The employees of Merchants Insurance Group contributed more than $437,000 from 1999 through 2016 to charities, with $30,163.00 raised in 2016.
Contributions went to various non-profit groups throughout Western New York, including: Hope Lodge, $861.00; Dress for Success, $291.00; Matt Urban Hope Center, $273.00; Roancher Ranch, $291.00; Western New York Heroes, $908.00; South Buffalo Soup Kitchen, $322.00; Feral Cat Focus, $252.55; Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, $288.00; Luggage for Love, $285.00; Hope for Two (Pregnant with Cancer Network), $ 989.00; Melina’s White Light, $ 261.00; Salvation Army, $339.00; Touching Bases Softball League, $261.00; Orchard Park Veterans Park, $284.00; Special Spaces Buffalo, $301.00; Hospice Buffalo, $950.00; Project Flight, $ 255.00; The Valley Center, $282.00; WNY Perinatal Bereavement Network Inc., $249.00; Hawk Creek Wildlife, $273.00; Kevin Guest House, $935.00; Jordan’s Journey, $318.20; Furever Friends, $347.00; Paradise House, $288.00; Ronald McDonald House, $1,482.50; Footsteps of WNY, $1,482.50; Special Olympics WNY, $305.05; Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of WNY, $286.15; Friends of the Night People, $880.00; Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure, $255.00; Family Promise of WNY, $294.00; Cantalician Center, $248.00; Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service, $225.00; Girls on the Run, $261.00; St. John’s Lutheran School, $279.00; WNY Physically Challenged Youth Sports, $868.00; Cure SMA, $210.00; UNYTS, $210.00; Juvenile Diabetes Research, $250.00; Fix-A-Bull WN, $234.00; Olmsted Center, $828.00; Fox Wood Wildlife Rescue, $222.00; Mikey’s Way Foundation, $226.00; Gliding Stars, $ 221.00; Guiding Eyes for the Blind WNY, $225.00; Alzheimer’s Association, $891.00; City Mission, $255.00; Tabby Town, $263.00; Wings Flight of Hope, $320.00; SABAH, $219.00; Riviera Theatre & Arts Center, $308.00; Amanda Hansen Foundation, $886.00; Lockport Cares, $260.00; Unlimbited, $267.00; Bills Fan Thunder Inc., $240.00; Independent Health Family YMCA, $264.00; Gerard Place, $1,866.00; Pet Emergency Fund, $270.00; WNY Coalition for Homeless/Homeless Alliance of WNY, $2,681.50;Bryan M. Lawrence Foundation, $232.00; Theatre of Youth, $258.00; Coats for Kids, $302.00; Dear Tayrin, $297.00; West Seneca Food Pantry, $273.00; Mother Teresa Home (final amount TBD).
The organizations the company 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.
