IICF Week of Giving Projects
Following are a few highlights of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s Week of Giving Activities around the world. IICF’s annual Week of Giving, held this year from Oct. 14-21, brings insurance industry professionals together for volunteer projects to serve local nonprofits and charity organizations.
ChildCareGroup, Early Literacy Initiative Fair – Dallas, Texas
The first IICF Week of Giving Early Literacy Initiative event kicked off in Dallas at ChildCareGroup, where volunteers led literacy activities in eight classrooms of children, ages 3 to 5 years old. The Cookie Monster joined the fun too.
National Veterans Cemetery Projects, Houston and Dallas, Texas
Volunteers served at the National Veterans Cemeteries in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth to assist with maintenance and cleanup, and beautifying the grounds of fallen U.S. service men and women and their families. There were 300 volunteers participating.
White Chapel Mission Projects, London
Volunteers contributed at the White Chapel Mission in London through two projects. A team of 10 early rising volunteers prepared and served breakfast to service users of the mission, as many as 300 per day. Volunteers cleaned the kitchen and left it ready for the next day. In another project, 13 volunteers participated in the Mission Chapel clothing challenge, which involves the sorting and sizing clothing.
Outdoor Cleanups in the West
Seventy-five volunteers participated in the Ocean Beach, San Francisco Clean-up, in conjunction with Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, picking up trash and providing general upkeep. Dozens of other volunteers helped clean up debris along hiking trails and picked up litter around the campgrounds and visitor center at Zion National Park in Southern Utah, and at Mount Diablo State Park in Northern California volunteers completed trail repairs and maintenance.
Greater Philadelphia Week of Giving Projects, Philadelphia, Pa.
170-plus volunteers from one IICF board company completed an array of service projects, including preparing and distributing care bags for the homeless; writing cards for U.S. servicemen and servicewomen With A Million Thanks; preparing bedside activity bags for pediatric patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; baking for transplant patients and their families at the Gift of Life Family House and more.
Midwest IICF Week of Giving volunteers supported Cradles to Crayons, Chicago
More than 100 volunteers gave of their time at Cradles to Crayons Chicago during the Week of Giving, helping to sort, size and package warm clothing for more than 130 children in Chicago who live in poverty. IICF volunteers also supported Cradles to Crayons in Boston and Philadelphia.
Community Gardening Volunteer Project at Liberty State Park, Jersey City, N.J.
Dozens of volunteers participated in gardening activities, including weeding, mulching and planting flowers to help improve their community.