Awards and Compliments

Achievements in affordable housing honored with award
Institute wins Cincinnati Civic 2000 Award for significant leadership in housing field.
Ronald C. Hickson had reason to brush his pearly whites extra hard in mid-May. Light bulbs flashed as a proud Hickson accepted the Civic 2000 Award for the Urban Insurance Partners Institute. 

The institute received the prestigious honor from the Better Housing League of Greater Cincinnati for notable achievement in affordable housing.

“The Urban Insurance Partners Institute has demonstrated significant leadership and accomplishment in the housing field,” says Dot Christenson, executive director of the Better Housing League. “They’ve gone the extra step to make a difference.”

 The award is given annually to two recipients by the Cincinnati agency. The other honoree for 2000 is former three-term Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls.

“For the institute to be recognized by an organization that has received accolades at the federal, state and local levels is truly meaningful,” enthuses Hickson, urban sales and service center manager for Nationwide Insurance, which is a member of the institute. He was surrounded by community leaders during the ceremony, including Qualls, Ohio State Representative Catherine Barrett, and Bobbie Sterne, a former long-time city council member and mayor.

Upon accepting the award for UIPI, Hickson told the crowd Nationwide’s partnership with the institute is part of what his company is doing to reach out to urban markets. “We both look forward to working with you in the future,” he stated.

Hickson had another reason to feel exhilarated. He was appointed to the Better Housing League’s board of directors during the luncheon. “Making a difference in an urban area really makes me feel good to get up and go to work in the morning,” he says with a satisfied smile.

The Urban Insurance Partners Institute helped the Better Housing League provide homeownership and home buyer classes to 910 low to moderate income individuals last year. Member company volunteers presented advice about homeowners insurance during the ten “How to Buy a House” series. The institute donated over 400 smoke detectors to class members, fueling the popularity of the sessions.

“In the end we had so many in the classes we had to make the smoke detectors door prizes,” laughed Christenson.

The Better Housing League of Greater Cincinnati is an 84-year-old independent nonprofit United Way organization committed to securing safe, affordable housing for all citizens, primarily through homeownership.

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Community Comments Testify to Institute's* Effectiveness

"The events the foundation* sponsors put a human face on the insurance industry."
Greg Loughlin, Atlanta Community ToolBank
Atlanta, Georgia

"Very entertaining, well organized and well put together (insurance seminar). It represents the honesty of the companies. What better way to increase business than to have your company be involved."
Marlene Shaw, urban homeowner
Cincinnati, Ohio

"Southeast Neighborhood Development appreciates the support you have given to our community revitalization efforts. Special gifts like yours are an investment in the social and economic future of Greater Fountain Square."
William Taft, Southeast Neighborhood Development Corporation
Indianapolis, Indiana

"We found your presentation helpful and informative. We firmly believe that insurance education is an important part of our goal to promote homeownership and revitalize the South Chicago community." 
Dan Chico, South Chicago Neighborhood Housing Collaboration
Chicago, Illinois

"Just a quick note to say thanks for everything. Everyone in the neighborhood is talking about the seniors' project. It was on the 6 p.m. news."
Perry Thorton, president, Adair Park Community Association 
Atlanta, Georgia

"It really makes me feel good that the foundation* has dedicated people like that. I'm very pleased there's a (revitalization) program like this." 
Celina Porter, urban homeowner
Wichita, Kansas

"I want to thank you for braving the heat ... to help our neighbors in Peoplestown. I am certain that the residents of Peoplestown are greatly thankful for your help."
John W. Oxendine, Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner
Atlanta, Georgia

"They (the volunteers) worked really hard. They were very, very nice people."
Ilka LaPeer, Brightmoor Concerned Citizens
Detroit, Michigan

"We value your participation and hope that you will continue to support the Fannie Mae Foundation efforts to increase homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods in Atlanta."
Stacey Davis, president/CEO, Fannie Mae Foundation
Washington, DC

"Your dedication to this program (Homeownership Counseling) has touched the lives of many future homeowners. By sharing your time and experience, you have ... improved their chances of homeownership."
Peggy Morton, Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 

"Thank you for your recent contribution to assist new home buyers to be knowledgeable and competent to make sound decisions regarding their first home purchase."
Dot Christenson, Better Housing League of Greater Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

"It (homeowners insurance class) gave about an air of trust, like people care."
Dawn Thomas-Nealy, urban homeowner
Atlanta, Georgia

"The speakers just gave us a really positive aspect of insurance and how it was going to benefit us in the long run."
Aloysius De'Mon Davis, prospective homeowner
Kansas City, Kansas

