“Week of Giving is an important celebration of our industry’s ongoing commitment throughout the year to giving back to the communities where we live and work,” said Bill Ross, CEO of IICF. “IICF is proud to serve as a convener of our industry on critical topics and initiatives, and Week of Giving is at the heart of how we provide opportunities for industry professionals to make a real difference in their communities.”
IICF’s 2021 Week of Giving gathered volunteers from across the insurance industry in the US and UK for service projects centered around food and housing insecurity, at risk children and education, disaster preparedness, veteran causes, the environment and more. In-person and virtual volunteer opportunities included fundraisers, beach and park cleanups, book drives, career coaching, and tutoring. Several examples are highlighted below:
The Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery Cleanup – IICF’s Southeast Division met last week at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery for its 8th annual Week of Giving cemetery cleanup in honor of our fallen soldiers and their families. The event hosted 120 volunteers from 9 IICF board member companies who washed headstones and cleaned the grounds.
The Whitechapel Mission – Volunteers from two UK Division board companies spent a morning last week at the Whitechapel Mission, a shelter in London dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. The volunteers sorted and tagged clothes and helped restock the food pantry.
Meals on Wheels, The Giving Spirit and Working Wardrobes – Individuals from 45 unique organizations from across IICF’s Western Division participated in volunteering events across 5 states. Initiatives included writing Thanksgiving cards for seniors alongside Meals on Wheels, creating friendship cards for housing insecure with The Giving Sprit, hosting an interview workshop for those seeking employment with Working Wardrobes, and several food bank projects that in total supported 34 area nonprofits.
Covenant House – IICF’s Boston Chapter and Associate Board, part of the Northeast Division, partnered with Covenant House to sponsor an upcoming career panel for teens and young adults served by Covenant House. Volunteers continue to prepare to host mock interviews and offer professional advice at the Oct 27 career panel.
St. Louis Area Food Bank and Avenue of Life – In St Louis, volunteers from IICF’s Heartland Chapter of the Midwest Division organized and packed household items for distribution by the St. Louis Area Food Bank. In Kansas City, volunteers also donated diapers, personal care items and $500 cash to Avenue of Life to support their work with those experiencing homelessness.
Save the date now for IICF’s 2022 Week of Giving, taking place from Oct. 8 – 15! To learn more and to register for any of IICF’s volunteering initiatives throughout the year, please visit http://www.volunteer.iicf.org/.
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 has served as the philanthropic foundation of the insurance industry for more than twenty-five years, contributing $42 million in community grants along with 300,000 volunteer hours by more than 110,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised, serving hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations, for maximum community impact. 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: @doubleicf.