Lockton "Melts the Risk" of local troubled teens in partnership with St. John's School of Risk Management

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Jul 03, 2012, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockton Insurance's Risk Leadership Development Program, founded by company Vice President Marianne Halvorsen, held its first inaugural charity event at Mia Chef Gelateria in Manhattan on June 19th, 2012. Inspired by the hot weather and the cold gelato, the "Melt the Risk" Charity event was organized and executed by three St. John's students, Ella Soltz, Erika Marshall and Bailey Noone, who have enrolled in the Risk Leadership Development Program. Over 30 prominent members of the local business community turned out to support New York City's Youth at Risk program.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090415/CG99351LOGO)

Youth at Risk volunteer Desiree Chinnery, Vice President of IB Human Resources at JPMorgan, introduced guest of honor Shakeima Johnson, also a volunteer at the organization. Johnson moved the attendees to action with her personal and poignant story of what it is like to be a homeless, teen mother and work oneself from the streets to a college classroom. She is currently pursuing a degree in nursing. Johnson credited the support of mentors and professionals like Halvorsen, donors to the organization, and local community interest such as that held by the attendees, as the primary source of her success.

Commenting on Johnson's story, Jody Queen-Hubert, Director of Career Services at St. John's, expressed her appreciation of the event, "[Shakeima's] story has definitely lingered in my mind as a parent of a young woman her age…Because of this organization [Youth At Risk], they are able to reverse some of the negative influence that she had been surrounded by for what it sounds like, most of her childhood…It was eye-opening and, you know, it reinforced how important parenting and families are in developing the lives of future adults." Queen-Hubert was also impressed by the clever and creative connection between corporate risk initiatives and community philanthropy in the area of risk. The event raised $2,000, which will be reinvested back into the local community through the Youth at Risk organization.

If you would like to find out more on Lockton's Risk Leadership Development Program or Halvorsen's work in Risk Management, please visit her blog at http://halvorsenonrisk.com/

About Lockton

More than 4,450 professionals at Lockton provide more than 15,000 clients around the world with insurance, benefits, and risk management services, offering an uncommon level of client service. From its founding in 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri, Lockton has grown to become the largest privately held insurance broker in the world and 9th largest overall. Independent researcher Greenwich Associates awarded Lockton its 2011 Service Excellence Award for risk management for large companies. For three consecutive years, Business Insurance has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance."
Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1atQI)

About The Risk Leadership Development Program

In partnership with St John's University School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, Lockton Insurance, LLC has created a Risk Leadership Development Program for young women. The Program gives students the opportunity to gain industry experience, build a network and take part in giving back to our community.

About Youth at Risk

Youth at Risk provides one-to-one mentors for youth from under served communities between the ages of 12-25 whose circumstances and environment put them at risk for failure academically, socially, emotionally and physically. We work with youth and their families who are "falling through the cracks—teenage parents, violent youth, fatherless young men, youth with disabilities, families in shelters, and HIV positive parents.

SOURCE Lockton