Merchants Insurance Group was proud to be the Platinum sponsor at the 28th annual Long Island Insurance Community (LIIC) Gala on September 19, 2024, where the LIIC honored the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Charles E. Makey, III.
The Long Island Insurance Community was founded in 1995 when several insurance industry leaders joined together to give back to their local community.
“At its core, insurance is a pillar of support for individuals and businesses in our communities.”
In its almost 30-year history, the LIIC has raised more than $6 million for the United Way of Long Island and other Long Island-based charities. Today, nearly 500 insurance executives and industry leaders gather for the annual Long Island Insurance Community Gala to provide financial support to important community organizations and initiatives.
Merchants Insurance Group was a platinum sponsor of this year’s event, which took place at the Mansion at Oyster Bay. According to the Long Island Times, the 2024 Long Island Insurance Community Gala raised over $220,000 for various Long Island charities, including the United Way of Long Island.
Each year, the gala honors an industry leader who has “demonstrated a commitment to the community that has improved the quality of life for their neighbors.”
“I’m pleased to have received this honor from the Long Island Insurance Community, recognizing our company’s commitment to giving back,” said Charles E. Makey, III. “Merchants is proud to sponsor and will continue to support this terrific fundraising event. It’s inspiring to see all of the insurance industry professionals come together each year for the purpose of giving back to those in need in our communities.”
Merchants’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Makey and his wife, Karen Makey
Charles Makey, current President and Chief Executive Officer, has been at the helm of Merchants Insurance Group since 2021. He is the 10th president in Merchants’ 106-year history, and his career with the company began in 1996.
In addition to his role at Merchants, Mr. Makey proudly serves as a board member, trustee, or council member for a number of organizations, including: New York Insurance Association (NYIA) – Board Member, Immediate Past Chair (served as Chair for a two-year term, 2022-2023); New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation (NYISF) – Board Member, Trustee; Long Island Insurance Education Foundation (LIIEF) – Board Member, Director; AON Client Advisory Board Member; Birdsong Association – Board Member, Treasurer; Invest Buffalo Niagara – Board Member.
Charles Makey speaks to attendees at the 28th annual Long Island Insurance Community Gala
“Merchants takes the welfare of our neighbors seriously, which aligns with the important mission of LIIC,” said Mr. Makey. “We give back to our local communities through corporate donations, colleague fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities for colleagues throughout the year.”
As a platinum sponsor of this year’s event, Merchants donated $10,000 to LIIC and designated an additional $2,500 to the Long Island Insurance Education Foundation (LIIEF), an organization that is dedicated to growing the insurance industry by encouraging and developing insurance and risk management education and opportunities.
Left to right: Diane Little (Regional Underwriting Manager), Michael Ascher (Territory Manager), Joe Swiderski (Regional Vice President), Kim Lyons (Territory Manager), Charles E. Makey, III (President and Chief Executive Officer), Jessica Driscoll (Regional Underwriting Manager), Vanessa Nove (Underwriter), and Andy Meehan (former ESBC Regional Vice President; retired in July 2024).
Merchants Insurance Group, which has four offices in the northeastern United States (located in located in Buffalo, New York; Hauppauge, New York; Mt. Laurel, New Jersey; and Bedford, New Hampshire), prioritizes philanthropy as a core component of the company’s culture. Merchants works closely with nonprofit organizations such as the United Way, sponsors events such as the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and encourages colleagues to participate in volunteerism or contribute financially to charitable causes.
“Our regional offices and corporate headquarters proudly support their local United Way chapters and other community initiatives throughout the year, and we’ve received this recognition largely due to our Eastern Strategic Business Center’s unwavering dedication to uplifting its Long Island neighbors in need,” said Mr. Makey.
Left to right: Diane Little (Regional Underwriting Manager), Jessica Driscoll (Regional Underwriting Manager), Vanessa Nove (Underwriter), Ben Walden (Vice President, Chief Actuary, Charles E. Makey, III (President and Chief Executive Officer), Karen Makey, Michele Dodd (Territory Manager), Kim Lyons (Territory Manager), Joe Swiderski (Regional Vice President), and Michael Ascher (Territory Manager).
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Long Island Insurance Community, especially since they support many of the same local charities that the colleagues at ESBC support and they raise money for a scholarship named after our former RVP Cammy Belser,” said Joe Swiderski, Regional Vice President of Merchants’ Eastern Strategic Business Center. “The gala was very well attended and it was especially nice to hear Charlie talk about the influence that Cammy had on him during his time at Merchants.”
Merchants’ Eastern Strategic Business Center, located in Hauppauge, New York, supports several nonprofit organizations in the Long Island region, including but not limited to:
- Paws of War: Located in Nesconset, New York, Paws of War’s mission is “to alleviate the suffering of veterans, first responders and their families, particularly those battling invisible wounds… by providing them with loyal service dogs that become not just companions but also catalysts for healing” (https://www.pawsofwar.org/).
- United Veterans Beacon House: Since 1994, United Veterans Beacon House has supported nearly 30,000 individuals by providing “shelter to the homeless, sustenance to the hungry, and renewal to those ailing in mind and body” (https://uvbh.org/).
- Long Island Cares, Inc. | The Harry Chapin Food Bank: Long Island Cares, Inc. addresses hunger and food insecurity providing humanitarian support for those in need through food distribution, sponsorship, and education. Founded in 1980, this organization now distributes “more than ten million pounds of food and supplies annually to nearly 400 member agencies” (https://www.licares.org/).
- United Way Stuff-A-Bus: United Way of Long Island’s “Stuff-A-Bus” program is a school supply drive that supports students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Nassau and Suffolk counties. This annual event helps alleviate the cost of necessities in an effort to eliminate barriers families face to success through education (https://www.unitedwayli.org/stuff-bus).
- John Thiessen’s Children’s Foundation: Located in Wantagh, New York, John Thiessen’s Children’s Foundation “helps sick and underprivileged children across Long Island and in any capacity possible” ( https://www.jtcf.org/). Some of the organization’s initiatives include: providing therapeutic and recreational equipment to hospitals and other childcare facilities in need, helping alleviate the financial burden of families’ medical expenses, and donating toys and other essentials throughout the year, especially during the holiday season.
“The ESBC colleagues are extremely generous to local charities and our focus is usually on: children’s charities (John Thiessen Children’s Foundation), veterans charities (United Veterans Beacon House & Paws of War) and various breast cancer charities,” explained Mr. Swiderski. “The colleagues are very good at suggesting organizations that have helped them or their families and everyone is happy to help.”
Merchants Insurance Group at the LIIC Gala! From left: Michele Dodd, Jessica Driscoll, Diane Little, Vanessa Nove, and Ben Walden
Interested in learning more about the ways Merchants gives back? Visit our Philanthropy page!
About Long Island Insurance Community (LIIC)
The Long Island Insurance Community (LIIC) began in 1995 when a dozen LI insurance industry leaders got together to create a vehicle to give back to the community and to those less fortunate. Today nearly 500 insurance industry executives and business leaders gather together to raise funds at its annual gala.
The LIIC has raised more than $6 million at its annual galas, for Long Island charities.
The goal continues to be bringing the insurance community together to change the lives of Long Islanders in need. The gala annually honors industry and business leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to the community that has improved the quality of life for their neighbors.
