MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) announced in its 2015 Giving and Volunteerism Report that it donated more than $1.9 million to the community in 2014 through volunteerism, corporate grants and charitable donations. A large part of the company’s 2014 giving programs were supported by more than 1,400 Allianz Life employees who volunteered more than 13,000 hours to make a difference in the lives of others.
“We’re proud to support the important work of many nonprofit organizations throughout the Twin Cities,” said Allianz Life President and Chief Executive Officer Walter White. “While we financially support a number of programs to promote financial literacy and senior services, it’s the employee engagement in these and other employee-sponsored programs that really make a difference. As an example, our Employee Resource Group dedicated to serving veterans and their families built 68 dressers and raised $8,400 for CommonBond Communities Veteran Project to help local veterans escape homelessness.”
The 2015 Giving and Volunteerism Report, now available as a pdf through the company website, describes the various corporate- and employee-driven giving and community programs that Allianz Life supports.
Volunteerism
More than 70% of Allianz Life employees volunteered their time in 2014 to support a wide variety of organizations. At the beginning of the year, employees elected charities that receive a focused commitment. Four charities were selected, including The American Cancer Society, The Animal Humane Society, HopeKids and Make A Wish Foundation Minnesota. As an employee-elected charity, each received $25,000 in financial support and hundreds of employees supported key events.
Allianz Life Employee Resource Groups, including groups focused on Black culture, LGBT, women and veterans, each made unique contributions to our community. The women’s resource group organized a clothing drive, collecting more than 750 items of professional attire for Dress for Success, a nonprofit that helps women look their best for job interviews and new jobs.
Corporate-sponsored initiatives
Allianz Life has a long tradition of supporting local organizations both financially and with employee volunteers. In August, Allianz Life held the 5th annual Driving to Donate golf tournament – one of the top events of its kind in Minnesota. The event drew 300 participants and volunteers, including vendor partners from firms such as Accenture and Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, LLP and raised a record-setting $185,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association MN-ND. The money will directly support the Alzheimer’s Helpline, which provides 24/7 support and information to anyone dealing with dementia-related diseases.
Through its grant program and volunteer efforts, the company focuses on two areas, senior services and financial literacy. “We’re particularly excited about the new program we piloted in 2014 with the Better Business Bureau to create awareness around elder financial abuse,” said Laura Juergens, Community Relations Manager. “We’ve generated strong employee interest in educating senior citizens around this topic and have expanded this program in 2015.”
The long-standing partnership with Junior Achievement and BestPrep continued in 2014, with both organizations receiving $100,000 in corporate grants and employee volunteer support. "As a long-standing volunteer for BestPrep's eMentor program, I can truly say I benefit even more from the experience than the high school students do. Mentoring them on careers, financial planning, and education are key topics to help them be successful. But, to hear the depth of the experiences they've had already – and the knowledge they display – makes me optimistic for the future," said Rob Milstein, service management specialist, Information Technology.
The annual Spirit of Giving campaign most clearly illustrates the company’s commitment to the community. Employees donated more than 49,000 lbs. of food and clothing, as well as $2,000 to the local nonprofit, PRISM (People Responding In Social Ministry). Employees also donated more than 3,000 toys and $38,000 to Toys for Tots and $73,000 to Second Harvest Heartland to support food shelves across the community.
About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2015, has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with 147,000 employees worldwide. More than 85 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz knowledge, global reach, and capital strength to help them make the most of financial opportunities.
