Mercury General (MCY) backs Ducks' Wing Leaders to spotlight Orange County volunteers

Mercury backs 'Wing Leaders' to spotlight grassroots service

Hall of Heroes partnership embeds Mercury in Orange County civic life

Mercury Insurance, part of Mercury General, is unveiling a community recognition program with the Anaheim Ducks that spotlights local volunteers and embeds the insurer more deeply in Orange County civic life. The Ducks Hall of Heroes, presented by Mercury, inducts six “Wing Leaders” whose volunteer work ranges from youth-focused drives to community outreach, and positions the insurer as an active partner in grassroots philanthropy rather than a distant corporate donor.

The initiative emphasizes public recognition, storytelling and ongoing partnership to raise the profile of small-scale projects that otherwise struggle for visibility. Executives frame the program as part of Mercury’s broader community-relations strategy, using its regional sponsorship with the NHL club to amplify the impact of individuals and groups that strengthen neighborhoods. Company officials say the effort is intended to spark additional volunteerism and donor activity by demonstrating how named recognition and a platform can help scale local efforts.

Mercury and the Ducks are also directing attention to youth-led projects and initiatives that engage younger volunteers, reinforcing the insurer’s community outreach priorities and consumer-facing brand values. The collaboration marries the Ducks’ local visibility and fanbase with Mercury’s marketing and corporate responsibility resources, creating a repeatable model for regional insurers seeking tangible social impact tied to sponsorships.

Community champions named, program goals

The inaugural class includes six 2025 Wing Leaders, among them 10-year-old Ace Christopherson-Bilbruck of Coto de Caza, who runs the Ace of Hearts Project delivering toys and letters to children in need, and Jacob Baruch of Long Beach/Santa Ana, founder of Project Coffee Cup. Mercury’s vice-president and chief marketing officer, Erik Thompson, says the inductees “don’t seek recognition — they see a need and take action,” and that Mercury is proud to spotlight people who improve lives and inspire others.

Chad Watson, vice-president of corporate partnerships for the Anaheim Ducks, says the Hall of Heroes recognizes compassion and resilience whose impact reaches beyond the rink. Both partners expect the program to provide ongoing visibility for grassroots projects, encourage volunteerism across Orange County and create opportunities to expand youth-focused initiatives through a consistent platform of storytelling and local engagement.