Zurich is Helping Make-A-Wish Grant Wishes at 2012 CIAB Insurance Leadership Forum

(3BL Media) Colorado Springs, CO - October 1, 2012 – Continuing a tradition of giving back to the Pikes Peak region in Colorado, Zurich, a leading commercial property & casualty insurance provider in North America and globally, today announced it donated $7,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Colorado during the 2012 Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB) Insurance Leadership Forum (Forum). In addition, on behalf of Zurich’s broker guests at the event, Zurich and its Denver office gave approximately 185 coloring books, gift certificates and disposable cameras to Make-A-Wish.

Zurich’s donation will be used to grant a “Wish” to a child with a life-threatening medical condition.
Also at the event the Yates family from Colorado Springs was honored and their son Calvin, age 5, whose wish of riding the Transformer ride at Universal Studio in Hollywood, will be granted in December.

It’s always a pleasure to be part of a Zurich event,” said Joan Mazak, President & CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado. “They are a company with great spirit that really cares about people.”

"The national Make-A-Wish Foundation is one of Zurich’s focus charities and since 2002, we have raised more than $518,000 dollars for Make-A-Wish as a part of our annual ‘A Time for Giving’ workplace campaign, through our Grant Program and other employee special event fundraising,” said E. Randall Clouser, head of North America Commercial Marketing and Distribution & Regional Management for Zurich North America. “As we mark our 100-year anniversary celebration in the U.S., we’ve encouraged our employees in North America to take action and give back to the community by participating in our ‘100 Ways’ program.”

Clouser, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New York, said the “100 Ways” program challenged employees to complete 100 plus projects in the U.S. and Canada in 2012, working with Habitat for Humanity in 13 cities and training to be local disaster responders with the American Red  Cross’ “Ready When the Time Comes” program in six cities. To date, the “100 Ways” program has included 2,000 employee volunteers donating more than 15,000 hours for a value of services delivered to 160 nonprofits equaling more than $300,000.

Since 2009, Zurich’s leadership has chosen to give back to charitable causes in the Pikes Peak region, where the Forum is held, in lieu of decorum, gifts and providing entertainment during Zurich-held lunches and dinners at the Forum. The total monetary donation given to charitable causes benefiting the Pikes Peak region amounts to more $50,000.

Timeline of Zurich giving during CIAB Insurance Leadership Forum

2009

Zurich helped Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity build a home in Colorado Springs and donated power tools and $5,000 to help Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity build affordable homes the region
Zurich gave $7,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado.

2010

Zurich donated a total of $15,000 and held two separate charitable events benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Habitat for Humanity.
Zurich and members of the brokerage community gave nearly $9,000 to help Habitat for Humanity purchase emergency shelter kits for volunteers working to rebuild homes destroyed in the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
 

2011

Zurich gave $10,000 to the Pikes Peak United Way with $2,500 earmarked to each “Success by 6” and Big Brothers Big Sisters, two of the more than 40 local programs of the United Way.
Zurich executive spouses, employees in Zurich offices in Colorado Springs and Denver, brokers from Lockton, and invited guests to Zurich’s dinner collected approximately 850 board books that were donated to Pikes Peak United Way in support of its “Success by 6” initiative for distribution at nurseries, hospitals, and schools throughout the Pikes Peak region.

2012

Zurich donates $7,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado.
Zurich in North America and its Denver office donate approximately 185 coloring books, gift certificates and disposable cameras to Make-A-Wish on behalf of their broker guests at the event.