ROUGH NOTES PRESENTS
Community Service Award

By Bob Bloss

Based on an overwhelming number of nominations received for The Rough Notes Company's annual Community Service Award, it is clear that insurance professionals gladly go that extra mile for their neighbors who deserve a caring share of special attention.

Harry Swimmer, founder of Charlotte, North Carolina's Swimmer Insurance Agency, Inc., is the winner of this year's Community Service accolade for his devotion to handicapped youngsters. The distinctive award was presented during ceremonies last month in Indianapolis.

Honorable Mention trophies were awarded to The Hoffman Brown Company, agent Stephen P. Heinen, the Oswald Trippe and Company agency, and the agent team of James Colangelo and Richard N. Morello.

"Each year," said Robert N. Kretzmer, executive director of Rough Notes' community service program, "selecting winners becomes more and more difficult. But that pleases us because it means our industry continues to produce insurance professionals who recognize the importance--and satisfaction--of donating time, effort, and resources for people in need."

Harry Swimmer, fifth winner of Rough Notes' annual Community Service Award, exemplifies that kind of humanitarianism. He's operated an insurance agency for more than a half-century. But the story behind his trophy began much more recently. That's ... When Harry Met Stacey.

When Harry Met Stacey

"Our industry continues to produce insurance professionals who recognize the importance ... of donating time, effort, and resources for people in need."

--Robert N. Kretzmer, Executive Director, Rough Notes' Community Service Award

It was 1993. Harry and Marilyn Swimmer hosted an engagement party at their spacious home near Charlotte. Among the guests were young Stacey Marx's grandparents. During casual conversation, they mentioned their seven-year-old granddaughter. She had been born with cerebral palsy.

Harry Swimmer had an idea. It seemed a long shot, but why not arrange for Stacey to visit the Swimmer farm and introduce her to the horses that Harry and Marilyn breed and enter in competitions? Soon Harry Swimmer and Stacey Marx did, indeed, meet. Stacey was driven to the farm and then was lifted onto a horse by Harry. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship--and the start of a remarkable therapeutic venture that now involves men, women and mostly youngsters.

Intrigued by the youngster's warm reaction, Harry thought she might benefit from his help. He began to research Hippotherapy (horseback riding therapy). Harry learned that his alma mater, Penn State, offered Hippotherapy courses. He enrolled, was fascinated by his findings, and returned to Carolina to build an indoor arena for horseback riding therapy. Over the past 10 years, the indoor arena has become a busy centerfor nearly 100 children and adults with various physical and mental challenges.

Misty Meadows is the name of the Swimmers' farmland estate, and the young people who engage in therapeutic horse riding there are proudly known as Misty Meadows Mitey Riders.

A large percentage of Harry's time is now spent with the Mitey Riders. Harry, a native Pennsylvanian, moved to Charlotte after graduation from Penn State University in 1951. As a boy he'd been exposed to the insurance industry at his father's agency. In 1953 Harry founded Swimmer Insurance Agency, Inc., which grew rapidly. Harry remains an active owner but has transferred much of the day-to-day operation to his son, David.

Students at Misty Meadows pay no tuition. The operation is supported by the Swimmer Family Foundation with donations from businesses, individuals and an annual golf outing. Nearly 20 horses are available for Mitey Riders. The annual budget, now roughly $200,000, is earmarked for horses' food, equipment, maintenance, insurance, and salary for two full-time instructors. More than 100 persons are part-time volunteers.

"The Mitey Riders program grew far beyond our original expectations," says Harry. "I wasn't interested in publicity back then. In fact, I expected we'd be just a small therapeutic center. But when we see the spectacular help our program can give to the students, we're amazed with what can be done. So many of our riders are quadriplegics. And all of a sudden they ride horses. The rhythmic gait of horses mimics that of humans. Our riders, despite their physical limitations, pick up on the similarities and find that their bodies just naturally go along with the movement of the horse."

Bob Bird, executive vice president of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, nominated Harry Swimmer for Rough Notes' Community Service Award. "It was an honor to nominate Harry," he says. "I learned that his enthusiasm and good works are a sense of pride for his employees at the agency. They truly buy into what he's done for the handicapped. He's a good example of what insurance people can do in their communities. Harry's story inspires me to stress community service to young people entering our business."

Harry's efforts are not confined to the successful Mitey Riders program. With a modest grin he admits ". . . I'm often referred to as The Charlotte Fund-raiser." Among his philanthropic and civic activities are membership and fund-raising roles with the Jewish Community Center and Temple Israel Synagogue, First Citizens Bank, and thepast presidency of Charlotte area IndependentInsurance Agents.

When Harry studied therapeutic horseback riding's positive potentials, he learned of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. He immediately became active in this governing and accrediting body and is currently a national vice president. The Swimmers' property is one of about 600 riding centers--and one of the most prominent--in the United States.

Still chairman of the board at Swimmer Insurance Agency and firmly active with several key accounts he's shepherded over the years, Harry talks far more about Mitey Riders than of his notable insurance business achievements.

