MERRILL- Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.1, raised $239,000 for Merrill Area United Way in September during its annual fundraising campaign, besting last year’s total by more than $62,500. Employees raised $119,500 during the week-long fundraising drive, and the company matched it dollar for dollar.
Since 2000, Church Mutual has contributed more than $1.8 million to Merrill Area United Way.

“Words can’t express the importance of the monumental Church Mutual campaign this year,” said Dee Olsen, executive director of the Merrill Area United Way. “Doing a virtual campaign came with challenges, but also with incredible results. The employees recognized that, in this unprecedented year, the need for assistance to families, friends and neighbors is greater than ever before. This was a team effort. The team at Church Mutual, the leadership and employees gave generously, showing how deeply they care about our people and our community. Merrill is so fortunate to have Church Mutual in our community. They should be very proud, and we are very grateful.”
This year, Church Mutual President and CEO Rich Poirier challenged employees to donate at least $80,000, with 80% of employees participating. Both goals were exceeded.
“Church Mutual maintains a steadfast commitment to improving the communities where we live and work,” Poirier said. “Mere words do not do justice to how proud I am of our employees. They saw the need in our communities during the pandemic and went above and beyond all of our expectations.”
The company, which donated more than $175,000 to United Way in 2019, successfully moved its campaign activities virtual this year due to the pandemic. The campaign included online trivia contests, games and departmental challenges tied to this year’s superhero theme.
About Church Mutual-
Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I., founded in 1897, offers specialized insurance for religious organizations of all denominations, public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, senior living facilities, secular and non-secular camps and conference centers, and nonprofit and human services organizations throughout the United States. Church Mutual markets most lines of commercial property and liability insurance, including multi-peril, workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance. In addition to insurance, Church Mutual provides a spectrum of value-added solutions that benefit its customers.
Church Mutual holds the following honors:
A.M. Best Company “A” (excellent) rating
BenchmarkPortal Top 10 National Customer Service Center