September 10, 2008/For Immediate Release                                                                             
Release No. 07-08

NAPSLO, members raise over  $40,000 for Fire Foundation

NAPSLO and its members raised more than $40,000 for the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation as part of a convention legacy city project. More than 3,200 attendees from NAPSLO member firms will be attending the 2008 NAPSLO Annual Convention at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego from September 10-13 and the Association has been working on a fund raising project for San Diego. 

Overall NAPSLO members donations total more than $35,000, NAPSLO added $5,000, and additional contributions are being accepted during the convention, bringing the total to more than $40,000. A check will be presented to the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation on Saturday, September 13 during programs.

“Last year NAPSLO coordinated a volunteer project with the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity following the convention and we wanted to follow up that effort with a project for this year,” convention chair and NAPSLO Vice President John Wood. “The San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation plays an important role in this city and we wanted to assist their efforts. We are very pleased to see that nearly $40,000 has been raised.”

NAPSLO originally planned a volunteer work outing with the Fire Department but with the wild fires continuing in the California the Association switched to a fund raising project with NAPSLO matching up to the first $5,000 of contributions. A number of NAPSLO members contributed to the project, including $20,000 from the Fireman’s Fund Heritage program on behalf of two of their agents.

Founded in 1863 with a mission to support the fire service, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company awards grants each year to fire departments to support firefighters for safer communities. Since the Fireman Fund Heritage^® program was launched in 2004, more than $19 million in grants for needed equipment, training and community education programs has been awarded.

Other significant contributions from NAPSLO members to the fund raising project included $2,500 each from the Markel Corporation, RLI, and Scottsdale Insurance Co., and $1,000 from the AmWins Group and Swiss Re.

“We are please to see all the contributions from NAPSLO members and believe this project will have a lasting influence on the city,” said Mr. Wood.

BACKGROUND
NAPSLO is a national trade association representing the surplus lines insurance industry.  Surplus lines is a specialized segment of the insurance business that is also referred to as non-admitted, specialty and/or excess lines.  Risks are placed with the surplus lines market when they cannot be placed in the admitted/licensed market. NAPSLO represents surplus lines insurance agents/brokers and surplus lines insurance companies.  NAPSLO has over 1,600 member offices in the United States, Canada, Germany, and England.