WICC Mardi Gras in Toronto

WICC Ontario held its 12th annual gala dinner on March 25, 2008 at The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. This dinner has become one of the key fundraising events for WICC and has grown tremendously since its inception over 12 years ago. WICC and its industry supporters have come a long way together from the first dinner in the spring of 1997, which had an attendance of less than 200 people. Once again this year the dinner gala was sold out with nearly 650 in attendance.

WICC Dinner Co-Chair and the evening’s emcee, Marilyn Horrick, extended a great WICC appreciation to all of the ‘simply outstanding’ dinner volunteers, sponsors, contributors, prize and auction item donors, WICC National Sponsors, event producers and all attendees for their unwavering support and commitment in the effort to mobilize the Insurance Industry in the fight against cancer.

$325,000 PRESENTED TO CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY -OVER $2.8 MILLION RAISED TO-DATE

WICC co-chairs Carolyn Horan and Jean Faulkner presented Peter Goodhand, president of the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario

Division with the largest cheque ever from WICC for $325,000!

This sum brought the total raised by WICC Ontario to more than $2.8 million since its inception in 1996 and one step closer to WICC Ontario’s goal of $3.0 million dollars raised by the end of 2008!”

THE GOLD FLAME AWARDS

Over the course of the year, WICC has many companies and individuals that donate in excess of $5,000 per year,

in fact some in excess of $50,000. WICC is grateful to every one of these companies and individuals. The Gold Flame Award recognizes some of the people and companies who made substantial contributions

“Mardi Gras in Toronto”

to WICC either financially donating in excess of $5,000 or by donating extensively of their time and energy – above and beyond the average call.

This year there were 3 recipients of the Gold Flame Award:

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR

In 2007, Enterprise Rent-a-Car decided to direct the donations from their Annual Golf Tournament to WICC. They raised over $12,000 from this tournament. They have recently announced the 2008 tournament will also be in WICC’s honour. Accepting the Gold Flame award on behalf of Enterprise Rent-a- Car was Alessandro Orlotti, Group Sales & Marketing Manager.

GUY CARPENTER CANADA

In 2007, Guy Carpenter hosted a Monte Carlo Casino Night fundraiser. This event raised $17,600 which was donated to WICC. Guy Carpenter has identified WICC as the charity of choice for the 2008 Casino Night. Accepting the Gold Flame award on behalf of Guy Carpenter was President & CEO Don Callahan.

SERVICEMASTER OF CANADA

ServiceMaster of Canada began a series of seminars to educate Canadian brokers on property restoration related claims topics, charging a nominal fee in support of WICC. In 2007, ServiceMaster awarded WICC with a cheque in the amount of $15,000. Accepting the Gold Flame award on behalf of ServiceMaster Canada was Mary Ann Anderson, National Insurance Relations Manager.

THE LEW DUNN MEMORIAL AWARD

The Lew Dunn Memorial Award is in memory of Lew Dunn, who was President of the former CGU Group Canada, now Aviva Canada, until he lost his battle with cancer in 1999. The award in his honour is presented to the volunteer or company demonstrating significant initiative in raising funds and/or awareness for WICC — in essence, the WICC ‘volunteer of the year’.

NANCY THORNE

Nancy Thorne is a broker in New Brunswick and former cancer survivor. In 2003, Nancy and her colleagues organized a Fun Night which began as a Pub Night. Since then, this has become an annual community event in Saint John, NB. WICC is grateful to Nancy and her volunteers who have extended the reach of WICC into the New Brunswick community and raised $13,108 in 2007 and almost $45,000 since 2003! Nancy was unable to attend the dinner event but she commented “that everyone has such a great time the Fun Night just keeps getting bigger and better every year. It has now become a competition to see who can raise the most money. We are proud to support this wonderful organization.”

LINDA WAHRER

Linda Wahrer (WICC Board of Directors -past Co-Chair 2000-2007) started her work with WICC at its inception12yearsagoandhasfunctionedastheWICC Board Co-Chair forthepast7years. Shechairedthe WICC Golf Tournament and was instrumental in the incorporation of the WICC Board of Directors and its by-laws. In addition, Linda’s collaborative and results-oriented style has helped to define and achieve some of WICC’s loftiest goals. Linda has truly been an outstanding WICC ambassador whose charisma, passion and dedication to WICC have been unparalleled. Linda Wahrer’s value to WICC -priceless. Sandy Dunn, in honour of her late husband Lew, presented the award to Wahrer.

THE WICC HALL OF FLAME

WICC’s next and final award, the Hall of Flame, was created in 2005 to recognize the outstanding success of the ‘Crawford Cares’ program. This award is presented to an organization whose level of financial contribution to WICC is significant, whose employees and/or community are significantly engaged in raising awareness and fundraising and whose commitment of contributions is made over several years. This year’s winner will join our two previous winners. Firstly, Crawford & Company (Canada) whose Crawford Cares program has raised over $200,000 since inception 5 years ago. Secondly, Bill Blakeney who introduced WICC to the likes of Crawford, the Honourable Order of the Blue Goose, Fred DeFrancesco as well as the Accidental Benefits -all of which have donated significant amounts of time and money to WICC!

ING CANADA INC. -WICC’S 3RD ‘HALL OF FLAME’ INDUCTEE In May 2005, ING Canada was the title sponsor for the Ottawa Marathon. Imagine more than 27,000 people of all ages, generations, able-bodied, disabled and from various countries gathered to partake in the ING Ottawa marathon! This 3-day event was a sea of activity with numerous events — 2K, 5K, 10K, Marathon and Full Marathon events that could be walked, ran or in-line skated. There was something for everyone! ING launched a challenge to their branch offices in Ontario. Approx 600 ING employees & family members participated, and collected pledges of just over $20,000. ING is once again sponsoring the 2008 event, and once again has selected WICC as its charity. Total contributions from the ING Ottawa Marathon since 2005 are $143,138!

ING Canada was presented with a Gold Flame award in 2005, and awarded the Lew Dunn award in 2007. Accepting the Hall of Flame award on behalf of ING Canada was Tracey Laughlin, Regional Vice President, ING Insurance Company of Canada (and WICC Ontario Board Member) accompanied by Claude Dussault, Chairman of the Board, ING Canada Inc..

CLAUDE DUSSAULT -MADE “HONORARY CHAIR OF WICC”

WICC also announced that Claude Dussault, Chairman of the Board, ING Canada Inc. was made an Honorary Chair of WICC.