The Safeco Insurance Agent Giving Program supports and honors the civic engagement of Safeco agents and recognizes and celebrates individuals and nonprofit organizations that make a difference in their communities.
Safeco agents are encouraged to nominate:
- Qualifying nonprofit organizations for Agent Giving Program Grants
- Local "heroes" and the qualifying nonprofit organizations they support for Community Hero Awards
Top two Safeco Community Heroes announced
Carol Gresham and Dave Mason are the first-place and runner-up winners in the “Vote for your favorite Safeco Community Hero” online event. This two-week event asked you to vote for your favorite community hero from a roster of 12 individuals we had selected to receive the Safeco Community Hero Award.
Both of these top two community heroes have won an additional grant from Safeco Insurance for the charities they support. Shelter Agencies for Families in East Texas, Inc. will receive $10,000 on behalf of Gresham. Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties will receive $5,000 on behalf of Mason.
These donations are in addition to the $5,000 award that Safeco made to each organization on behalf of the two individuals for being named a Safeco Community Hero in November.
Gresham and Mason and the other individuals featured in “Vote for your favorite Safeco Community Hero” were nominated by Safeco agents across the country through the Safeco Insurance Agent Giving Program. Gresham was nominated by Steve Capps, principal, Capps Insurance Agency Mount Pleasant, Texas. Mason was nominated by Addison Koella, president, Herron-Connell Insurance Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Other Safeco Community Heroes and charities featured in the voting event include:
- Jessica Baxter for Our Camp, Wyoming
- David Cecere for United Way of Genesee County, New York
- Bill Dickey for Garden Partners, Oregon
- Scott Hummel for Our Little Haven, Missouri
- Steve Morriss for Harvest Texarkana, Texas
- Dave Mosher for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Green County, Wisconsin
- Roy “Bunky” Owen, Boys & Girls Club of Farmington, New Mexico
- Linda Sneddon for Beaverton Together, Oregon
- Gloria Vargas for East Bay Agency for Children, California
- Janice Westerman for Kentucky
You can read the inspiring stories of all 12 Safeco Community Heroes and comments left by voters here.