Amica Press Releases

01.25.10

Amica executive connected to Haitian relief effort

Photo by Jim Will during his visit to Haiti in November 2009

LINCOLN, R.I. – A few months ago, Jim and Tessa Will of Cranston toured Port-au-Prince and the Central Plateau of Haiti. It was part of their work with World Vision, a humanitarian organization that provides aid to Haiti and about 100 other poor countries around the world.

They were stunned to hear about the recent earthquake that devastated much of the poverty-stricken island. "We pretty much have been glued to CNN 24/7 since we heard about it," said Jim Will, a senior assistant vice president in the claims department at Amica Mutual Insurance Co., with headquarters in Lincoln.

Will said he and his wife were relieved to hear that none of the 800 World Vision staff members working in Haiti, nor any of the villagers they'd met during their visit, were killed or injured as a result of the earthquake. But they couldn't help think of the more than 150,000 of others who did die, especially in the shattered capital of Port-au-Prince. In fact, one of the hotels they stayed in there is now being used as a field hospital.

So Will was especially pleased that his company, Amica Insurance, has been able to donate $50,000 to the American Red Cross, Rhode Island chapter, for its relief efforts in Haiti. Will serves on the board of directors for that chapter. "Amica is proud to be part of the relief efforts for Haitians who have been devastated by this tragedy," he said.

Bruce Rutter, CEO of the American Red Cross, Rhode Island chapter, said Amica "was one of the first" Rhode Island businesses to donate to the relief efforts, but he's sure "it will be one of many." He said the money will be used in part to get skilled volunteers to Haiti to help in the recovery efforts. It also will be used to provide medical supplies and to build tent cities to house some of the two million people left homeless by the disaster.

"Amica encourages employees to consider their own giving to this worthy cause," Will said. The company has pledged to match employee donations to the American Red Cross and other approved organizations by donating $1.50 for each $1 donated by an employee.

"Over the last few days, we've all watched the extraordinary amount of human suffering resulting from the Haitian earthquake," said Robert DiMuccio, chairman, president and CEO of Amica. "When the extent of this disaster is fully known, it will likely rank as one of the worst on record in the western hemisphere."

Will knows firsthand how ill-equipped Haiti is to deal with the devastation caused by the earthquake. "What you see on the news is very true," he observed. "It's a tragic story that's really close to us and it is great to see the United States and many other countries stepping up to help."

Jim and Tessa Will and their three daughters, Emma, 10, Hannah, 13, and Lauren, 15, have been involved with World Vision since the early 1990s, when they started by sponsoring a child. They now sponsor more children and donate, using Amica's matching gift program, to larger development projects that include improving water supplies, health care, food supplies and education. Tessa Will also volunteers as a regional child ambassador coordinator for World Vision, and she's made several presentations about the program to attract more support.

The Wills travelled to Haiti last November to see for themselves some of the work World Vision is accomplishing in the Central Plateau, including construction of a medical clinic and agricultural programs to teach people to grow their own food.

That's why Will hopes other Amica employees will help out the people of Haiti, too, not only now but also in the future. "Three months from now, you're not going to see it in the headlines," he said. "But World Vision is still going to have 800 employees there and thousands of supporters around the world. Once everybody else goes, they'll be the ones still there with other agencies committed to rebuilding and development for the poorest of the poor."