Insurance groups supporting "big brother" George

Former roofers Ken and Diane Hendricks, who own American Patriot Insurance Agency, Inc., have organized a fund and web site (www.ourbigbrothergeorge.com) to raise donations for a roofer and his family while he is on the CBS-TV series, Big Brother.

The roofer, George Boswell (www.bigbrother2000.com/NON/guest_profileG07.html), runs a one-man roofing operation in Rockford, IL, and was signed up by his three daughters for the show -- despite the family's limited finances.

While George is inside the Big Brother house and his family is without income, the Hendricks are rallying the roofing industry and others to help support George's family through the Our Big Brother George Fund. George's family will be presented with a matched gift every two weeks.

The fund will collect financial gifts from the web site, which ensures privacy and security, and also from in-store donation centers. The web site, which links to the official Big Brother site, will also act as a "George Fan Club."

The Hendricks will match -- up to $20,000 -- all funds raised for George and his family. The Hendricks owned the ninth largest roofing contracting firm in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, which they sold to open a roofing products distribution company called ABC Supply.

Other supporters of the Our Big Brother George Fund are Legion Insurance Company, Roofing, Siding & Insulation (RSI) magazine and Roofing Contractor magazine, Catalyst Internet, Inc., Kimball Communications, Don Millsaps & Associates, and Ecount.

Oak Brook, IL-based American Patriot Insurance Agency targets the roofing industry. ABC Supply is a roofing products distribution company and is located in Beloit, Wis.

The Hendricks sold their roofing business in 1983 to form ABC Supply, which was listed #3, #2 and #1 on the INC. 500 list of fastest-growing companies in 1984, 1985 and 1986 – a feat yet to be duplicated. In 1987, Ernst & Young named the Hendricks Entrepreneurs of the Year.

In 1993, the Hendricks formed American Patriot to provide roofers with an insurance alternative and, by 1998, it was listed as the country's fastest-growing insurance agency or carrier – and 168th overall. ABC Supply and American Patriot are just two of the Hendricks' five companies focused on the roofing industry.

Edited by Dave Willis
Managing Editor, PropertyandCasualty.com