As a father of a son with special needs, Managing Director Mark Zwickel has devoted his free time to helping members of the neurodiverse community. Mark was the Pacific region’s winner of Lockton’s Community Impact Award and is donating the $25,000 grant to the Friendship Foundation.

The Friendship Foundation supports parents and families who have children and young adults with special needs by providing a safe, accepting and inclusive environment where they can enjoy sports, art, music and many other social and recreational programs with their peers (both neurodiverse and neurotypical).

Mark’s son, Jeremy, was one of the original eight children who participated in the Friendship Foundation programs when it began in 2005. Since then, he and his family have provided financial support, countless volunteer hours, community involvement and insurance consulting services to the organization.

This donation from the Lockton family will help fund construction of the brand-new Friendship Campus, which will provide skill building, vocational training, and job placement, giving students with special needs the tools to transform the workforce and find a lifelong passion and purpose.

Community is a key pillar at Lockton, showcased through the support of our local communities and the causes that our Associates are passionate about. Mark believes this award demonstrates how strongly Lockton focuses on and impacts the areas in which we work.

“This is something that everyone knows I am passionate about and have been involved with for almost 20 years. The fact that it is local, impactful and something I care so deeply about is rewarding,” he said. “It really shows the commitment of Lockton in helping support the community and the Associates' causes.”

After his years of work at Lockton and with the Friendship Foundation, this award allows Mark to grow his impact on the neurodiverse community and his commitment to helping those around him.

"With my retirement right around the corner, the timing could not be better. I have worked in this office for 28 years. I have seen us grow and have developed meaningful relationships with great people. To go out on such a high note by receiving this award with direct recognition on the importance of my work just emphasizes how much Lockton cares about giving back to the community.”