Employee Votes Count in Donating $100,000 to Local Charities

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life) today announced that employees voted to give $100,000 to local charities. Four groups each received $25,000 and the pledge of volunteer hours from Allianz Life employees. The 2013 Allianz Life employee-elected charities are: the American Cancer Society, the Animal Humane Society, the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota, and HopeKids. The nonprofit organizations were selected by the more than 1,700 Allianz Life employees who could vote from a ballot of 25 nominations. Before voting, employees learned about the nominated charities during a 1-day charity fair that educated employees about their programs.

“It is an honor to see Allianz Life employees once again engage in local nonprofit organizations that make a difference in people’s lives”

“It is an honor to see Allianz Life employees once again engage in local nonprofit organizations that make a difference in people’s lives,” said Allianz Life President and CEO, Walter White. “Employees not only vote for charities they care about, but they also make a difference directly by volunteering their time. Allianz Life employees will participate in events supporting these organizations throughout the coming year.”

The Employee-Elected Charities initiative has been a unique aspect of the Allianz Life corporate giving strategy for more than 10 years. In addition to the company contributions and employee volunteer efforts, the four elected charities will have their name and logos displayed in the lobby of the Golden Valley headquarters. In order to be included on the nomination list, the charities needed to have 10 or more Allianz Life employees volunteer for them during the calendar year.

Allianz Life also provides each employee eight hours of paid time off annually to use to volunteer. Employees can use this time for any nonprofit organization that they wish to support. In 2012, more than 400 employees took advantage of their paid time off to volunteer in the community which brought more than 3,600 volunteer hours into the community.

While Allianz Life is part of a global financial services group, the company has a commitment to the communities in which its employees live and work. With the all of the employee volunteering efforts combined in 2012, employees contributed more than 12,000 hours helping others in the community, an equivalent of more than $256,320 in donations. In 2013, employees will participate in additional fundraising events for the elected charities.

American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem through research, education, advocacy, and service. In addition to the financial support given, employees will dedicate fundraising resources in 2013 to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in the fall. Funds from this event will go to the organization’s efforts of helping people with breast cancer today while striving to find cures to end the disease in the future.

Animal Humane Society
The Animal Humane Society provides programs and services in order to compassionately serve all stages of an animal’s life. In May 2013, Allianz Life employees will promote the annual Walk for Animals. Funds received will help the organization provide essentials for the animals brought to their shelters, coordinate their animal-assisted therapy programs, strengthen their educational outreach, and rescue animals from neglectful environments.

Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota
The Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota devotes itself to serving the needs of people with Down syndrome specifically in the Minnesota region and has 3,000 members. One of the 2013 events that Allianz Life employees will devote their volunteer efforts to is the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk that takes place each summer. This event raises awareness for friends and family members with Down syndrome.

HopeKids
HopeKids organizes events and activities that restore fun, excitement, and hope for children facing debilitating health issues. During the summer of 2013, Allianz Life employees will offer their volunteer efforts at the HopeKids festival. This event allows children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions and their families the chance to enjoy an activity-filled day with others going through the same experiences, supporting the message that hope is a powerful medicine.

About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2013, has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with 142,000 employees worldwide. More than 78 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz knowledge, global reach, and capital strength to help them make the most of financial opportunities.