“Fueling the Flame”

The Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) Ontario Chapter’s 10th annual dinner was held at The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel on March 29th and was an extremely ‘hot’, sold-out event with over 630 in attendance. The night’s theme of Fueling the Flame featured entertainment that guaranteed a night of ‘sizzling’ fun – ensuring that the event would ‘burn’ itself into guests’memories!

WICC Dinner Chair and the evening’s emcee, Jean Faulkner, extended a great WICC appreciation to the ‘simply outstanding’ dinner volunteers, sponsors, contributors, prize and auction item donors, WICC National Sponsors, event producers and all attendees for their unwavering support and commitment in the effort to mobilize the Canadian Insurance Industry in the fight against cancer (full lists of dinner supporters/contributors/sponsors at: wicc.ca).

$250,000 PRESENTED TO CCS – ALMOST $1.8 MILLION RAISED TO-DATE

WICC co-chair’s Carolyn Horan (left) and Linda Wahrer (right) presented Stephen Roche, president elect of the Canadian Cancer Society Ontario Division with the largest cheque ever from WICC for $250,000! This sum brought the total raised by WICC Ontario to almost $1.8 million and WICC to nearly $2.4 million nationally, since its inception in 1996.

THE GOLD FLAME AWARDS

Over the course of the year, WICC has many companies and individuals that donate in excess of $5,000 per year, in fact some in excess of $50,000. WICC is grateful to every one of these companies and individuals. The Gold Flame Award recognizes some of the people and companies who made substantial contributions to WICC either financially donating in excess of $5,000 or by donating extensively of their time and energy – above and beyond the average call.

THIS YEAR THERE WERE 3 RECIPIENTS OF THE GOLD FLAME AWARD:

ING CANADA

In May 2005, ING was the title sponsor the Ottawa Marathon. Over 27,000 people of all ages, generations, able bodied, disabled and from various countries gathered to partake in the ING Ottawa Marathon. This 3-day event was a sea of activity with numerous events – 2K, 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon and Full Marathon events that could be walked, run or in-line skated. ING launched a challenge to their branch offices in Ontario and approximately 600 ING employees & family members participated and collected pledges of just over $20,000, which was donated to WICC. ING will once again be sponsoring the 2006 race, and once again has selected WICC as its charity for the event (see: www.wicc.ca/ingmarathon). Accepting on behalf of ING Insurance was Tracy Laughlin, ING Regional Vice President (Pic 2, on the left).

THE HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BLUE GOOSE INTERNATIONAL – ONTARIO POND

This fraternal organization of men and women from all aspects of the property/casualty industry, who use titles such as “ganders, goslings”, know how to party. Each year, they have events such as a Ski Day, Scotch Nosing, Golf Tournaments, Christmas parties, and the list goes on. Max Brugger, Wielder of the Goose Quill and Keeper of the Golden Goose Egg, is an old friend to WICC. Since this group of unflappable geese began selecting WICC as their charity of choice in 2001, the Honourable Order of the Blue Goose International, Ontario Pond, have contributed over $47,000 to the charity. Accepting the Gold Flame Award on behalf of the Honourable Order of the Blue Goose was Max Brugger (Pic 2, on the left).

CGI

Rick Jackson and Leona Charbonneau of CGI both agree that almost everybody feels the effect of cancer in one way or another. Thus their decision to choose WICC as their charity for the CGI 2005 Golf Tournament proceeds. WICC is tremendously grateful for the support and were particularly wowed that the $5,100 received from this event came entirely from the heart-felt support of the CGI employees participating in the tournament. Leona is now undergoing her 2nd experience with cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. The doctors have advised Leona of an 80% success rate, and that based on recent tests taken, her chemotherapy is working. Leona, our hearts and support are there for you! Accepting the Gold Flame Award on behalf of CGI were Rick Jackson and Leona Charbonneau (Pic 2, both on the right).

THE LEW DUNN MEMORIAL AWARD

The Lew Dunn Memorial Award is in memory of Lew Dunn, who was President of the former CGU Group Canada, now Aviva Canada, until he lost his battle with cancer in 1999. The award in his honour is presented to the volunteer or company demonstrating significant initiative in raising funds and/or awareness for WICC – in essence, the WICC ‘volunteer of the year’.

FRED DE FRANCESCO – RECIPIENT OF THE LEW DUNN MEMORIAL AWARD

In 2004, Fred De Francesco, principal of Fairview Insurance Brokers collaborated with Bill Blakeney of Blakeney,

Henneberry and Murphy (insurance lawyers), to conceptualize an event insupport the WICC objective. With the help of a team of solid,devoted volunteers they delivered the inaugural “Night at the Races” at Woodbine Racetrack’s trackside tent — to rave reviews. In 2004, The Night at the Races was a runaway success donating $17,000 to the WICC objective.

In 2005 Fred and Bill once again hosted the “Night at the Races”. With over 340 in attendance, this event contributed an astonishing $30,000 to WICC, for a cumulative 2-year total of $47,000. The 3rd annual Night at the Races event will take place on Wednesday, September 6th. In honour of her late husband Lew, Sandy Dunn presented the Lew Dunn Memorial Award to Fred De Francesco.

THE WICC HALL OF FLAME

Fitting for WICC’s 10th anniversary – a special new category – aptly called “The Hall of Flame” was introduced. This distinction is presented to an organization whose cumulative level of financial contribution to WICC exceeds $100,000, whose employees and/or community are significantly engaged in raising awareness and fundraising, and whose outstanding commitment of contributions is made over several years.

CRAWFORD ADJUSTERS CANADA – WICC’S 1ST ‘HALL OF FLAME’ INDUCTEE

This company engaged their employees to create such a powerful and energetic impact to make an incredible difference. Coast to coast, office to office, every employee was engaged in the determined fight to find a cure for this dreadful disease called cancer. In late 2003, Crawford Adjusters Canada decided they would consolidate all donations/contributions in favour of one charity. This would enable them to make a significant impact. Hence, the beginning of “Crawford Cares”. A committee was established who selected WICC as the charity of choice for their inaugural year. Through a payroll deduction offering and various fund raising events, Crawford and their employees, raised an astounding $50,000 in 2004.

Employees once again voted WICC as its charity for 2005, and recently presented WICC with cheque in the amount of $55,112, bringing Crawford Cares’ cumulative two-year total to an astonishing $105,112. Employees have again voted WICC as their charity of choice for 2006, for which WICC is extremely grateful. It was WICC’s profound delight to recognize Crawford Adjusters Canada and all of its employees, as they were inducted into the newly created WICC Hall of Flame.

Attending the dinner and on-hand to present this award, WICC was particularly honoured to have an individual who belongs to a very special Canadian “hall of fame” – Beckie Scott – of the Canadian Olympic Team (Beckie is also sponsored by Crawford Adjusters Canada). Flanked by WICC Co-Chairs Carolyn Horan (left) and Linda Wahrer (right), Ms. Scott presented this very special “WICC Hall of Flame Award” to Glenn Gibson, Crawford Adjusters Chief Operating Officer of the Americas.