Employees donate time and money to help people in need

(BUSINESS WIRE) – Zurich in North America, a leading property and casualty insurance provider and its U.S. subsidiary Farmers Insurance Group are making this holiday season brighter for people who need a helping hand. Employees from both companies are volunteering their time across the country to help children, the elderly, the homeless and members of the armed forces. “I am proud of the many ways our Zurich offices from coast to coast have volunteered and given back to the communities where we work and live,” said Mike Foley, CEO of Zurich North America Commercial. “Economically challenging times have not deterred our employees from serving as a Zurich HelpPoint, by helping replenish food pantries, granting children’s wishes, and providing warm clothing for veterans, seniors and families in need. It’s the true spirit of the holiday season.” A few examples of how Zurich and Farmers employees are giving back include:

• Donating gifts at giving trees in twenty-one locations across the country benefiting various charitable organizations including the Salvation Army Baskets for Elderly program, New York Cares Winter Wishes and Chicago Public Schools;
• Organizing food drives that help the needy in Los Angeles, Charlotte, N.C. and Indianapolis;
• Ensuring children have toys this holiday by working with Toys for Tots in Pittsburgh, a teddy bear drive to benefit the Hollywood (Calif.) Boys & Girls Club, and donating gifts cards to underprivileged kids in New Orleans through the Fore!Kids Foundation.
• Making a $35,000 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and helping to sponsor wishes for two children; and
• Adopting military families to support those who have loved ones serving overseas this holiday.

“Our employees are a shining example of the true nature of this season by giving their time and money,” said Robert Woudstra, President of Farmers Group Inc. “Farmers and Zurich are fortunate to have dedicated people who are willing to help others who may be less fortunate in life. It’s the selfless giving that makes me proud to be a part of the Zurich family.”

About Zurich

Zurich’s North America Commercial and Global Corporate in North America business divisions are part of Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich), an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. In North America, Zurich (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors.

About Farmers Insurance Group

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers^® is the nation’s third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.