Attic Angel Association celebrates 130th birthday year with release of book and LIFE IS A PLAYGROUND! event and fundraiser

For more information, contact:
Kelly.Cheramy@AtticAngel.org
608-662-8886

Madison’s historic Attic Angel Association of philanthropic women will celebrate its 130^th birthday by giving a gift to the greater community: a playground to support children affected by early trauma.

Just as the Attic Angels, back in 1898, invited the whole city to the University Armory (now the UW Red Gym) to have a good time and raise money to build Madison’s badly needed first hospital, today’s Angels repeat the call for the entire city to come together for a time of play and fundraising. This time, though, it’s a mostly-outdoor birthday party, themed Life is a Playground!, on the nonprofit Attic Angel Community campus, and their yearlong fundraising goal of $50,000 is for a playground that will serve homeless children and others enrolled at The Playing Field early learning center of Madison.

The birthday party will be Sunday, July 28, 2019, from 1 to 4 pm, kicking off with members of the UW Marching Band performing their famous 5^th Quarter. A map and listing of all activities is online at www.atticangel.org/130. Gifts to the fundraiser will be accepted at the July 28 event and now through December online at www.atticangel.org/130.

“Our fundraising and partnerships of the past and for this event reflect the building of our community, but the event itself is even more about community-building,” says Mary Ann Drescher, president/CEO of the nonprofit Attic Angel Association.

The sponsor lineup reads like a Who’s Who of Madison history: Wisconsin State Journal (1839), Gallagher Tent and Awning (1880), Findorff (1890), UnityPoint Meriter (1903), Smart Motors (1908), Klein-Dickert (1919),  Kessenich’s (1929), Summit Credit Union (1935), Chocolate Shoppe (1962), Culver’s (1984) and the nation’s oldest commercial playground manufacturer, Burke of Fond du Lac (1920). Businesses founded more recently also support the event.

The Association’s Madison roots run deep, as storied in the newly released commemorative book THE ONE AND ONLY: Attic Angel, a Madison Original Since 1889. It tells of two sisters whose concern for children blossomed into a 130-year tradition of philanthropy that shaped a city by focusing on improvements to health and well-being.

Today, more than 500 dues-paying volunteers from all walks of life make up today’s Attic Angel Association. Their mission is to identify community needs affecting children and seniors, and then do something about them. That pattern of progress is shown through their list of accomplishments and is reflected in the decision to raise The Playing Field’s need for a sensory playground to the level of being a fundraising focus for their milestone anniversary year.

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Attic Angel’s Contributions to the Madison of Today:

• 1898 – The Angels held their first charity ball in the UW Red Gym, raising the equivalent of $15,000 to help build Madison’s first hospital.
• 1899 – Madison’s first children’s library was the work of the Angels, who donated all their materials to the Madison Public Library when it opened a children’s reading room in 1902.
• 1903 – Madison General Hospital (now UnityPoint Health – Meriter) opened, and the Angels provided for and maintained the children’s ward.
• 1908 – Before organized health care, the Angels raised money to hire the city’s first nurse to serve Madison families. The Attic Angel Visiting Nurse Service is now known as SSM Health at Home.
• 1915 – The Angels began what became a network of well-child clinics and is today overseen by Public Health – Madison & Dane County.
• 1953 – Seeking better care for seniors, the Angels opened the city’s first non-government nursing home and set the gold standard for senior care. In 1975, they pioneered the idea of a “well-retirement” community in Madison. Their work lives on in the nonprofit Attic Angel Community of senior living and health care, located on the border of Madison and Middleton.
• 1969 – The Angels took up the cause of high-quality early education for low-income children by constructing and maintaining a building for a south Madison child care center. Now a charter school, it is known as One City Schools.
• The Angels’ affinity for playgrounds and parks comes from a desire for wellness. In 1908, they made possible the city’s first supervised playground at Burr Jones Field, in 1998 they made a large grant to help build Warner Park Community Center, and in 2019 they are raising money to build a sensory playground for children experiencing trauma and other challenges.

