IICF’s Midwest Division Announces Plans for Inaugural Fundraising Event

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) Midwest Division has announced plans for ‘Blazing the Trail,’ the organization’s inaugural fundraising event.

Published on October 28, 2011

The benefit, themed around the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, is set for Thursday, March 1, 2012 at the Daniel Burnham-designed Field Museum in Chicago.

Keynote Speaker J.B. Pritzker, well known for his business and civic leadership, will address the evening’s guests. “We are honored and delighted to have Mr. Pritzker as the featured speaker for our inaugural event,” said Benefit Chair J. Eric Smith, President and CEO of Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation. “The IICF shares Mr. Pritzker’s commitment to community. By uniting and combining our industry’s resources, we are able to follow Mr. Pritzker’s example and join him in the effort to positively impact our community and make strides in the areas of health, education and safety.”

The IICF will also present the Trailblazer Award to Bears Care, the charitable beneficiary of the Chicago Bears, for their targeted work in education, medical research and health awareness. “The IICF is proud to present Bears Care with the inaugural Trailblazer Award,” said IICF Midwest Division Board Chair, Kathleen Savio, EVP and Chief Administrative Officer, Zurich North America Commercial. “We believe that our partnership will help to make an even bigger impact for members of our community in need.” 

The IICF will additionally honor three exceptional industry professionals with Frontier Awards in recognition of exceptional philanthropic leadership in the categories of health, education and safety,

Evening sponsors include: ACE Group, Chubb & Son, CNA, Dewey & LeBoeuf, HUB International Unlimited, Lloyd’s America, Macquarie Capital, Milliman, R-T Specialty, Swiss Re, Wells Fargo Insurance Services and Zurich North America Commercial.

Table sponsorship opportunities at the $25,000 (Platinum), $15,000 (Gold), $10,000 (Silver) and $3,000 (Patron) levels are available, as are individual tickets, priced at $1,000 each.

For further information, please contact Kimberly Saccaro at 312-384-0644.

About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation was established in 1994 and is completely directed and funded by the insurance industry. The Industry Foundation helps communities and enriches lives by uniting the collective strengths of the industry to provide grants, volunteer service and leadership. Since its inception, the Industry Foundation has contributed over $17 million and 140,000 volunteer hours to hundreds of community nonprofits. IICF is a registered not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

To learn more about the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation visit http://www.iicf.org, or contact Kimberly Saccaro, Executive Director, Midwest Division at (312) 384-0644, kbsaccaro@iicf.com

About Chicago Bears Care

The Chicago Bears Football Club is dedicated to making a difference in our community.  Through its charitable beneficiary, Bears Care, the organization seeks to improve the lives of others by investing in initiatives that support education, youth athletics, and medical research and health awareness programs focusing on breast and ovarian cancer.   Bears Care conducts programming such as the annual “Back to School Fair” and “Real Bears Fans Wear Pink” campaign which directly impact those in need, and since 1995 has awarded over $18 million in grants to qualifying agencies that share its mission.