We take great pride in contributing to our communities and in making an effort to equip people with the knowledge and resources to better manage change and risk in their lives and in the world around them. Zurich makes significant financial and in-kind contributions to the communities in which it operates around the globe. In response to local needs and priorities, our commitments cover a wide range of activities.
Numerous long-standing activities and programs exist across the Zurich Group.
Group
International Committee of the Red Cross
In addition to providing immediate aid to those affected by disaster, we seek to play a role in the prevention and management of situations compromising human security. As a founding member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Corporate Support Group, Zurich is able to help protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal strife, provide them with assistance and reinforce efforts to promote peace and security for a sustainable future.
Through this long-term partnership, Zurich has also been actively engaged in substantive dialogue and exchange of expertise with the ICRC and the six other Swiss-based corporations. Opportunities for employees to participate in exchanges in areas such as communication, managing uncertainty and responding to crises have proven very valuable for professional training and development and support employee satisfaction.
In taking a more strategic approach to corporate responsibility, we will explore ways to further develop and strengthen this partnership to maximize benefit for both Zurich and the ICRC by facilitating enhanced collaboration and exchange of expertise.
Earthwatch Institute
As an example of our employees’ engagement in the climate change issue at a practical and personal level, six of them visited Sri Lanka in 2007 to help restore mangrove forests destroyed in the disastrous tsunami of December 2004. More than 100 people from 16 countries applied to join the project, organized by Earthwatch Institute of Europe. The successful six came from Australia, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. More volunteers have been sought for 2008. On returning to their home countries, each of them will become a champion for corporate responsibility.
United Kingdom
Over the past 30 years, Zurich Community Trust has undertaken long-term transformational programs focused on key areas of need and has provided a framework for employees and financial advisors to support and participate in community involvement activities. Through the Zurich Cares employee involvement program, Zurich leverages employees’ time, money and skills from UK staff and involves them in grant making programs to help disadvantaged people achieve an independent future. Each year, over 700 charities are supported, and the Trust works in partnership for 3-5 years with around 30 of those. Please visit the Zurich Community Trust for a complete description of their programs.
Australia
Community Connections, Zurich Australia’s community program, supports and encourages employees to engage in local communities through the donation of time and money.
Employees can get involved in a number of ways:
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volunteer at an organization of their choosing, supported by one day’s paid leave
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donate money to the community directly from their fortnightly pay matched dollar for dollar by Zurich
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participate in team volunteering days
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become a Literary Buddy – a pen-pal program promoting literacy for children in disadvantaged schools
Zurich has partnered with United Way, a national non-profit organization, to help in administering the program and facilitating Zurich’s engagement with a range of community organizations in the health and welfare sector.
For further information, please see Zurich Australia’s community, environment and people report.
North America
Zurich North America Commercial continues to serve US communities through grants from the Zurich US Foundation combined with employee involvement. In 2007, almost USD 1 million was donated to various non-profit groups through foundation programs that match employee donations to a wide range of organizations and universities and provide grants to organizations that enhance the lives of children. Major gifts were given to the Shriners Hospital, Jr. Achievement and the Boys Club Girls Club. To further recognize company and employee philanthropic interests, substantial donations were made to the Fore! Kids Foundation in New Orleans, American Red Cross (California Wild Fires Fund), and the A Time for Giving annual campaign.
The 2007-08 A Time for Giving campaign engaged 52 offices in volunteer activities, educational workshops and fundraising for 10 employee-selected charitable organizations. Employees, coupled with a corporate gift from the Zurich US Foundation, donated nearly USD 690,000 to the United Way, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Red Cross, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Salvation Army, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, American Heart Association and Habitat for Humanity.
Zurich’s US employees are active participants in an array of volunteer opportunities:
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mentoring students through the Junior Achievement and Big Brothers Big Sisters programs
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assisting the classrooms in the Gulf Coast through donating school supplies
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donating holiday gifts to more than 30 charities across the US
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walking and fundraising for the American Heart Association and The Susan G. Race for the Cure
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planning and implementing an annual fun fair for children with special needs
Zurich North America honors the legacies of John Keohane, Peggy Alario, Kathleen Moran and Lud Picarro, four colleagues who died on September 11, with the KAMP Awards. The KAMP Awards serve as a tribute to their spirit of courage, service to the community, integrity and passion. Awards are presented annually to winners in New York.
Farmers
Farmers's community involvement mirrors its business philosophy. We are committed to improving the communities where our customers, agents and employees live and work. Improving safety, expanding educational opportunities, enhancing health and human services, encouraging civic participation and supporting the arts and culture help drive Farmers's commitment.
From being one of the top ten corporate contributors to the March of Dimes to providing award-winning lesson plans and historical documentaries to schools throughout the country, Farmers is committed to community.
Partners in Pride
Beyond financial support, Farmers prides itself on the thousands of agents, employees and customers who volunteer in their communities as members of the Farmers family. Whether contributing time, talents, or donations, together we continue to strive to make a difference. Our volunteer program, Partners in Pride, brings together the best of Farmers to raise funds for the March of Dimes, photograph and fingerprint children during Missing Children's Awareness Day and serve the community through our United Way campaign.
Matching Gifts Program
In support of excellence in education, Farmers supports employee generosity to schools through our Matching Gifts Program. Farmers matches individual employee contributions up to USD 500 to any qualifying US educational institution.
