News
Symetra Recognizes Community Champions Across the Country
Bellevue, Wash. — (April 27, 2009) — Symetra Financial announced today the winners of its spring 2009 Community Champion Award. The Symetra Community Champion Award was created to recognize and celebrate outstanding individuals who are working to make a positive difference in their communities.
Throughout the year, Symetra works with its business partners across the country to identify and recognize Community Champions – people in their communities working diligently for the benefit of others.
The spring 2009 Community Champions were selected from nominations submitted by Symetra Investment Services, the independent broker dealer division of Symetra Financial, registered representatives. The winners are:
- Dr. John Winskill, Toys for Kids of Intensive Care Families (Tacoma, Wash.)
Nominated by Gary Akiyama, Akiyama Financial Services, LLC
Winskill started Toys for Kids of Intensive Care Families in 1991 with the goal of bringing some holiday cheer to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. The program works to identify and raise funds to provide presents for families with chronically ill children. Under Winskill’s thoughtful leadership, the organization also contributes to the Hospitals’ Helping Hands program providing support such as food vouchers, gas and monetary donations to help relieve these families from additional financial worries.
- Linda Uehara, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii (Mililani, Hawaii)
Nominated by Alan Chinen, Chinen & Arinaga Financial Group, Inc.
Uehara, a retired teacher, has worked with youth and families in her community for more than 37 years. She currently serves as a volunteer facilitator at the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, where she participates in a program that helps prevent drug abuse by strengthening families' abilities to communicate and connect.
- Jim Kreipe, ReFIT (Portland, Ore.)
Nominated by Larry Klobertanz, American Benefits, Inc.
Kreipe uses his talent – more than 25 years of residential remodeling and design experience – to help others. He faithfully volunteers his time, expertise and materials to ReFIT, a non-profit volunteer organization based in Portland, Ore. that provides home modification services for physically and financially challenged homeowners.
- Tom and Sharon Naught, American Cancer Society (Jefferson City, Mo.)
Nominated by Bob Redel, Naught-Naught Agency
The Naught's are truly committed to the fight against cancer. Together they participate in a variety of volunteer work and fundraisers that benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS). In fact, the Naught’s are the founders of their local Jefferson City ACS’s Boost BBQ, which provides funds for boost nutritional supplements to cancer patients.
- Joe Keller, Camas Educational Foundation (Vancouver, Wash.)
Nominated by Jeff Mansur, Fournier Group
As a board member of the Camas Education Foundation (CEF), Keller works to support academic enrichment programs impacting over 5,000 students in the Camas School District. CEF raises funds and awards grants that go to purchase materials and equipment and help fund early reading programs.
Each of these Community Champions will be recognized in front of family, friends and colleagues at local community events and will receive a financial contribution for their affiliated organization.
For more information visit http://www.symetracommunity.com.
About Symetra Financial
Symetra Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries provide employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions and independent agents and advisors. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., Symetra and its subsidiaries have approximately $19 billion in assets.
1 Symetra is owned by an investor group led by White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
For more information, visit www.symetra.com.
1 Total GAAP assets and combined liabilities and stockholders’ equity at Dec. 31, 2008.
Symetra® is a registered service mark of Symetra Life Insurance Co.
