Heritage Insurance set to Double Angel Tree Program Efforts for the 2015 Holiday Season

Teaming up with the Salvation Army, Heritage Insurance helped to bring some much needed cheer to the Tampa Bay area this past holiday season through their participation in the Angel Tree program.

Last year, Heritage COO Ernie Garateix expressed a desire to do “something for the community,” as he explained in a recent interview with ABC Action News. Working with Paul Fuller, Commander of the Salvation Army of St. Petersburg, Heritage adopted 100 Angels last year. Garateix hopes to double that number for the 2015 holidays, supplying presents for 200 children. He explained that working together to bring a happy holiday season to so many children in the community was a heartwarming experience for Heritage employees who enjoyed working together to supply the gifts that will help Tampa Bay families have a joyful holiday.

More about the Angel Tree Program

This popular Salvation Army program provides children of registered families with gifts on Christmas morning. Companies, churches, and other organizations put up “Angel Trees” decorated with paper tags showing the name, age, and gender of a child. Contributors remove tags and purchase gifts such as toys and new clothes for the children.

The program needs more than just gifts, though—volunteers who distribute presents and food to families in need are also a vital part of the success of Angel Trees. With so many people who need help each holiday season, the Angel Tree program offers hope for children that next year will be better. If you would like to participate, visit your local Salvation Army office or apply online at the Salvation Army website to join the many volunteer organizations, church groups, and service groups who make the program a success each holiday season.

Heritage Insurance Angel Tree

Heritage Insurance COO Ernie Garateix talks to Lisette Campos of ABC Action News about the company’s passion for the Angel Tree program.

With as many as 17,000 children in need this year throughout the Tampa Bay area, the Angel Tree program has the potential to bring holiday cheer to many local children. The support of local businesses and organizations is very important to keep the program going strong. Families in need of presents for their children can also easily register online at the Salvation Army website to be included in this year’s Angel Tree program. Volunteering in the program, or even sponsoring an Angel Tree through your local service group or business, is a great way to make an impact on families in need during a time of year that can be very difficult for many.

Heritage Cares

Providing quality, competitively priced insurance is what we do, but the Heritage mission is more than that. Supporting initiatives that improve life in our communities is also a major part of our mission. “Pillars of Strength and Character” is more than just a slogan—it’s a reminder of the values we strive to uphold. We believe that improving the lives of those around us makes for a strong sense of community, which in turn improves the quality of life for everyone. You can learn more about our commitment to making our communities better places to live at our Community Involvement page.

Categories

Archives