LONDON, 17 April 2002 - A record number of community projects will be tackled this summer by more than 2,000 staff at financial services giant Zurich as part of their 12th annual Community Challenge initiative.
Beginning today, staff are pledging more than 20,000 hours of their time to complete 206 challenges around the UK which include fundraising to finance outings for children, the disabled and the elderly, the purchase of play equipment, the creation of a website, plus hands-on activities such as garden landscaping, repainting buildings and providing assistance at various events.
Zurich's Challenge programme is now in its twelfth year and has a track record of phenomenal success. Last year, nearly 1600 employees volunteered and raised more than £55K to support 164 separate challenges. The Challenge event helped Zurich pick up the Award for Company of the Year for Volunteering Activity from Whitbread, plus win the Community Initiative of the Year from the Insurance Times.
This year promises to be the biggest and best yet. The Challenge 2002 is open to all 13,000 UK staff and response to date shows that all previous records will be smashed. The challenges were launched to employees today and staff now have the opportunity to choose a challenge that suits their needs. Most challenges are expected to be taken up by the end of the week, and all activities will be completed by September.
Chris Staples, Community Affairs Director at Zurich is delighted with the enthusiasm staff have shown for this year's projects: "We have a wide range of proposals, ranging from garden makeovers and the creation of children's play areas to arranging a day trip to the London Eye for elderly people from deprived areas.
"Our staff work in cross-corporate teams, and this is an ideal opportunity to bring our own employees together creatively whilst sharing business expertise and learning new skills. It also provides a strong foundation to further develop the relationship with our charity partners, such as Canine Partners for Independence, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Childline and James Hopkins Trust.
"We believe it is the largest single charity programme of its kind in the UK and the fact that demand for Challenges outstrips supply each year is evidence of the business' total commitment to the project."
For further information, please contact:
Pam Webb, Zurich Cares Programme Manager, 01793 502450
Kitty Barran, Zurich Financial Services, 0207 317 3840
ENDS
Zurich Financial Services (UKISA) Community Trust is a registered charity funded by pre-tax profits and by donations from staff and financial advisers. Almost one third of the staff are involved in volunteering activities, contributing 20,000 hours annually. Since 1972, more than £33 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.
The Zurich Financial Services Group (www.zurich.com) provides its customers solutions in the areas of financial protection (non-life insurance and structured solutions) and asset gathering (life insurance and asset management). The Group focuses its activities on its key markets of North America, UK and Continental Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It has offices in more than 60 countries and employs approximately 70,000 people.
Zurich Financial Services, (UKISA) is part of the Zurich Financial Services Group and comprises the Group's operations in the UK, Ireland and International Businesses.
