Garden City Exec James C. Metzger Featured In LI Press

The CEO and chairman of The Whitmore Group, one of the largest New York City area independent insurance brokerages, is featured on the front page of the December issue of the Long Island Press. In a question and answer piece about holiday giving, James C. Metzger explains the importance of helping others at this time of year and throughout the entire year.

“When you give you get back a lot…on a lot of levels,” said Metzger, whose firm is located on Old Country Road in Garden City. “Emotionally, and, I think, mentally, it helps in more ways than one would imagine.”

Metzger’s business mantra is “Everything I ever needed to know about business I learned on the sports field.” His learning curve as a student-athlete also included the realization that many organizations benefit and the lives of people improve when others become involved in acts of kindness as volunteers and donors. Metzger was a three-sport (lacrosse, football and basketball) star at Half Hollow Hills East High School. He went on to star in lacrosse at Hofstra University before beginning his insurance career. He attributes his early business success to the support of the local funeral industry.

Supporting Local Communities

When asked about creating a giving program, Metzer’s advice is to start locally.

“Look around you,” said Metzger. “There’s no better place to start than in your own neighborhood. And then take it from there.”

In the Long Island Press feature, Metzger explains his giving philosophy to support the communities in which he and his team live and work. The article places the spotlight on Metzger’s personal and corporate philanthropic initiatives that include the many causes supported by the local funeral industry, whose directors are pillars in their communities.

Among the many other initiatives supported by Metzger and his company are the boys’ lacrosse program at his high school alma mater, sports and education programs at Hofstra and many other initiatives with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, The American Heart Association, Hempstead PAL Lacrosse and other organizations.