(Re)insurance professionals' participation in Covenant House's "Sleep Out" on Sept. 25 raised over $440,000 for homeless youth of New York. Aimed at raising funds and awareness, the Sleep Out included more than 100 (re)insurance professionals, including CEOs, who slept on the streets of New York, outside Covenant House, while more than 400 homeless youth slept safely indoors.
"I am so humbled and proud of this industry for coming together to make such a real impact in the lives of the homeless kids at Covenant House," says Andrew Bustillo, president and CEO of BMS Intermediaries Inc. and the board chair of Covenant House International. "The funds raised will make an immediate difference, helping us not only to provide food, clothing and shelter, but also counseling, and job training. Just as important, it provides these great, courageous homeless kids with the kind of family support that all kids need and deserve."
Michael Sapnar, president and CEO of Transatlantic Reinsurance, led his company to raise more than $50,000 for the youth at Covenant House. "More important than the money, more important than simply writing a check, this sleep out does something amazing. It introduces us to these kids and the work of Covenant House. Getting to meet and speak with the youth at Covenant House makes this a very special experience. Their courage is remarkable, and what they overcome is inspiring" he says.
Meeting and listening to the kids is where the rubber meets the road, says Mike Byrne, vice president of Strategic Alliances, Guardian Group Insurance. "It makes me grateful for the gifts I've had in my life. This sleep out is just a tiny glimpse of what these kids go through and it leaves you awed and inspired that they are able to overcome such hardships and turn their lives around at Covenant House."
Covenant House's youth, 20-year-old Hanna says, "Both my parents were drug users. They first gave me alcohol when I was three. By age 13 I was living on the streets. I would couch surf, sleep in coffee shops. My whole life was a battle on how to get through the night."
"When I came to Covenant House I was beaten down by life," she adds, "I felt hopeless and completely unloved, and not worthy of love. I was confused. When I was offered three meals a day, I did not know what to do. And when people asked me how I was doing, I got angry. It took a few weeks, but I started to see that Covenant House, and the people here, are all about encouragement, and family, and listening, and helping. It took a lot to put five years of living on the streets behind me, but it started here."
Hanna is currently employed while attending college, with a 4.0 GPA. "I had no dreams when I came [to Covenant House]," she says. "Now I have dreams, and hope, and a plan. Thank all of you so much for being here tonight, for showing you care in such a unique way. We are so grateful you left your families and your lives on this night to help us. God bless you."
Companies that led the effort included Arch Insurance, Arch Re, Axis Re, BMS and Friends, CBIZ & Friends, Cigna HealthCare, Everest Re, Guardian Life, Guy Carpenter & Company, Holborn, Markel Global Insurance, Munich Re, Pioneer Special Risk, Reinsurance Under 40s, Third Point Re, TransRe, Willis Re Inc. and XL Catlin.
In addition, John Berger and Friends, Holborn and Arch Re provided matching gift incentives that were instrumental in surpassing the fundraising goal.
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Trudy Knockless
Trudy Knockless is a reporter on ALM Media's Business of Law desk. She has a background serving legal and insurance publications. Contact her at [email protected] or on LinkedIn at Trudy Knockless.
