Allianz Life, Piper Jaffray Receive Quality of Life Awards

Allianz Life North America and Piper Jaffray & Co. received 2004 Quality of Life Awards from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce at the 13th annual Quality of Life Awards Dinner on May 20, 2004. The firms were two of six companies honored at the ceremony for their exceptional community commitment in 2003.

Allianz Life North America was recognized for its efforts to involve its employees in the community, including hosting a charity fair and allowing employees to choose which nonprofits Allianz would support; allowing employees to receive eight hours of paid time to volunteer; and offering seven scholarships to children of employees of Allianz.

Piper Jaffray was recognized for its workplace tutoring program, which helps students prepare for the Minnesota Basic Standardized Test by matching students with Piper Jaffray employees for weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions held at Piper Jaffray headquarters. Piper Jaffray launched the program in spring 2003 with 25 seventh graders at Harry W. Davis Academy in Minneapolis. Following the success of this partnership, the firm added an additional school partner, working with 20 seventh graders at Benjamin Banneker Middle School, also in Minneapolis. In addition, the firm held a back-to-school drive to collect school supplies and donations to help purchase uniforms for students at Davis Academy, and held a coat drive to provide a new coat, hat and mittens for all 247 students at Banneker.

"We are extremely proud to receive this great award," said Tad Piper, vice chairman of the board of Piper Jaffray. "We have worked hard on this program and our employees take great pride and passion in tutoring these students each week. It is an integral part of our guiding principles at Piper Jaffray to give back to the communities in which we live and work."

The Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce started the Quality of Life Awards in 1991 as a way to recognize the role businesses play in enhancing the region's quality of life. Winners are selected by a panel of representatives from Twin Cities business, public and nonprofit sectors. Other 2004 award recipients are Adolfson & Peterson, Gray Plant Mooty, MetroConnections and Rider Bennett, LLP.

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