The Arbella Insurance Foundation ("Arbella Foundation") is proud to announce the donation of $4.2 million as well as the Arbella Insurance Group's ("Arbella") 1,832 employee volunteer hours in 2013 to not-for-profit organizations throughout New England.

Arbella employees turned out in force during the year to support local communities through volunteering, organizing and contributing to a variety of causes important to them personally. "I couldn't be more proud of our employees and their dedication to giving back," said John Donohue, chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group and chairman and president of Arbella's Foundation. "Year after year, we have folks volunteering at local homeless shelters, walking to raise money for cancer research, donating food to stock the shelves of our local food pantries - you name it. When we can bolster their efforts with funds from our Foundation, we're really making a difference in our communities and that's something we should all be very proud of."

Highlights of Arbella and its Foundation's 2013 charitable giving initiatives include the following:

  • 50 to 25: As part of its "50 to 25" program, the Arbella Foundation awarded one-time grants of $50,000 to 25 local charities throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut. "50 to 25" was created in recognition of Arbella's 25th anniversary and the important role the Foundation plays in supporting the communities Arbella serves. The Foundation's Selection Committee chose the 25 recipient charities from proposals thoughtfully submitted by Arbella employees, independent insurance agents and longtime charitable partners. The selected charities are involved in social services, health and/or education.
  • Safe Driving: The Foundation built upon its long commitment to keeping drivers safer on the roads by committing more than $660,000 in 2013 to safe driving initiatives. In addition to continuing to fund the groundbreaking Distractology 101 tour, an educational program for new drivers, the Foundation also supported Connecticut-based Mourning Parents ACT, Inc., whose mission is to eliminate tragedies caused by inexperienced drivers through awareness, education and legislation. The Foundation also kicked off the second year of its successful Road Crew program with Live Nation. The initiative is aimed at alleviating drunk driving and rewarding those who make responsible driving decisions. The program, expanded this year to include concert venues in both Boston and Mansfield, provides complimentary nonalcoholic beverages for eligible concertgoers who pledge to be designated drivers. The Foundation was also proud to be the presenting sponsor of the "Be a HERO" designated driver program at Gillette Stadium.
  • Supporting Arbella Employees in Charitable Giving: Arbella employees continued to support causes important to them, taking part in more than 133 charity events and raising more than $31,200 for various causes. The Foundation also continued its matching gift program for employees, donating $138,000 in matched funds during 2013. Arbella also provided regular opportunities for employees to become involved in their community through workday volunteer events and donation drives. Arbella and its employees continued to support cancer research and treatment, most notably with the company-wide Pink Day, an annual fundraising event designed to raise breast cancer awareness. During Pink Day, many employees show their support by wearing pink to work, donating money to dress casually, contributing to departmental gift baskets and participating in the donated basket raffle. As a result of Pink Day efforts in 2013, Arbella employees and the Foundation donated $45,000 directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support both men's and women's cancer screening programs.
  • Partnership with Arbella's Independent Agents: For the fifth year, as part of the Arbella Foundation's "Let's Drive out Hunger" initiative, which partners with local food pantries to help alleviate hunger in New England, Arbella's independent agents helped raise funds to support soup kitchens, food banks and pantries throughout New England. This year, 117 agents took part, raising $149,617- more than double the previous year's total. In 2013, the Foundation once again maximized its contribution to the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon by offering an agent matching gift program in which the Foundation matched donations on a two-to-one basis, up to $500 per agency. 38 of the Arbella Insurance Group's agents participated this past year, raising nearly $20,705 for the cause. Additionally, the Foundation supported Arbella's independent agents with $565,000 in donations to local charities important to them.
