Diversified Insurance Solutions is continuing its SPARK grant program, which was originally established in 2013 as a one-time initiative to celebrate the company’s 30^th anniversary.

“We launched SPARK three years ago and, once we saw the impact we could have, we’ve reengaged it year after year,” says James McCormack, co-founder and chairman of Diversified Insurance Solutions.

The 2016 SPARK initiative will award six $5,000 grants to area nonprofits that are taking a creative and innovative approach to solving a local problem or addressing a community need.

Now through October 25, tax exempt, nonprofit organizations can submit a grant request at www.DiversifiedSPARK.com. Over the course of several months, $30,000 will be given to nonprofits to positively impact the community and people they serve. The company is interested in supporting specific initiatives, events or actions that can be accomplished with a $5,000 grant or in conjunction with other funds.

“In just a few short years, our SPARK grants have accomplished a lot. Working with the nonprofits, we’ve made nature accessible to special needs children and their families, provided intense reading assistance to teenage boys who were significantly behind their grade level and helped launch a safe and loving summer camp for foster children,” says McCormack.

To date, the Diversified SPARK Giveback program has provided a total of $60,000 to 12 organizations.

According to McCormack, each time a SPARK grant is awarded, the nonprofit visits Diversified so the company’s associates can learn more about the organization and what the money will accomplish.

“Having the nonprofits tell us firsthand about their programs and who they were helping is inspirational and moving. You look around the room and there are people tearing up and nodding their heads in support,” he explains. “When we first saw that in 2013, we knew we wanted to continue to engage our associates and build on our culture of community support and involvement.”

This January to kick-off SPARK internally, Diversified hosted a blood drive with its associates. The blood drive collected enough red cell donations to impact the lives of 87 local patients.

Diversified Insurance Solutions is one of Wisconsin’s largest, full-service insurance brokers, providing employee benefits, HR solutions, risk management and business insurance to area companies. For more information, visit www.div-ins.com.