--- title: Groden Network Community Business Award Goes to Beacon description: Learn why Beacon and our VP of Underwriting, Agent Distribution & Premium Audit, William Gross, received the 2023 Groden Network Community Business Award. image: https://blog.beaconmutual.com/hubfs/Groden%20Award%201140x546.webp --- [Skip to Main Content](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/groden-network-community-business-award-goes-to-beaconss-award#body-content) - [Make a Payment](https://www.beaconmutual.com/payments/) - [Report an Injury](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/report-an-injury/) - [Contact](https://www.beaconmutual.com/contact/) - [Careers](https://www.beaconmutual.com/about/careers/) - [Help](https://help.beaconmutual.com/) [Online Portal Login](https://www.beaconmutual.com/portal) [![Beacon Mutual](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/hubfs/Beacon_Mutual_v2_Files/logo.svg)](https://www.beaconmutual.com) - [Employers](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/groden-network-community-business-award-goes-to-beaconss-award#0) Show submenu for "Employers" - [Policyholders](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/groden-network-community-business-award-goes-to-beaconss-award#0) - [Report an Injury](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/report-an-injury/) - [Manage Claims](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/manage-claims/) - [Why Beacon Mutual?](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/why-beacon-mutual/) - [Massachusetts Coverage](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/massachusetts/) - [Connecticut Coverage](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/connecticut-coverage/) - [Small Business](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/small-business/) - [Workers’ Compensation 101](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/wc101/) - [Premium Audit](https://www.beaconmutual.com/premium-audit/) - [Beacon Pay As You Go (PYG)](https://www.beaconmutual.com/pyg/) - [Temp and Leasing Agencies](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/temp-agencies/) - [Recursos en Español](https://www.beaconmutual.com/workers/ayudandole-a-mejorar/) - [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](https://www.beaconmutual.com/employers/employer-faq/) - [Get Insurance](https://www.beaconmutual.com/get-started/) - [It's easy to get workers' compensation for Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut business. 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The event, hosted at Farm Fresh RI, highlighted the collaborative efforts of individuals and organizations working together to assist those with autism and developmental disabilities. We are honored to share that on September 28th, Beacon and our Vice President of Underwriting, Agent Distribution & Premium Audit, William "Billy" Gross, received the prestigious 2023 Groden Network Community Business Award. “Beacon Mutual Insurance and Billy Gross' commitment to autism awareness and their continued support of our programs is why we have awarded them this year's Business Award,” said Hope Cahill, Groden Network’s Marketing Coordinator. In January of this year, Beacon hosted a "lunch and learn" event for our employees that featured a thought-provoking discussion with Groden Network CEO, Michael Pearis. This event also included a screening of the film "In a Different Key," a documentary that sheds light on the life of the first person diagnosed with Autism. By providing this educational opportunity, we aimed to increase awareness and understanding of autism within the community. In June, for Beacon's [annual employee volunteer week](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/beacons-week-service-2023), Gross rallied a group of employee volunteers to rejuvenate The Groden Network's Community and Home Therapeutic Services office. This transformation included a fresh coat of paint and the creation of chalkboard walls, which have helped to create a more welcoming and interactive environment for the clients. What makes this project truly special is the active participation of the young clients themselves, who contributed their artistic talents by painting a mural, infusing their unique essence into the space. ![Groden lunch and learn](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Groden%20Visit%20400x400%20webp.webp?width=400&height=400&name=Groden%20Visit%20400x400%20webp.webp)Most recently, in October, Beacon and Groden partnered together for another lunch and learn event. A group of Groden clients and staff visited and toured Beacon’s corporate location in Warwick. The group not only toured the building but learned about Beacon’s mission, vision & values, and various jobs that one could hold at Beacon. Beacon employees and the group from Groden ended the day by having lunch together! "Partnering with the Groden Network during Learning Disability Awareness Month has been mutually beneficial. Our employees learned about and celebrated neurodiversity, while the Groden clients experienced a corporate environment, interacted with our employees, and asked questions. I hope this experience has planted a seed, inspiring them to harness their unique abilities for positive contributions in similar work settings in the future," said Shanna Ferguson, Beacon HR Generalist and Co-Chair of Beacon's DEI Committee. Our commitment to DEI is not just a buzzword; it's a lived experience that permeates every aspect of our business. To learn more about how Beacon is fostering DEI and its impact on our path to success, we invite you to explore our most recent blog post, [Fostering DEI: Your Path to Company Success](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/fostering-dei-your-path-to-company-success).  "Receiving this esteemed award from The Groden Network is a profound honor, as it signifies the harmonious intersection of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including our unwavering dedication to neurodiversity. This recognition reinforces Beacon's belief that by fostering an inclusive environment and supporting neurodiversity, we can create a more compassionate and equitable society where every individual, regardless of their unique abilities, can thrive and contribute," said Gross. In closing, we are deeply honored to receive the 2023 Groden Network Community Business Award. Our commitment to autism awareness, community engagement, and ongoing support of The Groden Network's programs reflects our belief in the positive change that can occur when community partners unite for a noble cause. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Groden Network for this recognition and commend their efforts in creating a more inclusive and compassionate community. ![Beacon Mutual](https://blog.beaconmutual.com/hubfs/BeaconMutual_symbol_color.png) Written by Beacon Mutual Focused on What Matters Most... 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