"A decade ago," he recalls, "when we began with the Mitey Riders concept, we were confident that its potential made sense. Then, when I'd see Stacey Marx's face light up whenever she came to the center and saw the horses, we knew for certain that we made the right decision. Even though I'm getting older now, this is something I love to do."

The Rough Notes Company is proud to aim its Community Service Award spotlight on Harry Swimmer, an extraordinary example of an insurance professional who cheerfully focuses on philanthropy. In recognition of his contributions, The Rough Notes Company issued a $5,000 check to the Swimmer Family Foundation and presented the specially sculpted winner's trophy at the awards dinner in March.

James Colangelo and Richard N. Morello--Children of these colleagues at ADP Statewide Insurance Agencies, Inc., of Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, were cancer fatalities. Christopher Colangelo succumbed to neuroblastoma at age 12; Kristine Morello-Wiatrak, 27, suffered from Ewing's sarcoma which usually strikes youngsters.

To memorialize their son, James and Andrea Colangelo started the Christopher Colangelo Home Care Fund which evolved into Family Reach Foundation after the Morello family joined in.

A nonprofit organization supporting families battling pediatric cancer, Family Reach recently helped pay rent and parking costs for parents traveling long distances for hospital visits; delivered a cash donation to a family whose young father died of cancer; frequently assists with mortgage payments and phone bills; and covered costs of oxygen, ambulance service and medication that allowed a young Caribbean native to fly home for her final days.

Family Reach identifies needy recipients through its association with Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, St. Barnabas Cancer Center, and Robert Wood Johnson medical facilities.

The foundation conducts several fund-raising programs annually. Its golf tournament attracts nearly 150 players. "At every special event," says Richard N. Morello, "we invite pediatric cancer victims' family members to describe the good works our donors' contributions cover."

Donna Cunningham, president of ADP Statewide Insurance, firmly backs the efforts of Morello and Colangelo. "I cannot think of a better cause to support than partnering with Family Reach to help families fight cancer."

"When it was clear that we needed to expand and improve facilities," says Challenged Child and Friends Executive Director Cathy Drerup, "we called on Steve. We knew he had the skills and commitment to lead over a long period of time and to meet financial goals."

Steve dove in immediately. "This is the southeast's top early intervention center for children afflicted with numerous types of physical and mental disorders," he notes. "Cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome, hearing and speech impairments, and so forth. We needed $150,000 quickly to expand at a sizeable adjacent property that was donated to us."

Three years later, in 2000, a state-of-the-art facility was completed. The $150,000 was seed money for the major $1.7 million project. Steve's efforts were instrumental in the successfully completed venture, but he shrugs off his own role. "Show people some real progress, and they're glad to chip in. Kind of like that ball diamond in 'Field of Dreams.' If you build it they will come!"

"Steve deserves the lion's share of credit here," said Drerup. "His outreach attracts people whose talents can meet the task at hand with financial assistance or in-kind contributions. He's a leader who's spent a great deal of time around the children here and, therefore, can express the Center's needs so well. In effect, Steve Heinen is our children's advocate."

Steve Brown, Hoffman Brown president, says: "We are proud and privileged to do this. It provides our people with a sense of accomplishment. We invite our employees to select a charity of their choice. Food packages are then presented to designated recipients in the name of the employee. Giving becomes a family experience. Kids can learn from parents how valuable giving can be."

Since 2001, HBC Feeds' primary recipient is Los Angeles Family Housing (LAFH) which oversees 14,000 homeless and low-income families. LAFH provides emergency, transitional and permanent housing, and myriad supportive social services throughout Greater Los Angeles.

Angela Bolton, LAFH's associate director of development, acknowledges that HBC Feeds' contributions are vital in supplementing the foundation's annual food budget.

This month, the LAFH grounds will serve as the staging area for packing boxes of food that will have been delivered and donated by food suppliers recruited by HBC Feeds. According to Marianne Evans, Hoffman Brown claims manager who helps coordinate the HBC Feeds program, Steve Brown firmly endorses this community project. "With sleeves rolled up, he'll be right in the midst of the action."

Oswald Trippe takes community service to heart. More than 50 charities benefit directly from its corporate philanthropy. A major beneficiary is the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Beyond that, OTC has a Community Service Award program for its own 125-plus employees.

"There are so many worthwhile causes in our area," says OTC President John Pollock. "We believe our company should have an impact in our community. So we encourage our staff to designate and support a charity of their choice. About 200 organizations benefit from our employees' efforts. Every year, at our holiday party, we honor one of our sales associates and one support group member as winners of that year's OTC Community Service awards. The employee receives a $500 bonus; his or her charity is also the recipient of a $500 donation from Oswald Trippe.

"From the agency's beginning, Gary Trippe and his wife, Gay, knew that focusing on insurance needs was just a small part of what the business needed. Giving time and attention to the community OTC serves is equally important."

This month, for the fourth successive year, OTC is the presenting sponsor of the Ft. Myers region's Relay for Life, an 18-hour overnight special event. Team members, many of whom are cancer survivors, succeed each other in relay fashion around a regulation-size running track. Oswald Trippe annually enters a team of its own employees. Over the years OTC will have contributed more than $60,000 to this American Cancer Society fundraiser.

Bob Bloss is a freelance writer based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.