Once again, our independent agency partners came through in a big way when we asked for their help identifying the heroes in their communities.

Safeco reviewed more than 150 nominations from agents across the country for the Community Hero Awards.  

Winners had $15,000 grants made in their honor to the nonprofit they work with, and $2,000 grants were made on behalf of the honorary heroes.

All told, $500,000 in grants were given, thanks to independent agent nominations. Since the inception of the program in 2007, $1 million in community hero grants have been awarded and $1.7 million in total has been given through the Agent Giving Program.

The winners, as well as the agents who nominated them, were thrilled. Read on for some of the heart-warming reactions to the grants.

‘It is still so hard to believe’
“I cannot take this smile off my face,” wrote Marcela R. Porras of Finn Insurance Agency in North Riverside, Ill. Porras nominated August Sallas and the Little Village Community Council in Chicago, an neighborhood assistance organization for which Porras also volunteers. “I truly appreciate Safeco’s generosity and recognition of the work not only that I and Mr. Sallas do but of all the members of the LVCC,” she wrote.

‘All three of us are overwhelmed’
Joy Wilken of AAG Insurance in Cheney, Wash., nominated the Sprague (Wash.) Food Bank and Emergency Fund, which she volunteers for along with Val Thomas and Heather Rose. “You cannot even imagine the impact that size of a gift will have on our food bank and emergency fund,” she wrote. “Thank you again and again from each of the families that will benefit from your generosity.”

‘Truly a major blessing’
John Potthast, of Foundation Insurance Group in Arlington, Va., and his wife founded the Shire School, designed to meet the educational needs of children suffering from autism. Foundation’s vice president, Tim Sedmak, nominated Potthast for the award. “I can’t tell you how excited we were to get the news,” Potthast wrote. “My wife was so happy that she cried. This is truly a major blessing to the Shire School and the kids and families that we serve.”

‘I’m honored’
“Everyone is really excited about the grant,” wrote Mike Rucker of PLC Insurance in Lynnwood, Wash. Rucker nominated Mike Hatch of Work Opportunities, Inc., which annually helps hundreds of individuals each year to learn new skills and find their places in the work force. “What a great way to give back to the community and to say thank you to those people who work so hard helping others less fortunate.”