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The employees of Merchants Insurance Group contributed more than $477,000 from 1999 through 2017 to charities, with more than $40,000 raised in 2017, the most in one year since the fund-raising activities were started.

The organizations supported were chosen through employee suggestions, and the employees raised funds through activities such as “dress-down” days, raffles and split clubs. The activities are organized and managed by Merchants’ employees through their C.I.A., or Colleagues in Action, committee, which accepts nominations for non-profits throughout the year

Contributions went to various non-profit groups throughout Western New York, including: {December}: Family Health Center, $834.00; West Seneca Public Library, $255.00; Almost Home Animal Sanctuary, Inc., $310.00; The Independence Foundation, $264.00; Wild Spirit Education, $195.00; {November}: Independent Health Family YMCA, $354.00; Child & Adolescent Treatment Services, $1,697.00; Child & Family Services, $1,697.00; Family Health Center, $922.00; Column of Hope, $282.00; Dancers Give Back, $262.00; {October}: Hurricane Relief, $840.00; Lindsay’s Legacy, $246.00; 100 Club of Buffalo & Erie County, $894.00; Fantastic Friends of Western New York, $283.00; Melina’s White Light, $279.00; The Valley Center, $291.00; Coats for Kids, $217.00; {September}: American Cancer Society/Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, $840.00; 11 Day Powerplay, $252.00; North Collins Veterans Tribute, $287.00; Hurricane Irma, $4,220.00; Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue, $222.00; Kevin Guest House, $291.00; {August} Olmstead Center for Sight, $300.00; WNY Alzheimer’s Association, $726.00; Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service, $215.00; Family Promise of WNY, $213.00; Niagara Co. SPCA – Dog Tags New York Program, $263.00; Hurricane Harvey Victims, $4,592.00; SSG William R Wilson III Memorial Foundation, $238.00; {July}: Meals on Wheels for Western New York, Inc., $762.00; Kiwanis Kids of Webster/Dogworks Service Dogs, $282.00; Jericho Road, $231.00; Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of WNY, $270.00; Hope Before Heaven, Inc. & A Home Till Heaven, $279.00; {June}: Roswell Park Cancer Institute, $951.00; Second Chance Sheltering Network, $292.00; Mason’s Mission Foundation, $264.00; Mercy Flight of Western New York, $249.00; Grassroots Gardens WNY, $276.00; {May}: Jim Harszlak Foundation, $276.00; Grace Guest House Inc., $948.00; The Salvation Army, $1,555.00; Cure SMA, $1,555.00; Mental Health Association – Erie County, $306.00; Friends of the CBAS, $285.00; WNY Perinatal Bereavement Network, $280.00; {April}: Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus, $500.00; Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center, $924.00; Lakeview Animal Sanctuary, $282.00; Joyful Rescues, $325.00; Alix Rice Peace Park Foundation, $278.00; {March}: Buffalo Paws and Claws Animal Shelter, Inc., $317.00; Anthony V. Mannino Foundation, Inc., $990.00; Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue, $309.00; Crisis Services Advocate Program, $300.00; Equi-Star, Inc., $291.00; Hospice Walk May 2017, $306.00; {February}: Bikers Against Child Abuse New York, $294.00; The Teacher’s Desk, $960.00; Operation Pets – The Spay/Neuter Clinic of WNY, Inc., $324.00; People Inc., $297.00; Spectrum Human Services, $306.00; {January}: St. Peter and Paul of Hamburg, N.Y. Outreach, $273.00; Juvenile Diabetes, $804.00; Little Portion Friary, $315.00; Canine Helpers for the Handicapped, $296.00.

Robert Klingensmith

Merchants Insurance Group

Merchants Insurance Group sells its products through a network of more than 1,000 independent insurance agents in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. We sell our products through independent insurance agents because we believe they provide value to policyholders through their broad range of products and their insurance expertise.