Need for El Nido

To non-Spanish speakers, El Nido may sound like it translates to “the need.” While “need” is just about right when it applies to the ideology behind a program to help victims of domestic violence in San Diego, Calif., the phrase actually means “the nest.”

The program is part of the Interfaith Shelter Network in San Diego, a collaborative effort by congregations, human services and government agencies to provide shelter and resources to the homeless.

El Nido, through the Interfaith Shelter, was a target of insurance industry charitable giving recently when the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation gave $5,000 to El Nido through the shelter.

The money was raised by IICF’s annual bowling tournament in San Diego in October. The donation was presented to Rosemary Johnston, executive director of San Diego’s Interfaith Shelter program.

Almost as important as helping domestic violence victims, is raising awareness of ways that the insurance industry can give back to the community, said Bryan A. Anderson, an IICF board member and senior vice president and regional manager of Zenith Insurance Co.

“We do a number of things around town to try and raise the awareness of IICF,” Anderson said.

Anderson said El Nido, a 12- to 18-month transitional living program, was picked as the recipient of the donation because it provides battered women things like a place to live, as well as their children, job training, home finance assistance and other help getting back on their feet.

“It helps them start over again,” Anderson added.

IICF is funded and directed by insurance industry professionals, including reinsurers, agents and brokers, property/casualty companies, health/life companies, advertising and public relations firms, law firms, accountants, IT and other companies that work with the insurance industry. In 2010 alone, the U.S. property/casualty industry contributed more than $500 million to charity, according to a recent report from McKinsey & Co.

To find out more about giving or working with IICF, visit www.IICF.org and click on “Events” in the menu bar.

Wells Publishing, the San Diego-based publisher of Insurance Journal, is an active supporter of the IICF.