Company: Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, Novato, CA, USA
Company Description: Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, with 4,000 employees, is a premier property and casualty insurer. Based in California, we have offices across the country and sell insurance through independent agents and brokers. We are a member of the Allianz Group, which is one of the world’s largest providers of insurance and other financial services.
Nomination Category: Company & Office Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program in North America

Nomination Title: Fireman's Fund Heritage Program

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

          America’s firefighters are asked to do more with less. Budgets are shrinking
          while equipment costs continue to rise. According to the U.S. Fire
          Administration, an estimated 65 percent of fire departments across the United
          States do not have enough portable radios to equip all emergency responders.
          Roughly 60 percent do not have enough air tanks. And the list goes on.

          In 1863, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company was founded with a mission to support
          the fire service. Over the course of 140 years, that commitment has evolved as
          the needs of the fire service have changed.

          In 2004, we launched Fireman’s Fund Heritage. It is a nationwide program
          designed to support firefighters to make communities safer. We do this by
          giving grants to departments for new equipment and creating unique outreach
          initiatives to raise attention to the needs of the fire service.

          In 2007, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company:

          1.) Awarded grants to 468 fire departments across the country, totaling
          $7,016,662. This money helped purchase new thermal imaging cameras, “Jaws of
          Life” auto extrication sets, new fire hose, fire engines, personal protective
          gear, air tanks, fire safety houses to educate local youth, and much more.

          2.) Aired the critically-acclaimed documentary, “Into the Fire,” on The History
          Channel®. We funded and presented the 70-minute film in an effort to raise the
          nation’s awareness about challenges faced by firefighters. The film captures
          amazing stories told first-hand by men and women firefighters who describe life
          on the job in America’s firehouses.

          3.) Partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to donate the
          more than $90,000 in proceeds from “Into the Fire.” We held a nationwide
          contest and received applications from 1,249 fire departments. Eleven were
          chosen to receive new equipment, primarily thermal imaging cameras.

          4.) Announced an agreement with Bullard, the nation’s leading manufacturer of
          thermal imaging cameras. The partnership enables us to purchase cameras at a
          discount to help maximize the grant dollars. For every four thermal imagers we
          were able to buy in the past, we can now purchase five for local fire
          departments.

          5.) Was nominated by members of the United States Congress for the “Senator
          Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award.” The award recognizes
          organizations for their outstanding contributions to firefighter health and
          safety.

          From a communications standpoint, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company’s Heritage
          program reached millions of people across the country:

          * Nationwide, there were 787 news stories featuring our program, the grants we
          awarded, and the need for increased funding at local firehouses.
          * In total, those stories garnered 97,788,063 impressions with a base ad
          equivalency value of $1,350,013.

          But more importantly, there is clear evidence this program does something more
          meaningful – it saves lives. Here is one of several examples:

          * In early 2007, the Holly Hill Fire Department in Florida received a brand-new
          auto extrication set. Within hours of receiving the equipment, they received a
          call for a serious car crash. Firefighters say the driver would not have
          survived if they didn’t have this gear to quickly rescue him.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

          News stories:
          http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071002206_pf.html
          http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=56654
          http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Nov/13/ln/hawaii711130342.html

          Other links:
          http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Industry-Business-News/San-Francisco-Fire-Department-Receives-New-High-Tech-Training-Simulator/50$57293
          http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1264/180282/

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:

          Michael LaRocco is president and CEO of Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. He
          joined the company in March 2008.

          An insurance executive with nearly 30 years of property and casualty
          experience, LaRocco last served as president and chief operating officer of
          Seattle-based Safeco. Prior to Safeco, he held various leadership and
          management roles at Geico Corporation, including running Geico's Northeast
          region, as well as with Superior Insurance and Progressive Corporation. 

          LaRocco earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from The Ohio State
          University and an M.B.A. from the University of Tampa.