A $10,000 Surprise That Will Change Lives — Thank You, Lapointe Insurance!

Pictured from left to right are Erik Hutchinson (Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance, Senior Territory Manager); Peter Cohenno (Friends of Jack Foundation, Executive Director); Jill Fearons (Friends of Jack Foundation, President); Rick Lima (Lapointe Insurance, VP of Sales); Lauren Jacob (Friends of Jack Foundation, Board of Directors; Fresenius Medical Care, Global Talent Acquisition Lead); Derik Whalen (Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance, Region Director - CT, MA, RI); and Dan Simcock (Lapointe Insurance, Director of Communications)

FALL RIVER, MA – At Friends of Jack, we believe every child facing a medical challenge deserves comfort, joy, and a little extra hope. Thanks to our incredible friends at Lapointe Insurance, we’re able to bring even more of that magic to kids across the South Coast and Rhode Island.

Here’s the story: Lapointe Insurance was selected for the Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance 2025 Make More Happen Award, which came with an initial $5,000 donation to our foundation. But here’s the best part - when our story went live on the Make More Happen microsite, our amazing community rallied behind us with over 500 votes and comments. That outpouring of support doubled the donation to a total of $10,000.

So, what does $10,000 mean for us? It means sustaining our two part-time Child Life Specialists at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford - professionals who help young patients navigate the emotional side of their hospital stays. It also means expanding our beloved Superhero Bear program to brighten even more children’s days in hospitals across the region.

Our founder and president, Jill Fearons, put it best:

“We are only able to do what we do in the community with the support of generous donors like Lapointe Insurance, Liberty Mutual, and Safeco Insurance. The extent to which Lapointe has embraced and supported our mission is unmatched.”

And it’s true - Lapointe Insurance isn’t just a one-time supporter. They’ve been by our side for years, sponsoring major events like Casino Night and our Annual Celebration gala, jumping into our Tutu Challenge for fun and awareness, and even hosting their own full-scale golf tournaments for the past two years. Those tournaments alone have raised over $50,000 - and introduced us to so many new supporters.

We’re so grateful to Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance for recognizing Lapointe Insurance’s generosity through the Make More Happen Award. This year, they’ll honor up to 36 independent agencies like Lapointe, donating as much as $360,000 to nonprofits nationwide.

For us, this isn’t just about the dollars - it’s about knowing that when we come together, our community can make more happen for children who need it most.

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