Additional Historical Links to Today:

• Charity Balls/Galas – The Angels may well have begun this tradition back in 1898!
• Historic Madison names of streets, parks and businesses have “Angel” in their DNA: Women from these families were members of Attic Angel Association: Atwood, Brittingham, Fairchild, Findorff, Kayser, Main, Proudfit, Rennebohm, Smart and Vilas. In addition, Sen. William Vilas is an honorary member of Attic Angel Association, along with General EE Bryant, who is the father of the two founders. Both of these men were influential Madison citizens whose own impact reached a federal level.
• The home of the founders (now called General Bryant Manor) still stands on Mansion Hill.
• The Bryant graves are in Forest Hill and Resurrection Cemeteries
• The Annie Stewart Fountain by Vilas Zoo, which has been a target for restoration, is linked to one of the very earliest Attic Angels.
• Angel Marge Davenport is a 50-year halo award honoree (Association member who has served half a century); she lives at Attic Angel Place and is still active as a volunteer after 54 years!

Causes:
Each year, Attic Angel Association selects a community issue to focus on and then, from the funds raised largely through their signature sales each year, awards grants to Dane County nonprofits that meet the outlined needs. 2019-20’s focus is support for families of children from birth to age 13 who are experiencing stress and trauma. In spring 2019, they provided nearly $220,000 in grants to Dane County nonprofits that serve children and seniors. Since recording began in 1983, their grants exceed $7 million.

Special Birthday Cause:
For Attic Angel’s 130^th anniversary year, they are adding a special cause: a playground that will meet the unique needs of homeless children and others enrolled in The Playing Field early learning center (www.playingfieldmadison.org). The Playing Field specializes in an approach to learning called Conscious Discipline®, and they are pioneers in trying to solve some societal issues based in homelessness and mental health issues.

The Angels invite the whole city and beyond to join in their mission by giving to this playground fundraiser: www.atticangel.org/130.

130^th Anniversary Commemorative Book:
To be released April 30, THE ONE AND ONLY: Attic Angel, a Madison Original Since 1889 is a beautifully written and designed tribute to our own local “American girl” story! It tells about two sisters whose concern for children blossomed into a 130-year Madison tradition of philanthropy and progress to benefit both children and seniors. You’ll also learn how they came up with their most unusual organizational name, and how it still applies today!

Record 2018 sales results posted for National Guardian Life Insurance Company

Madison, Wis. (April 2, 2019) – Madison-based mutual life insurance company National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) and its subsidiaries, Settlers Life Insurance Company located in Bristol, Va. and Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company located in Utica, N.Y., reported a record sales year of $838 million in 2018, which is an increase of seven percent over 2017.

2018 marks the beginning of a transition for NGL. President & Chief Executive Officer Mark L. Solverud announced his retirement. After conducting a nationwide search, the NGL Board of Directors appointed Knut A. Olson as President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 3, 2019.

“I am excited to join an organization well-positioned for the future. The 2018 sales results contributed to the growth of the consolidated statutory assets to $4.5 billion. On a consolidated statutory basis, NGL had a net gain of $37 million which is a very solid result given the pressure that low investment rates continue to place on our operating performance. Solid sales confirm we are meeting important insurance needs in the marketplace today and allow us the flexibility to make choices that will ensure the long term financial strength of our organization,” said Olson.

NGL’s largest business line from a sales standpoint is preneed insurance. Sales in this line of business were $452 million. Sales were also strong in the Individual Life & Annuity line of business, totaling $137 million, up 16 percent over 2017. The final expense insurance sales through NGL’s subsidiary Settlers Life Insurance Company totaled $11.0 million. NGL’s Group Market’s line of business (group accident and health) totaled $237 million, an increase of 16 percent over 2017. The Group Markets business includes student accident and health insurance marketed by NGL’s subsidiary Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company.

“We are extremely grateful for our 1.2 million policyholders who place their trust in NGL and our subsidiaries. We are also thankful for our thousands of sales representatives, marketing partners and more than 400 employees,” said Olson.

A complete 2018 Annual Report is located at: https://nglic.com/About/Financial-Information

These financial indicators reflect a financially strong company, as does NGL’s A- (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best Company, the leading provider of ratings and financial data for the insurance industry.

