Elephant Insurance providing $61,500 to organizations that serve underrepresented communities

Elephant Insurance Tuesday announced the second round of recipients for its Helping Herd initiative, through which the company is donating $300,000 to organizations and programs that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or that are providing COVID-19 relief to their communities.

The second round of Elephant employee-driven COVID-relief donations focused on nonprofits that positively impact diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and serve underrepresented parts of the community. The first group of recipients, announced in August, were focused on mental health, with $64,500 being distributed among a number of different organizations.

“The Elephant team is so proud to offer this opportunity to organizations focused on diversity, equity and inclusion that have been impacted by the pandemic,” said Alberto Schiavon, Elephant CEO. “Elephant is grateful we can provide extra support to these organizations with the help of our parent company Admiral Group.”

Elephant team members were involved in the Helping Herd selection process, either by nominating deserving groups by survey or participating in the voting process to finalize the recipients. There will be four rounds of donations, with each round focusing on a specific area to include: mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion, physical health, or community health. The physical health and community health funds will be distributed in the coming months.

For the second round of Helping Herd, the Better Housing Coalition and Boys and Girls Club received the most votes and received the largest donation amounts. The full list of second round recipients and donations includes:

· Arc of Virginia - $4,000
· Army Scholarship Foundation - $2,500
· Better Housing Coalition - $10,000
· Birth in Color - $2,500
· Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond - $10,000
· Celebrate! RVA - $5,000
· Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT) - $2,500
· Elephant House Foundation - $7,500
· Girls for a Change - $5,000
· Health Brigade - $7,500
· Project Homes - $5,000

“COVID challenged every aspect of our programming, but also gave us an opportunity to engage with our members and families more deeply than ever,” said Todd McFarlane, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond. “Funds that support our general operating expenses give us the flexibility to assist our families in unique and individualized ways. We are so grateful to be included in Elephant’s Helping Herd generosity.”

"We are grateful to have been selected as a recipient of a Helping Herd grant! These funds will be so impactful in providing joy to children across Richmond on their birthdays--we are fierce believers in the power of celebration,” said Julia Warren Mattingly, found and Executive Director of Celebrate RVA. “It's an honor to work alongside Elephant to accomplish that mission."

Through the Helping Herd, Elephant’s aim is to reach at least 50 organizations or programs with the funds, with gifts ranging in size from $2,000 to $20,000. A large portion of the funds are anticipated to be distributed in Virginia, where Elephant is headquartered, but Helping Herd funds will also go to organizations in other states where Elephant services are offered, including Texas.

The program was made possible by Elephant’s parent company, Admiral Group.