The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is set to honor a Lockton executive for his positive impact on leadership and philanthropy.
During the IICF’s ninth annual Western Division Horizon Award gala, the foundation will award Mark Zwickel, executive vice president and property & casualty managing director at Lockton, with the IICF Golden Horizon Award, in recognition his leadership within the industry and his philanthropic efforts.
Zwickel’s commitment to the community, particularly his work with The Friendship Foundation and The Golden Heart Ranch, exemplifies the spirit of giving that IICF seeks to promote, the foundation stated.
The event will be held on April 10 at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, bringing together insurance professionals and nonprofit leaders from the Western US to celebrate the industry’s commitment to community support. The gala aims to raise funds for IICF’s nonprofit partners, with this year’s event highlighting over $510,000 in community grants awarded to 60 nonprofit organizations.
Zwickel expressed his gratitude for the award, emphasizing the collective impact of philanthropic collaboration within the insurance industry. The Lockton EVP is a father to a son with special needs, and he and his wife are active in helping members of the neurodiverse community.
“I’m proud to work for an organization such as Lockton, a longtime IICF supporter, which prioritizes giving back in the communities where we live and work,” Zwickel said.
The gala’s proceeds will support the IICF Community Grants Program in the Western US, which aids charities focused on assisting at-risk children, education, and human services. Since its inception, the IICF Western Division has distributed over $4.8 million to numerous nonprofits.
Nancy Thomas, chair of the IICF Western Division board of directors and commercial & entertainment practice leader at HUB International, underscored the significance of this year’s gala, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of IICF.
“We’re thrilled to be recognizing IICF co-founders Bruce Basso and Jim Woods, whose vision 30 years ago of uniting the philanthropic strength of the insurance industry to give back to our communities continues to thrive across the US and UK today. In the IICF Western Division, we continue to involve insurance leaders throughout California, Arizona, Colorado and the Pacific Northwest through volunteer, fundraising and leadership initiatives to help our neighbors in need,” Thomas said.
The Friendship Foundation, dedicated to supporting families with children and young adults with special needs, will be the featured nonprofit at the gala. As a recipient of a 2024 IICF Community Grant, the foundation offers programs that foster a safe and inclusive environment for enjoying sports, arts, music, and social activities.
Meanwhile, IICF in the Southeast has hit a big milestone as it successfully raised $1 million during its 12th Annual Southeast Gala.
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