The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) Young Agents Committee (YAC) sponsored a successful casino night fundraiser titled “YAC Gives Back: A Benefit for InVEST Scholarships” in conjunction with the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention and the annual InVEST Silent and Live auction.

InVEST is a one-of-a-kind financial literacy program that educates high school and community college students about insurance, risk management and financial services.

The same night that “YAC Gives Back” was raising money for InVEST in Washington, D.C., the NetVU Young Professionals Chapter held a fundraising hula hoop contest, Ula Hoopla, in conjunction with the annual 2012 NetVU Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

            “The national Young Agents Committee is proud to be part of a record-breaking year for the InVEST Scholarship fund,” says Jason Cass, Big “I” National Young Agents Committee chairman and owner of JDC Insurance in Centralia, Ill. “The third annual ‘YAC Gives Back’ event is just one way we can ‘pay it forward’ as young insurance professionals. Insurance is a rewarding career path and we are excited to help bring awareness to InVEST and help so many students join the ranks of the insurance industry.”

Collectively, “YAC Gives Back,” the NetVU UlaHoopla, the auction and direct contributions raised more than $65,000 this year. Auction items were donated by insurance carriers, agents and brokers, the Big “I” and its state affiliates, and other industry organizations. The money goes directly to scholarships.

“Helping our high school and community college students pursue higher education or become licensed in insurance or financial services is top-priority,” says Heather Minkler, chair of the National InVEST Board of Directors and CEO of Clark-Mortenson Agency, an independent agency in Keene, N.H. “These scholarships are just one way we are working to bring talented young professionals into the insurance industry.”

     As a 501(c)(3) educational trust, InVEST benefits from the support of numerous insurance organizations, hundreds of agencies, brokers and volunteers. The program provides the insurance industry with motivated, talented and intelligent professionals through a support structure of state associations, board members, national staff, teachers and the many industry professionals who work in the field as classroom liaisons.

      Founded in 1970 and based in Alexandria, Va., InVEST promotes insurance education in order to attract individuals to pursue a career in the insurance industry. Each year, the program prepares thousands of students for insurance-related careers with a hands-on curriculum taught in high schools, adult education centers and community colleges. The high school curriculum is a business-education program that utilizes a hands-on approach which simulates an insurance agency and company operations to prepare students for various business careers and create more knowledgeable insurance consumers. At the college level, InVEST is an information-intensive curriculum of risk management and financial services. These courses provide students with a working knowledge of the basics needed to pursue careers in the insurance industry. For more information, go to www.investprogram.org.

      Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of approximately a quarter of a million agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.