Employees give back during centennial year with more than 11,000 hours of service across more than 100 service projects and pledge to continue the effort through 2012

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As part of the year-long centennial celebration of insuring America, Zurich today announced completion of its 100th service project as part of the “100 Ways” program and pledged to continue the initiative through the end of the year with the goal of involving a quarter of its employees in more than 200 volunteer activities. To date, the “100 Ways” program has donated more than 11,000 hours of service and included 1,500 employee volunteers to aid organizations such as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, HandsOn Network and the United Way.

More than 70 employees celebrated the 100th milestone at a volunteer service project with Clearbrook Academy in Arlington Heights, Ill., at the organization’s Practically Perfect Resale Shop. Formed 55 years ago, Clearbrook Academy provides services to 3,400 adults and children with developmental disabilities in 80 communities across the Chicago area. The Zurich volunteers sorted and assembled donated items, removed old items from stock and replenished new items available for sale. To view and download photos from the milestone 100^th project celebration, go to http://3blmedia.com/theCSRfeed/Zurich-Celebrates-Community-Service-Milestone-Contributing-%E2%80%9C100-Ways%E2%80%9D-Part-its-100-Year

“Helping to build and sustain our communities is as important today as it was 100 years ago,” said Kathleen Savio, North America Chief Administrative Officer for Zurich Insurance, member of the Z Zurich Foundation board and Chair of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Midwest Division.

“Achieving the initial goal of our ‘100 Ways’ program is another important milestone for our company. We continue to look forward to our next 100 years and to contributing to the communities in which we live and work.”

Since achieving its initial goal of encouraging its employees in North America to take action and give back to communities in “100 Ways” by completing 100+ projects of service for communities across the U.S. and Canada throughout 2012, Zurich is challenging 25 percent of all its employees to volunteer as part of the centennial program. It expects to complete more than 200 projects by the end of the year.

Highlights in reaching its 100th project milestone include:

• Participating in 21 Habitat for Humanity builds
• Volunteering with Special Olympics events in New York and Illinois
• Sorting and boxing countless food items at more than 20 community food pantries
• Collecting and donating more than 7,000 diapers to the National Diaper Bank
• Having American Red Cross train 152 Zurich employees through the Ready When the Time Comes program

For more information about Zurich’s 100-year anniversary insuring America, please visit www.Zurichna.com/100

About Zurich

Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurance provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East as well as other markets. For more information about the products and services it offers and people Zurich employs around the world, go to http://www.zurichna.com/zna/aboutzurich/zna-home.htm. 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. Life insurance offered in the United States is issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company, an Illinois domestic life insurance company. 2012 marksZurich's 100 year anniversary of insuring America and the success of its customers, shareholders and employees. Further information about Zurich's 100 year anniversary of insuring America is available at http://www.zurichna.com/100.

Zurich, North America
Media contact:
Jennifer Nowacki
(847) 605-6511
jennifer.nowacki@zurichna.com

Source: Zurich