In a recent interview with Intact’s Head of HR and Corporate Services, Jeffrey Haight talks with Marketing Intern Hanley Callahan about the mutually rewarding partnership between Intact and the students we serve. Haight assumed the role of Vice Chair of SOWMA’s Board of Directors at our 20th Anniversary “Shining Stars” gala in November.
Beginning in December of 2022, Intact’s decision to partner with SOWMA honors the company’s motto to build economic resilience through programs that disrupt the cycle of poverty. “We felt a strong connection to SOWMA’s mission and purpose,” Haight explains, “and the support SOWMA provides to lift students up cemented our decision.”
This past summer, the Intact Insurance staff prepared more than 1,000 customized, grade-level backpacks. Through two organized packing events and sixty Intact volunteers, the task at hand included many moving parts. “We worked through the kinks from last summer, so the term ‘well-oiled machine’ this time around comes to mind,” said Haight.
Over 400 of Intact’s school bags were handed out at the annual Sailing into Kindergarten event, held in Buttonwood Zoo in New Bedford, MA. It was Haight’s first time attending the event as a representative of both SOWMA and Intact. When asked what the most impactful part of the event was, Haight answered, “meeting the children and seeing their excitement when choosing a super cool backpack! It reinforces that SOWMA’s vision is being realized,” he added.
When handing out each backpack, Haight tightened the straps for every child, ensuring they walked away feeling cool, comfortable, and most importantly, back-to-school ready. The gesture went a long way for the soon-to-be kindergarteners, as evidenced by one of Haight’s favorite moments from Buttonwood: “After giving a boy a backpack, his parents made sure he thanked me. Instead, he gave me the best bear hug ever! That melted me.”
Haight is a primary example of what it looks like when Intact’s down-to-earth, community-based values are put into action. Reflecting back on the event, Haight reminisces, “I left that day with such gratitude towards SOWMA and the tireless work they do to make an impact [on] the lives of children facing homelessness and poverty.”
Intact’s contributions don’t stop there. Their confidence in SOWMA’s mission and students is backed by incredibly generous donations, including being the Presenting Sponsor of SOWMA’s recent Shining Stars Gala. When asked what moved Intact to make such spectacular philanthropic contributions, Haight expressed how fortunate he feels “to work for a global organization that values community engagement at the local level, encourages employee volunteerism, and stands behind that by empowering leaders to allocate financial resources to the organizations we partner with locally. I look forward to a continued partnership with [School on Wheels] for years to come.”
To join folks like Jeff Haight and the many volunteers of Intact Insurance in supporting our youth, visit our November 15th Shining Stars Gala recap, where we honored very own shining stars and their accomplishments made possible by folks like Jeff Haight and his change-making team. Click the link below to learn more.
Hanley Callahan is a senior at Bridgewater State University studying English.
