Arbella Introduces New Employee Giving Program

QUINCY, MA--(Marketwire - Jun 29, 2011) - The Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation ("Arbella") is proud to announce a new initiative designed to support the charitable giving of Arbella employees. The Employee Giving Program provides all employees with the opportunity to personally present a check in the amount of $1,000 to their favorite charity.

"At Arbella, we strive to create an environment where employees can devote time to giving back to charities which are important to them," said John Donohue, chairman, president and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group and chairman and president of the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation. "Last year, our employees volunteered almost 2,000 hours of their time, taking part in more than 30 charity events and raising more than $18,000 for various causes. We are very proud of the contributions our employees are making in their communities and the Employee Giving Program is yet another way for us to help them make a difference."

To enter, employees select a charity and explain their personal involvement and why the cause is meaningful to them. Winners are chosen by lottery twice a year and selections are not based on which charity is considered most deserving.

Qualified charities include 501 (c)(3) organizations, or nonprofit governmental agencies under public control (i.e. schools and libraries) which address a specific community need and/or provide direct services to people in need.

The first Employee Giving Program drawing was held May 11. Winners included:

• JoAnne O'Connell, North Providence, RI: $1,000 donation to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in Providence, RI.

• Sean Quigley, Little Compton, RI: $1,000 donation to the Katie Brown Educational Program, based in Fall River, Mass., which teaches bullying prevention and relationship violence prevention to students in grades 5-12.

• Ellen Sickler, Amherst, NH: $1,000 donation to the Pan Mass Challenge, a fundraising bike-a-thon to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The donation will be in support of Sickler's husband and son, who are participating in the ride.

"With this program, Arbella is affirming its commitment to its employees," Quigley notes. "It is truly humbling to see -- every week it seems -- Arbella giving money, time and effort to so many organizations helping those who need it, and then on top of that, to turn to its employees and ask 'Where do you think we should help?' Very cool."

Arbella has long been committed to corporate citizenship as an integral part of its service to the community. The company is dedicated to supporting charitable organizations that work so hard to positively impact the lives of those around them. Last year, the company donated more than $1.6 million to not-for-profit organizations throughout New England.

About the Arbella Insurance Group and the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation

Established in 1988, the Arbella Insurance Group (www.arbella.com) is a company with more than $600M in revenue with approximately $1B in assets, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Arbella is a customer-focused regional property and casualty insurance company, providing personal and business insurance in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and business insurance in Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Arbella Insurance Group founded the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation in 2004. The mission of the Foundation is to engage in activities and to support not-for-profit organizations that have a significant positive impact on the people and communities served by Arbella.