Local Man Volunteers 80 Hours Per Month, Earns GEICO Community Volunteer of the Year Award

Business Wire, May 2, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Edward Hinds of Cumberland, Va., was the honored recipient at today's GEICO Volunteer Service Awards ceremony at GEICO's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Hinds, who has been with the company for eight years, received the John Thorne Award for his five years of volunteer work with the Heart of Virginia Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and other safety volunteer activities. The award goes to the outstanding GCCC (GEICO Corporate Community Citizen) member each year.

Hinds is the assistant Scoutmaster of the Heart of Virginia Council Boy Scout troop 6535 and actively participates as a fundraiser, mentor, and a coach of various youth sports. He has also taught traffic safety merit badge classes with the Virginia State Police to scouts of the BSA Weyanoke District and has used GEICO's Real Teen Driving safety program to illustrate some of the requirements for the merit badge.

He effectively balances his volunteer work with his GEICO career as a resident field adjuster, and raising his two children, Austin, 14, and Codi, 13, with his wife, Dawn, all of whom lend a hand with his volunteer efforts.

GEICO's Joe Thomas, regional vice president in Virginia Beach, said, "Edward was chosen because he exemplifies the true meaning of humanitarianism and volunteerism. What makes him special is how he is able to fit all of his volunteer work in each day. GEICO rewards its associates who make a difference by contributing to the organizations for which they volunteer. We have donated $1,000 to the Boy Scouts of America, Heart of Virginia Council, Edwards's charity of choice."

"I feel greatly honored to be recognized for this award," Hinds said. "I am very happy that GEICO acknowledges the efforts of its associates in their communities and promotes community service. I love volunteering in the community, especially when my whole family participates with me."

Hinds is also the New Unit Organizer and Associate Advisor for the BSA Venturing Crew 6535, the Unit Commissioner and committee member of the Weyanoke District, served as the 2007 Friends of Scouting Campaign Chairperson, and is a member of the Buckingham Historic Society and the Cumberland Masonic Lodge.

The GEICO Volunteer Service Awards are presented annually to recognize the many contributions GEICO associate volunteers make.