NOVATO, Calif. - Fireman's Fund Insurance Company was recently recognized by the San Francisco Business Times for its national corporate philanthropy program, Fireman's Fund Heritage(SM). The company received the "Innovator of the Year" Award, which was presented at the newspaper's annual Corporate Philanthropy Summit and Awards ceremony. Chief Jeff Meston of the Novato Fire Protection District nominated Fireman's Fund(R) for the award.

"Fireman's Fund is addressing critical needs of the fire service in the Bay Area -- and nationwide," said Chief Meston. "The company's program is innovative, comprehensive and will have a lasting impact."

Since 2004, Fireman's Fund has awarded more than $4 million in grants and provided thousands of volunteer hours to local fire departments, national firefighter organizations and non-profit fire and burn prevention organizations across the country. To date, fire departments in the Bay Area have received more than $1 million in funding for firefighting equipment, fire prevention tools, firefighter training, fire safety education and community emergency response programs.

John Weems, community partnership manager at the San Francisco Business Times, explains, "The Innovator Award looks beyond the checks written. Creativity and effectiveness are key." The award, which was created last year, recognizes companies that are addressing complex social issues or needs affecting the Bay Area by leveraging corporate resources in new and unique ways. It also strives to evaluate how the company has partnered with community organizations and its key constituents -- customers, stakeholders and employees -- to develop its corporate philanthropy solution.

"It's a great honor to be recognized for the work Fireman's Fund, its employees and its agents are doing in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country to assist firefighters," said Darryl Siry, executive director of Fireman's Fund Heritage. "The Fireman's Fund Heritage program was created as a way to return to our founding mission by supporting firefighters for safer communities. What started as a founding principle has now become a unique corporate philanthropy program that is integrated into every layer of Fireman's Fund's business."

Fireman's Fund has a long history of supporting the fire service. The company was founded in San Francisco in 1863 with the mission to allocate a portion of its profits to support firefighters. Today, the company is carrying forward this mission through the Fireman's Fund Heritage program. The corporate philanthropy program was created in response to the funding challenges that have left many volunteer and paid fire departments without adequate resources. First on the scene of any emergency, firefighters respond to natural disasters, accidents, medical emergencies, chemical spills and terrorist attacks -- as well as fires -- despite increasingly limited resources.

Under the Fireman's Fund Heritage program, Fireman's Fund employees are able to nominate fire departments and burn prevention programs for grants as well as provide volunteer support. Additionally, independent agents selling Fireman's Fund insurance are able to direct grants based on the amount of their business with Fireman's Fund and the growth of that business.

Fireman's Fund was selected for the Innovator Award by an independent panel representing key corporate philanthropy organizations in the Bay Area, including:

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company

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