400+ CSAA Insurance Group and AAA Arizona employees collect and sort crayons for kids

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., February 18, 2016 – Employees from CSAA Insurance Group and AAA Arizona are supporting The Crayon Initiative, a California-based nonprofit that collects and remanufactures unwanted crayons and donates them to children in local hospitals and art therapy programs. To commemorate The Crayon Initiative’s inaugural arrival in Arizona, more than 400 employees will volunteer in a company-wide crayon sorting and recycling event.
 
“AAA is pleased to welcome The Crayon Initiative to Arizona and to support the organization’s altruistic mission,” said Linda Gorman, director of communications and public affairs for AAA Arizona. “We recognize the importance of giving back to our community and are grateful for the opportunity to provide volunteer support for this worthy cause.”
 
The Crayon Initiative, established in 2014, collects discarded crayons from restaurants and other sources, remanufactures them and provides new packs to hospital pediatric wards. Crayons offer hospitalized children a creative outlet for self-expression, which may provide needed psychological support, alleviate feelings of anxiety, and contribute to maintaining a sense of childhood normalcy.
 
“The work we do has a significant impact on local communities, and we are excited to visit Arizona for the first time,” said Bryan Ware, founder of The Crayon Initiative. “Our mobile crayon recycling trailer advances our mission of ensuring that children have the tools they need to enjoy the healthful benefits of art and creativity, while reducing waste in landfills.”
 
Unwanted crayons collected by The Crayon Initiative also reduce negative impacts on the environment. Crayons are not biodegradable and create a waxy sludge that may not break down for centuries. To date, The Crayon Initiative has diverted nearly 750,000 crayons – thousands of pounds – destined for landfills.
 
“We are honored to volunteer for The Crayon Initiative alongside our AAA Arizona colleagues,” said Juleen Rohrbacker, CSAA Insurance Group site leader in Glendale, Arizona. “The Crayon Initiative is our volunteer partner of the year, and we are excited to introduce the mobile crayon recycling trailer to the Grand Canyon State.”
 
The Crayon Initiative event will be held on Thursday, February 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the CSAA Insurance Group Operations Center, located at 5353 W. Bell Rd, Glendale, AZ.
 
About The Crayon Initiative
The Crayon Initiative is a Northern California based-nonprofit devoted to promoting the arts for children by providing them access to the resources they need. We believe that in order to grow and learn, children need to have the freedom to be creative and express themselves through art. The Crayon Initiative organizes crayon collections that accept unwanted crayons, remanufacture them, and provide them to hospitals that are caring for our kids. For more information, visit www.thecrayoninitiative.org.

About AAA Arizona
AAA is the best roadside assistance solution, offering the fastest response times and highest satisfaction rates in the industry on average. The club responds to more than 450,000 calls for roadside assistance in Arizona every year. AAA Arizona provides automotive, insurance and travel services to more than 880,000 Arizonans. The club also provides discounts, financial services, driver training resources and is a leading advocate for motorists and travelers alike. Stay connected with AAA Arizona on the Web at AAA.com.

About CSAA Insurance Group
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members through partnerships with AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, CSAA Insurance Group is rated A+ by A.M. Best and is one of the top 20 personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company was also named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light in 2014.