Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302120268
SECTION: INSURANCE PAGE: INS-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ANNE PIEDMONT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
UNDERWRITERS RAISING FUNDS FOR JUVENILE DIABETES
Pat Hall, CLU, is serious about the Roanoke Valley Life Underwriters making other people's lives a little better.Hall is immediate past president of the local chapter and currently serves as community service chairman at the state level. In her new role, she is uniting the 24 local chapters that make up the Virginia Association of Life Underwriters in one charitable fund-raising effort. The beneficiary? Juvenile Diabetes.
The Roanoke Valley chapter has raised money for JD for several years, Hall said, but this is the first time the effort has moved statewide. Her goal is to bring in $25,000 to help researchers find a cure.
Hall's plan revolves around the annual walk for Juvenile Diabetes, and around the state organization's annual convention. The local walk is May 16, the convention is May 19-22 at Wintergreen Resort. So, here's what she's going to do: Hall and state president Al Martin, CLU, of Richmond, plan to set out from Richmond on May 15, and walk to Wintergreen. They'll arrive on the day the convention begins, with 100 miles behind them.
She said members may join the effort in a number of ways. She's encouraging the chapters across the state to send a representative to Roanoke to walk in the walk there. Or, they can join her and Martin for the last six miles of their trek to Wintergreen. Or, they can sponsor a walker. She and Martin have set a dollar/mile minimum for their sponsors, and she's suggesting members might want to get together to sponsor her.
Why Juvenile Diabetes? Hall knows a number of people touched by the disease and truly believes a cure can be found. She sees her group's efforts as a way to help children and improve the lives of entire families.
She's also proud of the work her organization does. "It's not just selling life insurance," she explained. "We can give a gift to a family that's suffered a loss."
Juvenile Diabetes is not the only charity on Hall's mind these days. During the convention, a golf tournament will be played to support the Ron Burton Training Village. Burton is a former New England Patriot, who now is with John Hancock. His Training Village offers boys, ages 12 and up, a chance to learn and experience things they might not otherwise have a chance to do. Their stay at the village is free.
Burton will speak at a luncheon during the convention. It will be at that time that the checks to him and to Juvenile Diabetes will be presented.
Community Service Chairman Charlie James of the Roanoke Valley has been leading the drive to raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes. The encouragement of local underwriters to participate in the National JDF Walk helped raise $2,000 in 1992. James has also helped lead the annual food drive to feed families at Christmas.