Bringing Joy with Toys This Holiday Season

Our 8th annual toy drive collected 89 toys for children in need

Yiu Tso

2019-12-20T13:00:00.0000000 2022-12-28T12:04:44.7670000

Remembering the true spirt of the holiday season, ShelterPoint employees collectively donated over 89 toys to help brighten the holidays for sick kids and children-in-need on Long Island through the John Theissen Annual Toy and Fund Holiday Drive.

A ShelterPoint tradition 8 years running

The John Theissen Children’s Foundation is a local charity on Long Island near and dear to our hearts. When we began working with the John Theissen’s Children Foundation eight years ago, we did not realize it would become an annual tradition for us. But it has become a passion for us, a way to bring joy and give back to our local community during the holiday season. Through the years we have collected hundreds of toys since we began in 2012! 

How the John Theissen Children’s Foundation helps

The toy drive helps parents who feel financial strains, but want to provide gifts to their children for the holidays.  The JCTF.org enables us to reach those families, and help.

John Theissen has been running this toy drive and other charitable giving events throughout the year since 1992, when he collected over 800 toys.  Last year, the John Theissen Children’s Fund provided over 81,000 toys and gift cards for children.  

Holiday Drive toy Drop-off

Here’s how you can help make a difference – to spread joy to children throughout Long Island and help them forget their hardships during this special Holiday season.

If you would like to contribute to the holiday drive, simply donate a new, unwrapped toy

You can drop off a gift to their headquarters at:

1881 Wantagh Avenue
Wantagh NY 11793

WBAB & WBLI
555 Sunrise Highway
West Babylon, NY

Or at any of their other drop-off locations located across Long Island.

Not local, or looking for a different way to support JTCF?  They accept monetary donations through their website: JTCF.org. 

Fighting Cancer With Sweet Treats!

Our bake sale raised $760.50 to benefit The American Cancer Society!

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2019-11-19T00:00:00.0000000 2021-12-27T12:57:37.3000000

What better reason is there to gather together with a little food and fun than to help patients fighting to beat cancer!

Tempting cakes, pies, cupcakes, donuts and cookies enticed our fellow coworkers to forgo their diets for a day, and enjoy some homemade treats - all for the benefit of The American Cancer Society (ACS)!

Cancer hits close to home for many people, and The American Cancer Society does a lot of good for them.  Did you know that the ACS has invested over $4.9 billion in cancer research since 1946, arranged 8.5 million free rides to treatment, given over 450,000 free places to stay nearby hospitals in 2017 alone, and in the span of one year supported over 1.34 million people through a live chat and 24/7 helpline?

From just the bake sale, we raised over $760.50.  Thanks to all who took part in the event – both baking and buying!

If you wish to support  The American Cancer Society, please visit cancer.org to learn about ways to give.

College of St. Vincent Students Supported by Insurance Industry Veterans

Anupam Garg

2019-05-06T08:00:00.0000000 2021-12-22T11:03:23.1100000

Together with Mary Griffin, President and CEO of the Life Insurance Council of New York (LICONY), our CEO, Richard White, was honored by the College of Mount Saint Vincent at its annual Scholarship Tribute Dinner at Cipriani at 25 Broadway on Wednesday, May 1^st. Given the two honorees’ backgrounds, this year’s event saw an impressive representation of who’s who in New York’s insurance industry.

A remarkable part of the College’s scholarship initiative is the Mott Street Scholarship Program, which is very near to Rich’s heart. This scholarship covers tuition, year-round room and board, fees, books, a computer, and insurance for gifted young students who have persevered through foster care or homelessness.

Steve Acunto, President of CINN Group, Inc. (which publishes the Insurance Advocate Magazine), and a corporate director, producer and trustee of educational and other non-profit institutions, introduced Rich at the event as “unflappable – one of the sharpest individuals: having Rich White analyze something is like having a scalpel.  He is insurance leadership beyond the job description.”

