May 27, 2026 Newswires

Symetra Honored as 2026 ‘Community Champion’ by the Puget Sound Business Journal

Business Wire

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Symetra Life Insurance Company has been named a 2026 Community Champion by the Puget Sound Business Journal as part of the publication’s annual Corporate Citizenship Awards celebrating “how businesses in the region use their role to make a difference for those who need it most.” Symetra was recognized for three programs — Summer of Service, BOLD and LETS Play by Symetra — at a sold-out awards event held May 12 at the Four Seasons Seattle.

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Sharmila Swenson, VP, Public Affairs & Social Impact (3rd from right), along with members of Symetra’s public affairs, social impact and community relations team, accepted the 2026 Community Champion Award from the Puget Sound Business Journal at an awards event at the Four Seasons Seattle on May 12, 2026.

“Whether they're building a philanthropic mission into their everyday operations or supporting employees in their own volunteer efforts, companies across the Puget Sound region have found ways to make a unique impact on their communities,” said Marissa Nall, associate editor, Puget Sound Business Journal. “The companies that have made their philanthropy go the furthest in 2026 are the ones that have taken their cues from their employees and the people in their wider networks. They have tapped into unique skills and resources to amplify the impact of both their giving and their everyday operations, making community support not an afterthought, but a core part of their business model.”

“Investing in our communities and creating positive impact has long been a defining part of Symetra’s culture and is at the heart of our corporate responsibility program,” said Sharmila Swenson, vice president, Public Affairs and Social Impact. “We empower employees to volunteer, give, and apply their skills to the causes they care about. Through volunteer events like Summer of Service, matching gifts and employee-led resource group initiatives, we foster a culture of giving back that reflects our employees’ priorities and amplifies their contributions.”

About Summer of Service

During this annual company-wide community service event, Symetra employees have the opportunity to take time from their workday to volunteer at projects around the Puget Sound and across the country. As the program marks its 18^th anniversary in June 2026, employees will lean into more than 60 community projects nationwide and have contributed more than 26,000 Summer of Service hours since 2009.

About BOLD (Board Orientation Leadership Development)

Launched in 2021, Symetra’s Board Orientation Leadership Development (BOLD) program encourages employees to provide leadership and support to community organizations by educating them on what it takes to serve on a nonprofit board. Program “graduates” are then paired with nonprofits that align with their interests and talents to explore further engagement, deepening their impact and commitment to volunteerism, and expanding Symetra’s community partnerships.

In 2025, Symetra employees served on 27 nonprofit boards in Washington (32 boards nationally).

About LETS Play by Symetra

Launched in 2022 in partnership with the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm sports teams, ‘LETS Play by Symetra’ focuses on building leadership (L), equity (E) and teamwork (T) skills through sports (S). The program annually adopts a fourth-grade class from a Title I school in the Puget Sound area. A multi-week curriculum engages students during PE class, blending the fun of sports with skills-building lessons that can help set young students up for future success, in school and in life.

Over the past five years, LETS Play has partnered with five schools across three school districts (Highline, Renton, and Bellevue), engaged more than 330 fourth graders and contributed $122,000 in direct funds to the participating schools.

To learn more about Symetra Social Impact and how Symetra supports employees’ volunteerism and giving efforts, visit https://www.symetra.com/about-us/about-symetra/social-impact/.

About Symetra

Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation, a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent financial professionals and insurance producers. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.