The Midwest Division of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a unique nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, raised $560,000 at its thirteenth annual Blazing the Trail Gala in Chicago last week. With 375 insurance professionals and nonprofit leaders in attendance, IICF hosted this Midwest insurance tradition in celebration of philanthropic giving and volunteerism, and honored Jodie Kaufman Davis, Executive Vice President of H.W. Kaufman Group, with its prestigious IICF Midwest Trailblazer award.
Kaufman Davis was recognized by IICF for trailblazing charitable efforts in the community and championing company culture along with her leadership in advancing inclusion initiatives across Kaufman’s global team. She serves as the executive sponsor for Kaufman’s employee resource groups (ERGs) worldwide and also currently chairs the IICF 30th Anniversary Committee, leading this industrywide campaign to fight childhood hunger.
“Through IICF’s 30th Celebration we are creating stronger connections in the communities where we live and work and with industrywide support, we aim to help our most vulnerable community members – children who are struggling with food insecurity,” said Jodie Kaufman Davis. “By working together through IICF, we are also enhancing our industry by attracting talent who value philanthropic impact and who make it a priority to work with companies who are giving back. I am honored to represent these initiatives as the 2024 IICF Midwest Trailblazer.”
In 2020, Kaufman Davis was named to the Insurance Business Global 100 and 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.
Proceeds from the 2024 Blazing the Trail Gala benefit the IICF Midwest Community Grants Program, which supports regional charities focused on education, safety and health. IICF’s Midwest Division has granted more than $5 million to hundreds of nonprofits since its 2011 founding.
“It is our privilege to bring together the Midwest insurance community each year in celebration of giving, and we were honored to celebrate the inspiring philanthropic excellence of Jodie Kaufman Davis this year,” said Marcie Stephan, Chair of the IICF Midwest Division Board of Directors and Senior Vice President at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance. “The $560,000 we raised helps us to ‘empower brighter futures’ –this year’s Blazing the Trail theme.”
Marcie Stephan assumed the role of IICF Midwest Board Chair this month, succeeding Jeff Kroeger, President of Insureon. “I’m excited about what’s ahead for the IICF Midwest, as we continue to grow our board leadership and increase our impact throughout the region with greater grant funding and volunteer participation. I know I speak for the entire IICF Midwest in thanking Jeff for his leadership and his continued involvement,” Stephan said. “I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated leaders we have serving on the IICF Midwest Division Board and on IICF boards in the Heartland and Ohio Chapters.”
Communities throughout the Midwest are served by the IICF Midwest Division and Associate Boards based in the Chicago area as well the Ohio and Heartland (Kansas and Missouri) Chapters. The IICF
Midwest is one of five divisions, four based in the US and one in the UK, of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, which has granted more than $48 million globally since its inception in 1994.
This year’s Blazing the Trail Benefit was made possible through generous insurance industry support including Presenting Sponsor: Burns & Wilcox; Platinum Sponsors: AIG, Aon, CNA, CRC Group, RT Specialty and Zurich; Gold Sponsors: Amwins, Applied Systems, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and The Hartford, along with many other event sponsors.
For more information regarding IICF’s Midwest Division and how to become a board company, please visit IICF Midwest Division at IICF.org 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