  • Homelessness and Hunger: For the sixth year in a row, Arbella's Foundation proudly served as a major corporate sponsor for Project Bread's annual Walk for Hunger. A record 498 registered "Team Arbella" walkers turned out for the annual hunger relief and prevention walk, raising $60,500. Arbella's Foundation donated $50,000, for a total Walk for Hunger contribution of $110,500, making the company the Walk's top corporate organization and top fundraising team. Arbella's Foundation also continued its multi-year commitment to Project Bread's "Chefs in Schools" healthy lunch program, with a $250,000 donation. For the sixth year, the Foundation was the presenting sponsor of Interfaith Social Services' Feed the Hungry gala. Arbella's employees also volunteered at Interfaith's food pantry and conducted food drives to help fill its shelves. The Foundation provided more than $37,000 in support of Father Bill's & Mainspring (FBMS). Arbella employees also volunteered their time serving lunch monthly at FBMS residences in Quincy and Brockton and helping to build a home with South Shore Habitat for Humanity. The Arbella Foundation also supported South Shore Habitat and the MA Affordable Housing Alliance with donations.
  • Youth and Families: Arbella's Foundation proudly supported several organizations committed to supporting local children and their families, including the Boys' and Girls' Clubs, YMCAs, Catholic Charities, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), the Big Sister Association and the SMILES mentoring program, which places volunteer mentors in the lives of at-risk children. Numerous Arbella employees continued to donate time and money to Cradles to Crayons, which provides clothes, shoes, books, toys and school supplies to low-income or homeless children in Massachusetts; employees also organized several donation drives and the Foundation offered financial support. In addition, Arbella employees adopted families of the Dianne DeVanna Center for Building Stronger Families and provided holiday gifts for families in need.
  • One Fund Boston and Newtown, CT Charities: The Arbella Foundation proudly donated funds and matched employee and agent donations to the One Fund Boston, providing a total of $120,000 to assist families most affected by the tragedies at the 2013 Boston Marathon. The Foundation also donated funds and matched employee donations to four different charities providing assistance in the aftermath of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CT, with a total donation of $20,000.
  • Veterans Causes: The Arbella Foundation was proud to provide support for the 2013 Boston Harbor Islands cruise for more than 400 U.S. military veterans, in celebration of Veterans Day. The Foundation has also supported the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans for six years as the gold sponsor of the Leave No One Behind event. Arbella's Foundation was also pleased this year to support the Disabled and Limbless Veterans organization.
  • Cultural and Educational Causes: Arbella's Foundation continued its support of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including the Holiday Pops Family Matinee and College Card program, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Harbor Island Alliance and the Quincy Public Schools. The Foundation also provided grant money for local schools to provide transportation for field trips to the Commonwealth Museum, which offers high tech exhibits that bring history to life. In addition, the Foundation supported The Learning's Project's August Scholars summer program for inner city youth and served as presenting sponsor of the "Driving Our Dreams" exhibit at the Heritage Museum and Gardens.
  • Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund: A member of the Arbella Insurance Group, Bearingstar Insurance formed its Charitable Fund to support local causes. A fund of the Arbella Foundation, the Bearingstar Insurance Charitable Fund distributed $60,000 in 2013 to 74 Connecticut charities. Bearingstar employees also conducted a donation drive to benefit two local food pantries - with the Foundation's matching support, more than $4,600 was donated.
  • Harrington Insurance: A member of the Arbella Insurance Group, Harrington Insurance offices identified several charities in need in their communities and Arbella's Foundation made donations on Harrington's behalf, totaling $15,000.

About the Arbella Insurance Group and the Arbella Insurance Foundation

Established in 1988, the Arbella Insurance Group (www.arbella.com) is a company with more than $600M in revenue with approximately $1B in assets, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Arbella is a customer-focused regional property and casualty insurance company, providing personal and business insurance in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and business insurance in Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Arbella Insurance Group founded the Arbella Insurance Foundation in 2004. The mission of Arbella's Foundation is to engage in activities and to support not-for-profit organizations that have a significant positive impact on the people and communities served by Arbella.

Greenough Communications
Christine Williamson, 617-275-6528
cwilliamson@greenough.biz