Cavignac & Associates Employees Give $18,000 Out of Their Own Paychecks to Local San Diego Charities

SAN DIEGO - Dec. 13, 2017 - PRLog -- In keeping with an 18-year-old Christmas holiday tradition, all 50 employees of Cavignac & Associates, a San Diego-based risk management firm, donated gifts of hope and cheer to those less fortunate in the community, giving a combined $18,000 out of their own paychecks to 11 local nonprofit organizations.

         The $18,000 worth of holiday donations from Cavignac & Associates' employees was in addition to the more than $100,000 in corporate contributions and individual donations made by the company's six principals during 2017.

         The employee donations were dispersed from Cavignac & Associates' Employee Charity Fund, a program established 18 years ago that enables individual employees to uphold the company's mission to be an "effective corporate citizen" by donating both time and money to nonprofit organizations they determine to be most deserving of their support.  All employees are given the option to participate by having specific amounts deducted from their paychecks throughout the year.  As in past years, 100 percent of the employees contributed this year.

         "There are so many great San Diego charities that support worthwhile causes, and the need for financial assistance and volunteer help was stronger than ever this year," said Jeffrey Cavignac, president and principal of Cavignac & Associates.  "The Charity Fund committee members diligently research different organizations and carefully select the ones they are most passionate about.  The program goes a long way to open their eyes to various social issues and connect their hearts to the San Diego community."

         The Cavignac & Associates Employee Charity Fund is governed by a committee comprised of a chairperson, treasurer and interested employees. The committee meets monthly to review the bank balance, specific organizations under consideration, and requests by new ones. The underlying principles of the committee are to support under-funded, tax-deductible 501(c)3 organizations that help the under-served population of San Diego, including seniors, children and teenagers, the physically disabled, veterans, military families, and the homeless.

         This year, the employees of Cavignac & Associates directed monetary contributions to Casa de Amparo, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Doors of Change, Kids Included Together, Say San Diego, Serving Seniors, Voices for Children, the Wounded Warrior Project, Monarch School, the Emilo Nares Foundation and Workshops for Warriors.

   In addition to making monetary donations to 11 charities, Cavignac & Associates' employees once again participated in the SAY San Diego "Adopt A Family" program by sponsoring two families, one a family of six with two boys and two girls, the other a family of five with two boys and one girl.  Company employees shopped for each member of the families, and fulfilled items on their individual Christmas wish lists.  Recently they gave up their lunch hour to wrap all the gifts and later delivered them to SAY San Diego for presentation to the families in need. Susan McFarland, senior account manager for Cavignac & Associates, organized the Say San Diego "Adopt a Family" effort this year.

         In October, Cavignac & Associates employees participated in the Challenged Athletes Foundation 2017 Surf Clinic & Triathlon, donating their time to work alongside children with physical disabilities and help them experience the joys of surfing and playing in the ocean.

         Each month during 2017, four or five Cavignac & Associates employees volunteered their time to serve lunch to seniors at the downtown Gary & Mary West Senior Wellness Center.  The Charity Fund Committee also supported the senior community center's Hidden Hungry campaign, providing funds for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

         Heather Stone, Esq., human resources risk advisor for Cavignac & Associates, and Kelly Potter, an account executive with the firm, served as co-chairpersons of Cavignac & Associates' Employee Charity Fund Committee this year.  ­­­­­­­­Account Administrator Marisa Dunfee served as treasurer.  Other Cavignac & Associates employees who participated on the committee included Ariana Benavente, Bethany Mongold, Bonne Mongold, Carolyn Konecki, Celia Mondfrans, Chris Malicki, Dan Smith, Darcee Nichols, Erin Greene, Jolinda Kramer, Joyce Rivera, Linda Lopez and Susan McFarland.

         "Community giving is intrinsic to our work culture here," said Stone. "It's very rewarding for the employees to have the way and means to mirror the company's values and support the causes closest to our hearts.  It makes the spirit of the holidays a lot more meaningful, both to us and those we're able to help."

About Cavignac & Associates:

         Founded in 1992, Cavignac & Associates is a leading risk management and commercial insurance brokerage firm providing a broad range of insurance and expertise to design and construction firms, as well as to law firms, real estate-related entities, manufacturing companies and the general business community. Company principals are Jeffrey W. Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, CRIS, MLIS; James P. Schabarum II, CPCU, AFSB; Scott A. Bedingfield, AAI, CIC, CRIS; Patrick Casinelli, RHU, REBC, CHRS; Matthew Slakoff, CIC, CRIS; and Matthew Noonan, RHU, CIC, CHRS, CCWS. The firm employs a staff of more than 50 at offices located at 450 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, Calif., 92101.  More information about the company can be found on the Web atwww.cavignac.com.