Spotlight on the Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund
Since 2012, the Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund (“BICF”) has been committed to providing financial support to local, qualified nonprofit organizations who work to make a positive impact in the lives of people and communities that we serve. This support is achieved through the Community Gift Program of the Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund, a division of the Arbella Insurance Charitable Foundation, Inc. Donations made by the BICF are by invitation only.
As part of our Community Gift Program, numerous donations were recently made to organizations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. We are proud to offer financial support to the following organizations and we thank our offices for supporting such great causes!
Amy’s Sparkle Park
Sales Manager Aaron Tillberry from our Longmeadow, MA office and his sons, Sean and Connor, recently had the pleasure of presenting a charitable donation check to Bryan Litz. Bryan is the Parks and Recreation Director for Wilbraham, MA.
Amy Lord was a vibrant, beautiful 24 year old girl who was brutally murdered in Boston in 2013. A Wilbraham native, she was a lover of children and all things glittery and sparkly. The Wilbraham Parks Department honored her by opening a Splash Park appropriately named “Amy’s Sparkle Park.”
Brockton Day Nursery
As part of our community gift program, Sharon McGrath and Sharon Larsen, both from our Brockton, MA office, presented a donation to Sharon Fayette, the Interim Executive Director of Brockton Day Nursery.
Brockton Day Nursery is located at 243 Crescent Street in Brockton The mission of Brockton Day Nursery is to serve the needs of families and children by providing comprehensive child care and support services.
Connecticut Police Work Dog Association
Bearingstar Insurance Consultants, Jennifer Lajoie and Dana Quigley, recently had the pleasure of meeting K-9 Officer Mortensen and his K-9 partner Ryker, a 2 year old German Shepard, from the Farmington Police Department. As part of our Community Gift Program, they presented them with a donation to support CT K-9 officers around the state including K-9 Officer Ryker.
FISH/Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwestern Connecticut
Our Torrington office is currently collecting new socks to benefit FISH NWCT in Torrington. Not only will FISH NWCT have new, warm, clean socks to give away but they will also have the opportunity to receive a donation check from the Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund (BICF).* The fundraiser continues until December 18.
*For every new pair of socks or package of socks donated at the Torrington Bearingstar office location the BICF will donate $1.00 to FISH NWCT up to $2,000.
Friends of Mansfield Animal Shelter
Our Mansfield, CT office was pleased to present a charitable donation to support the Friends of Mansfield Animal Shelter and its pets. The shelter is dedicated to making the animals’ stay at the shelter more comfortable. They are devoted to placing pets in responsible and stable homes and are always in need of supplies.
Our office has been helped by the shelter on two separate occasions, both with happy endings. In each instance, they were able to trap an injured cat that had been abandoned, in back of our office building. After several days, they were able to trap the cat and get it needed medical care. Afterwards, they were put up for adoption. We appreciate all they do to help the animals.
Learn to Cope
Our Taunton, MA office was pleased to present a Bearingstar Charitable Foundation check to Merielle Paul, Regional Manager of Learn to Cope. Located at 4 Court Street in Taunton, MA, Learn to Cope is a non-profit support network that offers education, resources, peer support and hope for parents and family members coping with a loved one addicted to opiates or other drugs.
Madonna Place
Insurance consultant, Tanya Ballestrini, in our Bozrah, CT office presented a donation to Madonna Place located at 240 Main Street in Norwich, CT. The mission of Madonna Place is to provide services which strengthen families, promote health, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Our Fairfield, CT office has been participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk since 2010. The event was held this year at Sherwood Island State Park in Westbrook, CT on Saturday, 10/18/15. Team Bearingstar was again a proud participant this year along with 198 other teams. In addition to the Bearingstar Charitable Foundation matching employee donations, the Arbella Insurance Foundation generously donates $200 for each employee walking with Team Bearingstar.
Nathan Hale Foundation
Sharon McGrath and Nick McCummings, both from our Brockton, MA office, presented a donation to the President and Founder of the Nathan Hale Foundation, Christopher C. Hart.
Our donation is being used to purchase materials for the Three Harts Farm that is currently under construction in Plymouth. The farm is for use by veterans and their families and will open in the spring of 2016.
Over the Edge – Special Olympics Fundraiser
Bearingstar employees Jennifer Lajoie and Dana Quigley participated in the “Over the Edge” fundraiser at Mohegan Sun. Both Jennifer and Dana rappelled down 34 floors of the Mohegan Sun building to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Connecticut.
“Going Over the Edge with Special Olympics was a life changing experience” said Lajoie, who participated in the event for the first time this year. “Having Daniel, my friend and SOCT athlete, at the bottom giving me the biggest hug and hearing him tell me he was proud of me was the best! I look forward to participating again next year and growing the Bearingstar team.”
Rachel’s Table
Joe Tavella, an Insurance Consultant in our Longmeadow, MA office, recently presented a charitable donation to Debbie Rubenstein, the Director of Rachel’s Table. Rachel’s Table is part of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. Their agencies, which are located in Springfield, Longmeadow, West Springfield, Feeding Hills, Chicopee, Holyoke, and Indian Orchard, depend upon Rachel’s Table as an ongoing source of nutrition.
Since 1992, Rachel’s Table has been working to alleviate hunger and reduce food waste in Western Massachusetts. Six days a week, more than 200 volunteers collect food from local supermarkets, restaurants, caterers and bakeries, and deliver it to 43 agencies, including soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters.
Windham Region No Freeze Shelter Program
As part of our Community Gift Program, staff from our Mansfield, CT office recently presented a donation to Leigh Duffy, Executor Director of the No Freeze Shelter, to help with utility and heating costs for the shelter.
The Windham Region No Freeze Shelter Program is dedicated to the survival of homeless adults who are in the Windham Region. They provide basic overnight shelter from the cold weather for homeless persons over the age of 18 from November 15th through April of each year. No one is turned away. In addition to providing safe temporary shelter, they strive to address unmet needs including food, clothing, hygiene,case management, emergency and transport funding.
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