WPS publishes new Corporate Social Responsibility Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ryan Kanable
Communications Manager
608-345-0517
ryan.kanable@wpsic.com

WPS publishes new Corporate Social Responsibility Report
Company shares achievements during 2021

MADISON, Wis.—April 5, 2022—The 2021 WPS Health Solutions^® Corporate Social Responsibility Report is now available on wpshealthsolutions.com. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the major lines of business at WPS Health Solutions, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021, with a special emphasis on the people, pivots, and partnerships that helped keep the company successful over the last year.

“The report allows us to showcase our employees’ commitment to high ethical standards and conducting business with integrity. It helps anyone who is interested in WPS to get to know us a little better,” says DeAnne Boegli, Vice President of Communications.

“People, Pivots, and Partnerships” is the theme for the 2021 report. More than 75 years since its founding, WPS Health Solutions continues its work to protect the health and financial well-being of its customers through three lines of business: WPS Health Insurance^®, WPS Government Health Administrators^®, and WPS Military and Veterans Health^®, as well as two subsidiaries: WPS Health Plan, Inc. and The EPIC Life Insurance Company.

Employees of WPS Health Solutions aspire to do their best by exhibiting the company’s four core values: Individual Responsibility, Customer Focused, Mutual Respect, and Driven and Passionate. The mission of WPS Health Solutions is this: Together, making health care easier for the people we serve.

In 2021, WPS Health Solutions took steps to guard against bias and prejudice in the workplace, including a commitment from President and CEO Mike Hamerlik who joined more than 1,600 CEOs across America by signing a pledge for CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion™. The company also onboarded a new Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, who has helped advance diversity and inclusion work. During the year, a DEI Employee Council and a DEI Executive Council were created to assist with integrating DEI concepts into business practices throughout the company.

WPS Health Solutions received numerous awards in 2021, including being named a Top Workplace by the Wisconsin State Journal, making the Achievers’ 50 Most Engaged Workplaces list and its Elite 8 in the category of Culture Alignment, and winning Top Workplaces’ Culture Excellence Awards for Work Life Flexibility and Remote Work.

Despite a challenging economy, WPS gave charitable donations totaling more than $198,000 to 39 local and national organizations. The WPS Charitable Foundation donated more than $246,000 to 33 organizations.

About WPS Health Solutions^®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,700 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

©2022 Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Second Harvest is Providing $200k in Funding for Capacity-Building Grants to Improve Food Equity

MADISON, Wis., January 31, 2022 – Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin announced that they will be providing up to $200,000 in community-directed capacity-building grants to area groups or organizations. These grant dollars are available to advance efforts to increase food equity, as defined by our community. The overarching goal is to learn from and build long-term nutrition distribution strategies with racially diverse communities to address health disparities and advance food equity.

“Everyone in our community should have equitable access to nutritious and culturally-significant food,” said Second Harvest president/CEO Michelle Orge. “We’re excited to see and support the ideas that come from the groups and organizations who will apply for a grant. Their insights on how to increase food equity in our community will help us increase collaboration and strengthen our entire network”.

The grants are designed to increase the distribution of food to racially marginalized communities through new methods, increased product availability, and deeper collaborations.

To be considered for one of the capacity grants:

• Eligible applicants are designated as a registered 501c3 -or-
• Organizations, mutual aid groups, collectives, and tribal organizations that are fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 non-profit
• Applications should support community(ies) within the 16 counties in the Second Harvest service area
• Efforts should be led by, or conducted in partnership with, racially diverse communities impacted by food insecurity

Grant request submissions for a minimum of $2,500 up to a maximum of $75,000 will be accepted until 11:59 pm on March 14. Award amounts will vary according to the strength of the application’s focus on equity and access. Grant funds must be used between April 2022 – June 2023

For more information about the grant, including the grant application packet, visit SecondHarvestMadison.org/Grant.

WPS Health Solutions delivers treats to hospital workers to boost morale and encourage booster shots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS Health Solutions delivers treats to hospital workers to boost morale and encourage booster shots

MADISON, Wis.—Feb. 3, 2022—On Wednesday, Feb. 2, WPS Health Solutions delivered treats and healthy snacks to health care workers in Madison, Wis., to boost their morale and to shine a light on the importance of COVID-19 booster shots for everyone to promote public health.

WPS employees visited SSM Health St. Mary’s, UnityPoint Health-Meriter, and UW Health with baskets of goodies for health care personnel who continue to work through staffing shortages and large numbers of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. WPS encourages those who are eligible to receive a booster shot after they have completed their COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

“Booster shots are an important public health tool to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and we strongly recommend booster shots for all who are eligible,” WPS Health Insurance Medical Director Dr. Jonah Fox said. “Booster shots have been shown to increase protection against COVID-19 and decrease the likelihood of severe outcomes associated with the virus.”

The baskets of goodies were delivered to the 65 employees in the SSM Health St. Mary’s COVID-19 unit and 145 employees in the UnityPoint Health-Meriter intenive care and COVID-19 units. Over at UW Health, the snacks were dedicated to Peer Support Rounding, where trained peer supporters offer real-time, in-person support of clinical staff and physicians.​

“As COVID-19 surges again this winter, health care workers continue to battle through the pandemic,” WPS Director of Events and Strategic Partnerships Megan Willauer said. “We wanted to find a way to boost morale and encourage those who are able to get vaccinated or to get a booster shot to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

About WPS Health Solutions

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,800 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

©2022 Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Note: Photo shows health care workers from SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. WPS employees Breanne Ivens and Megan Willauer are in front.

NGL corporate and employee gifts total over $150,000 for United Way of Dane County

Madison, Wis. (January 11, 2022) – National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is pleased to announce that its 2021 sponsorships and corporate gift combined with employees’ personal pledges and donations totaled over $150,000 to support United Way of Dane County.

“United Way of Dane County is a powerful community organizer that is known for bringing people together to work toward changing lives and making a measurable impact. Giving back to our community is woven into NGL’s legacy and I’m proud our team members continue to support United Way because it’s an important component of who we are as a company,” said Knut Olson, NGL President & CEO.

For more than 70 years NGL has proudly partnered with and supported United Way of Dane County. Funding to United Way of Dane County is focused on the areas of education, income, and health with the goals to help build a community where everyone can succeed in school, work and life.

In addition to NGL’s corporate donation of $75,000 and employee payroll deductions, employees generously donate through fundraising events. Each year, the NGL employee campaign incorporates a variety of activities to donate to and participate in. The virtual employee fundraisers included bingo, trivia nights, silent auction and a fitness challenge.

Olson continued, “This has been another unpredictable and challenging year. Unfortunately, the educational and economic disparities in Dane County continue to grow during this unprecedented time. I’m grateful to everyone who stepped up to help make our annual campaign a success not only for NGL but for our community. I would like to extend my appreciation to all of our team members who donated and volunteered for our United Way campaign, our Loaned Executive and the remarkable team at United Way that equips us with the resources and tools needed to organize and coordinate our campaign.”

About United Way of Dane County

United Way of Dane County engages the community, mobilizes volunteers and strengthens local nonprofits to achieve measurable results and change lives. To learn more, visit UnitedWayDaneCounty.org. 

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is an insurance company headquartered 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. 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.

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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