Westfield Helps Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and Feeding America® Create Solutions for Food Insecurity Increased by COVID-19
WESTFIELD CENTER, OH – August 12, 2020 – Westfield, a super-regional, customer-focused property insurance carrier in northeast Ohio, is working to solve increased food insecurity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lending a hand to communities during times of need is at the core of the Westfield Insurance Foundation. The private foundation supports nonprofits that help family stability, disaster recovery and safety. More than ever with this pandemic, food insecurity impacts all of Westfield’s key areas of giving.
This week, the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship kicks off at Firestone Country Club in Ohio and Westfield is a founding partner. Beyond being a community event, continuing the tradition of championship golf in northeast Ohio is important because of the significant economic and charitable impact it brings to the greater Akron area. The most significant driver in Westfield’s decision to sponsor this PGA event is the ability to extend the long-time partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank through a donation of $100,000 annually. Through this donation, 400,000 meals will be provided to people in need each year. Additionally, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is a primary beneficiary of Westfield’s employee matched giving program, receiving approximately $50,000 annually.
“Our funding relationship with Westfield started a decade ago and it never gets stale,” said Dan Flowers, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank President and CEO. “Their continued support of the Foodbank and our work has helped provide millions of meals over the years. They are a committed partner to hunger relief in Ohio and beyond their headquarters’ community. Support of hunger relief is more important now than ever before as more families struggle to make ends meet because of COVID-19. It’s partnerships like these that allow your Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to make a difference.”
Westfield increased its total annual giving by $500,000 to partner with Feeding America in their efforts to create solutions across the country. As COVID-19 continues, Feeding America projects it will need an additional $1.8 billion to feed 17 million Americans who are now food insecure.
By the end of 2020, Westfield Insurance Foundation will contribute approximately $1 million dollars to feeding programs across the country to fight and solve for hunger, an increase from $350,000 in 2019.
“We are confident in Feeding America’s capabilities – from everyday food insecurity to natural disasters that disrupt lives,” said Ed Largent, Westfield CEO and Foundation Chairman. “These donations align perfectly with Westfield’s commitment to promote and ensure family stability in the communities we serve. When the pandemic interrupted lives, our appreciation for the food banks only increased because of their ingenuity solving problems created by sudden business closures, food supply chain depletion and social distance measures.”
The Westfield Insurance Foundation was established as an independent private foundation endowed by Westfield and exists as a dedicated community and industry partner; concentrating resources to improve the safety and stability of communities. To learn more about how Westfield is helping communities, click here.
About Westfield
Founded in 1848, Westfield is a global leader in property and casualty insurance, delivering superior risk insights and innovative solutions to customers through a diverse portfolio of insurance products. Westfield underwrites commercial, personal, surety, and specialty lines of coverage through a network of leading independent agents and brokers in the United States and specialty products through Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200. As a mutual insurance company with more than 3,000 employees, Westfield has revenues in excess of $4 billion and more than $10 billion in assets.