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 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 5, 2006) – The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) combined creativity with compassion today as it held a canned goods sculpture-building contest to help celebrate its 11th annual Employee Appreciation Week. An estimated 4,300 canned goods were used to build the sculptures, and will be donated to City Union Mission.
In addition to food donations, the event raised more than $2,200 in cash donations for the Kansas City-based charitable organization. NAIC employees will deliver the canned goods to the Mission on Friday.
“The contest is a good way to generate awareness of the needs of the poor and homeless in our city, and a unique idea to collect some of the food items that we need to stock our food pantry,” said Evie Kowalewski, corporate relations specialist for City Union Mission.
The contest featured 14 sculptures, each built by NAIC staff members in less than four hours. Sculpture themes included a witch, castle, lighthouse, birthday cake and an American flag.
“I am proud of the NAIC staff for taking part in this charitable event,” said NAIC CEO and Executive Vice President Catherine J. Weatherford. “Our Employee Appreciation Week is about giving something back to our staff members for their hard work and dedication. With their contributions to this contest, they are giving back to their community and placing necessary items in the hands of those who need it most.”
City Union Mission has been restoring hope to Kansas City’s poor and homeless for more than 82 years. Last year, it provided almost 292,000 meals for the hungry and more than 127,000 beds for the weary. Since 1924, City Union Mission has provided warm beds, nutritious food and a place of safety for thousands of poverty-stricken and homeless men, women and children.
- City Union Mission’s doors are open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day
- City Union Mission offers half of the emergency shelter beds in downtown Kansas City, with a men’s shelter and a women’s/family shelter.
- City Union Mission is the largest rescue mission in a six-state area.
- City Union Mission does not receive government funding; it relies completely on support from individuals, businesses, foundations, organizations and churches.
About the NAIC
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. The NAIC’s overriding objective is to assist state insurance regulators in protecting consumers and helping maintain the financial stability of the insurance industry by offering financial, actuarial, legal, computer, research, market conduct and economic expertise.
Formed in 1871, the NAIC is the oldest association of state officials. For more than 135 years, state-based insurance supervision has served the needs of consumers, industry and the business of insurance at-large by ensuring hands-on, frontline protection for consumers, while providing insurers the uniform platforms and coordinated systems they need to compete effectively in an ever-changing marketplace. For more information, visit NAIC on the Web at: http://www.naic.org/press_home.htm |
