Spencer Gala Raises $1.3M For The Next Generation of Risk Management and Insurance Professionals

2019 Spencer Gala Dinner Chair, Teresa M. Black

Industry Leaders M. Steven DeCarlo and David North Honored for Unwavering Support of Rising Risk and Insurance Professionals

More than 700 insurance and risk management executives gathered at the Spencer Educational Foundation’s (Spencer) annual fundraising gala on September 19 at the Midtown Hilton Hotel in New York. The group celebrated gala honorees M. Steven DeCarlo, executive chairman at AmWINS Group, Inc. and David North, chairman and CEO of Sedgwick. The event raised more than $1.3M that will fund the development of grants, scholarships, internship and other educational programming for the next generation of risk management and insurance professionals.

At the gala, Spencer honored Renata Bruno, a junior at St. John’s University. Renata is the first recipient of the Elizabeth Lisle Scholarship donated by the two-time Spencer Scholar Elizabeth Lisle. Also honored at the event was Varun Sivakumar, a senior at Temple University. Varun was the first recipient of the 2018 Steven Penman Memorial Scholarship donated by Sedgwick.

“The insurance industry and risk management profession are filled with countless opportunities for future business leaders, but it starts with providing these future leaders with the chance to succeed in the classroom,” said 2019 Spencer Gala Dinner Chair Teresa M. Black. “Today, more than ever before, businesses are counting on the ingenuity of these young professionals to address a myriad of cultural and technological changes. Spencer could not be more proud to bring this industry together, to celebrate the bright and talented students entering the profession and honor the generosity of this amazing professional community.”