United Way
For more than 30 years, the Farmers Family has opened our hearts to the United Way. Because it does so much to make our communities a better place to live, more than 500 local organizations receive funding from the United Way: Boys and Girls Clubs, scouting organizations, after-school programs and many other groups that touch our lives rely on the United Way - and on us - to make a difference.
March of Dimes and Be a Hero for Babies
Now in its 20th year, Farmers's partnership with the March of Dimes begins with the March for Babies events held throughout the United Sates during the months March through September. Across the country, Farmers people participate as sponsors, volunteers and walkers to raise the funds needed to make sure March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates can continue to work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.
Farmers people have an outstanding record of volunteer service, contributing their time, energy, talent and financial resources to helping babies. In particular, Farmers created Be a Hero for Babies Day to draw attention to the important work of the March of Dimes and to focus our efforts in one big day.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Every single day, 2,185 children are reported missing. Thankfully, the vast majority are returned home safely and quickly. Farmers is committed to helping keep children safe from abduction and exploitation through our support of the Take 25 program. Twice a year, parents are urged to Take 25 minutes to talk to their children about safety, take a photograph and update their vital statistics. Through free M.I.L.K. (Managing Information on Lost Kids) software distributed by agents, to fingerprinting and photos provided by agents and employees, Farmers supports community safety.
Hispanic Signature Programs
In the US, our Farmers unit is reaching out to Hispanic consumers. Farmers has created two programs honoring Hispanic culture: Young Americanos and The Bronze Screen. The programs reflect a commitment to strengthen the bridges of communication and understanding among the diverse cultures that make up the United States.
Farmers in the Classroom
Today's children are tomorrow's citizens. Aiming to enhance the ability of teachers to help students become educated citizens, Farmers sponsors The American Promise program in partnership with the National Council for the Social Studies. Through The American Promise teaching guide and videos, more than 100,000 teachers have been able to share with their students the inspiring stories of people making a difference in their communities.
Switzerland
Zurich vitaparcours - Zurich makes people move!
Zurich is financing 502 outdoor fitness clubs. Running tracks and stopover points where individuals can train are located throughout the Swiss forests. The Zurich vitaparcours is available to people free of charge around the hour and is now a permanent feature of sporting life in Switzerland.
Road safety - Zurich makes people drive safely!
Thanks to the financial support from Zurich Switzerland, the non-profit organization Road Cross trains teenagers and young adults in road safety during the course of around 300 events per year. Young people's attention is drawn to dangers and possible preventive measures, and they also learn how to improve safe behavior.
Risk Management Dialogue - Zurich links generations!
The solidarity existing between different generations is becoming one of the greatest challenges in our society. Zurich is promoting the dialogue between young and old so that joint solutions can be found. And so that words are followed by deeds, Zurich awards CHF 10,000 to projects which promote solidarity between the generations.
Argentina
In the past ten years, Zurich Argentina has transitioned from a traditional philanthropy approach to community involvement to a social investment approach. Zurich and its employees support communities and non-profit organizations in Argentina in a number of areas, including education.
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Zurich sponsors “Fortaleciendo los valores de la democracia” (Fostering democracy), a program developed by Asociación Concienda, in association with the guidelines of the Center for Civic Eduction of the USA. Through the program, secondary school teachers are trained to help students to detect community problems and to find ways to solve them with the participation of governmental authorities.
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Zurich funds a grant for postgraduate studies for officials of non-profit organizations to improve the professional management of their organizations. Studies are undertaken at Universidad de San Andrés and include a program intended to furnish officials with management tools to ensure sustainable and professional performance.
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Through the Fundacion Cimientos, Zurich funds grants to keep secondary school students in school. This non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting equal education opportunities to children brought up in communities in need.
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Zurich is a member of the council of Fundación Impulsar, a non-profit organization that provides funding, mentoring and training to unemployed youths to promote entrepreneurship.
Corporate volunteering program: voluntarioZ
Through voluntarioZ, Zurich fosters employees’ community involvement through funds, communication tools, time, acknowledgement, training and the full commitment of management. VoluntarioZ develops community programs in the areas of education, environment, culture and building of social capital and is acknowledged as a benchmark in the Argentine corporate environment.
Programs:
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Education: "Aula Zurich" (Zurich School)
The secondary school students who receive a Zurich grant through Fundación Cimientos attend training sessions once a week led by volunteers at the Zurich building to develop their IT skills to better take advantage of Internet resources for their education.
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Environment: "Ambiente Zurich" (Zurich Environment)
A group of Zurich staff volunteers promote and regularly train staff in the safe and proper disposal of paper and other byproducts sent to recycling plants, as well as in the efficient use of electricity.
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Assistance and promotion of people in need: "D.A.R." (Donate, Assist, Recuperate)
A group of volunteers cooperate with communities in need of basic supplies to start up a process of self-development. They also participate in the refurbishing of schools or community homes buildings. Zurich contributes the necessary funds for their work.
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Culture: Zurich Choir and TAZ (Zurich Open Theatre)
Zurich staff volunteers perform regularly for children and elderly people living in community homes. Zurich offers them professional training and funds all related expenses.
For further information, please visit Zurich Argentina
