communities:
Green by the Sea
Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance, an agency located in the northernmost shoreline city in New Hampshire, is active in ecological initiatives. With a keen appreciation for seacoast life, agency principal Jon Merwin has set a goal: “To be the greenest insurance agency in the state.”
The agency minimizes its environmental impact by using a paperless management system; communicates via e-fax and email for 95 percent of quotes; and uses recycled paper and paper towels, biodegradable plastic bags, and eco-friendly cleaning products.
Related: See the “Slideshow: Top 3 Business Benefits of Volunteerism” by Elizabeth Myatt.
The agency is active with Green Alliance, a local business network that certifies its member businesses “green.” But Portsmouth Atlantic doesn't mind the color brown: It sponsors Tough Mudder, an obstacle course that tests participants' strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie. The agency's involvement in the event contributes to the more than $3 million raised for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Hunger to Help
Food banks and food pantries are great places to volunteer. For brokers involved with the western division of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), more than 50 percent of Week of Giving volunteer teams go to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
In California, the Los Angeles chapter of the Big I has a long-standing commitment to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. This year, IIABA LA chapter leaders presented the organization with a $5,000 grant during IICF Week of Giving in October.
Personal Beliefs Drive Charity
Religious convictions and personal beliefs drive much charitable activity by agents. Jim Gosselink, president of Tulip City Agency Ltd. in Pella, Iowa, said “I have strong religious convictions that tell me to help those in need, and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you—and if I was in need due to a house fire or an auto accident, I would want someone to help me out.”
Gosselink, a volunteer firefighter, added: “I do not do it to get more business, and I do not think it has ever landed me one new client. I do it solely for the sake of helping others.”
Spiritual convictions drive Craig Most, CIC, co-owner with his brother Eric of Most Insurance in Florida. “We feel it is important to be involved in the communities in which we live and make a difference. Another key aspect of motivation is the glory of God. For Eric Most and several other individuals within the company, that is the largest motivator for helping others.”
The agency and its employees are involved in school volunteerism, muscular dystrophy camps, and “Project Three” with Feeding Kids Everywhere, which packaged 3 million meals in a 3-day period for hungry kids throughout the U.S.
Related: Read the article “Insurance Volunteers Make a Difference.”
Cross Insurance in Bangor, Maine, coaches youth athletics, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, charity walks/runs, hospital and church functions. “Each client we have is involved in charitable activities and then we have our personal community goals so we feel like we are the United Way,” Brent Cross, executive vice president said.
The Cross agency made a business decision to diversify its support to many causes. “This means we don't get our names in the paper for a large check, but it does mean that we can do more for each and every town where we work and where our employee families live and play,” he said.
Agencies Take on Multiple Efforts
Sam Rogers, CEO of Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance (RGVI) in Tallahassee, Fla., has multiple producers associated with multiple community efforts.
The agency sponsors group events for employees and their friends and families, helping them find an opportunity to volunteer for a cause they personally support.
“In the end, our agency is better off because employees find a sense personal satisfaction and joy in helping others. They feel good about themselves and are glad they work for an organization that supports volunteer activities. Our clients and the community also see our agency as an active and involved member of the community and I believe that makes us one of the 'good guys.'”
RGVI employees are involved in organizations including United Way, American Heart Assn., March of Dimes, chamber of commerce, Refuge House, Florida Disabled Outdoors Assn., Extended Circle Animal Haven, Second Harvest of the Big Bend, and Youth Leadership Tallahassee.
At Heffernan, community involvement “comes top down from our CEO, Mike Heffernan,” said Michelle Lonaker, philanthropy and foundation director for the Bay Area brokerage. “Giving back and volunteering helps create a stronger community.” The firm allows staff 4 days yearly to volunteer during work hours.
In 2011 Heffernan volunteered at Redwood Empire Food Bank, St. Anthony Foundation, local food banks in California, and a holiday adopt-a-family program in several communities.
Heffernan sees its approach to volunteering yielding benefits in recruiting. “We think many people in the workforce care about what a company does that is right and/or good for the community,” Lonaker said. “We think a company that puts an emphasis on 'work hard' but also 'give back' is a way to attract, recruit and then retain great employees.”
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.