For over 80 years, General Insurance Services has dedicated itself to providing the highest quality insurance coverage and risk management to Northwest Indiana. As a local industry leader, GIS seeks to fulfill its mission of securing the futures of the communities it serves, and part of that means giving back through charity.
One of GIS’ fundraising methods is their Blue Jeans Friday program, where employees donate $5 a week in exchange for wearing jeans that Friday. Casual Friday is not a brand new idea, but GIS is putting a twist on the concept. The first thing they did is have their employees nominate local non-profits around the region, they then created a short list and each month, one organization receives all the proceeds generated from Blue Jeans Friday proceeds.
“We raised over $8,000 in 2017,” said Kara Moon, Marketing Coordinator for General Insurance Services. “Almost everyone participates, and the company matches the amount raised each month.”
GIS is off to a strong start this year, having donated their January proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club. Serving their communities is a strong part of GIS’ mission, so they are proud to throw their support behind local organizations.
“This is the community that we not only work in, but live and play in,” said Moon. “There’s nothing more rewarding than giving back and making a difference in the lives of people around us.” Blue Jeans Friday, now a roughly five year old tradition, supports a broad variety of charities and organizations across the Region. Some support local children, like the Boys & Girls Club, others support Northwest Indiana’s four-legged residents, like Lakeshore PAWS.
“This is a simple way that we can give back to organizations within our community,” said Moon. “Our mission is to secure the future of the communities we serve, whether it be through providing insurance coverage to our clients or supporting the organizations in our own backyard. Either way, when local people, businesses, and organizations thrive, we all win.”
While Jeans Friday is one way GIS gives back, it certainly is not the only one. Many of their employees take advantage of the volunteer hours the company offers in order to get out and be involved with their community.
“We do offer all of our employees volunteer hours,” Moon explained. “GIS has always strongly encouraged us to get out and be involved. Many of us are personally involved in the organizations we support whether as a board member or just a volunteer. Having time set aside to volunteer is certainly not something you find at many companies.”
To learn more about GIS’ mission and their services, visit www.genins.com.
