View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2012/04/12/243090.htm
Insurance firms and professionals in the Charlotte, North Carolina area have banded together to form a nonprofit organization to provide financial support to charities in their community.
According to organizers, more than 33 firms and 10,000 employees have joined the group, which is called Community Matters, Insurance Partners of Charlotte.
Leadership for the new organization includes John Tighe, Arrowpoint Capital; Steve Decarlo, AmWINS Group; and Angela Matherly, Snyder’s-Lance Inc.
“It’s great to see how quickly Community Matters has taken off,” Arrowpoint Capital President and CEO John Tighe, a Community Matters director. “Formed only a few months ago, the alliance is already generating a lot of excitement among local insurance professionals who see the impact we can have.”
The more than 30 supporting businesses include Allied World Assurance, AmWINS Group, Aon Risk Solutions, Arrowpoint Capital, BB&T Insurance Services, Chartis, Chubb, Engle Martin, Gallagher Bassett Services, Great American Insurance, Harleysville Group, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Lockton, Marsh, McGriff Seibels & Williams, Navigators Management, PMA Companies, Snyder’s-Lance, Swimmer Insurance, Travelers, Wells Fargo Insurance, Willis and Zenith Insurance Co.
“Community Matters is quickly evolving into a platform for the people in our industry to harness their passions and energy toward making a significant difference in the lives of people in need,” said AmWINS President and CEO Steve DeCarlo. “It is a unique opportunity. ”
The group plans to select one worthy charity at a time. As its first charity, Community Matters has selected United Family Services, a 102-year old family counseling and crisis intervention agency that operates The Shelter for Battered Women.
Community Matters is launching its inaugural fundraising initiative on April 27, 2012, with a Dodgeball Tournament featuring 60 teams from partner companies in the insurance industry.
Each participating firm will also be holding company-specific fundraisers. Additionally, Community Matters will be playing an active role in “Run For Peace,” a 5K race that has been a long-standing tradition in Charlotte supporting the mission of United Family Services.
Finally, Community Matters is also encouraging its partners to engage in active outreach with United Family Services through volunteer programs and educational opportunities to combat domestic and sexual violence.
For more information visit the Community Matters website at http://communitymatterscharlotte.org/home.html.