Howard Hanna Insurance gives back to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
October 11, 2017
Howard Hanna Insurance Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been named a Safeco Change Agent - earning a $2,000 donation from Safeco to the Howard Hanna Children's Free Care Fund. Here, Danielle Shearer, Division Operations Manager for Howard Hanna Insurance, tells the story of the company's commitment to community and quality medical care for children.
Howard Hanna Insurance Services has been raising money for the Free Care Fund at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for nearly 30 years now. Since 1988, our goal has been to assure that children would never be denied the best medical care available.
Our first event was very simple - a $5 "Chow Chow" potluck luncheon fundraiser - but it was a huge success! The next year, we did it at all 10 company offices, and it evolved into the "Choo Choo Chow Chow," just like a train making stop after stop.
Every year now, we have more than 100 events - and we've raised more than $14 million to ensure children have access to the treatments they need, whether they don't have insurance or they require cutting-edge care that insurance doesn't cover.
We've also partnered with 13 other children's hospitals in Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and New York as our company has expanded.
The nonprofit is supported by the Hanna family, as well as by the efforts of pretty much every employee and agent of the company. We also receive generous sponsorships and donations from throughout the communities we serve. Howard Hanna Insurance Services encourages employees to participate in giving activities throughout the year - and typically, they get paid time off to volunteer during business hours.
I've found that both individuals and businesses that make the time to give will gain it back: People gain fulfillment, enjoyment and satisfaction, and the company gains a team of employees who share something together. The smallest of efforts can be fulfilling - even something that takes as little as 10 minutes each day.
Taking the time to help others and seeing the impact it makes is incredibly gratifying. You could say it's the very nature of the insurance business!
Learn more about these Safeco Change Agent winners:
Howard Hanna Insurance Services has been raising money for the Free Care Fund at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for nearly 30 years now. Since 1988, our goal has been to assure that children would never be denied the best medical care available.
Our first event was very simple - a $5 "Chow Chow" potluck luncheon fundraiser - but it was a huge success! The next year, we did it at all 10 company offices, and it evolved into the "Choo Choo Chow Chow," just like a train making stop after stop.
Every year now, we have more than 100 events - and we've raised more than $14 million to ensure children have access to the treatments they need, whether they don't have insurance or they require cutting-edge care that insurance doesn't cover.
We've also partnered with 13 other children's hospitals in Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and New York as our company has expanded.
The nonprofit is supported by the Hanna family, as well as by the efforts of pretty much every employee and agent of the company. We also receive generous sponsorships and donations from throughout the communities we serve. Howard Hanna Insurance Services encourages employees to participate in giving activities throughout the year - and typically, they get paid time off to volunteer during business hours.
I've found that both individuals and businesses that make the time to give will gain it back: People gain fulfillment, enjoyment and satisfaction, and the company gains a team of employees who share something together. The smallest of efforts can be fulfilling - even something that takes as little as 10 minutes each day.
Taking the time to help others and seeing the impact it makes is incredibly gratifying. You could say it's the very nature of the insurance business!
Learn more about these Safeco Change Agent winners:
- Agency employee: Danielle Shearer, Howard Hanna Insurance Services, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Nonprofit: Howard Hanna Children's Free Care Fund, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania