WPS Health Solutions donates to assist Afghan refugees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WPS Health Solutions donates to assist Afghan refugees

MADISON, Wis.—Sept. 21, 2021—WPS Health Solutions recently donated $2,500 in support of Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy in Monroe County. In addition, WPS employees throughout Wisconsin made a substantial number of individual donations of clothing and supplies at WPS facilities and via an Amazon list set up by Team Rubicon, a national organization that mobilizes veterans to provide disaster relief. Team Rubicon collected the donations Monday at the National Guard Armory in Sparta.

Initially, the money and donations will support the efforts of Team Rubicon to meet the humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees. Donations collected by WPS were dropped off at the Sparta Armory.

“We’re proud to support these Afghans who helped our military during our years in Afghanistan,” said Tim La Sage, Military and Veteran Inclusion Lead at WPS. “They were our allies there and it’s our turn to be their allies here.”

WPS has also partnered with the Milwaukee Harley-Davidson Museum and Concerned Veterans for America to collect donations. Additional donations of goods will go to support refugees through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, which delivers directly to Fort McCoy.

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 3,100 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.

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30 interns at WPS Health Solutions ‘Pay it Forward’ through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

30 interns at WPS Health Solutions ‘Pay it Forward’ through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives

MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 25, 2021—The 12-week summer internship program at WPS Health Solutions was held virtually for the second year, concluding at the end of August.

This year’s program was led by Casey Schmidt, Corporate Recruiter-Internship Coordinator, and Talent Acquisition Director Tina Wallace. 

Each year, the interns are tasked with a Pay it Forward project as a part of their overall responsibilities, something they can leave for the next class of interns or other employees at WPS. After an extraordinary year of social unrest, the 2021 class decided to take a deep dive into the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at WPS.

The students researched, explored, and made recommendations to expand the existing DEI programs. Working hand-in-hand with different departments and Jihan Bekiri, Vice President of DEI, they evaluated current initiatives, sought out gaps or places for opportunity, researched, and prepared recommendations.

The interns identified four areas of interest: Employee Resource Groups, Mentorship and Sponsorship, Military and Veteran Inclusion Strategy, and Diverse Talent Partnerships. Then, the interns divided into four teams and designed a well-researched presentation that they presented to WPS leadership.

“Working on the project with the rest of my intern class was super rewarding,” said Erica Casper, Marketing and Communications Intern. “All summer, we researched and put together an hour and a half presentation on four different initiatives to learn about and improve the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at WPS. DEI is such an important topic, and I am super proud to be able to contribute my ideas and research.”

Bekiri commented on their work, “I am incredibly proud of our summer interns and appreciate the recommendations they have provided. Their thorough research, thoughtful approach, and relevant perspectives will be critical in informing our DEI journey—we will be a stronger, more inclusive WPS because of their guidance.”

The Pay it Forward project is just one part of the internship program. WPS interns focused on:

• Gaining skills in their functional area of study.
• Gaining exposure to a corporate culture through professional development trainings hosted by the Talent development team, Executive Speaker Series, and daily meetings.
• Gaining project management and team-building skills by working on the Pay it Forward project.
• Gaining public speaking and leadership skills by presenting their projects to their managers and the executive team.

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 3,100 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.

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WPS Charitable Foundation helps raise money for Wayne D. Horner Memorial Stand Down Madison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WPS Charitable Foundation helps raise money for Wayne D. Horner Memorial Stand Down Madison

MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 10, 2021—WPS Charitable Foundation is a Diamond-level sponsor and the hole-in-one sponsor for Stand Down Madison’s inaugural golf outing on Saturday, Aug. 14. The fundraising event takes place at Bridges Golf Course, 2702 Shopko Drive, Madison. Shotgun start is at 9 a.m.

“Stand Down Madison’s mission to provide relief to veterans experiencing homelessness and its success is dependent upon its relationships with community partners,” Angie Nickels, President of Stand Down Madison, said. “We are grateful for the continued support of WPS Health Solutions.”

The funds raised at this event will help provide relief to Wisconsin’s veterans who are experiencing homelessness. There is still time to sign up to participate in the Stand Down Madison golf tournament.

• Register a golf team at standdownmadison.org/golf-outing-sign-up-form
• Sign up to be a golf event volunteer at: standdownmadison.org/golf-outing-volunteer-form

“At WPS, we seek to partner with organizations that have a strong affinity to our mission of helping veterans get needed health care,” said Scott Kowalski, WPS’ Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications. “Stand Down Madison’s compassionate care of veterans experiencing homelessness is a cause we are proud to support.”

The main Stand Down Madison event is Oct. 9, 2021. Vendors can register online at standdownmadison.org/become-a-vendor. Volunteers can sign up to help at standdownmadison.org/volunteer.

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 3,100 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.

About the WPS Charitable Foundation

The WPS Charitable Foundation was formed in 1986 to honor WPS’ first president, Ray Koenig. The Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization separate from WPS Health Solutions and its subsidiaries.

Photo caption:
WPS Charitable Foundation presents a $5,000 check to Stand Down Madison. Pictured (l. to r.) are: Scott Kowalski, WPS Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, and Stand Down Madison representatives Angie Nickels, President, Angie Chesna, Vice President, Sheila Frye, Secretary, and Ted Bendler, Treasurer.

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UScellular Committing $100,000 to Support STEM Education Through DonorsChoose

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Study: Half of Parents Think Remote Learning Negatively Impacted Their Child
UScellular Committing $100,000 to Support STEM Education Through DonorsChoose

MADISON, Wis. (June 16, 2021) – The COVID-19 pandemic created a tumultuous landscape in education for students and teachers who juggled the everchanging in-person, remote and hybrid learning models. These unexpected barriers led UScellular to commit $100,000 to DonorsChoose to support teachers and their students this summer to help them prepare for the next school year. DonorsChoose is a non-profit organization that connects public school teachers with interested donors who want to support classroom projects.

In May 2021, UScellular, surveyed parents[1] regarding their child(ren)’s learning during the pandemic. The results showed:

• Half of parents think remote learning negatively impacted their child’s learning
• 1 in 4 parents feel their child needs tutoring over the summer
• Nearly 50% of parents would be interested in extra assistance for their child

“Parents and youth have experienced tremendous effects on education as a result of the pandemic,” said Deirdre Drake, executive vice president and chief people officer at UScellular. “By teaming up with DonorsChoose, we’re addressing gaps in STEM education and helping educators receive vital funding to prepare youth for the careers of today and the future.”

Teachers are able to request funding for their classroom projects by visiting DonorsChoose.org/teachers.  While funds last, UScellular will provide a 1:1 funding match for classroom projects that are within the regions that UScellular serves, $1,000 or less and have a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) focus. To provide better accessibility and equity to STEM learning, classrooms that receive UScellular funding will be in communities where 90% or more of the students are from low-income households. The $100,000 donation from UScellular will take place this summer to help teachers prepare for the return of students to classrooms in the fall, with 10% of the funding going towards projects that directly address summer school needs. According to a recent DonorsChoose survey, technology materials are in highest demand for both in-person and remote instruction.

“Our company cares passionately about our local communities,” continued Drake. “It’s through organizations like DonorsChoose that we’re able to build better communities and support educators who are critical to the success of youth across the country.”

UScellular has a longstanding commitment to supporting its local communities through donations and volunteerism. Since 2009, the company has donated more than $20.7 million along with countless experiences and technology items to nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information about UScellular’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, please go to https://www.uscellular.com/get-to-know-us/community-outreach.

About UScellular

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier is building a stronger network with the latest 5G technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with UScellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

About DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, 4.8 million people and partners have contributed $1 billion to support 1.9 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability. For more information, visit www.donorschoose.org.

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[1] April 2021 C+R Research: 150 online interviews were conducted among parents and/or guardians of children ages 4-17 who attended any form of remote learning since March 2020.

UScellular Donates $30,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

Wireless Carrier’s Grant Focuses on Education and Inspiring Interest in STEM-centered Careers

Madison, WI (May 13, 2021) – UScellular has announced a $30,000 investment in Boys & Girls Club of Dane County to provide educational opportunities and experiences to local youth. UScellular’s investment supports K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and academic enrichment programs for members at the Club. This is part of a $1 million donation the company made to support 20 Boys & Girls Clubs across its service areas.

This continued emphasis on STEM learning and experience is designed to prepare students of today for careers of tomorrow, inspiring children to explore STEM careers and opportunities for their future.

“As America’s locally grown wireless carrier, supporting local educational initiatives like the Boys & Girls Clubs’ STEM programming is in UScellular’s DNA,” said Christine Paulsen, Director of Sales for UScellular in Wisconsin. “It is our goal that through new learning opportunities, Boys & Girls Club of Dane County members will dream big and apply what they learn towards their future careers.”

“We are thrilled to work with UScelluar once again to support STEM education for kids across the country,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Now more than ever, kids need caring mentors and safe places where they can learn, grow and have fun. Through UScellular’s support, even more youth will experience new opportunities through impact-driven programming that will inspire and empower them to achieve great futures.”

UScellular associates didn’t let a pandemic stop them from donating their resources in 2020. The company’s associates took part in a variety of virtual volunteer activities, participating in more than 2,000 volunteer experiences to give back throughout the year. They also donated $250,000 to more than 500 organizations, which was then doubled by UScellular through its donation matching program.

UScellular has a longstanding commitment to supporting its local communities through donations and volunteerism. Since 2009, the company has donated more than $20.7 million along with countless experiences and technology items to nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information about UScellular’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, please go to https://www.uscellular.com/get-to-know-us/community-outreach.

About UScellular

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier is building a stronger network with the latest 5G technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with UScellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

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For more information, contact:
Julie Embling, Public Relations Counsel
630-388-9933 (cellphone)
jembling@laughlin.com