One insurance agency’s commitment to community service

Keenan was founded with a core philosophy of “what we do makes a difference.” This vision first manifested itself in the form of providing innovative insurance solutions to California public school systems. By initially focusing on this niche, we gained a unique understanding of the challenges facing schools, children and families.

The Keenan community service program has blossomed and grown over the years to now encompass a wide range of activities through which employees have an opportunity to volunteer and make a difference. This level of involvement in volunteerism and community support is a key component in our success as an organization.

Related: Insurance executives highlight industry’s philanthropic causes at IICF’s 2018 Media Roundtable

Is there a return on the investment? Yes!

These kinds of programs are known by many names: community outreach, corporate social responsibility, volunteering or giving back. But they all have one thing in common. They can require a substantial commitment on the part of the firm and its employees. So why tackle all that work?

The non-profit organization, America’s Charities, states that “88% of employers believe effective engagement programs help attract and retain employees,” and that an employee volunteer program can potentially save $1,000 to $6,000 per employee. Moreover, with an overall employee turnover rate of 18.5% (2017) across U.S. industries, retaining productive employees is a key challenge. From a macroeconomic perspective, a recent Gallup report estimated that disengaged employees cost corporations $450 billion to $550 billion in lost productivity annually.

The organization also cites estimates that peg the cost to replace an employee in a range from six months of salary to two times annual salary. And it mentions other research showing that employees who are committed to their firms put in 57% more effort on the job and are 87% less likely to resign. They may even be happier, healthier and higher performing.

From a demographic perspective, another Gallup report notes that millennials value “purpose” and seek an employment situation that offers opportunities to “grow, develop and do what they do best” over income alone.

Since the “cost” of a well-run volunteering and community service program is largely embodied in the hours that employees devote to running it and participating in it, these highly engaging efforts are an effective and relatively low-cost avenue for employee retention and motivation.

What’s in it for the employee, beyond some happy feelings? How about:

• Increased interaction and camaraderie with co-workers,
• Opportunities for informal interactions with management,
• Variety of experiences and new challenges,
• Chance to utilize untapped skills and talents, or
• Teamwork and collaboration focused on a common goal?

One of the advantages of providing an array of opportunities is maximizing the ability to match an individual’s interests and priorities with a relevant activity to increase overall participation rates.

Related: Arbella Insurance Foundation: Celebrating a legacy of charitable giving

Focus on youth continues

The Keenan commitment to providing support for youth and communities has continued and expanded over the years into a range of activities that are designed to offer Keenan employees meaningful opportunities for volunteering and community service. In addition to these company-sponsored activities, all employees have an allotment of 16 volunteer-time-off (VTO) hours per calendar year for involvement in other causes in which they have a personal interest.

Keenan-sponsored programs have included the following:

• Right Start Mentoring. Mentoring of middle school students, either at a Keenan office or at their local school.
• Impact Day. Annual, all-company volunteer event assisting various social service agencies and non-profits in northern and southern California.
• Corporate Work-Study. Internship program in partnership with a local high school.
• MLK Servathon. Annual event working with students at local junior high school on a variety of community service projects.
• School Supplies Drive. Back-to-school donations in the month of July.
• Holiday Drive. Food and toys for local children.
• Local Events. Monthly group volunteering activities throughout the year as well as the posting of dozens of opportunities.
• YMCA Youth & Government. Participation on the board of this program that provides middle and high school students with the Model Legislature and Court experience in Sacramento each year.
• Kid’s Chance of California. Scholarship opportunities for children whose parents have been affected by workplace injury.
• Abuse Prevention Center. Comprehensive resources to help schools prevent physical and sexual abuse.

Recent additions to the Keenan community service efforts include a Furry Friend Drive for donations of pet supplies like food, toys and blankets for local animal shelters or animal rescues, as well as a non-profit volunteer fairs and lunch/brunch ‘n learns.

Related: EPIC Insurance helps upgrade computer lab for affordable housing residents

Program profile: Right Start Mentoring

Right Start Mentoring is designed to support today’s youth who are facing constant pressures in our society and need more guidance than ever before. Keenan started the program in October 2015, and it has expanded from partnering with one non-profit organization to three in southern California. Keenan employees volunteer as a mentor for two hours weekly. In 2017, 36 Keenan employees recorded a total of 916 hours dedicated to making an impact in a young person’s life.

