Submitted by Washington Healthcare Access Alliance

Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance announce a $10,000 donation to Washington Healthcare Access Alliance (WHAA) – nominated by Steven Colson of HUB International – as part of an Emergency Community Support Grant to help independent insurance agents give back to their local community during the COVID-19 crisis. The donation will go directly to Washington Healthcare Access Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting the free and charitable clinics of Washington State through professional networks, advocacy and education.

“My team and I have recognized the hard work and dedication performed by Washington Healthcare Access Alliance during this pandemic and we are incredibly thankful for Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance for providing extra funds to help the community when we need it most,” said Steven Colson with HUB International. “Washington Healthcare Access Alliance has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and the $10,000 donation will help them continue to make a difference to the community they serve.”

Washington Healthcare Access Alliance
Photo courtesy: Washington Healthcare Access Alliance

Since the beginning of the pandemic, WHAA has worked with partners across the state to recruit and engage healthcare volunteers in efforts related to COVID-19 response, including the vital work of Washington’s free and charitable clinics. Free clinics meet the ongoing healthcare needs of under- and uninsured patients before those needs escalate to urgent care. This reduces unnecessary emergency room visits and frees up hospital capacity. While many clinics supported by WHAA are seeing an influx of patients, they are also experiencing a decrease in volunteer staff, as well as opportunities to secure financial support, such as through in-person fundraising events. Clinics are also challenged to obtain scarce but necessary personal protective equipment, in order to remain operational. With increasing numbers of uninsured residents in Washington losing their employer-sponsored healthcare coverage, free clinic patient volume will go up. Washington’s free and charitable clinics need help now more than ever.

WHAA will use the $10,000 grant for operational expenses and programming to support Washington’s free and charitable clinics, to enable continued care for patients who are the most in need.

“The goal of the Emergency Community Support Grants is to help our independent agents make an immediate impact during this critical time in the local communities where they live and work,” said Alexis Holzer, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance Independent Agent Giving Program Manager.

Interested individuals across Washington can get involved and give back by volunteering at their local free and charitable clinic, of which there are more than 100 in Washington. In addition to healthcare professionals providing care to patients, the organizations are looking for volunteers who have expertise in other areas from operating a regular business facility, to IT, to language interpretation, to governance and board leadership. Free clinic work is rewarding and contributive. For more information or to donate, visit https://www.wahealthcareaccessalliance.org/.

Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance have a rich history in supporting local and national causes on the corporate level with the Liberty Mutual Foundation, Safeco Foundation, the employee involvement program Liberty Torchbearers, as well as through its Independent Agent Giving programs. In addition to $1 million for the emergency community support grants, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance already committed to invest $375,000 into local nonprofits in 2020 through the Independent Agent Giving programs, Make More Happen and Change Agents.

For more information, visit www.agentgiving.com.

About Liberty Mutual Insurance

Liberty Mutual’s purpose is to help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. The promise we make to our customers throughout the world is to provide protection for the unexpected, delivered with care.

In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today we are the fifth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2018 gross written premium. We also rank 75th on the fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2018 revenue. We employ nearly 50,000 people in 30 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of small commercial insurance products and services through our independent agent partners, including business owner’s policy, comprehensive business package, inland marine, worker’s compensation and more.

About Safeco Insurance

In business since 1923, Safeco Insurance sells personal automobile, homeowners and specialty products through a network of more than 10,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. Safeco is a Liberty Mutual Insurance company.

You can learn more about us by visiting www.Libertymutualinsurance.com and www.Safeco.com.