A long-standing tradition of giving back to the community played out within the office walls of one downtown San Diego-based company last week.  For the 15th year in a row, the employees of Cavignac & Associates, a San Diego chapter member, pooled their funds to help those less fortunate, donating a combined $16,500 to 17 San Diego nonprofit organizations as part of the company’s annual "Charity Fund" employee gift-giving program. 

A San Diego-based risk management and insurance brokerage firm, Cavignac & Associates employs a team of 45 people. The company established the Charity Fund program in 2000 when employees decided they wanted to emulate the company’s corporate practice of giving back to the local community in a meaningful way. The Charity Fund allows employees to deduct specific amounts from their paychecks each pay period throughout the year and direct monies to nonprofit and civic organizations they believe are doing the most good.  This past year, as in previous years, all the firm’s employees opted to participate.

"The Charity Fund gift-giving program has enabled our employees to mirror the company’s corporate values and, together, make a tangible difference in the lives of those less fortunate," said Jeffrey Cavignac, president and principal of Cavignac & Associates.  "The employees themselves decide which causes they want to support, and divide the funds accordingly.  I feel very proud and fortunate to employ a team of such talented and benevolent individuals."