Taking Time to Make a Difference: Celebrating the Season of Giving

As we head towards the end of the year, we’re taking time to recognize the Season of Giving and the limitless ways our colleagues give back to the communities where we live, work, and play. Whether it’s through donations, volunteering, or any other act of kindness, our team has learned that giving back is not only good for the community but also for one’s own well-being.

While many of our colleagues volunteer and donate, we interviewed a few and highlighted their responses below. No matter how big or small, our colleagues’ contributions make a difference in the greater community around us.

Evan Gleason, Associate Vice President, Business Insurance

Evan lives in Topsham, ME with his son Finn (10). He graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2007. He began his insurance career later that same year. Today, Evan focuses on insurance solutions for many industries but specializes in Social Service and Non-Profit organizations. He services on the board of directors with the Independence Association, Oasis Free Clinics, and the Maine Association of Recovery Residences. Evan also spends his free time volunteering for the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and the Bath/Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Q: How do you select the organizations or causes you choose to support?
A: I’ve been approached by many based on where I live and the communities, I work in but I mostly choose to put my energy into the organizations that mean the most to me: substance abuse recovery, community members with special needs and community health care

Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your volunteer work that had a significant impact on you?
A: I serve on the board of directors at the Independence Association in Brunswick, ME and each year they have an annual dinner that includes many of the people they serve, who are adults with developmental disabilities. The whole evening is full of heartwarming moments of hope and laughter. They always have a slideshow showing their residents at different events throughout the year and it is the most touching thing you could see!

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in volunteering?
A: Find a cause that you love and really put your energy into it. Like most things, you get out what you put in. If you are an engaged member of the community you choose, the rewards will be many and it won’t seem like work at all.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your volunteer time?
A: Being an active member of the community around you is one of the most rewarding things you can do. We have so little control over the big issues that fill our world but by working locally, we can see real progress and sleep well knowing we make a difference.

Evangeline Irish, Associate Vice President, Business Insurance

Evangeline, a resident of Limerick and graduate of the University of Southern Maine, has more than 20 years of experience serving personal and business insurance customers. She has earned her CPCU designation, along with numerous other designations including AAI, ANFI, API, AINS, and MLIS. Outside of work she enjoys hosting themed parties, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. Evangeline is an advocate for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital annual Radiothon and is part of a home church group where she supports those in the church and community.

Q: How do you select the organizations or causes you choose to support?
A: In looking back at organizations I have supported over the years, most of them are related to kids in some way. Whether it is helping with the radiothon to raise money for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital or adopting families at Christmas to help with gifts or providing food for community members in need, there are usually kids involved. Fight for and support those who can’t fight for and support themselves.

Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your volunteer work that had a significant impact on you?
A: We helped provide Christmas gifts to a local family and when dropping them off, the mother was overcome with emotion. We felt like what we were providing was small in the grand scheme of things, but the truth is, you never know what someone else is truly dealing with. Being able to help with something so small but having that big of an impact was humbling.

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in volunteering?
A: You may never physically see the impact that volunteering may have but that doesn’t mean it isn’t impactful.

Monique Ruth, Vice President, Business Insurance

Monique is a native of Manchester, NH and earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Southern NH University. She has been in the insurance business since 2007. Although a generalist, Monique is active in the main street business, hospitality and property management markets. Monique has served on the Queen City Rotary Board of Directors since 2015, including serving as President in 2017/18. As a result of her impactful service in support of youth in need, received the Paul Harris award in 2018, the highest honor given in Rotary. Monique is also proud to be a member of the Board of Directors and a Wish Granter for Make-A-Wish NH, and a BOD member on the Animal Rescue League of NH.

Q: How do you select the organizations or causes you choose to support?
A: It is important for me to feel connected to the causes I represent and for them to resonate in my core being. For me, children and animals are the most vulnerable and in need and they are both near and dear to my heart and everything I do – so I volunteer with Queen City Rotary, Make A Wish NH, and the Animal Rescue League of NH.

Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your volunteer work that had a significant impact on you?
A: There are so many it is hard to come up with just one. The year as President-elect for the Queen City Rotary I was able to reveal a wish for a child as a Wish Granter with Make a Wish NH. I was able to show 500 attendees of our largest fundraiser exactly how their donations impact a make a wish child, and I was able to help send her off in a limo to her Boston shopping spree wish. It was two-fold for two organizations I love being a part of.

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in volunteering?
A: I would strongly suggest you pick an organization that resonates with your own morals and be ready to dedicate your time, knowledge, love, and energies to an amazing experience you are surely never to forget. Be ready to have your life changed forever in the best ways possible and to be grateful for all that you have and can give.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your volunteer time?
A: Volunteering has become a family affair for us. I grew up in a family of community-minded parents with my dad being involved in the Knights of Columbus, Post 79, being a referee for our sports and his grandkids. It has led to my community involvement and my kids as well. I don’t think of the things I do as “volunteering” but more as helping a family member when needed. It is amazing how one small act of kindness can grow into so many wonderful things.

Gregg Ritter, Senior Vice President, Business Insurance

Gregg, a resident of Portland, ME, serves as a Senior Vice President of the agency and as the Sales Manager for our Maine Headquarters. After working for various carriers, he joined Clark in 2003. He has since distinguished himself in the area of professional liability for architects and engineers, with over 32 years of experience in the industry. Gregg received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and currently holds his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Accredited Advisor of Insurance (AAI), and Associate in Claims (AIC) designations. He is an active member of the Professional Liability Agents Network (PLAN), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Portland Society of Architects (PSA), and the Portland Chamber of Commerce. He is currently on the board for Sweetser and on the fundraising committee for the Root Cellar in Portland, ME. He is a former coach of the Portland High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer team and formerly served on the board of the Portland Education Foundation.

Q: How do you select the organizations or causes you choose to support?
A: I like working with organizations that help kids in need. I believe early mentoring and support can make all the difference in a child’s life.

Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your volunteer work that had a significant impact on you?
A: At a high school soccer banquet, my varsity girls’ soccer team shared how much I meant to their soccer careers and why they loved playing so much. I felt like a made a difference during a time in their lives that isn’t always easy. I still see some of those girls and they remind me how much fun they had playing for me in high school.

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in volunteering?
A: Don’t do it just for the sake of saying you’re involved. Pick a cause you’re passionate about and be truly engaged.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your volunteer time?
A: If you find a cause you believe in, it will never feel like work. Get involved and be proud of yourself for wanting to do right by others.

How Can YOU Get Involved in the Season of Giving?

• Volunteer: Find a local nonprofit that aligns with your interests and offer your time. Whether it’s serving meals at a food bank, tutoring students, or participating in community clean-up events, your efforts can make a significant difference.
• Make a Financial Contribution: Consider donating to a nonprofit organization that resonates with you. Many organizations rely on the generosity of donors to fund their programs and initiatives.
• Spread the Word: Share information about local nonprofits and their missions on social media or within your network. Raising awareness can help attract more support and resources to these vital organizations.

As we celebrate the season of giving, let’s remember that our contributions—whether through time, money, or advocacy—can create a brighter future for our communities. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and foster a spirit of generosity that lasts all year long.