At Gallagher Bassett, people are our purpose. From empowering our claims professionals with the support they need to succeed to guiding claimants through recovery and the overall claims process, we understand that serving others is at the core of insurance and what we do within it. We are a people-first organization, and this philosophy defines our culture in how we show up for team members, our clients, their injured workers and claimants, and our communities.
As such, we are proud to continue supporting Give Kids The World (GKTW) as part of the upcoming Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI) Annual Conference. As an organization, Gallagher Bassett is entering its 13th year of service, and each year, we bring together new team members and returning volunteers to contribute to the day’s work.
“Giving back is part of who we are as an organization, and volunteering at Give Kids The World is the perfect way to kick off the week heading into the WCI Annual Conference,” says Irina Simpson, EVP — Workers’ Compensation. “The day sets the tone by keeping the spirit of service and giving back top of mind, ensuring that we continue to unite around our industry’s common purpose — helping people return to health or be made whole in some way. This sentiment is also what shapes a lot of the discussions and topics at the conference as we engage with expert-led panels and learning opportunities that will help shape the industry going forward.”
GKTW Village is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit in Central Florida that provides children with critical illnesses and their families with magical week-long wish vacations at no cost. Since 1986, the Village has welcomed nearly 200,000 families from all 50 states and 77 countries.
Every wish family is treated to accommodations, transportation, donated theme park tickets, all meals and snacks, nightly entertainment, and more. Volunteers contribute to prepping and cleaning the Village, preparing activities, and assisting families during their stay.
“Every action on our part, no matter how small, can be monumental for the families visiting the Village,” Irina shares. “Service, whether the hours spent volunteering at GKTW or what is delivered through empathy and improved outcomes for the injured workers in our day-to-day claims work, reminds us that we must make a continuous contribution to invest in the future of others. It is an honor and responsibility that we all take very seriously, and it resonates throughout our claims operation and shows up through our people coming together to support others and being excited to serve this important purpose.”
This year, Irina is spearheading our team’s presence at the GKTW Annual Service Day and Gala. She also recently joined WCI’s Board of Advisors, where she will contribute to the organization’s educational efforts and conference strategy.
“Claims provide an incredible opportunity to demonstrate humility, compassion, and empathy because you are helping people in their hardest moments,” Irina says. “My mission, as someone who started as a front-line claims professional and who now leads our workers’ compensation operation, is to make sure our people know that the work we do really matters, that we are a part of this greater community that has a shared purpose, and that we are all making a daily difference in lives of the injured workers we serve.”
Our commitment to serving others is the foundation of our organization and allows us to seamlessly align our culture and our purpose. We carry this same commitment to the communities in which we live and work and invest our time to make an impact where it matters most.
