Why We’re Giving Back: Stories From Four Women Who Are Leaders At Selective

There are so many good causes and experiences to share. Here are inspiring stories from four unique women who are leaders at Selective (in their own words) and their approaches to balancing work, family, and giving back.

Inspiration for ways to give back can come from anywhere. For me, it came from several different places. When I read Made in the USA: The Sex Trafficking of America’s Children by Alisa Jordheim, my eyes were opened to the reality of human trafficking and I knew I had to do something.

In 2016, good friends opened their home to a 16-year-old orphan from Ukraine. Their experience inspired them to found GLOW (Go Love Others Well), which partners with local ministries in Ukraine to meet the immediate needs of orphans and others in vulnerable situations.

Today, I support charities that fight trafficking and serve vulnerable groups like orphans in different age ranges. In addition, I’ve proudly served as the secretary for the GLOW board since 2017. Instead of sitting on the couch watching a show for an hour or two, I participate in calls and meetings and take notes.

In 2022, I am excited that I maxed out the Selective Insurance Group Foundation’s “giving match” between GLOW and another non-profit I support! I am grateful to have the opportunity to double my donations and make a bigger impact for meaningful causes.

To learn more about GLOW, please visit glowmission.org and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Benny’s Bodega is a volunteer-supported non-profit that provides a “hand-up” to the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed). People in need can stop by its storefront in Newton, NJ, to pick up essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene supplies free of charge.

I serve on the Board of Directors and plan some of our larger fundraising events. It’s a significant commitment, and I work hard to balance my time. What’s my secret? There isn’t one! I struggle to balance work, family, and volunteering each week. The latter two often overlap. You’ll often see me in my Benny’s Bodega merch at my daughter’s sports and school events on nights and weekends.

Speaking of overlap, the Selective community is the reason I got involved in the first place.

In 2019, Benny’s Bodega hosted a backpack drive, and a group of Selective employees collected over 30 filled backpacks for members of our community. I fell in love with the organization’s mission and soon found myself helping to build it from the ground up!

Since then, many Selective employees and some agency partners have taken advantage of the Selective Insurance Group Foundation’s generosity in matching our donations and volunteer days. Selective also recently hosted an event where we collected hundreds of goods to stock the Bodega’s shelves.

As Ben Davey, the founder of Benny’s Bodega, always says, “Volunteering is one of the most selfish things a person can do.” I wholeheartedly agree. The feeling I get knowing that day in and day out, I’m helping hardworking families make ends meet satisfies the soul and is anything but selfless, so feed your soul and be as selfish as you’d like!

If you are local, I encourage you to visit our storefront on Spring Street in Newton, NJ. It is truly a humbling experience. To learn more, donate, or get in touch, find us on social media or visit Benny’s Bodega online.

I am a breast cancer survivor and know how fortunate I am to call myself one. While going through treatment, I lost my hair. The psychological impact of losing your hair due to a serious illness can be devastating. At the same time, I experienced many acts of kindness – a knitted hat from the Girl Scouts, a complimentary day of radiation from a foundation, and the support I needed from my family and friends. These actions were so touching, and they inspired me to give back.

While my hair was growing back, my hairdresser shared her vision for helping those with medically-induced hair loss. She then founded the Hair to Share Foundation in 2011 to raise funds to give wigs to women, children, and men who endure medically induced hair loss.

We are a small non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Every penny raised goes directly to a person lacking insurance coverage or financial resources to afford a wig. We are always looking for opportunities to partner with organizations that share our mission, whether to raise funds or support a person in need.

I have served on the Board of Directors since its inception, held the role of president, and currently serve as treasurer. As the only cancer survivor on the board, I am also an ambassador. Our recipients must know there is someone who understands what they are going through and that I am here to support them.

Working with like-minded people who support each other and share a passion for the cause lets me pay it forward. If you know anyone who needs support, would like to donate, volunteer, or learn more, please visit the Hair to Share Foundation.

Giving Back is a Habit

Thank you, Lori, Dawn, Patricia, and Lisa for sharing your stories, insights, and caring. Making time to give back amid full and busy lives is not easy, but you make it clear that the rewards are always worthwhile. We wish you luck in your future endeavors!