Schaumburg, Ill., April 24, 2018 – Zurich Insurance will recognize two leaders in the New Orleans nonprofit community as part of the Zurich Classic PGA TOUR golf tournament. Jenice Heck, vice president of Vision Rehabilitation Services at Lighthouse Louisiana and Jim LeBlanc, CEO of Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana are this year’s recipients of the annual Zurich Classic Community Impact Award.

The award recipients—part of the Fore!Kids Foundation group of supported charities—make significant contributions to building resilient and sustainable communities through their inspirational leadership and ability to enact positive change.

“Jenice and Jim work passionately to inspire confidence in children and adults in New Orleans to help them overcome challenges,” said Kathleen Savio, CEO for Zurich North America. “We are honored to help shine a light on the people and causes Jenice and Jim show compassion and empathy for every day.”

Lighthouse Louisiana has been empowering individuals with disabilities for more than 100 years, especially children who are blind, deaf or deaf/blind in our schools. Heck, who has been blind since birth, continually demonstrates individual compassion for each of the more than 200 children served by Lighthouse Louisiana annually.

LeBlanc has served as president and CEO of Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana since 1992, leading an organization with more than 20 programs that help vulnerable seniors, veterans, children, families, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A New Orleans native, LeBlanc has more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit management, program development and implementation.

Recipients of the Zurich Classic Community Impact Award will receive a crystal award and $10,000 donation to their nonprofit organization, as well as a skills-based consulting session with Zurich employees in an area of critical need for the organization. Since 2011, Zurich has recognized leaders in the New Orleans nonprofit community as part of the Zurich Classic PGA TOUR golf tournament, held April 23 – 29, 2018 at TPC Louisiana. Savio will present the awards to the recipients on Sunday, April 29, 2018, the final day of the Zurich Classic.

For more information about the charitable aspects of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, go to http://www.zurichna.com/golf

About Zurich
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. With about 54,000 employees, it provides a wide range of property and casualty, and life insurance products and services in more than 210 countries and territories. Zurich’s customers include individuals, small businesses, and mid-sized and large companies, as well as multinational corporations. The Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. The holding company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information about Zurich is available at www.zurich.com.

In North America, Zurich is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors through the individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company. Life insurance and disability coverage issued in the United States in all states except New York is issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company, an Illinois domestic life insurance company. In New York, life insurance and disability coverage are issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company of New York, a New York domestic life insurance company. For more information about the products and services it offers and people Zurich employs around the world go to www.zurichna.com. 2012 marked Zurich's 100 year anniversary of insuring America and the success of its customers, shareholders and employees.

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Media Contact: 
Jennifer Schneider | Zurich North America
(847) 605-6511
jennifer.schneider@zurichna.com