The experience can be life-changing for both the mentee and the mentor. The following testimonials from our employees are expressions of the satisfaction that they have experienced, demonstrating the personal impact of becoming a mentor.

I enjoy mentoring with Los Angeles Team Mentoring because it allows me to see firsthand how the kids grow and mature week after week. When I started, a lot of the kids were shy and introverted, but through activities and group projects they have completely come out of their shell. They are excited to share ideas and work hands-on with each other. I feel good when they become comfortable enough to open up, share and interact with me and the entire class. The kids want to come to Team Works; that alone is a testament to the program’s success. Kristin Cooper, Torrance Office

I had no idea that mentoring would be such a fulfilling experience. What I enjoyed most was getting to know my student and helping her to explore her interests and talents. I could help her discover more about herself and watch her grow from that, which was a reward in itself. We ended up having so much in common, it was like hanging out with my friend for two hours every Thursday. I look forward to participating in the SPARK program again. Dalgiana Perez, Torrance Office

It’s such an honor to work for a company that has made a commitment to the lives of our youth by giving its employees the opportunity of mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters. It’s been so great to get to know my “little” and to spend time with him and his classmates each month. I’ve loved watching their comfort level grow each time we meet. When volunteering to serve others, you often begin by hoping that you will be a blessing to the ones you are serving, and thankfully you are. But the truth is, you quickly realize that you are equally blessed by inviting them into your life. Greg Mariano, Riverside Office

Related: Corporate Social Responsibility is more than a phrase to CNA

Partner profile: Los Angeles Team Mentoring

One of the most gratifying aspects of a well-thought-out community service program is building long-term relationships with social service agencies and non-profits with shared values and causes. A perfect example is Keenan’s partnership with an organization called Los Angeles Team Mentoring (LATM).

Middle-school youth are one of the most overlooked and underserved populations in Los Angeles. But they are in a critical stage in their lives, transitioning into young adulthood and making choices about career directions. Moreover, teenagers are reportedly five times more likely to graduate from high school if they have a meaningful relationship with a caring adult. LATM enhances its programs for assisting these young people by engaging with companies and their employees to provide mentors to share their time, experience, support and encouragement.

The program was a growing experience not only for the students but for me as well. The topics we discussed hit head on with anything a middle-school-aged student would face, from peer pressure and self-image to leadership, family and more. Watching how the students each grew in their own way over the year was amazing to see. My mentees keep me humble and remind me not to be so stressed about my everyday pressures, especially after learning about some of the pressures they face at such a young age. Whether they realize it or not, they also make a clear impact in my life. Trisha Pond, Torrance Office

Related: Why and how to leverage a social mission for your insurance business

Program evaluation runs a wide gamut

Tracking and evaluating these kinds of programs runs the gamut from informal word of mouth or Excel spreadsheets to more sophisticated metrics and data gathering. Three aspects of taking stock of success include quantitative, qualitative and financial. Factors can include volunteer hours logged, achievement of predetermined targets and goals, overall participation rates over time, correlation of corporate priorities against employee choices for involvement, and surveys of participants.

According to JoAnn Angeli, Event and Community Relations Manager for Keenan, “While being able to track the costs of volunteer efforts is important to maintaining a realistic community service program, the real value in program evaluation and tracking is being able to communicate back to the employees the positive impact that they have been able to collectively make.” As employees see the positive effects of their individual time and involvement, the sense of community and camaraderie is amplified when the group understands the entirety of what has been accomplished. The end result is creating perpetual sustainability for the program.

Community service is one of the most significant ways an organization can connect with not only its client constituencies, but with the broader public as well, while delivering tangible contributions that make a difference in people’s lives. It can serve as a beacon for attracting employees with a like commitment to performance and excellence. And it can help generate expanded awareness and support for the entities being supported through word of mouth and local media coverage. It’s a winning combination for all concerned.

Related: A message of mercy rings out during IICF annual gala

Dan Keenan is senior vice president for Keenan Financial Services, Torrance, Calif. He can be reached at dkeenan@keenan.com.