While Rich explained during his speech that he grew up with all the support he needed and loving parents who saw him through college, he asked, “What if I did not have a family? Would I be here today?” This is where we need to think about the teenagers who are homeless or in foster care; without a family to support them. The barriers to overcome are enormous without family support. Through the Mott Street Scholarship program, Mount Saint Vincent becomes the family these kids need.

As part of the evening’s program, attendees heard first-hand the touching, personal story of senior nursing student Samannie Estriplet: from surviving a natural disaster in Haiti as a child, to leaving for the U.S. to further her education and having the opportunity to thrive at the College.

Rich extended his recognition to his entire team at ShelterPoint during his acceptance speech: “I see this honor as a recognition of great contributions that a group of people decided they would make to a worthy cause. This worthy cause is the new Paid Family Leave program in the State of New York. My associates and I decided to take the lead in educating the New York community about this important expansion of the social contract. We decided to work proactively with our industry, government, employers and employees to make sure this was a win-win for all involved. Tremendous thanks to my wonderful, hard-working and smart team of associates from ShelterPoint for making this honor possible – several of whom are here tonight.”

Rich attributed the success of the Paid Family Leave implementation to the commitment to a public-private partnership with New York State and the close collaboration with then-Superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services Maria Vullo, who – as a College of Mount Saint Vincent alumna – was at the event as well.

View Photo Album on Facebook

The current fundraising tally shows that this event has generated well over half a million dollars – in fact, nearly $560,000 -  to help ensure the College continues to serve deserving and talented women and men, regardless of their financial means. We would like to thank our ShelterPoint employees and Board of Directors for their support as well as the many supporters who have donated on behalf of Rich, including these corporate contributors (listed in alphabetical order):

LIRAP 2019 Recap

Anupam Garg

2019-05-01T08:00:00.0000000 2021-12-22T11:08:29.8770000

Today was a special day for us at ShelterPoint.  Yes, it was a day spent at the PIA LIRAP (Professional Insurance Agent’s Long Island Regional Awareness Program) among colleagues and peers to discuss latest developments in business insurance for large and small employers alike.

But, most importantly, it was the day our revered veteran, Emilio Miret, was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Insurance Service award. It was an honor to see the PIA recognize Emilio in this way, his having spent over 30 years in the insurance industry – and his last 14 years working with us at ShelterPoint.   Emilio’s wife, Shirley, received the award on his behalf.  We like to think that Emilio was surrounded by dear clients and friends at this time.

It was a busy day, as our Long Island Sales Reps along with David Epstein, VP of Sales, and Simon Klarides, our Director of Business Development caught up with clients, old and new.  Thank you to all who stopped by our booth and congratulations to our raffle winner, Teresa Fay of TBA Familiar Insurance Services!

Check out some pictures from the event in the gallery below.

Richard White To Be Honored By The College of Mount Saint Vincent

Annual Scholarship Tribute Dinner on May 1st

Anupam Garg

2019-04-15T14:00:00.0000000 2021-12-27T13:28:10.8400000

Our CEO, Richard White, will be honored by the College of Mount Saint Vincent at its annual Scholarship Tribute Dinner on Wednesday, May 1st.

A remarkable part of the College’s scholarship initiative is the Mott Street Scholarship Program, which is very near to Rich’s heart. The program serves young people who have persisted through foster care or endured homelessness. Mount Saint Vincent believes these young people deserve to have a world of opportunity open to them—especially when you consider, as College President Charles L. Flynn points out, “the kind of courage and the deep understanding of self-worth that it takes for each of them to leave home, to go into the open void, rather than to endure abuse.” The Mott Street Scholarship covers tuition, year-round room and board, fees, books, a computer, and insurance. As with all students, the Mount also provides supplementary academic and counseling resources, along with fundamental tools needed for success. At Mount Saint Vincent, these young people are finally home.

The College’s mission states that education extends beyond knowledge, skills, and preparation for work: it  seeks the development of the whole person; and to foster among students an understanding of our common humanity and a commitment to human dignity.

