Tokio gives back

Staff from one of the Island’s leading reinsurers showed their community spirit by spending a day giving back to the community today.

Tokio Millennium Re staff helped with touch-ups around Lefroy House, undertook some much-needed gardening and conservation work at WindReach, and swapped computers for shovels and jackhammers to help with demolition and clearing of debris at the historic Casemates.

Tats Hoshina, Group CEO of Tokio Millennium Re, said: “As a company, we feel it is very important to support the local community. This was our second Day of Giving and we were delighted to be able to help out with three worthy projects around the Island. We look forward to continuing this initiative for many years to come.”

Zoë Kempe, coordinator of the Tokio Day of Giving, said: “It was great to coordinate Tokio’s global Day of Giving. Our offices in Zurich, Australia and London also took part in charitable activities. It was incredibly rewarding to simultaneously be able to give back to the communities we live in around the world. The staff at Tokio really enjoyed helping with these community projects.”

Erica Fulton, the Executive Director at WindReach, said: “WindReach Bermuda exists to enrich the quality of life for people with special needs. We have a long standing relationship with Tokio Millennium Re and they have been a generous donor of our adaptive sports programme for a number of years. 

“It is an amazing opportunity for us to have a group of their staff come out here for a day of giving. 

She added: “WindReach is set on a four acre site in Warwick which consists of a therapeutic riding centre and petting zoo alongside the nature reserve, pond and the extensive community gardens, all of which take considerable resources to maintain. This hard working and enthusiastic group from Tokio has helped us to clear areas along our perimeter and clearing invasives like the Mexican Pepper trees. 

“The cleared tree material is then converted into wood chips which can be used for our community gardens and to better define trails.  All of this work has allowed us to create better spaces for us to expand on our existing activities.”

Elena Strong, Curator at the National Museum of Bermuda, said: “This is a massive boost to the restoration work of the Casemates Barracks — the second oldest surviving building in Dockyard.

“The restoration of Casemates is a major component of the expansion of the National Museum and Tokio’s efforts are essential to help prepare the property for a new life of exhibits, education and other heritage uses.

“We would like to extend a big ‘thank you’ to all the volunteers and for the continued support of the international business community, which is doing a stellar job in helping the Museum to protect and restore some of Bermuda’s heritage.”

Karen Fox-Simmons, the recreational therapist at Lefroy House, said the Tokio staff were busy recreating a pool area, which the seniors use during the summer, putting in new flower beds in the safe haven area and joining in with a social hour at the home.

“They interacted with the seniors, played bingo and had a coffee with them. It gives the seniors a sense of belonging, a sense that someone cares. They helped give the seniors self-worth and self-esteem. We are very grateful to Tokio,” she said.