Insurance and reinsurance companies in Bermuda are doing a little more to make the festive season more enjoyable for Bermudians in need.

Many of the companies that make up the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers donate funds and time during the year to help charities and organisations on the island, and an extra effort is being made as the holidays begin.

Kevin O’Donnell, president and chief executive of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd is the chairman of Abir. He said: “Abir’s most significant contribution to Bermuda is the more than $840 million direct economic impact to the Bermuda economy including millions in charitable contributions to local organisations. And at this time of year, companies and employee groups are doing a little extra to make the holidays brighter for Bermudians in need.”

Abir members companies and broker advisers are helping to make this season brighter for others. Among them is Argo. This month its Bermuda office is supporting 77 children through the Foster Parents Association Angel Tree programme.

Axa XL Bermuda office, a division of Axa Group holds a Kids Holiday Party each year at O’Hara House for children related to employees and request that each adult brings a gift suitable for children ranging in ages from newborn to 16 years old.

The gifts can include clothing, toys or gift certificates. At the end of the party, the children happily help Santa load up the gifts in a truck and they are given to the Coalition for the Protection of Children’s “Toys for Tots” campaign.

Also following the Axa acquisition this year, team members held a sale of XL Catlin branded merchandise for employees in the Bermuda office and raised more than $7,500, the proceeds equally distributed to seven local charities chosen by our colleagues.

Meanwhile, Axis is giving back to the communities they call home. Working closely with its Bermuda charity partners — including Meals on Wheels, Adara and the Bermuda Cancer and Health, among others — to contribute time and resources to help friends and neighbours have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Over the last ten years, Axis has donated over $7 million to more than 80 local charities in Bermuda.

Guy Carpenter and Company, as a part of MMC Bermuda, have supported Big Brothers Big Sisters charity through a ‘Shoebox Giveaway’. Volunteer staff members participate and are assigned a child, between the ages of 5 and 17, to present a shoebox to, filled with gifts for the holiday season. MMC has also agreed to supplement their staff members’ donations by giving each recipient gift cards, which total $2,500. This year MMC Bermuda will donate 87 shoeboxes to local children in need, which is their way of embracing the spirit of giving. Young people will then be invited to the offices, where they will find Santa handing out presents, get to sample refreshments and mingle with staff.

PartnerRe is celebrating its 25th anniversary and another Dollars for Hours initiative: 2,000 students have donated 26,600 hours to local charities for a total donation of close to $3 million to Bermuda’s secondary schools. In addition, the PartnerRe 5K — Women helping Women — is Bermuda’s largest all-female sporting event and raised more than $35,000 to support Family Centre this year.

RenaissanceRe staff are bringing cheer to 45 children by supporting the Foster Parents Association of Bermuda and Big Brothers Big Sisters with their Christmas Angels programme. Dozens of RenaissanceRe staff selected anonymous children as “angels” and went out to purchase toys, clothes, electronics and sporting goods from the children’s wish lists this year. RenaissanceRe and its employees are also assisting 100 vulnerable seniors by supporting those enrolled in Age Concern’s Hardship Programme. Dozens of RenaissanceRe staff, along with corporate support, will financially contribute 100 gift bags containing toiletries and also donate blankets — all items identified by Age Concern as very important at this time of year.

John Huff, president of Abir, said: “As Abir marks its 25 years of innovation, growth and leadership, we celebrate the tremendous generosity of its member companies to the Bermuda community during the holiday season.”