Since its start in 1996, the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC), an industry charitable organization devoted to raising money for cancer research, has raised more than $4.3 million for its cause, Canada-wide. This achievement is due in large part to the ongoing and committed support of many organizations and individuals within the insurance industry, who choose to donate all or a significant portion of their charitable dollars to WICCs fight against cancer.

An important reason for this choice is the fact that 100 per cent of the funds WICC donates to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) go directly to support cancer research. Through a unique arrangement, the CCS charges no administration fees on WICCs donations, and because most of WICCs work is done by volunteers, its own administration costs are negligible.

We have a very committed, hard-working board, says Lyna Newman, WICCs executive director. In fact, we joke that our full-time jobs get in the way of our work for WICC.

Their employers deserve a lot of credit, according to Heather Matthews, Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.s vice-president, Healthcare Management Services and a WICC board member.

Although it often means that we must put in very long days to get our real jobs done, our companies allow us to work on WICC projects during business hours when necessary. They also provide us with meeting facilities, encourage people to volunteer, and assist us in any way they can, she says.

WICCs annual golf tournament, which Matthews chairs, is a perfect example of such industry support.

Last year, we had 260 golfers and raised $150,000, she says. And we always have about 50 or 60 volunteers out to help. A few of them even take a vacation dayto work from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.!

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the tournament, so Matthews hopes to see a record turnout on Monday, July 13, 2009 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, just north of Toronto.


All this hard work has certainly paid offin 2008 alone, WICC Ontario donated $550,000, resulting from a wide variety of large and small initiatives generously organized and/or donated by industry corporations and individuals.

Originally, all funds went toward breast cancer research, but a few years ago, the WICC Ontario board realized that prostate cancer needed attention, so they started directing money to that field as well. As their efforts became increasingly successful, they also started funding general cancer research. Of the $3 million raised in Ontario since 1996, $2.2 million has gone to breast cancer research, $650,000 to prostate cancer research and $150,000 to research into other types of cancer.

National sponsorship
National sponsors can commit to one of four categories of contribution:
Bronze sponsorship: $10,000 annually
Silver sponsorship: $15,000 annually
Gold sponsorship: $20,000 annually
Platinum sponsorship: a $45,000 contribution over three years ($15,000 annually).

All eight current national sponsors, including Crawford, have agreed to the platinum level. These firms can simply cut a cheque for a corporate donation, or, like Crawford, can foster a variety of fundraising initiatives that involve staff and clients.

Since the rollout of Crawford Cares in January of 2004, the staff has voted every year to donate all proceeds of the firms fundraising initiative to WICC, says Matthews. Because of this dedication, we have raised more than $250,000 for WICC through staff-organized events such as bingo games, silent auctions, casual Fridays, garage sales and barbecues. Many employees also participate in optional payroll deductions, which are matched by the company. Even our clients pitched inthey contributed more than $40,000 over the years through the annual charity golf tournament we held from 2004 to 2007.

Another well-received initiative involved substituting WICC donations for corporate hand-outs at trade shows. People who visited Crawfords booth signed their names to cutouts of the Crawford Cares or WICC logo, which were then posted on a board. For every signed logo, Crawford donated $5 to WICC.

We have raised several thousand dollars with this project, and people really liked it, Matthews says. It was the talk of the trade show whenever we did it.

For other firms wishing to encourage employees to contribute collectively, the WICC website provides The Idea Bank, which describes how to implement a payroll deduction plan, conduct garage sales, and hold fundraising events such as barbecues.

Individual initiatives
Company-wide efforts like Crawfords and those of other national sponsors generate a large portion of WICCs contributions, but smaller, personal donations are often very poignant, Newman says.

One of the organizations newest initiatives fulfils peoples need to show support for colleagues dealing with cancer. The WICC Tribute gives industry members a tangible and meaningful way to commemorate those who have lost their fight with cancer and to honour those who continue to live and beat the disease every day.

The announcement of the program at WICCs annual dinner in the spring of 2008 inspired Paul Martin of KRG Insurance Group to create the first tributea personal donation of $1,000 honouring his colleague, Linda Hajekerou, who had just been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

What I liked about the WICC Tribute is that it is not a memorial, said Martin. I saw it as a chance for me to express my admiration of Lindas approach to living her life even after having been diagnosed with cancer, and my appreciation for the group of people who are supporting her throughout her illness.

The KRG running team subsequently decided to direct their $16,500 for the ING Ottawa Marathon to Lindas tribute, and further donations have brought the fund to more than $20,000.

An evening of courage, hope and harmony
The annual WICC gala dinner, a fundraising staple for the organization, will be held this year at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.

Spirited by an incredible volunteer group, this gala is always the highlight of the winter season, says gala co-chair and WICC board member Michael Butler of Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering and Accounting. Both WICC and its industry supporters have come a long way together from the first dinner in 1997, with fewer than 200 people in attendance. This year, we hope once again to sell out this 650-person event.

This years theme is Zen Gardenan evening of courage, hope and harmony.

Our theme reflects the atmosphere we hope to create, but it is also a philosophy of how many people approach their diagnosisfinding hope and courage during the most difficult times and learning to find harmony within themselves and with othersnot learning to live with cancer, but learning to live, says past gala chair and WICC board member Marilyn Horrick of Chubb Insurance Company.

Planning for the future
WICC recently announced that it will be organizing insurance industry teams to participate in the CCSs Relay For Life in the summer. This Canada-wide community-based event involves teams who participate in an overnight non-competitive relay, taking turns walking, running or strolling around a track. Teams consist of 10 to 12 people each, representing corporations, communities, families and friends. According to Lesley Ring of the CCS, the relay raised more than $50 million in Canada in 2008.

This is a global movement held in 20 countries around the world, says Newman. In 2009, the Ontario Relay For Life will be held in 110 communities, with approximately 65,000 participants, 11,000 cancer survivors and 11,000 volunteers.

WICC hopes to put 50 insurance industry teams together, but Newman thinks twice that number will likely participate.

Were recommending pledges of $100 each, so we hope to raise at least $50,000, she says.

The relays take place across the country starting in April and going until September, with the bulk of the events held in June. Insurance industry participants will be able to register on the WICC websitewww.wicc.ca.

The relay is just one of the initiatives promoted in WICCs new e-newsletter. The first edition, published in late November of 2008, also included links to WICCs 2009 gala dinner, information about the WICC Tribute program, news about achievements, and tips on implementing fundraisers such as Change for Change. In this simple program, specially marked boxes are placed in prominent locations in workplaces, and employees are encouraged to donate their spare change. In 2008, these boxes raised $10,000; the goal for 2009 is $20,000.

The WICC e-newsletter is a user-friendly and cost-effective way to get the word out about WICCs many endeavours, according to Horrick. The organization is actively looking for new subscribers as well as new volunteers.

To subscribe to WICCs e-newsletter, click on the e-newsletter tab at the top right of WICCs website, www.wicc.ca. To view the first edition, click on the link to e-newsletter archives.

Were very appreciative that so many people and organizations have become involved with WICC over the years, says Newman. The industry as a whole has really pulled together, and we have been able to raise both an astounding amount of money and awareness to help fight against a disease that has affected us all in some way.