Bear River Mutual Insurance Company and its employees are committed to giving back to the community. Throughout the years, Bear River has donated time and money to worthy causes around the state.
In 2009, in conjunction with the company’s 100-year anniversary, Bear River employees embarked on two major community projects.
Boys and Girls Club of South Valley’s Murray Club
In May employees cleaned and improved the Boys & Girls Club of South Valley’s Murray Club. The employees targeted the volleyball court, putting green, garden beds and courtyard areas of the club. For a few weeks prior to the project, Bear River staff members either purchased or solicited donations for volleyball and basketball nets, putting green accessories and plants for the project.
Helping a Family in Need
Throughout the spring and early summer of 2009, Bear River worked with Catholic Community Services of Utah to find a family in desperate need of a vehicle. Bear River and one of its preferred vendors, Central Collision Center, located a damaged Chevrolet Impala. After several weeks, the car was completely repaired to near-new condition.
According to Bear River President Don Adams, “We wanted to do something special for our 100-year anniversary—something that would have a huge impact on helping the lives of a family. All of us at Bear River and Central Collision were really excited to be a part of this project.”
On Aug. 21, the James Mangum family was invited to attend a party in honor of Bear River’s anniversary. The family had not been told they were to be given the car at that time.
The Mangum family includes father, James, mother, Nelda, and children, Britney, 8, James, Jr. 6, Hailey, 4 and Camile, 2. In addition, grandmother Winnifred May, 77, was often called upon to provide transportation since the Mangums’ existing car was usually either not running, or on the brink of being broken down.
The family’s schedule is incredibly demanding. James usually wakes up at 4:30 a.m. in order to catch a ride to work as a union painter. Camile, suffering from the side effects of a premature birth including sickle cell anemia, is driven to doctors’ appointments on average of twice a week. When Winnifred’s vehicle was not available, Camile and her family often walked to the doctors’ offices, several blocks from the family’s home.
Adams said, “We understand that the entire family relies on a relative’s vehicle in order to travel to work and consistent doctors’ appointments, as well of the rest of life’s demands. Very little has been easy in the lives of this good Utah family and it was an honor to help them as part of Bear River’s 100-year anniversary celebration.”
Other sponsors involved with the car included Akzo Nobel, Hillside Tire and Service, Price Towing, LKQ, Larry H. Miller Chevrolet, AirbagService.com and McKee’s Auto Glass.