In light of this mission, it is easy to understand why the College has chosen to honor Rich, who embodies these values and demonstrates them through both civic leadership and the integrity he brings to his daily and professional interactions.

If you would like additional information about the College of Mount Saint Vincent and their Mott Street Program or if you would like to support this worthy cause, please visit: mountsaintvincent.edu/supportmott

Buffalo I-Day 2019 Wrap-Up

Anupam Garg

2019-04-08T11:00:00.0000000 2021-12-27T13:30:51.1700000

On April 4, 2019 we attended Buffalo I-Day – the largest one-day insurance convention in the country.  This year was no exception, with a sold out crowd of over 1,300 insurance industry professionals, and 125 exhibitors! Our upstate Sales Reps David Abert and Eric Hammerle held down the fort for ShelterPoint Life along with our Director of Business Development, Simon Klarides.  The program included educational sessions and Keynote speaker Jack Nicklaus. 

Check out some pictures from the day in the gallery below.

ShelterPoint 2019 Town Hall Recaps a Year of Growth

Anupam Garg

2019-04-05T11:00:00.0000000 2020-12-21T12:34:57.2570000

On April 3, 2019, we closed the office early for our annual corporate town hall, where our C-suite reported on the state of the company and future plans. All our employees gathered for a delicious multi-course lunch at the Jericho Terrace.

This was also a great opportunity to meet many of the new faces that have joined both our offices: we had a 32% increase in staff due to Paid Family Leave. A little icebreaker game helped old-timers and newcomers mix and mingle over trying to find a common thread at their table. Some of the most surprising common threads ranged from loving chocolate and the beach, to being side-sleepers and hating traffic.

Check out pictures from the event in the gallery below.

5th Annual Toy Drive for Long Island Charity

John Theissen Children Foundation's Holiday Toy Drive

Anupam Garg

2018-12-19T12:00:00.0000000 2021-12-27T13:39:36.8100000

John Thiessen and his organization helps sick and injured children and their families in their time of need.  In addition to the work John and his team do to provide hospitals and child-care facilities with therapeutic and recreational equipment, support families with financial assistance to defray medical expenses, the Foundation also sponsors an annual Toy Drive during the Christmas holiday season for underserved children who are confined to a hospital over the holidays.  We are pleased to announce that, as part of our Social Responsiblity work, our employees donated over 140 toys to the 2018 27th Annual Toy and Fund drive - a new record!

We hope that children receiving these gifts will feel as joyful as we who contributed!  Happy holidays! 

Annual Fundraiser Series For The American Cancer Society

Anupam Garg

2018-12-03T12:00:00.0000000 2020-12-21T12:40:15.0830000

Year after year, we have helped The American Cancer Society (ACS) in their efforts to prevent and beat breast cancer.  This year we contributed to The American Cancer as a whole and not solely breast cancer, since virtually everyone is touched by someone with this disease.

This year, we held a bake sale, a raffle, a silent auction and an outing to raise donations to assist the ACS' efforts to find a cure.  Many of our employees took part in these events and, in total, we raised:

$4,605!

Our team is already working on how to beat it next year!

3rd Annual School Supply Drive

Anupam Garg

2018-08-28T12:00:00.0000000 2020-12-21T12:41:24.6630000

ShelterPoint joins the John Thiessen Children's Foundation (JTCF) once again for their annual back-to-school drive.  ShelterPoint employees made donations to the JTCF to provide backpack care packages for underprivileged children on Long Island.  We feel it is our responsibility to help make a difference in a child's life and what can be more appropriate - giving them a fresh start at the beginning of a school year!

All children from kindergarten through high school receive a full set of clothes for the first day of school along with a backpack filled with school supplies, including spiral notebooks, pencils and pens and other items needed for the classroom.

We are pleased to be an ongoing partner to the John Thiessen Children's Foundation for their outstanding work in serving sick, injured and underprivileged children.