Downey Insurance Group Blog | Great Insurance People

Just yesterday, the Downey Insurance Group made a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Vermont. This incredible cause helps make wishes come true for children who have life-threatening medical conditions. It not only gives them hope, but gives them courage to keep going.

In 1989, the Vermont chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation began, and since then, over 500 children and families lives have been affected. The mission of the  Make-A-Wish Foundation is truly inspiring and one that I hold dear to my heart.

My brother, who was diagnosed with ulcerated colitis at age two, was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Usually, kids wishes are to go on a family vacation, or meet someone famous, but my brother instead chose to wish for a dog. The Make-A-Wish Foundation made that happen for him, and now we have the most wonderful dog. He has been with us for over ten years, and now, my brother is colitis free at age twenty.

With just a little donation, another child could have the chance for their wish come true too, and that is why it is important to give back. Downey Insurance recognizes this and has joy helping out the community. You can help too, if you make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, your gift could change the life of a child.

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MHS Cheerleaders Win Nationals!

Charlie Downey of Downey Insurance holds a special spot for Marlborough High School in his heart, seeing as it is where he attended high school. Over the years, Marlborough High School has evolved and expanded into a bigger and better place. Sports are a huge part of the every day life at Marlborough High, and with fall sports season quickly approaching, everyone is in high spirits. Especially the Marlborough High School cheerleaders! Two years ago, under the coaching of Michael DoValle, the Marlborough High School cheeleaders won first place at nationals in Ocean City, Maryland! Hoping to continue on in that direction is an eager new and young team. With thoughts of nationals in their mind, the cheerleaders are already starting to fundraise. The first step is to raise money for choreography for their routine, and what better way how to do that than have a car wash? With the summer coming to an end, the cheerleaders have organized a car wash to take place September 12th at Embroidery Unlimited Inc. in Marlborough, MA. Downey Insurance has supported the cheerleaders by purchasing tickets to the car wash. And you can help too. Let’s make this a community project to help better the Marlborough High School sports teams and show support for them all. Stop by Embroidery Unlimited Inc. on September 12th  between 10am and 3pm and get your car washed!

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Our most dangerous weather season is upon us! While tornadoes and hurricanes can occur almost any time of the year, conditions are most favorable from March through October. As severe weather approaches in your area, we ask that no new coverage or increases in coverage be bound during the period that a hurricane or tornado watch or warning has been issued by the National Weather Service. This restriction on binding applies to the area threatened by the storm.

The terms “Storm Watch” or “Storm Warning” are defined by the U.S. Weather Services as:

Storm Watch: A storm in all likelihood will hit the area. While the storm may be some distance away, all of the contributing factors indicate the storm will hit the area.

Storm Warning: A storm is imminent.

All Personal Lines business is covered by this restriction (including Homeowners, Inland Marine, Personal Fire and Automobile).

Exceptions are permitted where an insured is:

• Replacing an automobile on an existing policy
• Making settlement on property previously contracted under an agreement of sale

If you have an unusual situation that requires special attention, please contact us

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As prom season and graduation season are here, we at Downey Insurance want to remind you to drive safe.  Many new drivers are out, so be extra careful driving around this month. Downey Insurance would also like to remind you that you should never drive under the influence and you should always buckle up.

The problems of driving impaired happen all over the country. “A 2002 study revealed that 40% of teen traffic fatalities during the prom and graduation weekends were alcohol-related. Fatal car accidents, injuries, and assaults are not an adolescent rite of passage for any teen. Underage drinking is a major factor in the two leading causes of teenage deaths: car crashes and fatal injuries.”¹

At Marlborough High School, home of Downey Insurance’s interns, after senior prom, there is a substance-free All-Nighter. For the 25^th consecutive year, the MHS All-Nighter, a collaborative effort of parents and the entire community of Marlborough, came together to provide a safe, alcohol and drug free celebration for the students following the senior prom. This year the theme was “Hollywood” and the students were all transported by busses to the local Wayside Racquet and Swim Club for a night of activities. The students were greeted by the paparazzi as they walked in the doors and had their picture taken with their date. Some activities there were swimming, tennis, zumba, games, tug-of-war, food, and more food. The Outback provided the students with delicious food all night!  A special thanks goes out to the VinBin and Bertucci’s for their help with the fundraising!

So make sure you’re safe this prom and graduation and from the folks at Downey Insurance, Congrats Grads! You did it! And Congrats to Lindsay and Curt, our interns here at Downey Insurance that graduated with the Class of 2010 from Marlborough High School!

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Recently, Charlie Downey, of Downey Insurance, and two of his interns went to a local grocery store, Price Chopper, to buy some food to help “Stuff-A-Bus”. Here at Downey Insurance, we believe in helping the community, and what better way to help than to make sure everyone is fed.

This year was the third annual “Stuff-A-Bus”, Food Pantry Donation Drive. In Marlborough, 1,200 residents are served by the Food Pantry every month and out of that 1,200 are approximately 450 children. In these hard times, food is in short supply for some families, and the need for food donations has increased 30% from 2009 to 2010. With the summer coming up, the need for food is more extreme so it was a good time for Downey Insurance to help out.

Last year, “Stuff –A-Bus” had donations that reached 16,000 pounds of food and supplies! That was enough to fill the Food Pantry for the summer and into the fall. Let’s hope that this year “Stuff-A-Bus” gathered even more food and supplies and that our donations helped!

Make sure you check out our videos of the Downey Insurance gang helping “Stuff-A-Bus” on our Downey Insurance Group’s Facebook page.

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