National Life Group,National Life Group will donate $120,000 to support the relief and rebuilding efforts in Vermont stemming from the destruction of Tropical Storm Irene, CEO Mehran Assadi announced today. In addition Assadi said the company will match dollar-for dollar every donation that its 900 employees make to Vermont flood relief organizations. ‘Our hearts go out to those affected by this disaster,’ he said. ‘National Life has been rooted in Vermont since 1848 and we want to do our part to rebuild the lives, homes, and businesses of our neighbors.’ A number of National Life employees suffered losses in the flooding and the company has created a separate emergency assistance fund focused on their needs. Hundreds of National Life employees have used their volunteer time to help their neighbors clean up from the flood damage. National Life allows employees 40 hours a year to volunteer in the community on company time. ‘Employees across the company spent last week helping colleagues, neighbors and businesses dig out and clean up,’ said Assadi. ‘They are back out there this week. The need is so great.’ The $120,000 corporate donation will come from the National Life Group Charitable Foundation and will be divided among six organizations, with an emphasis on groups and funds focused on Washington County where the company headquarters are located. The recipients are the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund; the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund; Revitalizing Waterbury; Northfield Emergency Relief Fund; Mad River Community Fund, and the Central Vermont Community Action Council. Assadi said the company dollar-for-dollar match program will broaden the scope of the corporate donation by including funds and organizations that reflect specific needs. ‘There are so many worthwhile groups and funds in the state, raising money to help farmers, or to help repair and replace covered bridges, or to help specific regions of the state,’ said Assadi. ‘By matching our employees’ donations we will help finance an array of programs.’ National Life Group has helped provide flood assistance in other ways, by donating office space to Green Mountain Transit Authority, which was washed out of its headquarters, and by providing modular office walls for relocated state offices. Assadi noted that the company is running a clothing and supply drive for flood victims, and delivered 80 pounds of organic potatoes, onions, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage and broccoli from the company’s community garden to the Northfield Food Pantry on Friday. ‘Every little thing by every person makes a big difference,’ said Assadi. ‘Taken together, working together, we will put Vermont back together.’ September 6, 2011
National Life Group announces flood relief efforts, donates $120,000
January 1, 2021
By Dialogo July 18, 2013 These things happening with the popes! When Jesus Christ was personally performing his ministry on earth, he never had a bodyguard and no government gave him protection. How is it possible that Pope Francis receive so much protection, that probably costs millions of dollars, if he’s supposedly a vicar of Christ on earth? What a contradiction! Brazilian Intelligence considers spontaneous protests as the greatest threat during the Pope’s visit to Rio de Janeiro on the last week of July, Brazil’s state news agency reported on July 16. Brazil decided to increase the amount of military personnel that will be guarding Pope Francis’ security during his visit to the World Youth Day (WYD), which will bring together about 1.5 million people from July 23 to 28 in Rio, after the historic protests that gathered over one million people on the streets in June. The spontaneous street protests, such as the ones in several cities of Brazil during the Confederations Cup tournament, are the only red-alert threats for the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN), according to Agência Brasil. ABIN monitors “sources of threats” and labels them with colors, according to the level of risk. Traffic accidents, organized crime, terrorist attacks, vindication movements (organized protests) and common crimes are all considered threats. However, there are no protests summoned through social networks so far, except for a “massive gay kiss” at Copacabana beach during the Pope’s welcome speech on July 25, and a protest against gender-based violence in what is known as the “prostitutes’ protest” on July 27. 