"When something like this (revitalization) comes along, it's such a blessing. It makes not only a visual statement to the bad influences in the area, it also makes more people come out and stand proud and say this is not going to be tolerated."
Terry Dockery, urban homeowner
Indianapolis, Indiana

"The tools are instruments of hope in a hostile world. They are invaluable. People have become increasingly interested in helping themselves." (tool lending library)
Rev. Lynn Lamberty, University United Methodist Church
Kansas City, Kansas

"I don't know what we would have done if the Urban Insurance Partners Foundation* hadn't been there to help." (senior revitalization project)
Ruth Bailey, CICOA The Access Network
Indianapolis, Indiana

"It has boosted the morale tremendously for people to come out and see that you all (the institute) are helping us."
Demetrius Friend, Edbrooke Block Club
Chicago, Illinois

*The institute was formerly known as the Urban Insurance Partners Foundation. The name was changed in spring 2000 to better describe the role of the organization in the urban marketplace.

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Companies Praise Institute Activities 

"The UIPI workshop program was full of worthwhile topics and the participants were well prepared. The good turnout provided a great opportunity for meeting new insurance professionals and networking."
Douglas Jensen
Illinois Fair Plan

"The workshop topics were timely and the sessions informative. The setting was also fun and kept the meetings from feeling stiff."
Christina Webber
The Contributionship Companies

"We were very impressed with the UIPI seminar, especially the regulatory sessions."
Janet Patrick
Illinois Insurance Association

"The institute's urban affairs workshop enabled us to come up with some interesting new ideas that we hope to develop in the near future."
Earnie Hines
American Skyline Insurance Company

“What we’ve seen in the last year is very exciting. The breadth of cities, companies and organizations associated with the institute is steadily expanding, which we find impressive.”
Sue Johnson
GeneralCologne Re 

“The more we saw of how the institute was working and the mission that the institute had, we just felt that it was important to us also, that we really needed to join the institute.”
Harold Dorssom
Marysville Mutual Insurance Company

“Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company recognizes the impact an association such as the Urban Insurance Partners Institute can have in the urban market. One of the reasons we decided to join the institute is to learn more about providing insurance in urban markets and what those needs are.”
Linda Goff
Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (Kentucky)

“Urban leaders have discovered that caring and committed people are behind the stereotype of the cold and uncaring insurance company. And, insurance company personnel have become personally acquainted with the problems of urban communities.”
Scott Kehne
Farmers Mutual of Tennessee

“There is an absolute understanding by the institute of its mandate and who it’s going to work with and for--that is the underserved areas.”
Paul Quinn
Farmers Insurance Group

“The biggest problem we have in relation to homeowners insurance is educating the public. The institute can help us in this regard.”
Christina Webber
The Philadelphia Contributionship Companies

“Chicago Residents were impressed with the fact that people would come from two other states (Indiana and Ohio) to help them beautify their neighborhood. It says to them that people do care and that things can change.”
Irene Sewer
Grange Mutual Casualty Company

“The institute is a good opportunity for us to become aware of where the underserved areas of the country are and to become involved with some of the neighborhood groups in providing insurance.”
Ron Rathbun
American National Property and Casualty Companies

“This was a great opportunity for employees, particularly the underwriting department, to help out and at the same time assist homeowners improve their properties. It helps everyone understand some of the struggles homeowners face in regard to maintaining their properties and what efforts are available to help them.” (Wichita revitalization project) 
Bruce White
Alliance Insurance Companies

“It really made an impression. We have heard since then how some of the neighbors saw how we were helping and started coming out and sprucing up their homes and yards. It becomes contagious.” (Kansas City, Kansas, urban revitalization)
Garry Dial
Farmers Insurance Group

“Projects like this bring greater understanding not only for the recipient of the services, but also enables us as employees in the insurance industry to be aware of conditions and obstacles that people are facing in cities.” (Indianapolis revitalization)
Terence Gay
National Independent Statistical Service (NISS)

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Homeowners Insurance Training Classes

Barb Williams, Farmers Insurance Group agent, Indianapolis
“These homeowners insurance education classes are the best part of what I do. I can talk to 30 people once a month, and reach more people. I know I’m going to help them achieve something they’ve worked hard for. That’s very personally rewarding for me.”

“It’s extremely important for people to be more aware of insurance, including replacement costs, additional discounts, and liability issues. If you haven’t owned a home you don’t know that. This is an excellent way to give back to the community.”

“The insurance classes, which are industry wide, are from an educational standpoint. One family didn’t think they had a prayer of getting a house. It gave me a great sense of satisfaction to be a part of that. I helped them get the homeowners insurance they needed. I also sold them life insurance. They assumed it was so expensive they never thought they could afford it. Now they have homeowners insurance and life insurance, neither of which they thought they could have in their life.”

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