Celebrating an Impactful Year of Service: SNCares Year in Review
2025 was a busy year for giving back! From donating time to contributing financially, our teammates from across State National supported an impressive range of inspiring projects. These efforts happen because of the caring individuals who make it a priority to get involved. We are proud to share the results of that collective work!
At State National, giving back isn’t just something we do — it’s part of who we are. That’s one of the reasons we created SNCares, a companywide committee dedicated to service and philanthropy. Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with local organizations and contributing to causes that uplift those around us. From grants and donations to hands-on volunteering, our enthusiastic team members embraced hundreds of opportunities to make an impact.
The stories shared here are just a glimpse of the work we accomplished together, both as individuals and as a company, throughout the year. We hope you enjoy this snapshot of some the many ways we came together in 2025 to make a difference and help create a brighter future for those around us!
January
Grant Award - The Women's Center
State National welcomed The Women’s Center of Tarrant County to learn more about their mission to inspire and empower women, men, and children to overcome violence, crisis, and poverty. Committee members presented an SNCares/Markel Community Grant in support of their Rape Crisis & Victim Services program.
February
Candygrams for a Good Cause!
SNCares and our PRISM employee resource group (LGBTQ+ and ally network) hosted a Valentine’s Day candygram fundraiser, raising $1,300 to benefit the Los Angeles LGBT Center. These funds helped support vital services as the region recovered from the California wildfires.
Grant Award – The Family Place
State National welcomed The Family Place to learn more about their mission to provide safe housing, counseling, and skills that create independence for those experiencing family violence. Committee members presented an SNCares/Markel Community Grant to support the organization’s operations for domestic violence services.
6 Stones Catalyst Award
State National was once again recognized with a Catalyst Award from 6 Stones, this time for our employees’ 2024 holiday volunteer work with the Night of Hope program. Night of Hope provides holiday gifts and meals for students and families at 21 different HEB ISD elementary campuses.
6 Stones leadership recognized our ongoing commitment to their organization and praised our team for being a partner they can count on to help kick-start Winter Wonderland preparations, bringing an energy that helps motivate the entire community effort!
March
Humane Society of North Texas Donation Drive
Employees donated essential supplies via Amazon wish list to aid the Humane Society of North Texas in caring for dogs, cats, and other small animals/livestock. SNCares delivered these much-needed resources in person and toured their facility, seeing firsthand how these contributions help animals waiting for their forever homes.
Grant Award - Bedford Public Library
SNCares visited our local library and delivered an SNCares/Markel Community Grant to support their charitable foundation’s Food Education (FED) Project. This program teaches families about nutrition through hands-on cooking classes, food demonstrations, and gardening education.
April
SNCares April Volunteer Fair
Guided by employee feedback and word-of-mouth recommendations, we welcomed various local charitable organizations to State National headquarters for our 2nd annual Volunteer Fair. Employees were able to visit with these local nonprofits to gain awareness of volunteer opportunities, learn about important causes, and explore ways to take advantage of the generous Markel/State National Volunteer Time Off (VTO) benefit.
Sam Markel Days of Service
One of the most successful State National contributions during this year’s event was a group activity assembling “SNCareKits.” The kits included hygiene essentials like toothbrushes, combs, sunscreen, hand and body wipes, Band-Aids, nail clippers, cotton swabs, lotion, and more.
Employees worked together to assemble 600 kits that were delivered to shelters in our area:
Tracker’s Birthday!
Tracker, SNC’s first sponsored Canine Companions service dog, visited State National alongside his person, Tom! Employees gathered at Ledbetter Park to celebrate Tracker’s birthday and hear more about the life-changing journey we’ve followed since Tracker was born in April 2022.
Tom demonstrated some of the specialized commands Tracker uses daily to assist him, and we all enjoyed some special birthday treats (even Tracker — though not too many, so he could stay in top working form!).
May
Teacher Appreciation Week at KEYS High School
SNCares visited KEYS High School to provide snacks and drinks for the school’s dedicated and hard-working teachers. KEYS (which stands for “Keeping Eligible Youth in School”) supports at-risk students and those who have left school, providing them with an opportunity to complete their high school education through individualized instruction, self-paced coursework, and a supportive environment.
June
BEAM/SNCares Cookout Fundraiser
Our popular Juneteenth cookout returned for a third year as one of our most successful events. Employee volunteers teamed together to plan, cook, and serve a delicious lunch and raise funds to help support For Oak Cliff. Representatives from the nonprofit joined us to share more about their mission to provide solutions-driven programming to help solve the most pressing needs in the South Dallas community.
