PHILIPSBURG – Deepening its ties with St. Maarten’s business community, St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) welcomes its newest corporate partner, NAGICO Insurances. With its commitment to supporting community development, NAGICO is partnering with SMDF to identify areas where social needs are most prevalent. In speaking about NAGICO’s support, SMDF Program and Development Manager Makhicia Brooks talked about the importance of collaboration in development. “NAGICO’s support is invaluable as it allows us to continue our work throughout St. Maarten and further our efforts in social development. NAGICO’s committed funds will be channeled to various NGOs doing impressive and much needed work.” said Brooks.

NAGICO Chief Strategy and Development Office Kyria Ali shared similar sentiments saying that, “NAGICO is extremely proud and excited to partner with the SMDF as it focuses on social development in St. Maarten. Social development is about improving the well-being of every individual in society.” In the coming months, SMDF will be channeling NAGICO’s committed funds to various non-governmental organizations making contributions towards social development.

One of the organizations benefitting from NAGICO’s commitment to SMDF’s vision of community development and corporate social engagement is the Home Away From Home Taking Care of the Golden Age Foundation. One of the oldest running senior care organizations, having been in operation since 1997, Home Away From Home has been opening its doors to seniors three times per week at the John Larmonie Center. Additionally, to encourage the seniors to explore and be active, the foundation also organizes a number of outings annually to ensure the seniors see and experience all that St. Maarten has to offer.

During one of the foundation’s recent social gathering days, Home Away From Home President Ms. Patricia Flanders welcomed NAGICO staff including Chief Strategy Officer Kyria Ali, Marketing Manager Lisa Brown as well as Ms.  Brooks. Spending the afternoon with the group, NAGICO staff were introduced to many of the seniors who participate in the program and in turn benefit from the insurance company’s contributions. During the visit, Ms. Brooks took a moment to thank NAGICO for its contribution and time. In speaking about the benefits of having donors visit the programs they contribute towards Ms. Brooks talked about seeing the connection between donations and lives impacted. “While we certainly appreciate and value the financial contributions made by our partners, we appreciate even more when we are able to introduce them to those who benefit most from their contributions,” she said.

Partnership was a central theme also expressed by Ms. Ali who described social development as a “mammoth undertaking that requires significant resources, making it too large to be left to just one group to be handled.” Going further she said, “To truly address this very important area it is imperative that we establish partnerships and this is what we have done with the SMDF. This partnership and investment by NAGICO complements our already existing social development program which is geared toward the senior citizens, youth, education, promotion of healthy and active living as well as sports and fostering vibrant communities.” Closing out the visit with the seniors, Ms. Brooks said that having NAGICO trust the Fund to help them give back to the community meant a great deal. “As SMDF seeks to develop new public-private partnerships, having deeply rooted companies, such as NAGICO, join us signals that we are on the right track,” she said. Since its incorporation in 2012, SMDF has provided grants to over 40 non-profit foundations active in various areas of social development around St. Maarten. Via managed contributions from various public and private sector partners, SMDF has channeled over ANG 20 million to various social development projects and programs over the past seven years.