Insurance: Get a quote, make a donation

A new insurance company in Sudbury is hoping to change how the industry is sometimes perceived by the public.

Rod Larocque, CEO of Local Express Group Home and Auto Insurance said sometimes, the insurance industry is perceived in not in the best of light.

However, through the gift-giving program, it's his aim to fundamentally change the distribution of insurance and how it's perceived by the public.

He's doing that by interacting with charitable organizations on a daily basis, and with every call for a quote or policy signed with Local Express, a donation will be make to the perspective client's charity of choice.

Donation amounts will vary, he said, but on average, it will be about $25.

“In Ontario, there are billions of dollars spent on insurance policies,” he said. “Every time people place their business with Local Express, a donation is made on their behalf. There could be anywhere from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars going back to charities if people grab onto this idea.”

Larocque is also the president and CEO of the Human League Association. With knowledge in both the non-profit and insurance industries, he said he saw an opportunity to tie the two of them together.

“This will make a significant difference in the lives of the less fortunate,” he said. In only the first several days after opening their office in Sudbury, Local Express already garnered the attention of seven or eight charities.

It's win-win, he said, because those charities that sign up can take it upon themselves to encourage their volunteers or members to sign up with Local Express.

Leanne Lavoie, the volunteer executive director at the Human League Association in Sudbury, said she knows how difficult it is for charities to raise funds to support their programs.

“They are all fighting for the same dollars,” she said. “When programs such as this allow us to take new dollars from existing programs, without harming that existing program, it's win-win.”

Paying insurance every month is a necessity; everyone has to do it, she said.

“So, if some of those dollars I have to put aside every month can, in turn, directly support a charity, it puts more money in my pocket, and more money in the charity's bank account. There is no down side. Just by checking to see if you can get a better price on insurance through Local Express, you're actually donating to a charity.”

For more information, visit localexpressinsurance.ca, or phone 705-673-2266.