During a special award ceremony honoring excellence in the insurance and pension sectors, the winners of the 10th anniversary edition of the “Insurers for Society” Awards 2024 were officially announced. In this way, with a focus on societal needs, the insurance community marked its professional holiday – Insurance Professionals’ Day. The competition is jointly organized by the Association of Bulgarian Insurers (ABZ), the Bulgarian Association of Insurance Brokers, the Association of Insurance Brokers in Bulgaria, and United Insurance Brokers. The winners are selected by a vote among insurance companies and brokers that are members of the participating associations.
Opening Address by ABZ Chair Nikolay Stanchev
Nikolay Stanchev, Chair of ABZ, addressed the audience and his colleagues on the occasion of Insurance Professionals’ Day with the following words:
“They say insurance is made by people for people. Today is a celebration of the professionals who, with skill and heart, give people the peace of mind to build their lives securely. I thank all colleagues in the insurance sector for their daily care and efforts, for the professionalism and humanity they bring to their work.”
He emphasized that the Bulgarian insurance industry has many reasons to be proud – steady growth over the years, a rich variety of products and services, the implementation of innovations, increasing customer satisfaction, and growing public trust.
“However, alongside our achievements, we are fully aware that our common future depends on how we address today’s challenges. Climate change, digital transformation, and the dynamic social and economic shifts are creating new risks and intensifying the need for a systematic approach to developing effective protective mechanisms,” said Stanchev. He underscored that only through partnership and open dialogue with all stakeholders can effective policies be defined to provide the necessary protection and support for society and the economy.
Winners of the “Insurers for Society” 2024 Awards
First Place: Bulstrad Vienna Insurance Group
Project: National Children’s Volleyball Tournament Series “Little Giants”
The first prize was awarded to Bulstrad Vienna Insurance Group JSC for its nationwide youth sports initiative. The award was presented by Boyko Atanasov, Chair of the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC), and accepted by Ivo Gruev, Executive Director and Management Board Member of Bulstrad VIG.
Gruev noted:
“This award is different from those we receive in the competitive arena of insurance. It carries deep moral and emotional value because we believe insurance is not just a business — it is our way of contributing to a more sustainable society and a cleaner environment. Simply put: through our work, we bring our vision to life — to make the world a better place for current and future generations.”
The “Little Giants” project promotes active and healthy lifestyles among children and supports gender and ethnic equality. The volleyball tournaments have national reach, held across major cities in Bulgaria — Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo, Razlog. In 2023 alone, the initiative involved 1,844 children from 213 teams across 76 towns and cities.
Second Place: Allianz Bulgaria
Project: “Blood Donation – Allianz & Friends”
The second prize went to Allianz Bulgaria for its long-running blood donation campaign. Andrey Alexandrov, Chief Operating Officer, received the award from Ivaylo Ivanov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy.
Alexandrov shared:
“Our blood donation initiative began spontaneously five years ago during a critical shortage of blood in the country. Colleagues embraced it enthusiastically, as blood donation is one of the purest acts of giving — a selfless gesture that saves lives. We are proud that in the past year we’ve brought in partners to join the cause, further increasing the initiative’s impact. We are committed to continuing this and similar efforts that contribute to societal wellbeing. I sincerely thank the entire Allianz Bulgaria team for their dedication.”
Now in its fifth consecutive year, the campaign is held in collaboration with the Blood Donation Center of the Military Medical Academy in Sofia. Over 600 participants have taken part so far, including Allianz employees, their families, partners, and brokers.
Third Place: Euroins AD
Project: Donations to the “Fund for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Children” at BCause Foundation
The third prize was awarded to Euroins AD for its donation program supporting the BCause Foundation’s fund for treatment and rehabilitation of children. The award was presented by Rumen Spetsov, Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency, and accepted by Petar Avramov, Vice Chair of the Board of Euroins AD and Chair of the Supervisory Board of EIG Re AD.
Avramov stated:
“We are extremely proud that our efforts for the benefit of society — especially for Bulgarian children — are visible and appreciated. Our cause is to support the health, development, and education of Bulgaria’s youth. We believe this is the best investment we can make in the country’s future. The BCause Foundation’s mission fully aligns with our own strategy for sustainable development. This award belongs to our entire team and motivates us to continue doing good. It affirms our role as a company that supports society — especially those who need it most.”
The Fund for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Children supports families with children under 18 who suffer from chronic, neurological, endocrine, genetic, psychological, and other diseases. The fund provides financial assistance for medicines, medical supplies, assistive devices (such as glasses or hearing aids), and therapies not covered by the National Health Insurance Fund or by programs of the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Funding for each child is granted following a decision by a commission including representatives from an NGO, medical professionals, and a parent of a child with a medical condition. To date, over 650 children have received support, including preventative check-ups and regular therapies prescribed by specialists.
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