Allianz Gives $1.6 Million to Local Charities in 2011
February 5, 2012 by Bill Coffin
By Bill Coffin
February 2, 2012
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America contributed more than $1.6 million in 2011 to Twin Cities-based nonprofit organizations focused primarily on financial literacy and senior services. Company contributions were awarded through strategic relationships, a grant program, scholarships, and employee volunteer programs.
“We are proud to support the crucial work of many nonprofit organizations throughout the Twin Cities, through both financial contributions and volunteer efforts,” said Allianz Life President and CEO Walter White. “Throughout the organization there is a genuine commitment to volunteerism – this is the heart of Allianz Life.”
Allianz Life gave grants totaling $275,000 to nonprofits that focused their efforts on financial literacy education or training and/or retirement. The company also awarded $275,000 worth of grants to organizations that strive to improve the lives of Twin Cities’ seniors by providing services that enhance seniors’ quality of life.
Allianz Life provides every employee eight hours of paid time off annually to use to volunteer. In 2011, more than 500 employees took advantage of time off to volunteer in the community. More than 3,400 hours were contributed equaling more than $73,000 in volunteer help to area nonprofits.
More than 300 employees and vendors participated in the company’s annual Driving To Donate Charity Golf Tournament. More than 1,000 Allianz Life employees supported the event through purchasing the month of August as casual for $20 to support the effort. Allianz Life gave the event’s proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association MN-ND, which ties to one of the company’s focus areas, senior services. In 2011, the event raised more than $136,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association MN-ND.
Each year in November and early December, Allianz Life organizes its annual Spirit of Giving Campaign. The campaign involves a huge food, clothing and toy drive to benefit PRISM (a nonprofit organization based in Golden Valley, Minn.) and Toys for Tots. The 2011 campaign raised more than 25,000 lbs. of food; more than 20,000 lbs. of clothes; more than 3,000 toys; more than $74,000 to PRISM and nearly $32,000 for Toys for Tots.
The financial literacy initiative with BestPrep and Junior Achievement seeks to help youth in the Twin Cities. In 2011, each organization received $100,000 as well as volunteer support from Allianz Life employees during the school year. During the 2010-11 school year, more than 500 employees were involved in the BestPrep and Junior Achievement partnership programs.
Now in its second full school-year, Allianz Life employees are engaged in many JA and BestPrep programs including: JA in a Day; eMentors/Job Shadow; Mock Interviews; Financial Matters; the Stock Market Game and Minnesota Business Venture, all helping students further their education and financial literacy.
BestPrep is a statewide, nonprofit organization with a mission to best prepare Minnesota students with business, career and financial literacy skills through experiences that inspire success in work and life.
With 11 chapters in Minnesota, Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.
In addition to the BestPrep and Junior Achievement partnerships, grants totaling $275,000 were awarded to nonprofits that focused their efforts on financial literacy education or training and/or retirement. Allianz Life’s 2011 Financial Literacy Grant Recipients included:
- CLUES – $20,000 – to support their Financial Empowerment program.
- CLIMB Theater, Inc. – $20,000 – to support their play, “Emma and the Allianz Cash Cow.”
- WomenVenture – $25,000 – to support their Financial Education program.
- Emerge – $20,000 – to support their North Minneapolis Financial Opportunity Center.
- People Serving People – $20,000 – to support their Financial Fitness program.
- Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Inc. – $25,000 – to support their Financial Literacy program.
- La Conexion de las Americas – $25,000 – to support their Financial Achievement Process.
- Neighborhood Development Center – $20,000 – to support their Financial Literacy as part of new Entrepreneur Training and Technical assistance program.
- Twin Cities RISE! – $20,000 – to support their Financial Empowerment I and II classes.
- LifeTrack Resources – $15,000 – to support their Financial Literacy program.
- Project for Pride in Living – $20,000 – to support their Employment Training – Financial Coaching program.
- Freeport West – $5,000 – to support their Life Skills program.
- Admission Possible – $10,000 – to support their Financial Literacy curriculum.
- AccountAbility Minnesota – $20,000 – to support their Integrated Financial Services and Education at Tax Time.
- CommonBond Communities – $10,000 – to support their Career Advantage – Financial Literacy Program.
Allianz Life also awarded $275,000 of grants to organizations that strive to make a significant positive impact on the lives of Twin Cities’ seniors by providing services that enhance seniors’ quality of life (social vitality through social activity and interaction) and self-sufficiency (related to food, transportation, adaptive, and basic living needs). The 2011 Senior Services Grant Recipients included:
- Store To Door – $20,000 – to support their capacity-building to reach more homebound seniors through their grocery-delivery program
- Presbyterian Homes and Services Foundation – $20,000 – to support their Creative Services food delivery program
- Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly – $20,000 – to support their LBFE programs
- Senior Community Services – $20,000 – to support their Frail Elderly Support Services
- PRISM – $25,000 – to support their PRISM Express Transportation program
- Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches – $10,000 – to support their Paint-A-Thon and HandyWorks programs
- Intercongregation Communities Association – $10,000 – to help purchase a refrigerated truck to deliver seniors’ groceries
- The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation – $15,000 – to support their Wilder Aging Services program
- Catholic Charities – $15,000 – to support their Aging Services program
- DARTS – $20,000 – to support their Community Services for Older Adults and Caregivers program
- Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) – $15,000 – to support their Food and Transportation program for seniors
- Keystone Community Services – $20,000- to support their Seniors program.
- Minneapolis Institute of Arts – $15,000 – to support their Discover Your Story program
- Let’s Go Fishing with Seniors – $5,000 – to support their program
- Nokomis Healthy Seniors – $10,000 – to support their Living Well at Home program
- The Arthritis Foundation – $10,000 – to support their Exercise Programs for seniors
- Courage Center – $10,000 – to support their Senior Health, Wellness and Fitness program
- Goodwill Industries, Inc. – $15,000 – to support their Medical Equipment Loan program
In 2011, Allianz Life employees chose four local charities for $25,000 grants and participation in events –the American Cancer Society, HopeKids, Animal Humane Society, and the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota. Nearly 300 Allianz Life employees participated in fundraising events for these charities throughout the year. The 2012 slate of charities will be announced in February.
Make a Difference (MAD) Volunteer Project Allianz Life encourages employees to volunteer for charities they care about, creating an activity or project in groups of five employees or more. Employees can do hands-on projects, fundraising walks, runs, etc. and they qualify for $100 per employee to the organization in support of the event. In 2011, more than $100,000 was distributed to nonprofit organizations as more than 1,000 employees participated in volunteer projects during the year.
Every year, Allianz Life presents scholarships to students who are family members of employees based on academic performance and community service. In 2011, Allianz Life awarded $30,000 in scholarships.
