Insurance professionals are famous for adhering to the best standards of risk assessment and management, so it might seem puzzling at first to hear that a large group of them got together for a night of casino gaming.

But as the nearly 150 insurance professionals who attended the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) second annual Casino Night fundraiser last month in San Francisco can attest, nothing is too far out of character when it comes to raising money for a good cause.

Competitive spirit for a greater good

As we all know, the insurance industry has an intense level of business competition between carriers, brokers and agencies. Where the industry stands out, however, is in its ability to put aside that competitive spirit for a greater good. But on Casino Night, the festivities were attended by representatives of dozens of companies who are competitors by day, partners in philanthropy by night.

And the results speak for themselves: On top of the night's good times and opportunities for networking, Casino Night raised more than $100,000 for IICF's Western Division grants program. This program provides funding to local nonprofits throughout California and the Western U.S. that focus on child abuse prevention, disaster preparedness, education, and health and human services. Earlier in 2016, the Division dealt out $340,000 in grants to 35 local nonprofit groups, and the funds raised at this year's event will support similar efforts for 2017's grantees.