$100 million new foundation in the footsteps of Tom Hagen’s legacy is rooted in a century of civic commitment
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Erie Insurance has announced the creation of a $100 million charitable foundation, a landmark initiative that cements the company’s longstanding commitment to community building, safety, and environmental responsibility.
The newly established Erie Insurance Foundation, funded by a $100 million endowment from Erie Indemnity Co. — the company’s publicly traded management arm — will serve as a vehicle for sustainable and long-term philanthropic giving. Its creation was officially unveiled on May 1, marking what may be the most enduring legacy of the company’s centennial celebration.
“At Erie Insurance, service has been central to our success for 100 years,” said Christy Blashock, the company’s Chief Diversity and Community Development Officer, who will also serve as the Foundation’s inaugural president. “We understand and embrace our great responsibility to help grow and develop communities where our own ERIE Family lives and works.”
While the Foundation will support communities across Erie Insurance’s 12-state and Washington, D.C. footprint, the company emphasized that Erie, Pennsylvania — its hometown and headquarters — will remain its primary focus.
According to company spokesperson Matthew Cummings, the Foundation’s investments will generate returns to fund charitable outreach, ensuring a steady and lasting source of support. “Charitable giving is part of our corporate culture and has been part of our DNA from our company’s inception more than 100 years ago,” he said.
The Foundation’s ethos is deeply tied to the vision of Thomas B. Hagen, former CEO and current Chairman of the Board of Erie Indemnity Company.
Hagen, a towering figure in Erie’s business and civic landscape, has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s culture of responsibility and service over the past seven decades.
Joining Erie Insurance in 1953, Hagen steadily rose through the ranks to become CEO and later chairman, guiding the company with a focus on ethics, long-term thinking, and community stewardship.
His leadership extended beyond the boardroom — as Pennsylvania’s former Secretary of Commerce, and as one of the city’s most generous philanthropists, Hagen has championed initiatives to revitalize downtown Erie, support higher education, and preserve regional history.
His transformative gifts helped establish the Hagen History Center, reinvigorated civic landmarks, and strengthened the city’s educational and healthcare infrastructure.
The Foundation’s structure and mission echo the same values Hagen has exemplified for decades.
The $100 million seed — representing $1 million for each year of Erie Insurance’s existence — also matches the largest known charitable gift in Erie history, rivaling a 2007 anonymous $100 million donation made through the Erie Community Foundation.
To put the scale in perspective, the new foundation surpasses by threefold the recent record-setting $35 million gift to Allegheny College, and is five times the size of the $20 million donation that launched Penn State Behrend’s Sam and Irene Black School of Business.
While the principal will remain invested to generate ongoing charitable funds, some of the Foundation’s grants will eventually replace previous direct contributions made by Erie Indemnity. Still, due to legal and operational reasons, some giving will continue under the company’s banner.
A year of community-focused events — including a large-scale tree planting — is planned to commemorate the company’s 100th anniversary. But the Erie Insurance Foundation is poised to serve as the most enduring symbol of the company’s legacy.
“Charity has always been at the heart of Erie Insurance,” said Blashock.
“A century later, these ideals remain central to who we are. This substantial seed gift, and the foundation itself, will provide support for charitable organizations well into the future.”
As Erie Insurance steps into its second century, the new Foundation reflects a culture of service shaped by leaders like Thomas B. Hagen, and a promise to uplift the community that helped it grow.