IICF Northeast Benefit Event Raises Nearly $1.3M to Support Non-Profits

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The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) raised nearly $1.3 million at its 15th Anniversary Northeast Division Benefit Event on December 7 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.

IICF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities, and its sold-out benefit event gathered attendees to celebrate insurance industry philanthropy and volunteerism while raising funds to support tri-state New York regional nonprofits.

“This year’s IICF benefit dinner was a tremendous success, gathering an enthusiastic sold-out crowd to provide extremely generous support and funding to critical nonprofits in our region and celebrate a phenomenal year of giving in our community,” said Jim Romanelli, senior vice president and New York City branch manager at CNA and chair of the IICF Northeast Division board of directors, in an IICF press release. “IICF is proud to recognize the good our industry does throughout the year and those providing extraordinary support to our neighbors in need.”

At the event, IICF presented the Double I award to CNA Insurance for outstanding philanthropic efforts. The award is named Double I because it recognizes both influence in the industry and impact in the community. Marsh CEO and President John Doyle presented this year’s award to Doug Worman, executive vice president and chief underwriting officer of CNA, who accepted the award on behalf of CNA employees worldwide.

“We are honored to receive the IICF’s ‘Double I’ award and to be recognized by our industry peers,” he told Insurance Journal in an emailed statement. “At CNA, we have a long-standing commitment to give back to the diverse communities where we live and work.”

CNA sponsors nonprofits such as the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which provides scholarships and programming for students to attend historically Black colleges and universities. It also sponsors Girls Who Code’s summer immersion program, a two-week intensive computer science course for high school students that encourages students to pursue degrees in STEM, learn about careers and internships and explore different industries.

Throughout 2021, CNA led several philanthropic initiatives such as its Volunteer-a-thon, held in October. The Volunteer-a-thon offered both in-person and virtual volunteering opportunities, many in partnership with IICF. CNA is a long-time IICF Key Partner and engages with IICF in charitable work around the U.S. and in the UK.

“We actively look for ways to make a difference through community involvement, sustainability initiatives and working together for a better future,” Worman added.

In addition to presenting CNA with the Double I award, IICF’s Northeast Benefit Event also featured several special guests, including celebrity speaker CC Sabathia. Sabathia is a former World Series champion with the New York Yankees and the founder of the PitCCh In Foundation with his wife Amber Sabathia. The foundation works to enrich the lives of inner city children by raising their self-esteem through athletic and educational activities.

One of the most memorable aspects of the evening, however, was the chance to safely come together in person to celebrate the insurance industry’s philanthropic efforts after nearly two years apart, says Betsy Myatt, chief program officer for IICF and executive director of the IICF Northeast Division. Indeed, IICF’s annual benefit dinner was held virtually last year due to safety precautions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The joy and energy at the 15th Annual Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Northeast Benefit Dinner was unprecedented,” she told Insurance Journal. “Never before was our tagline ‘Better Together’ more relevant as we raised nearly $1.3 million to help our neighbors in need.”

Proceeds from the IICF Northeast Benefit Event support grants to regional nonprofits including: