Ind. National Group Executives Shave Heads for Cancer Cure

How much would you donate to see me shave my head bald to find cures for childhood cancer?” That question is the essence of St. Baldrick — and the commitment of the Indianapolis-based National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies’ (NAMIC) staff. Members of the NAMIC Operating Team in Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis are joining thousands of volunteer shavees in asking tens of thousand of donors to answer with a laugh and a generous donation.

The members of the NAMIC Operating Team have made a commitment to shave their heads for St. Baldrick’s and have joined Joey’s Team. “Joey” is Joey Chamness, the son of NAMIC CEO Chuck Chamness. Joey is now 10 years old and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma two years ago. He was treated with chemotherapy at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

St. Baldrick’s is about shaving your head in solidarity of children who lose their hair during cancer treatment. It all began in 1999, when three insurance executives turned their industry’s St. Patrick’s Day party in Manhattan into a benefit for kids with cancer. They turned heads — and opened wallets — of colleagues for the benefit of children’s cancer research. The original goal of $17,000 turned into an outpouring of $104,000 at that first event. Between 2000 and 2006, more than $20 million has been raised and more than 26,000 heads have been shaved!

Through St. Baldrick’s events, young cancer patients and survivors see how many people do care, and volunteers and donors see that they can make a difference. Even more amazing is the amount raised for life-saving research by St. Baldrick’s volunteers and donors. Events have taken place in ten countries and 42 U.S. states. Funds are directed to childhood cancer research, to save lives and to improve the long-term quality of life for children who survive.

As of today, NAMIC’s Operating Team has raised $27,312.00, more than half its $50,000 goal!

Members of the NAMIC Operating Team shaving their heads are:

Indianapolis:
Neil Alldredge, vice president, State and Regulatory Affairs;
Bart Anderson, senior vice president, Member Services and Communications;
Chuck Chamness, president and CEO;
Robert Detlefsen, vice president, Public Policy;
Gregg Dykstra, senior vice president, Internal Operations, chief administrative officer and general counsel;
Michael Ulmer, vice president, Information Technology;
Jerry Wollam, president and CEO, NAMIC Insurance Company/vice president and general manager NAMIC Insurance Agency
Washington, D.C.;
Carl Parks, senior vice president, Government Affairs;
Jimi Grande, vice president, Federal and Political Affairs;
Along with the members of Operating Team, all of Chuck’s children (Joey, Robbie, Charlie, and Sally) will shave their heads.

For more information on Joey’s Team, visit http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/team_info.html?TeamID=368&ViewDetails=shavees

Source: NAMIC