Fisher-Greene Insurance Agency of Granite Quarry, affiliated with the Erie Insurance Group, has received the “Giving Agency of the Year” award, presented by the Charlotte branch of Erie Insurance.

The award is given to the agency that best exemplifies Erie’s rich tradition of charitable giving through genuine and long-term involvement in the community, Erie Insurance said. The award is rooted in hands-on work and support for non-profit organizations.

Fisher-Greene is the merger of two established insurance agencies in Rowan County. Jacob Eli Fisher Sr. created a family operated insurance business in 1914. Roy and Jim Greene founded Greene Insurance Agency in 1977. The agencies merged in 2012 and handle car and home insurance, health insurance, business insurance and life insurance.

As a recipient of the award, John Fisher will present a check for $2,500 this month to the Rowan County United Way, the insurance agency’s charitable organization of choice. The United Way supports 16 non-profit groups in Rowan County. Jackie Harris, resource development and marketing director with the United Way, said that the insurance agency is very special to the United Way. “They run a great United Way campaign each year and support us through Day of Caring,” she said. “We are very appreciative of this special gift.”

Teresa Young, vice president and branch manager for Erie Insurance, said that charitable giving is part of the Fisher-Greene culture. “The principals of the agency are the driving force behind this mission,” she said. “Everyone in the agency is expected to participate in charitable giving, and they’re all strongly encouraged to take part in several events each year.”

Both Fisher and Jim Greene have volunteered and worked to build a better community and to promote an understanding of the responsibility of giving among agency staff.

The staff serves in church leadership roles as well as on boards and civic organizations such as the United Way, the Salisbury/Rowan Homebuilders Association, Salisbury and Granite Quarry Civitan clubs, the Granite Quarry Merchants’ Association, the Home Missions Foundation, the Granite Quarry Revitalization Team, the Rowan Museum, the Sarum Run Club, Rowan and Salisbury Rotary Clubs, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, Smart Start Rowan, and Partners in Learning, as well as coaching middle and high school sports teams.

Of particular interest to Fisher-Greene is the United Way, with the staff participating in the hands-on Day of Caring with funding, labor and materials for projects such as painting, landscaping and small, non-budgeted construction projects at local schools, as well as making financial contributions. Also of particular interest to the Fisher-Greene staff is the Civitan clubs’ charitable work, such as scholarship programs, work with Special Olympics, and other needs.

Eric Insurance Group is a multibillion dollar insurance company based in Erie, Penn. The company was started in 1925 and expanded to North Carolina in 1995.