2020 Summer Newsletter

MEMBER COMPANIES GIVE BACK

Amidst all the sad and frightening news surrounding us,
there have been positive reports of hope, fearlessness, selflessness, innovation and so much more! 
We strive to support and promote the activities of the NEEBC community and ideally uplift each other in the process.  
Thank you to those members who have shared these examples of giving back and those who are giving back behind the scenes!
Thank you also to those who are working on the front line to help all of us!

 

In support of COVID-19 relief efforts, Cigna has contributed funding to local organizations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine that are helping community members in need with challenges during this health crisis such as food insecurity, social isolation, homelessness and virtual mental health services for veterans. Organizations receiving support include but are not limited to: HomeBase, Hope & Comfort, Community Servings, United Way of Greater Nashua, Feeding Chittenden, AgeWell.

 


Cigna employees are also volunteering virtually
to support youth going through health challenges 
by reading books to contribute to the Hope Library of the Message of Hope Foundation.

 

Fidelity Investments is proud to share their response to the pandemic by supporting their communities and employees. 

  • $88M+ in grants recommended by donors via Fidelity Charitable’s donor-advised fund program to provide relief to nonprofits during COVID-19 pandemic
  • 90K+ students and their families received meals from Feeding America partners supported by Fidelity Cares
  • 90% of Fidelity associates were enabled to work-from-home to help flatten the COVID-19 curve
  • 8,800 free meals provided to associates in Fidelity offices with new social distancing, cleaning and temperature screening protocols
  • 127K page views of Coronavirus Resource Center, which provides associates with the latest guidance, safety protocols and work from home tips

The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation has been very active in supporting non-profit organizations throughout New England with grant money to help their community efforts during the COVID-19 outbreak (over $3.5M). This article, which appears on their HaPi Guide content hub, was also featured in the Boston Globe (as part of a partnership initiative with the Globe) on the Foundation’s grant support throughout the region and the positive impact stories that came from the support.

Hooker & Holcombe NEEBC Update has proudly continued to their support of community events during these difficult times. Two of their many recent sponsorships include the Hartford Marathon Foundation UCONN Marathon virtual race which raised over $33,000 to benefit the UCONN Health COVID-19 Relief Fund, and renewal of a 3-year commitment to Connecticut Children’s annual fundraising gala. 

Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group has donated to a number of organizations including (organizations in green are outside of MA):

  • Beyond Soccer
  • Boston Children’s Hospital (Corporate Cup)
  • Budget Buddies
  • Community Giving Tree
  • Gleaner’s Food Bank
  • HAWC – Healing Abuse Working for Change (Virtual Walk Team)
  • JASA – Jewish Association for the Aged
  • LEO – Leading Through Empowerment Opportunities
  • Island Harvest Food Pantry
  • Long Island Cares - Harry Chapin Food Bank (Winthrop University Hospital)
  • Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund
  • NAACP (Legal Defense Fund)
  • Northeast Arc
  • South Valley FISH Food Pantry
  • Stoneham Boys & Girls Club
  • The Food Bank of NYC (Monomilk)
  • Union Gospel Mission Food Pantry
  • Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry (Beth Israel Lahey Health)
  • Wilmington Cares

Sentinel employees have also been giving back and supporting others in the following ways:

  • Made a significant gift ($2,000) to local food pantries in honor of their client Lahey (in lieu of buying food for their healthcare workers).
  • Donated masks to Community Giving Tree and HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change).
  • Participated in virtual team events like walks and road races not only to raise money but also to help keep employees in contact with one another. They recently finished 5th place in Boston Children’s Hospital’s virtual Corporate Cup and raised over $12,000 for the hospital.
  • They closed their offices and recognized “Juneteenth” with 75% of their associates donating a vacation day to provide philanthropic support for a number of local and national social justice organizations.
  • They also supported an employee’s daughter’s Girl Scout Troop by donating over 100 boxes of cookies to healthcare workers at a local hospital.

Spring Consulting also reports they've been giving back:

  • Donated to the Boston Food Bank in March to help combat food insecurity in the area heightened by the pandemic.
  • Launched an educational series to help employers navigate the different hurdles COVID-19 has presented. More info can be found here.

Wellness Workdays launched a “From Surviving to Thriving" program, which provides free tools and resources to help employers improve employee well-being during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. The new initiative, which focuses on employee engagement, communications and population health management, includes easily accessible and frequently updated resources such as checklists and case studies, complimentary webinars led by industry experts, thought leadership articles, and 90-day complimentary access to Wellness Workdays’ wellness portal.

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Over these past months of navigating the COVID-19 Crisis, NEEBC has been steadfast in its mission and commitment to support our members and the benefits community by providing timely, critical information, as well as emotional and professional support. 

For the former, we've pivoted to virtual programming and continuously post relevant content on our Benefits Blog and monthly News Bites.

For the latter, we've continued our Scholarship and Mentoring programs and started a Member Job Search Assistance page.  Please check it out and consider supporting the effort whether you are in between jobs or hiring.  We also offer deeply discounted memberships to people out of work or between jobs. For more information or to take advantage of these offers, email [email protected].

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