Leland Smith earns ‘Agency of the Year’

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Erie Insurance awarded Leland Smith Insurance Services Inc. of Van Wert with its 2014 Giving Network Agency of the Year Award for outstanding community service. In honor of the agency’s efforts, Erie Insurance donated $2,500 to The American Cancer Society for the Van Wert Relay for Life.

The Relay for Life organization is close to the hearts of the employees at Leland Smith Insurance.  Longtime employee Lori Schaffner lost her battle to pancreatic cancer in April 2011. Her passing came just three weeks before the Van Wert Relay for Life in May 2011.

Schaffner had been organizing the first LSI team for the relay at the time of her passing, and employees Krista Schlemmer and April Korte took over the team and made sure Leland Smith Insurance was represented at the Relay.

Carrying on for future Relay for Life events is important to the staff at Leland Smith Insurance and it is dedicated to carrying on Schaffner’s passion for the Relay for Life in her memory.

“Participating in the Relay for Life and the fundraising is one of our ways to carry on Lori’s passion for always helping others and helping to cure cancer for our future generations,” said Schlemmer.  “We all loved her and continue to miss her daily.”

The Erie Insurance Giving Network Agency of the Year award recognizes independent agencies that demonstrate exceptional commitment to the community through volunteerism.

Leland Smith Insurance Services Inc. offers a full line of property and casualty insurance products, including auto and homeowners insurance, as well as commercial and life insurance from Erie Insurance.

The agency is located at 1175 Westwood Drive, Suite 200, and serves all counties in Ohio and Indiana. To learn more, visit www.lelandsmith.com or call 419.238.7880.