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 Company: Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, Novato, CA
Company Description: Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurer, providing personal, commercial and specialty insurance products nationwide. We sell insurance through independent agents and brokers and are widely regarded for our catastrophe management expertise.
Nomination Category: Company Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program
Nomination Title: Fireman's Fund Heritage Program
- Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved since January 1 2007 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
America’s firefighters are asked to do more with less. Budgets are shrinking
while equipment costs continue to rise. According to the U.S. Fire
Administration, an estimated 65 percent of fire departments across the country
do not have enough portable radios to equip all emergency responders on a
shift. Roughly 60 percent do not have enough air tanks. And the list goes on.
In 1863, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company was founded with a mission to support
the fire service. Over the course of 140 years, that commitment has evolved as
the needs of the fire service have changed.
In 2004, we launched Fireman’s Fund Heritage®. It is a multi-tiered program
designed to support firefighters to make communities safer. We do this by
giving grants to departments for new equipment and creating unique outreach
initiatives to raise attention to the needs of the fire service.
In 2007, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company:
1.)Awarded grants to 468 fire departments all across the country, totaling
$7,016,662. This money helped purchase new thermal imaging cameras, “Jaws of
Life” auto extrication sets, new fire hose, fire engines, personal protective
gear, air tanks, fire safety houses to educate local youth, and much more.
2.)Aired the critically-acclaimed documentary, “Into the Fire,” on The History
Channel®. We funded and presented the 70-minute film in an effort to raise the
nation’s awareness about challenges faced by firefighters. The film captures
amazing stories told first-hand by men and women firefighters who describe life
on the job in America’s firehouses.
3.)Partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to donate the
more than $90,000 in proceeds from “Into the Fire.” We held a nationwide grant
contest and received applications from 1,249 fire departments. Eleven were
chosen to receive new equipment, primarily thermal imaging cameras.
4.)Formed a partnership with Bullard, the nation’s leading manufacturer of
thermal imaging cameras. The partnership enables us to purchase cameras at a
discount to help maximize the grant dollars. For every four thermal imagers we
were able to buy in the past, we can now purchase five for local fire
departments.
5.)Was nominated by national political leaders for the "Senator Paul S.
Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award." The award recognizes
organizations for their outstanding contributions to firefighter health and
safety.
From a communications standpoint, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company’s Heritage
program reached millions of people across the country:
*Nationwide, there were 787 news stories featuring our philanthropy program,
the grants we awarded, and the need for increased funding at local firehouses.
*In total, those stories garnered 97,788,063 impressions with a base ad
equivalency value of $1,350,013.
But more importantly, there is clear evidence this program does something more
meaningful – it saves lives. Here is one of several examples:
*In early 2007, the Holly Hill Fire Department in Florida received a brand-new
auto extrication set. Within hours of receiving the equipment, they received a
call for a serious car crash. Firefighters say the driver would not have
survived if they didn’t have this gear to quickly rescue him.
- List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
News stories:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071002206_pf.html
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=56654
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Nov/13/ln/hawaii711130342.html
Other links:
http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Industry-Business-News/San-Francisco-Fire-
Department-Receives-New-High-Tech-Training-Simulator/50$57293
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1264/180282/
- Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:
Michael LaRocco is president and CEO of Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. He
joined the company in March 2008.
An insurance executive with nearly 30 years of property and casualty
experience, LaRocco last served as president and chief operating officer of
Seattle-based Safeco. Prior to Safeco, he held various leadership and
management roles at Geico Corporation, including running Geico's Northeast
region, as well as with Superior Insurance and Progressive Corporation.
LaRocco earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from The Ohio State
University and an M.B.A. from the University of Tampa.
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