Colorado-based insurer remained focused on supporting Colorado through giving, volunteering and scholarship efforts.
DENVER — Feb. 11, 2021 — Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado’s leading workers’ compensation insurance carrier, takes its corporate vision “to lead a revolution in caring for the people, businesses and communities of Colorado” very seriously. In 2020 Pinnacol found ways to support the Colorado businesses, workforces and communities most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic through grantmaking, charitable giving, volunteering, scholarships, and sustainability and diversity initiatives. For the second year in a row, Pinnacol was also honored to be named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in Colorado.
Grantmaking and pandemic philanthropy
In 2020, Pinnacol gave $465,150 in grants to programs in employee health and safety, rehabilitative health, economic vitality and workforce development. Pinnacol also committed to broadening its support in 2021 to organizations that support advanced skill development designed to create opportunities for Black, Indigenous and people of color communities as part of its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Pinnacol also donated nearly $2.5 million to an array of funds that supported small businesses and communities in Colorado impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This included $1 million to the Help Colorado Now fund, $600,000 to the Energize Colorado Gap Fund, $250,000 to the Denver Small Business Relief Fund, $250,000 to the Downtown Colorado Springs Business Relief Fund, $125,000 to the Greeley Recovery Fund, $125,000 to the Restaurant Association Angel Fund and $75,000 to the Grand Junction COVID-19 Responders Loan Fund.
Pinnacol Foundation scholarships
The Pinnacol Foundation awarded $452,820 in scholarships to 95 students across Colorado for the 2020-2021 academic year. The Foundation, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020, provides scholarships each year to students whose parents have been seriously injured or killed in work-related accidents, regardless of insurance carrier. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $6 million in scholarships to nearly 650 students across Colorado.
Volunteering and employee giving
Pinnacol employees have a long history of supporting nonprofits with their time through the company’s employee-led volunteer program, Pinnacol in Action. When the pandemic hit, Pinnacol employees pivoted and found creative ways to volunteer remotely, collectively giving more than 500 hours of virtual and in-person volunteer activities, including donating meals to essential workers.
As part of an annual giving campaign, Pinnacol’s employees collectively donated $157,415 to local nonprofits. Pinnacol matched contributions, for a total gift of $306,250.
Sustainability
Pinnacol has also long been committed to “greening” our environmental footprint. Its headquarters is a Certified Green Business with a LEED Gold-certified building, recognized as one of the highest-rated Energy Star buildings in the city. Pinnacol’s employee-led Green Team guides efforts to reduce waste and energy use. In 2020, Pinnacol’s donation to Restoring Colorado’s Forest Fund helped plant more than 3,000 new trees on the Colorado wildlands most severely impacted by wildfires.
“Now more than ever, Pinnacol is focused on providing caring protection for Colorado, both as an insurer and through our community support programming,” said Edie Sonn, Pinnacol’s vice president of communications and public affairs. “We’re proud we could support Colorado during this very difficult year, and we’ll be here for the long haul to rebuild our communities, support workers and bolster Colorado’s economy.”
To learn more about Pinnacol’s support for Colorado communities, visit https://www.pinnacol.com/about/force-for-good.
