A Look Back on Merchants’ 2025 United Way Campaign
Another United Way campaign is complete! Merchants Insurance Group is proud to continue its support for United Way, which “seeks to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good” (United Way Mission Statement). Merchants’ United Way campaign is the company’s largest philanthropic endeavor, investing over $100,000 annually in United Way’s programs to uplift local communities.
Here’s a look back on Merchants’ 2025 United Way campaign:
United Way Campaign Kickoff
The 2025 campaign officially began on Thursday, September 4th at the United Way Kickoff! After an initial company-wide introduction (corporate colleagues gathered in the first floor common area of the Buffalo, New York office while regional colleagues joined virtually), each office broke into separate Kickoff meetings.
Representatives from United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, United Way of Long Island, Granite United Way, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey graciously joined Merchants’ Kickoff meetings, speaking to their respective region about initiatives their United Way contributions could support in their local community. Merchants values its involvement with United Way not only because of the widespread impact the organization has, but because each Merchants office has a nearby United Way chapter. Funds raised at each Merchants office have a direct impact on programs that benefit that office’s local community.
Corporate and Western Strategic Business Center (WSBC), located in Buffalo, NY, contributions support United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.
Eastern Strategic Business Center (ESBC), located in Melville, NY, contributions support United Way of Long Island.
New England Regional Office (NERO), located in Bedford, NH, contributions support Granite United Way.
Midlantic Regional Office (MRO), located in Mt Laurel, NJ, contributions support United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
Photos are from Merchants’ United Way Kickoff at its corporate headquarters in downtown Buffalo, New York.
Corporate Office Fundraising Events
While most campaign donations come from colleague e-pledge donations and a company match, Merchants’ corporate office hosts several fundraising events each year to rally additional support for the campaign. These events are organized and hosted by a committee comprised of colleague volunteers.
This year, Merchants’ United Way Committee hosted four major fundraising events.
Meat Raffle
This year, the Merchants United Way Committee hosted its first-ever Meat Raffle!
The event, held at Bison City Rod & Gun Club, brought corporate colleagues and guests together for an evening of fun, food, and friendly competition, all for a good cause. In addition to chances to win a variety of meat packages, attendees entered raffles for desserts and baskets.
View the full event recap and gallery here:
Bills Bye Week Bash
In October, Merchants colleagues showed their team spirit at the Bye Week Bash, held at the company’s corporate headquarters in downtown Buffalo, New York.
The annual event, previously known as the Bills Tailgate Lunch, is one of the most anticipated fundraisers of the year at Merchants. Since the Buffalo Bills were on their bye week, colleagues traded in the event’s usual game-day grilling for a pizza party, complete with football-themed fun and raffle prizes, including Josh Allen and James Cook jerseys.
View the full event recap and gallery here:
Basket Raffle
November marked the return of a colleague favorite tradition at the corporate office: Basket Raffle Week!
Departments showcased their creativity and generosity as they collaborated on baskets and prizes to donate to the cause, and all week, colleagues purchased raffle tickets for chances to win.
Holiday Bazaar
The final fundraising event of this year’s campaign was the Holiday Bazaar in December. This annual event features a variety of goods created by our talented colleagues. Shoppers supported their coworkers while doing some holiday shopping – and sellers generously contributed a portion of their profits to United Way!
Colleagues sold & purchased jewelry, holiday decorations, hair tinsel, Mary Kay products, tumblers, tote bags, puzzles, custom wood products, knit blankets, potted plants, charms, sourdough bread, and more. At the Merchants-Dise station, colleagues could purchase company merchandise with 100% proceeds donated to United Way.
Thank You!
Thank you to all colleagues for your participation in this year’s campaign! Whether you made e-pledge donations, attended a fundraising event, or volunteered, your generosity made a meaningful impact.
Special thanks to…
Our United Way Campaign Chairs:
Charlene Guadagno
Derek Guarino
Our United Way Regional Representatives:
Diane McIntyre and Vanessa Nove, Eastern Strategic Business Center
Maritza Santiago and Lindsay Cotter, Midlantic Regional Office
Cate Tanzer, New England Regional Office
Our United Way Committee at the corporate headquarters in Buffalo, New York:
Rob Ader
Kyra Bogdan
Stacey Clause
Joanna Eberts
Charlene Guadagno
Ray Guagliardi
Derek Guarino
Jillian Hoffman
Erica Kellogg
Ryann Kinyon
Matthew Leslie
Peter Lyons
Umesh Mallya
Laurie Maniccia
Nicole Mindemann
Jennifer Nguyen
Rachel Reid
Jennifer Short
Katherine Trautwein
Merchants’ corporate United Way Committee celebrated the success of the 2025 campaign at lunch with Merchants President & CEO Charles Makey!
Philanthropy at Merchants
Philanthropy is at the core of Merchants’ culture.
In June, Merchants colleagues participated in United Way Day of Caring, an annual, single-day service event that encourages companies to take part in community service projects. See the recap and photo gallery here: United Way Day of Caring 2025 – Merchants Gives Back!
In addition to United Way, Merchants is proud to support other organizations and initiatives that strengthen local communities. Colleagues exemplify their compassion by getting active for good causes such as the Alzheimer’s Association’s Buffalo and Erie County Walk to End Alzheimer’s and the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk; sustainably recycling electronics at Sunnking’s annual e-Scrap for Camp event to benefit Camp Good Days; and gathering donations for our neighbors in need: families around the holidays, children at the start of the school year, and community members in times of distress.
Interested in learning more about the ways Merchants gives back? Visit our Philanthropy page!
