r By Mariah Kulkin
Western States Insurance Agency in Spanish Fork has earned a 2016 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award for its community work with Hand In Hand Outdoors.
The award includes a $4,000 donation to Hand In Hand Outdoors from Safeco Insurance. Western States Insurance Agency Agent Matt Barber and Hand In Hand Outdoors also had a story featured on Safeco.com, which awarded the nonprofit an additional $1,000. For the organization to win the extra money, at least 50 different individuals had to leave a virtual “cheer” on the Safeco.com story.
Safeco’s Make More Happen Award recognizes independent agents who demonstrate extraordinary volunteerism for a nonprofit organization. These awards focus on nonprofits in the areas of health and safety, education and civil service. Western States Insurance Agency was selected for the Make More Happen Award based on a photo and application demonstrating its commitment to Hand In Hand Outdoors, which serves the Spanish Fork community by providing opportunities for veterans as well as underprivileged and disabled children and adults to experience outdoor activities to enhance their lives through education, experience and direct participation in fishing, boating, shooting and camping.
Giving back is a mission for Barber both personally and professionally. He serves on the organization’s board and participates in several trips for Hand in Hand Outdoors each year. Western States Insurance Agency offers bonuses for employees who spend time volunteering in the community, and each year the company provides a car and gifts to a single mother during the holidays.
“Safeco is committed to encouraging agents to make a difference in their local communities, and through the Make More Happen program, we enable them to directly support the programs where they personally see the greatest need,” said Marylou Dobbins, Safeco Insurance Mountain Territory manager. “We are thrilled to see so many agents participating in this program, and we’re proud to help them support the local charities they care about most.”
Throughout 2016, Safeco will select a total of 66 independent agencies for the awards and donate up to $330,000 to the nonprofits they support. The Make More Happen Awards are a part of Safeco Insurance’s Agent Giving Program.
In business since 1923 and based in Boston, Mass., Safeco Insurance sells personal automobile, homeowners and specialty products through a network of more than 10,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. Safeco is a Liberty Mutual Insurance company.
Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified insurer and the fifth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2015 direct written premium data as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual is ranked 73rd on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2015 revenue.
For more information about Safeco Insurance, go to www.Safeco.com.