July
Supporting Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County
SNCares visited Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County and presented an SNCares/Markel Community Grant and school supply donations as the organization launched their new CIS Center for Student Support. The center offers school essentials, food assistance, therapy spaces, and laundry facilities for students and families in need.
SNCares Puppy Committee - New Puppy Announcement!
Rider is already on his journey to becoming a future service dog for a person with disabilities, with a projected graduation from Puppy Training to Service Dog Training in August 2026. Stay tuned for updates on Rider’s progress and milestones!
August
Give a Case of Water, Get a Snow Cone!
SNCares brought back its summer water drive for the Bedford Fire Department for the 3rd year, helping keep our local first responders hydrated during high-temperature conditions and providing vital bottled water for community members during emergencies.
Canine Companions Campus Visit
SNCares visited the Canine Companions South Central Training Center campus in Irving, TX, where their team demonstrated how service dogs are conditioned for their important work. These adorable “students” demonstrated skills from mastering specialized commands to navigating daily assistance tasks as they prepare for placement with adults, children, and veterans with disabilities.
Staff members and volunteers showcased their all-inclusive setup for dogs in training — including wash stations, training rooms, x-ray rooms, play areas, and on-site accommodations for the recipients and their families as they spend two weeks bonding with their new best friends 🐕🦺💓
September
SNCares Employee Survey
Our employees know their communities best, so we ask them directly which causes mean the most to them. Their input guides SNCares initiatives, making sure the work we do reflects the values and passions of the people who make State National what it is. This feedback is already inspiring our plans for 2026!
October
"Dog Therapy" at Employee Appreciation Week
During our annual Employee Appreciation Week, the SNCares Puppy Committee hosted visitors from Canine Companions’ therapy dog program, giving our hard-working team a chance to relax, connect, and learn more about the nonprofit’s service and therapy dog programs.
Pet Vaccine and Wellness Event
Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) visited our headquarters to provide affordable animal wellness services for local pets — including State National-sponsored free rabies vaccines for all dogs and cats! TCAP had a great turnout from SNC folks and the local community with a total of 89 pets receiving care and 68 rabies vaccines administered.
November & December
SNC Serve Days
SNCares encouraged individuals and departments to use their Volunteer Time Off (VTO) as we shared new opportunities in our community. Multiple departments served as a team together! Our team's efforts reached local nonprofits including One Tribe Foundation, Mission Arlington, 6 Stones, North Texas Food Bank, Tarrant Area Food Bank, GRACE Grapevine, and Wreaths Across America.
Many employees also took advantage of the Markel Match donation matching benefit to help their holiday giving stretch even further. By utilizing VTO and leveraging matching gifts, these generous individuals helped ensure that the final months of the year were some of our most impactful yet!
Grant Award – Hagar’s Heart
State National welcomed Hagar’s Heart to learn more about their mission to support, educate, and empower domestic violence survivors through self-care initiatives. Committee members presented an SNCares/Markel Community Grant to expand their team with a program coordinator to help organize and carry out the work they do in local shelters.
Grant Award – Pajama Rama
State National welcomed Pajama Rama to learn more about their mission to bring comfort and hope by gifting new pajamas to children impacted by hospitalization, homelessness, poverty, abuse, neglect, and trauma. Committee members presented an SNCares/Markel Community Grant in support of their “Comfort for Every Child” program expansion.
Grant Award – Don’t Forget to Feed Me
State National welcomed Don’t Forget to Feed Me to learn more about their mission to ensure families facing financial hardship don’t have to choose between feeding themselves and their pets by providing pet food through local distribution partners, while also educating the public about pet food insecurity.
Committee members presented an SNCares/Markel Community Grant in support of their “Feeding Pets in Difficult Times” initiative to provide pet meals to low-income/disadvantaged pet owners in need in Ellis, Tarrant, Denton, and Johnson counties.
Grant Award – Melville Family Foundation
State National welcomed the Melville Family Foundation to learn more about their mission to improve the lives of underserved children in the Dallas Metroplex by addressing food insecurity, expanding academic opportunity, and strengthening economic success. Committee members presented an SNCares/Markel Community Grant in support of their initiative to provide meals to low-income families with school-aged children.
Grateful for 2025, Excited for What's to Come
Thanks to the generosity of our amazing State National teammates, SNCares was able to lend a helping hand to so many last year. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up, pitched in, and donated in 2025. Let’s keep building on that momentum in the new year!
Stay updated with SNCares initiatives by following us on LinkedIn and Facebook, and by signing up to receive future SNC Spotlight communications. Here’s to another year of making a lasting difference — together!