About NGL

Since 1910, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), a mutual insurance company, has been located in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products including specialty and student insurance. Additional information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company

About Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company

Since 1883, Commercial Travelers has provided coverage for student accident, health and special risk markets to students in K-12 through college, school sports, and special risk coverage. Located in Utica, N.Y., NGL entered into an affiliation with Commercial Travelers in 2012. In 2017, CT was approved by NY to be demutualized and became a wholly-owned stock subsidiary of NGL. For more information, visit www.commercialtravelers.com.

About Settlers Life Insurance Company

A member of NGL group of companies since 1999, Settlers Life Insurance Company is located in Bristol, Va. Additional information about Settlers Life can be found at www.settlerslife.com.

NGL reported $4.1 billion in consolidated liabilities for 2018. Financials current as of 12/31/18. Ratings current as of 02/21/19.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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Contact:                      Maria Lubick

(608) 443-5284

mdlubick@nglic.com

Online newsroom:      nglic.com/newsroom

A.M. Best Reaffirms A- (Excellent) Rating of NGL

Madison, Wis. (March 25, 2019) – National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is pleased to announce that A.M. Best has reaffirmed its A- (Excellent) rating effective February 21, 2019. This rating reflects the excellent ability of NGL to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations and further attests to its financial strength.

“The A- Excellent rating is a strong indicator of our financial strength and demonstrates our commitment to over 1.2 million policyholders, 28,000 independent agents and nearly 400 employees who depend on NGL. With more than 100 years in the industry, NGL continues to prove it is a reliable insurance company that exceeds expectations,” said Derek Metcalf, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at NGL.

A.M. Best also reaffirmed the A- (Excellent) ratings for NGL subsidiaries, Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company located in Utica, N.Y. and Settlers Life Insurance Company, located in Bristol, Va.

A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating information source. The financial strength rating is based on a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company’s balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile.

As a longtime leader in the insurance industry, NGL is dedicated to serving policyholders and partners by offering high-quality products that are among the safest and most stable in the industry.

To learn more about NGL’s financial strength and stability, download the 2018 Annual Report. For the latest rating, access www.ambest.com.

About NGL

Since 1910, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), a mutual insurance company, has been located in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products including specialty and student insurance. Additional information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company

About Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company

Since 1883, Commercial Travelers has provided coverage for student accident, health and special risk markets to students in K-12 through college, school sports, and special risk coverage. Located in Utica, N.Y., NGL entered into an affiliation with Commercial Travelers in 2012. In 2017, CT was approved by NY to be demutualized and became a wholly-owned stock subsidiary of NGL. For more information, visit www.commercialtravelers.com.

About Settlers Life Insurance Company

A member of NGL group of companies since 1999, Settlers Life Insurance Company is located in Bristol, Va. Additional information about Settlers Life can be found at www.settlerslife.com.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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Profitability Persists for InfoSec Institute

MADISON, Wis., Feb. 5, 2019 –InfoSec Institute, the leading provider of IT security education and workforce security awareness training, today reports a 24 percent revenue increase over last year, leading to the 18th consecutive year of profitability. Today’s announcement highlights significant revenue growth, product development achievements and staff expansion in 2018.

“Our continued success is based on relentless client focus and culture of responsiveness,” said Jack Koziol, CEO of InfoSec Institute. “Nobody in the business can match our team’s passion for providing the best cybersecurity education platforms. I’m stoked to see what 2019 will bring.”

Both of the company’s business lines, SecurityIQ security training and awareness and InfoSec Flex professional IT and security education, showed impressive gains.

SecurityIQ — three million cyber-resilient learners

SecurityIQ experienced record growth, achieving a 115 percent year-over-year increase in clients and 38 percent revenue growth. More than three million learners using the platform are now more cyber resilient, helping to keep private information secure. SecurityIQ has the most comprehensive education program to help organizations and their employees stay ahead of cybercrime — with more than 900 learning modules and 1000 phishing templates designed for easy program customization. 2018 SecurityIQ achievements include:

• Hundreds of new education assets — expanded Security Awareness Content Library keeps employees cyber-sharp with new training resources for privacy and data protection, BEC, GDPR, HIPAA compliance, security champions and much more for professionals in IT, healthcare and K-12 education, among others

• SAI Global partnership — new strategic alliance links the SecurityIQ training platform with SAI Global’s SAI360 software enabling a modern approach to detecting and reducing digital risk

• InfoSec Institute Partner Program — new program for managed services providers (MSPs), value-added resellers (VARs) and OEMs diversifies partners’ security portfolios along with dedicated channel sales support, marketing resources and training

IT and Security Pros Choose Training When It’s Convenient for Them

In 2018, more than 10,000 IT and security professionals enrolled in InfoSec Institute’s flagship Flex training and certification courses — a 33 percent increase over the previous year. June saw the release of InfoSec Flex Pro, the Institute’s next generation of award-winning online training. Flex Pro courses are designed for today’s busy professionals with courseware personalized to how, when and where they learn best.

