When you think of corporate social responsibility, what first comes to mind might be a large corporation, like Tom’s Shoes, using its platform to help impoverished communities. Corporate social responsibility is the idea that businesses have a responsibility to help the communities around them. In addition to large corporations, local companies are also engaging in efforts to help their communities. Quest Insurance, founded by Sami Satouri, is an incredible example of local corporate social responsibility.  

Owner, Sami Satouri, founded Quest Insurance in 1992 after spending his earlier career in consulting. Quest insurance helps clients determine which individual, commercial, rental/ homeowner, or auto insurance is best for their needs. Quest also works with employers and employees to help companies determine what group benefits are best for both parties. Quest currently retains 13 employees and recently absorbed Dominion Eagle Insurance.  

Since Quest’s founding, Satouri prioritized helping the local community. He requires his employees to take on at least one non-profit client and values providing excellent non-profit risk management advice. His corporate social responsibility efforts largely began with Food for Others. He described “helping others and being there for them” as Quest’s motto.  

Satouri became involved with Food for Others during its inception in 1995. He started volunteering in food insecurity as a Lazarus at the Gate volunteer. Satouri initially volunteered due to his own childhood experiences, explaining that “[he] came to the country with practically nothing” and that “[he] remembers the days when [he] had challenges.” He shared that “[he] extracts so much joy from being involved with FFO” because “[he] see[s] how impactful it is.” While volunteering, Satouri assisted with food distribution and delivery. When Lazarus at the Gate closed in June 1995, Fairfax County, the Department of Community Action, and former Lazarus at the Gate volunteers, including Satouri, joined together to found Food for Others. One of Satouri’s responsibilities in the early days of Food for Others was to oversee the design of FFO’s logo.  

Later, as a Food for Others volunteer, Satouri delivered food to the Seven Corners distribution site. He described the USDA program in College Park and the delivery of quality produce as his favorite elements of Food for Others’ early programming. Satouri described his early work at Food for Others as a “labor of love,” happily sharing that “Quest Insurance, [his company] and Food for Others grew almost parallel to each other.” From 2000-2004, Satouri volunteered on the Food for Others Board. As a member of the board, he was especially passionate about increasing businesses’ roles in supporting Food for Others.  

By 2003, Satouri had participated in many golf fundraiser tournaments and had witnessed their success among the business community, so he encouraged Food for Others to introduce a golf tournament. He explained his thought process behind starting the golf event; “I’m an avid golfer, and I’ve attended many golf tournaments. Some non-profits were very successful with them. I figured the golfers were so committed, and that they would be interested in a Food for Others tournament.” The event started at the Herndon Centennial Golf Course in May of that year. The event continued through 2018, eventually moving to the Springfield Golf & Country Club Course. The golf outings raised between $15,000 and $25,000 for FFO. After 2018, Food for Others temporarily stopped hosting a golf tournament, but with the help of Satouri and his business contacts, Nate Davis and Jim Melvin, is bringing it back in May 2022. Thanks to their efforts, the event, which will be held at International Country Club, is already sold out with over 20 corporate sponsors.  

Food for Others is fortunate that so many businesses in Northern Virginia prioritize giving locally. Quest Insurance and Food for Others have partnered together for over two decades to fight food insecurity, and we’re thrilled to have Satouri’s continued support.