For Second Year, AGIS Forgoes Client Gifts, Donates to Local Charities

WINTER PARK, Fla., December 1, 2008—For the second year, AGIS, a full-service insurance agency with an office in Winter Park, Fla., has in response to economic conditions renewed and expanded a charitably strategic decision this holiday season. Instead of distributing the traditional holiday gifts to its client roster in a seasonal rite of corporate gratitude, AGIS will donate those funds to two local charities.

AGIS of Orlando will make financial contributions of $1,500 to both the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and the Healthcare Center for the Homeless.

So impressed with this gesture were the four other AGIS offices in three states that they, too, will follow suit. The presidents of each AGIS location will also make charitable donations to local nonprofit organizations in lieu of sending client gifts this year, making the initiative conceived of by AGIS President Andria Herr a company-wide commitment.

AGIS will also forgo the company’s annual holiday party this year, and will instead take its employees to the 12th annual Arts Alive in Seminole! charity event, a fundraiser for the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools in Sanford, Fla. All proceeds raised from the event and auction will go to support the arts in the public school district. AGIS’s Herr is chairing the event, to be held at the Pegasus Ballroom on the campus of the University of Central Florida on December 6, 2008.

“In current economic times, we recognize that charitable giving could once again be down this year in Florida and across the country,” said Herr, who was then president of AGIS of Florida when she developed the philanthropic program for the Winter Park office. Now serving as the company’s national president, she urged management in all locations to consider doing the same in their local markets. “We see this as our opportunity to do our part to reverse a disheartening trend and use the holiday gift-giving season to support important projects in our communities.”

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a private, nonprofit organization that collects, stores and distributes donated food to more than 450 nonprofit partner agencies in six Central Florida counties: Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia.

The Health Care Center for the Homeless in Orlando has been providing quality health care services to Central Florida’s homeless and indigent men, women and children for over a decade. The award-winning nonprofit organization has been heralded for making the community a healthier place and for helping the homeless back to self-sufficiency.

“These organizations deserve to be recognized for the outstanding work they do throughout the year in the community,” said Herr. “We are proud to be associated with all of these important charities and initiatives.”

Herr noted that she hopes that this is a trend that will catch on with other corporate citizens who are in a position to help where help is needed most.

“We anticipate that our clients and associates will appreciate our decision, and will be fine with one less fruit basket or crystal pen again this year,” Herr added. “Maybe it will catch on beyond AGIS and be the start of a new tradition.”

Click to download a photo of AGIS President Andria Herr

About AGIS
Founded in 1978, AGIS is a full-service insurance agency, representing over 60 insurance carriers. With offices in three states, the company provides complete employee benefit programs, funding arrangements and services, including plan design, benefit analysis, Section 125 plans, employee communication and enrollment, renewal preparation, COBRA services, claims and administrative assistance, and legislative updates, as well as products and services related to property/casualty insurance. In addition to Winter Park, AGIS has offices in Detroit, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Fla., and Indianapolis.

CONTACT:

Tom Nixon
(248) 258-2333
[email protected]