The Midwest Division of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a unique nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, will honor Jodie Kaufman Davis, Executive Vice President of H.W. Kaufman Group, with its prestigious Trailblazer Award for philanthropic excellence and industry leadership at the 13th annual Blazing the Trail Benefit on May 2 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago.
The 2024 IICF Blazing the Trail Gala will convene insurance leaders from Chicago and throughout the Midwest, along with representatives of local nonprofits, to celebrate the philanthropic achievements of the industry and raise funds for regional nonprofit partners serving those in need.
“I am honored to receive the Midwest Trailblazer award from IICF, an organization that shares our company’s commitment to meaningfully impact the communities where we do business,” said Jodie Kaufman Davis. “Events such as Blazing the Trail, along with the broader IICF’s 30th Anniversary campaign, enable industry professionals to come together, while dedicating time and resources to those in need.”
IICF is honoring Kaufman Davis as the 2024 Midwest Trailblazer for championing company culture along with her leadership in advancing inclusion initiatives across Kaufman’s global team. In addition to her numerous leadership responsibilities in the US, Canada and worldwide, she serves as the executive sponsor for Kaufman’s employee resource groups (ERGs). The self-governing ERGs tap into the unique expertise and perspectives of Kaufman associates to tackle complex business challenges.
In 2020, Kaufman Davis was named to the Insurance Business Global 100 and also received the Business Insurance Women to Watch Award the year prior. Outside the workplace, she is an active Board Member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Motor City Chapter, a Director on the Insurance Supper Club (ISC) Group Global Advisory Board and serves on the IICF International Board of Governors. Kaufman Davis is also currently serving as Chair of the IICF 30th Anniversary Committee and leading this industrywide campaign to fight childhood hunger.
Proceeds from the 2024 Midwest Division Blazing the Trail Gala will fund the IICF Midwest Community Grants Program, which awards grants to regional nonprofits focused on education, safety and health. Since its founding in 2011, IICF’s Midwestern Division has granted more than $5 million to hundreds of nonprofits. IICF is proud to count nearly 150 insurance industry leaders across the Midwestern states as board members contributing to local communities as part of the IICF Midwest Division and Associate Boards based in Chicago, as well as through the IICF Ohio and Heartland (Kansas and St. Louis) Chapter Boards.
“This year’s theme of ‘empowering brighter futures, together’ so clearly describes our impact in the community, and what we’re aiming to achieve through our annual Blazing the Trail Gala by bringing the industry together in celebration of philanthropy,” said Jeff Kroeger, Chair of the IICF Midwest Division Board of Directors and President, Insureon. “Last year we raised $540,000 to help our neighbors in need, and through IICF Community Grants and our volunteer work in the community, we are helping local children, families and individuals begin to envision a brighter future.”
The 2024 Blazing the Trail Gala is made possible by:
- Presenting Sponsor: Burns & Wilcox
- Platinum Sponsors: Aon, CNA and CRC Group
- Gold Sponsors: Amwins, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, The Hartford and Zurich and additional generous sponsors.
For more information regarding IICF’s Midwest Blazing the Trail Gala and to reserve a table, please visit the IICF website or contact IICF Midwest Executive Director Kelly Hartweg at (773) 991-2149 or khartweg@iicf.org.
About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF)
The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is a unique nonprofit that unites the collective strengths of the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives through grants, volunteer service and leadership. Established in 1994, IICF is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of serving as the philanthropic voice and foundation of the insurance industry throughout 2024, having contributed $48 million in community grants along with over 337,000 volunteer hours by more than 125,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised for maximum community impact, serving hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations across the US and UK. IICF is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Learn more at www.iicf.org or follow us on social media at: LinkedIn and Instagram