Staffing Doubles to Meet Growth

To accommodate its accelerated growth, InfoSec Institute added staff across all departments — doubling headcount to 150 employees last year and opening a second Madison sales office at 222 W. Washington St.

InfoSec Institute Scores Industry Recognitions

In addition to recently being named a Gartner Peer Insights Customer’s Choice for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training in January 2019, the company earned top industry recognitions in 2018:

• Named a Challenger in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-based Training

• Named to Trainingindustry.com’s Top 20 IT Training Companies for the eighth consecutive time
• Recognized as the Security Training & Education Program Gold Winner in Info Security Products Guide’s 2018 Global Excellence Awards

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About InfoSec Institute

InfoSec Institute fortifies organizations of all sizes against security threats with award-winning information security education. Recognizing cybersecurity is everyone’s job, the company provides skills development and certification training for IT and security professionals while building the entire workforce’s security aptitude through awareness training and phishing simulations. Recognized as a Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training, InfoSec Institute is also a Training Industry “Top 20 IT Training Company” and the Security Training & Education Program Gold Winner in Info Security Products Guide’s Global Excellence Awards.

About Peer Insights:

Peer Insights is an online platform of ratings and reviews of IT software and services that are written and read by IT professionals and technology decision-makers. The goal is to help IT leaders make more insightful purchase decisions and help technology providers improve their products by receiving objective, unbiased feedback from their customers. Gartner Peer Insights includes more than 70,000 verified reviews in more than 200 markets. For more information, please visit www.gartner.com/reviews/home.

Gartner Disclaimers

Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

TCARE Family Caregiver Solution Awarded $900,000 Contract by Washington DSHS

Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has partnered with TCARE, Inc. to expand their Family Caregiver Support Program. This $900,000, multi-year contract is just one instance of a long and prosperous relationship between the state of Washington and TCARE. As one of TCARE’s original research partners, TCARE saved the state’s Medicaid budget over 20 million dollars by reducing Medicaid LTC claims by 20% and delaying nursing home placement by 21 months.

Initially developed at the UW-Milwaukee by renowned gerontologist Dr. Rhonda JV Montgomery, Ph.D. — TCARE’s evidence-based approach reduces family caregiver burnout through precision-targeting and mapping of interventions in a proven technology platform. TCARE is currently implemented in over 250+ organizations in 22 states, impacting the lives of over 100,000+ family caregivers. TCARE’s technology solution is comprised of intelligent algorithms, data prediction models, and analytics that pull Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) data, creating innovative LTSS and LTC population health risk management solutions. Partners of TCARE include Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), Medicare Plans, Medicaid Managed LTSS plans, and State Government Agencies.

Once again recognizing the need to better serve family caregivers before they consider placing their loved ones in a long term care facility, the Washington Legislature expanded their state-wide Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) to serve more caregivers by increasing its funding in 2011 and 2012. The additional funding provided by the Washington State Legislature in the fiscal year 2012 was also used to conduct a review of the FCSP by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP). The review confirmed that family caregivers who participated in the full TCARE protocol and then continued to be served through the FCSP six months later demonstrated positive changes. These positive changes remained consistent over the six-month measured period, despite an increase in assistance needed by their care receivers. Caregivers in Washington state who received the TCARE intervention demonstrated lower levels of objective burden, stress burden, identity discrepancy, and depression.

About TCARE

TCARE’s technology is an award-winning, evidence-based family caregiver support solution that uses precision targeting & mapping of resources to reduce family caregiver burnout. TCARE’s technology comprises state-of-the-art intelligent algorithms, data prediction models and analytics that pull Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) data creating innovative LTSS and LTC population health risk management solutions.

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Phone: 913.626.5595
Email: sarah@tailoredcare.com

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