United Fund gets donation from Westfield, Alliance Insurance Services

Westfield and the Westfield Insurance Foundation recently partnered with Alliance Insurance Services to donate $21,000 to the United Fund of Surry.

The donation was made as part of Westfield's Legacy of Caring program. Each year, Westfield's top independent insurance agents, such as Alliance Insurance Services, are invited to nominate a local nonprofit in their community to receive a donation in cities throughout Westfield's national footprint.

Since 2015, the Legacy of Caring program supports nonprofits that are focused on helping families or businesses stabilize or recover from a crisis or disaster, mirroring what the insurance industry does every day for their customers.

"Now in our 176th year, we have achieved longevity due to generations of employees and agents working together, committed to preserving and propelling our communities forward," said Ed Largent, Westfield president, CEO, and board chair. Largent also serves as chairman of Westfield Insurance Foundation. "Westfield continues to build on the strong commitment of caring that the founders of our company imagined. It's a great feeling to link arms with our agents and make a difference in the lives of those they serve."

"The team at Alliance Insurance Services is always seeking opportunities to volunteer and support our community," said Christopher Cook, owner of Alliance Insurance Services. "We are proud and thankful for our collaboration with Westfield, which helps our agency make a more powerful impact on the communities where we live and work."

"We are so grateful for this generous donation," said Melissa Hiatt, executive director of the United Fund of Surry. "The Legacy of Caring grant will have a direct impact on citizens right here in Surry County."

Westfield Insurance Foundation was established in 2005 as a private foundation endowed by Westfield. In keeping with the values of the company, "The foundation exists to be a dedicated corporate citizen, directing our resources to areas that complement the work we do every day — disaster recovery, family stability, safety and economic development... The foundation donates over $3 million annually to a variety of charities."

Westfield was founded in 1848 the company said, "By a small group of hard-working farmers who believed in the promise of the future and the power of the individual. Westfield underwrites commercial, personal, surety, and specialty lines of coverage through a network of over 1,000 leading independent agents and brokers."

Alliance Insurance Services said they believe that an agent's first duty is to protect and serve the client and are an active member of the community. The company wrote, "We believe in serving people as they want to be served — on their own terms. We are a diverse group of people who love helping our fellow travelers in this vibrant, multi-cultural world that we live in."