Click your region above or scroll down for national 2022 Independent Agent Giving results

Take a few minutes to read these agent stories from your region, watch their videos and be inspired to do something more for your community this year.

On top of the 2022 Make More Happen Awards, we also invited all our independent agent partners to join their region’s LinkedIn Group for the “Give local, think social” campaign to spread positive cheer throughout the holiday season. Agents were asked to share something about their agency’s giving efforts and participants were entered into a sweepstakes for a $2,000 donation to a nonprofit in their community. In each region recap below you’ll see examples of how our winners responded about how they make their communities safer, healthier and happier places for everyone to enjoy.

Central Region winners

At Cornerstone Insurance Group, we are encouraged to support organizations that we feel personally connected to. For me that is volunteering for Arts Council OKC! This organization’s mission is “bringing the arts and the community together.” Their belief, and mine, is that a healthy community has a vital and accessible array of art offerings that support lifelong education and participation in the arts.

– Brooke Willhite, agent at Cornerstone Insurance Group, and “Give local, think social” sweepstakes winner

Mid-Atlantic Region winners

We serve on the board of We Love Birthday Parties which started with a simple matter of loving children who (weren’t afforded a birthday celebration), for whatever reason. This nonprofit has grown to serve several communities and has acquired a building to house the donated items and create a community space to host children’s events.

– Colleen Carr, customer service representative at Carr Insurance Group, and “Give local, think social” sweepstakes winner

Midwest Region winners

Encore Insurance Samples Agency helped prepare and deliver meals to schools in Ripley County for their Teacher Appreciation Lunch. Altogether there were 1,000 burgers and 500 hotdogs delivered to 21 different schools before noon, feeding around 1,000 teachers and school staff members that day.

– Mindy Gunter, agent and commercial lines CSR at Encore Insurance Group, and “Give local, think social” participant

Mountain Region winners

My agency and family give back to the community by fundraising for the Salvation Army Christmas Angels and have since 2015. We have raised over $104,000 in the past seven years helping over 2,100 kids around the Phoenix area. Our goal for our eighth year is to raise $25,000 to bring presents and joy to over 400 more kids.

– Jeremy Besse, owner of The Besse Agency, Inc., and “Give local, think social” sweepstakes winner

Northeast Region winners

Having lost my mother to cancer in 2007, we have made a commitment to the Northeast Kingdom Cancer Action Network (NEKCAN), supporting those who are battling this horrific disease. This new nonprofit grants money to those actively battling cancer, up to six months at a time, at around $500 per month. Currently our agency office serves as the monthly meeting space for this organization to give out grants as the requests come in. We say if anyone can do it, “The NEK CAN!”

– Michael Barrett, owner of Barrett Insurance Agency and “Give local, think social” sweepstakes winner

Northwest Region winners

I get to be chair of the amazing Family Access Network Foundation Board! I am so thankful that Cascade Insurance Center allows me time to give back to my community. It is important! #insurance #community

– Lauren Olson, COO at Cascade Insurance Center, LLC, and “Give local, think social” sweepstakes winner

Pacific Region winners

My agency and Team IBProFun, my nonprofit running group in Bakersfield, CA, provide pajamas to homeless youths at the Dream Center of Kern County, blankets to Bakersfield’s Ronald McDonald House, pumpkins and Halloween treats to The Jamison Children’s Center, running shoes to school athletes who can’t afford shoes and a special program where we help physically challenged people compete in half marathons.

– James Miller, owner of James D. Miller Jr. Insurance Agency and “Give local, think social” sweepstakes winner

Southeast Region winners

Harris Insurance Services is proud to partner with local nonprofit Food for Thought for the third year of our Community Referral Program. When clients share our services with family or friends, we make a $10 donation for every opportunity to quote. Each $10 donation fills TWO backpacks for local children to have breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on the weekends and over holiday breaks from school.

– Natalie Schmidt, business development director at Harris Insurance Services, Inc., and “Give local, think social” sweepstakes winner

Make sure to review the research we did with the Big “I” and the new community giving guide on page 1 of the 2022 Agent Giving review.

Donations for each region include the Make More Happen Awards and the “Give local, think social” regional giving campaign.