ROUGH NOTES PRESENTS Community Service Award

Rough Notes, Apr 2004 by Bloss, Bob

Based on an overwhelming number of nominations received for The Rough Notes Company's annual Community Service Award, it is clear that insurance professionals gladly go that extra mile for their neighbors who deserve a caring share of special attention.

Harry Swimmer, founder of Charlotte, North Carolina's Swimmer Insurance Agency, Inc., is the winner of this year's Community Service accolade for his devotion to handicapped youngsters. The distinctive award was presented during ceremonies last month in Indianapolis.

Honorable Mention trophies were awarded to The Huffman Brown Company, agent Stephen P. Keinen, the Oswald Trippe and Company agency, and the agent team of James Colangelo and Richard N. Morello.

"Each year," said Robert N. Kretzmer, executive director of Rough Notes' community service program, "selecting winners becomes more and more difficult. But that pleases us because it means our industry continues to produce insurance professionals who recognize the importance-and satisfaction-of donating time, effort, and resources for people in need."

Harry Swimmer, fifth winner of Rough Notes' annual Community Service Award, exemplifies that kind of humanitarianism. He's operated an insurance agency for more than a half-century. But the story behind his trophy began much more recently. That's ... When Harry Met Stacey.

When Harry Met Stacey

It was 1993. Harry and Marilyn Swimmer hosted an engagement party at their spacious home near Charlotte. Among the guests were young Stacey Marx's grandparents. During casual conversation, they mentioned their seven-year-old granddaughter. She had been born with cerebral palsy.

Harry Swimmer had an idea. It seemed a long shot, but why not arrange for Stacey to visit the Swimmer farm and introduce her to the horses that Harry and Marilyn breed and enter in competitions? Soon Harry Swimmer and Stacey Marx did, indeed, meet. Stacey was driven to the farm and then was lifted onto a horse by Harry. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship-and the start of a remarkable therapeutic venture that now involves men, women and mostly youngsters.

Intrigued by the youngster's warm reaction, Harry thought she might benefit from his help. He began to research Hippotherapy (horseback riding therapy). Harry learned that his alma mater, Penn State, offered Hippotherapy courses. He enrolled, was fascinated by his findings, and returned to Carolina to build an indoor arena for horseback riding therapy. Over the past 10 years, the indoor arena has become a busy center for nearly 100 children and adults with various physical and mental challenges.

Misty Meadows is the name of the Swimmers' farmland estate, and the young people who engage in therapeutic horse riding there are proudly known as Misty Meadows Mitey Riders.

A large percentage of Harry's time is now spent with the Mitey Riders. Harry, a native Pennsylvanian, moved to Charlotte after graduation from Penn State University in 1951. As a boy he'd been exposed to the insurance industry at his father's agency. In 1953 Harry founded Swimmer Insurance Agency, Inc., which grew rapidly. Harry remains an active owner but has transferred much of the day-to-day operation to his son, David.

Students at Misty Meadows pay no tuition. The operation is supported by the Swimmer Family Foundation with donations from businesses, individuals and an annual golf outing. Nearly 20 horses are available for Mitey Riders. The annual budget, now roughly $200,000, is earmarked for horses' food, equipment, maintenance, insurance, and salary for two full-time instructors. More than 100 persons are parttime volunteers.

"The Mitey Riders program grew far beyond our original expectations," says Harry. "I wasn't interested in publicity back then. In fact, I expected we'd be just a small therapeutic center. But when we see the spectacular help our program can give to the students, we're amazed with what can be done. So many of our riders are quadriplegics. And all of a sudden they ride horses. The rhythmic gait of horses mimics that of humans. Our riders, despite their physical limitations, pick up on the similarities and find that their bodies just naturally go along with the movement of the horse."

Bob Bird, executive vice president of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, nominated Harry Swimmer for Rough Notes' Community Service Award. "It was an honor to nominate Harry," he says. "I learned that his enthusiasm and good works are a sense of pride for his employees at the agency. They truly buy into what he's done for the handicapped. He's a good example of what insurance people can do in their communities. Harry's story inspires me to stress community service to young people entering our business."

Harry's efforts are not confined to the successful Mitey Riders program. With a modest grin he admits ". . . I'm often referred to as The Charlotte Fund-raiser." Among his philanthropic and civic activities are membership and fund-raising roles with the Jewish Community Center and Temple Israel Synagogue, First Citizens Bank, and the past presidency of Charlotte area Independent Insurance Agents.