Last week, during the 2022 Big “I" Legislative Conference, Trusted Choice® presented Ben Rathbun, president of The Rathbun Agency in Lansing, Michigan, with the Dan Fulwider Award for Community Involvement.
The Dan Fulwider Award for Community Involvement is named in memory of Dan Fulwider, an avid philanthropist and former government affairs coordinator and membership liaison for the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa. The award recognizes the Big “I" member who has gone above and beyond the call of service to truly make a lasting difference in their community over the past year.
Rathbun launched the For Good Foundation, which provides opportunities for students of color to learn about the industry and to build tomorrow's insurance leaders. He has also been a mentor with the BFF Mentorship program for high school students that pairs aspiring high school insurance students with insurance professionals.
"This year's winner has been on the front lines in helping his community in any way he can through his agency and his staff," said Bob Fee, Big “I" chairman. “Trusted Choice thanks Ben Rathbun and The Rathbun Agency for all it does to support their community and is pleased to award them with the Dan Fulwider Award for Community Involvement."
Rathbun has also been a weekly support group facilitator at Ele's Place – Capital Region, a center for grieving children and teens, for the last six years, and also joined the Ele's Place Community Board. His agency also served as a $10,000 sponsor of their annual Ele's Race.
Additionally, The Rathbun Agency participates in a monthly Quotes for a Cause campaign that highlights a different local nonprofit each month. Since 2014, the agency has asked their customers what organizations they want to support and has donated over $41,000 to 75 different local organizations.
The agency will receive $3,000 to donate to the charity of its choice. Rathbun was unable to be in Washington to accept the award but sent a video message.
“Thank you to the Big 'I' for this incredible honor," Rathbun said. “Community has been at the fabric of what we do at the Rathbun Agency for the last 66 years."
