A Q&A with Allianz Life on the Power of Volunteerism
To make hunger history, Second Harvest Heartland and the entire Minnesota hunger-relief system need the support of volunteers. Corporate partners play an important role in encouraging volunteerism with programs like Volunteer Time Off (VTO) and coordinated volunteer opportunities for employees. We spoke with Samantha Lucas, community engagement manager at Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz), about the importance they place on volunteering as a company and how Allianz makes volunteering a priority for employees.
Tell me a little bit about your commitment to employee volunteering at Allianz.
At Allianz, we strongly believe in the power of volunteerism and the impact it can have on both communities and the individual. Allianz Life's employee volunteerism program was initiated over two decades ago, and since then, we’ve been dedicated to providing a wide range of initiatives that allow each employee to contribute in ways that matter to them. We call our approach Allianz for Tomorrow, because we’re focused on helping people in our community build a pathway to a more financially secure future.
To facilitate this, we have two different categories for employee volunteerism: company led and employee led.
Our company-led volunteer opportunities are strategically aligned with our organization’s mission. These opportunities directly contribute to helping people in the Twin Cities build financial security. We offer both onsite and offsite volunteer opportunities for employees to find time where it fits in their schedule. One popular example of our offsite volunteering is the free farmers market. Each year we team up with Minnesota United FC and Keystone Community Services to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to community members through our free farmers market at Allianz Field.
Volunteers at a free food distribution event at Allianz Field in September.
In addition to the company organized opportunities, we recognize the importance of supporting what matters to employees. All employees receive eight hours of paid time off annually to volunteer with a cause that matters to them. After five years, employees can take a fully paid, one-month sabbatical to volunteer full time with the nonprofit of their choice.
We also offer financial rewards for individual and team engagement. When five or more employees volunteer together or participate in a charitable event, Allianz makes a direct charitable contribution of $100 per person, up to $10,000, to the benefiting community organization. For individuals, we provide financial donations ranging from $25 to $500 based on time logged and we also recognize an outstanding employee volunteer and provide the nonprofit they serve with a contribution of $2,500 quarterly.
How many hours did your employees volunteer last year in general? At Second Harvest Heartland?
In 2024, Allianz Life employees logged 10,842 volunteer hours, with around 260 of those hours specifically logged with Second Harvest Heartland.
Allianz employees following a packing shift in the Second Harvest Heartland Volunteer Center.
How do your employees feel about volunteering?
I am amazed at the generosity of employees who collectively give thousands of hours of their time to strengthen the future of our community. Volunteering is entirely voluntary at Allianz, and we value the capacity and personal desires of each employee. We love to hear the positive and enthusiastic stories from our employees about making an impact in the community, and how much they value our programs.
How does it make you feel to know the food packed at Second Harvest Heartland is going to those facing hunger in our communities?
It’s incredibly rewarding to know the food we pack with Second Harvest Heartland is making a direct impact on those facing hunger in our communities. It’s a reminder that our efforts, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in someone else’s life.
Is there anything else you want to share about Allianz or employee volunteering?
In addition to our employee volunteerism, Allianz employees make a positive impact on the community through our employee giving (fundraising) initiatives. Each year, employees help ensure people in the Twin Cities community have the opportunity to increase their financial stability by providing donations of food, clothing, toys, and funds to our featured nonprofit partners—including Second Harvest Heartland!
Through our Allianz for Tomorrow community engagement work, provide extensive support to nonprofit organizations. To learn more about our community impact, visit our 2023 Community Impact Report.