Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation to Honor Swiss Re

November 18, 2008

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) announced that it will honor Pierre Ozendo, CEO and chairman of the Americas division of Swiss Re, for the company’s ongoing commitment to developing sustainability related solutions.

The IICF, a national not-for-profit organization representing a broad spectrum of the industry, will honor Swiss Re when it holds its second annual New York Division Gala on December 10 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST.

Former Secretary of State and Retired General Colin L. Powell will be the event’s special guest.

Brian Duperreault, president and CEO of Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. will serve as the dinner chairman.

Swiss Re’s Corporate Responsibility program is divided into three areas: Corporate Governance, Corporate Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship. The IICF cited some of the company’s accomplishments and commitments:

• Swiss Re and Oxfam America recently launched a joint commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative to provide weather insurance to Ethiopian farmers whose livelihoods depend on the weather.

• Swiss Re’s Climate Adaptation Development Programme brings weather risk transfer solutions to developing nations.

• The company’s COYou2 Reduce and Gain Programme grants subsidies to employees for emission-cutting investments in their private lives.

• Swiss Re achieved greenhouse neutral status five years ahead of schedule by substantially reducing CO2 emissions per employee since 2003 and offsetting the remaining emissions.

The New York Division of IICF was launched in 2007 and currently serves the tri-state area with plans to expand into an Eastern division. Since its launch, IICF’s New York Division has offered grants to several organizations including the Bronx Neighborhood Financial Empowerment Center; the Wounded Warriors Project and Riverkeeper.

Michael Fujii, president and CEO of Endurance Worldwide Insurance and chairman of IICF-NY, said the IICF gives the insurance industry a united philanthropic voice.

The IICF originated in California and in 2007 added a New York division. Since its inception the Industry Foundation has contributed over $15 million and 90,000 volunteer hours to hundreds of community nonprofits.

Source Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation
www.iicf.org