Amica Mutual Insurance Company

On Tuesday, October 18, 2005, a dinner and auction fundraiser was held to benefit the Michael J. Monteleone Memorial Fund, established through the Southeast New England Heartsafe Community Foundation.

Amica Insurance Senior Vice President and Treasurer Maribeth Williamson was on hand that evening to show Amica's support, and to present a $130,000 donation on the company's behalf. But then she went a little further.

"Amica supports the Monteleone family in its mission to provide automated external defibrillators to schools and athletic facilities throughout Rhode Island," said Mrs. Williamson. "But we recognize that this effort will take more money, and a huge commitment from donors and volunteers. With our donation, I want to challenge my colleagues in the business community, and also our state legislators, to contribute funding for this most worthy cause."

Automated external defibrillators (AED's) cost about $1,500 to $2,000 each, and the cost for training volunteers and maintaining the equipment adds to the expense. Amica's donation will be used to purchase a significant number of devices, and some of the funds will also be used to pay for training efforts. But in order to ensure that every school in Rhode Island benefits from these life-saving devices, more funds are needed. This is why Amica is leading the way in challenging the Rhode Island business community.

"We can truly make a difference for the young people in our state, and for our young athletes in particular, if we all work together to make this commitment and follow it through until the mission is accomplished," said Mrs. Williamson.

"The effort to encourage Heartsafe schools is part of a wider effort gaining ground in Rhode Island to establish public access defibrillation programs throughout our communities. In addition to schools, Amica shares the American Heart Association and Department of Health's vision of widespread CPR training for as many of our citizens as possible, as well as the development of responsible AED programs in many community gathering places, such as churches and businesses. Amica has had a Heartsafe campus, with widespread AEDs, for several years. In addition, the RI Heartsafe program seeks to establish AEDs in all police cars, which often arrive to the scene of medical emergencies prior to EMS."

Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the nation's oldest mutual insurer of automobiles, was founded in 1907. The company, with corporate headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is a national writer of automobile, homeowner, condominium, renter, boat, yacht, and personal umbrella liability insurance. Life coverage is available through Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than 3,000 people in 41 offices across the country. For more information, visit www.amica.com.