LONDON, 14 November 2002 - Awards recognising outstanding contribution to the community will be presented by Zurich Financial Services today to celebrate the tremendous volunteering and outstanding fundraising efforts of its in-house heroes.
With a 30-year track record of fundraising and volunteering - £3million and 20,000 hours in 2001 - plus a wealth of awards and nominations for its community achievements, Zurich felt the time was right to launch its own award scheme.
Judged by representatives from Business in the Community, Charities Aid Foundation and Employers in the Community Network, Zurich's first annual charity awards reward and recognise individuals and teams that have made a real difference to people's lives. Three finalists in each category will each receive £250 to give to a charity of their choice with a further £250 to the overall winners in each category.
The six award categories are:
- Most effective individual fundraiser
- Most effective fundraising team
- Most effective volunteer
- Most effective volunteer team
- Most supportive manager
- Outstanding individual contribution to the community
Zurich's UK Chief Executive, Sandy Leitch comments: "Supporting local communities through volunteering and giving is firmly established in Zurich's culture. We created these awards to show our people that this business values their contribution. Our finalists, as well as the 100-plus nominations and the thousands of Zurich employees that regularly give time and money, make a real difference to people's lives."
Charities Aid Foundation representative and judge Paul Barnard says: "I was delighted to launch and judge this worthwhile scheme. Zurich enjoys tremendous links with its local communities. These awards recognise the important contribution made by those who give up their free time to help others."
-Ends-
For more information contact:
Christine Wood, Financial Dynamics
0207 269 7253
Jane Hewin, Zurich Financial Services
01793 505131
Notes to editors
Zurich employees were invited to nominate colleagues for the six award categories. Entries were administered and independently judged by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) on behalf of Zurich Cares.
CAF, itself a charity, aims to increase the funds and resources of other charities and non-profit organisations. It provides specialist financial services designed to meet the needs of charities and those who support them, worldwide.
The awards
There are three finalists in each award category. Each will receive £250 to give to the charity of their choice with a further £250 being presented to the winner of each category. Presentations will be made at Zurich's London Headquarters, presented by UK Chief Executive Sandy Leitch.
Zurich Cares
Zurich considers social responsibility integral to successful business performance. The company's current priorities are diversity in the workforce, community and environment.
Zurich's Community Trust is the umbrella for all community involvement in the UK and is a registered charity funded by pre-tax profits and by donations from staff and financial advisers. It has two main strands:
- Zurich Cares Trust Programmes which target the most disadvantaged where we can make a significant impact with our level of contribution
- Zurich Cares (which includes the Zurich Advice Network Foundation), for staff and financial advisers, where almost one third of the staff are involved in volunteering activities, contributing 20,000 hours annually.
Since 1972, more than £37 million has been donated to voluntary organisations in the UK and overseas. Nearly £5.1 million was donated in 2001 alone. The Zurich Trust has been recognised for its work, winning the Whitbread Volunteer Action 'Company of the Year' Award, the Insurance Times Community Initiative of the Year Award and receiving the Programme Impact Mark for its India Programme from Business in the Community. Visit our website on www.zurich.org.uk for more details.
