Amica Press Releases
05.12.09
Amica Insurance Sponsors Essay Contest
Students and Adults are invited to share their experiences
LINCOLN, RHODE ISLAND – How has hunger touched your life?
That's the question being posed by Amica Insurance, which is sponsoring an essay contest called the "Many Faces of Hunger" as part of a fundraising effort for Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island.
Students and adults are invited to share their experiences with hunger or helping others who are hungry, or to discuss ways to end the hunger crisis in America.
Winners will receive VIP treatment at Amica's Carnevale at WaterFire Providence this summer. In addition to other prizes, winners receive a rare opportunity to view WaterFire festivities from the elegant Thai River Boat as it parades along the WaterFire route and generous donations will be made in their names to Meals on Wheels.
"The goal of the contest is to raise awareness about hunger and about Meals on Wheels, which helps provide food for some of the most vulnerable members of our society -- the elderly and the disabled,” said Patti Genovese, communications project specialist for Amica.
Hunger is always an issue, Genovese noted. "But it's never been as bad as it is right now – especially given the current economic conditions. Agencies such as Meals on Wheels need our help more than ever."
And Amica, she said, is happy to help.
The company has been a sponsor of WaterFire Providence each of the past four years, during which it offers carnevale masks for $3 donations. The proceeds are divided between WaterFire Providence and a local charity, which this year will be Meals on Wheels.
"It's a perfect fit,"; Genovese said, noting that the $3 charge for masks is the same as the amount of money that Meals on Wheels asks people to contribute towards their meals. That's why this year's mask fundraiser will be called “Masks for Meals.”
The essay contest will feature two categories: One for students in Grades 6 to 12 and the other for adults over age 18. It's open to all residents of Southeastern New England, except employees of Amica and their immediate families.
All participants will be asked to write essays of no more than 500 words, discussing how hunger has touched their lives –whether a personal experience with hunger, or a volunteer experience of dealing with the issue, or a specific idea on how to address the growing problem of hunger in America.
The deadline is June 15, and winners will be contacted by July15. There will be two winners –one in each category. Each winner and a guest will receive VIP treatment at Amica's Carnevale at WaterFire Providence on Aug. 22, including a rare opportunity to view WaterFire activities from the elegant Thai River Boat, as well as an invitation to a reception at the Amica Tent. Winners also will receive framed essays and photos.
Amica also will make a $1,000 donation in the name of each of the winners to Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, and the essays will be posted on that agency's Web site.
For more information and an application for the contest, check the In Your Community page at amica.com.
Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the nation's oldest mutual insurer of automobiles, was founded in 1907. The company, with corporate headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is a national writer of automobile, homeowners, marine, and personal umbrella liability insurance. Life coverage is available through Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than 3,100 people in 39 offices across the country.
