WPS Health Solutions awards 2023 community partnership funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WPS Health Solutions awards 2023 community partnership funding
New process provides $103,800 toward diversity, equity, and inclusion

MADISON, Wis.—June 27, 2023—This year’s WPS Health Solutions community partnership funding decisions have been made, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. To incorporate the unique talent and expertise of team members at WPS, its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team designed a new equitable process that actively involves employees in decision-making. This innovative approach ensures that WPS’ funding decisions reflect its dedication to fostering a more inclusive and representative future for all. 

For the first time in WPS’ history, the community partnership team put out an open call for applications in February, offering one-time grants ranging from $250 to $10,000 for qualified, tax-exempt organizations that support key drivers of social and health equity with a strong emphasis on mental health and the well-being of all communities.  

This year, WPS is awarding $103,800 among the following 31 organizations working to advance mental health and well-being, diverse and inclusive teams, and diversification of the company’s supply chain ecosystem.

• Access Community Health Centers, Inc.
• Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Inc.
• American Cancer Society
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross Wisconsin
• Bayview Foundation
• Breast Cancer Recovery
• Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center
• Bridges United Inc.
• Custom Canines Service Dog Academy
• Disability:IN Wisconsin
• East Madison Community Center
• Easter Seals Wisconsin
• Edgewood College
• First Tee – South Central Wisconsin
• Freedom, Inc.
• Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
• Friends of the Monona Senior Center
• Journey to Adult Success, Inc.
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Wisconsin
• Love Reigns Corporation
• Madison Public Art Project, Inc.
• Madison Public Schools Foundation
• Madison Reading Project
• Madison365
• Monona Grove Education Foundation, Inc.
• The Road Home Dane County
• Urban League of Greater Madison
• Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce
• Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce
• YWCA Madison

Opening the application process resulted in an increase in new organizations applying that may have never considered partnering with WPS in the past. One of the critical aspects of the new process is inviting WPS employees to share the application with their favorite nonprofits, resulting in applications from nearly 60 organizations across the U.S., geographically diversifying the pool of applicants. 

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.

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WPS Health Solutions CEO signs diversity and inclusion pledge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WPS Health Solutions CEO signs diversity and inclusion pledge
Company renews support for CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion^™

MADISON, Wis.—June 21, 2023—President and CEO Wendy Perkins has joined more than 2,400 Chief Executive Officers and Presidents across the nation to pledge action on supporting a more inclusive workplace for employees, communities, and society at large.

CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace.

“My vision of a truly thriving WPS hinges on fostering an environment where everyone can be their authentic selves and share their big, bold ideas freely,” Perkins said. “When we take a closer look, ‘thriving’ suggests growth, development, achievement, and fulfillment. There is ample evidence to prove that, if done right, organizations with diverse and inclusive teams outperform their peers. It’s undeniable that our potential for growth and profitability is deeply connected to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

In signing the pledge, WPS commits to:

• Cultivate workplaces that support open dialogue on complex and sometimes difficult conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion.  
• Implement and expand unconscious bias education. 
• Share best-known diversity, equity, and inclusion programs/initiatives—as well as those that have been unsuccessful. 
• Engage our Board of Directors when developing and evaluating diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.  

WPS’ previous President and CEO first signed the pledge in 2021, and Perkins has renewed that commitment. Click to see a list of other companies that have signed the pledge.

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 2,600 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 donates $188,000 so far in 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WPS Charitable Foundation donates $188,000 so far in 2023
Focus is on mental health, education, and underserved populations

MADISON, Wis.—June 7, 2023—So far in 2023, the WPS Charitable Foundation has donated more than $188,000 to local organizations that support mental health, education, and the essential needs of children, senior citizens, and veterans.

Organizations that received money from the Foundation this year include:

• Boulder Crest Foundation
• Edgewood College Foundation
• Mental Health America
• NAMI National
• PsychArmor
• United Way of Dane County
• Wisconsin Policy Forum
• WMC Foundation

“This year, our Foundation chose to redefine our giving strategy so that half of available funds support organizations that work to destigmatize mental health,” Moira Klos, the Foundation’s Vice President of Board of Trustees, said. “Removing stigmas makes it acceptable to acknowledge when the coping mechanisms people use are not working. It also helps individuals acknowledge the need to seek assistance in their mental health journey.”

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 that focuses on enhancing the communities we call home by supporting organizations focused on health and wellness, especially of women and children, seniors, military and veterans, and underserved populations. The Foundation also funds the Ray Koenig Memorial Scholarship program. Each year, the program makes educational opportunities available through scholarship awards to children of employees of WPS Health Solutions and its subsidiaries.

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Hy-Vee Awards $50,000 in Grants to Local Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses During Products, Services Showcase in Madison

Today, Hy-Vee, Inc. awarded $50,000 to local minority- and women-owned businesses during the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit at Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison. Today’s event was the fourth summit Hy-Vee has hosted in support of these business owners with access to funding and valuable business development resources. These summits are part of Hy-Vee’s ongoing commitment to diversifying its supplier base and product offerings, as well as supporting minority communities across its eight-state territory.

During the pitch competition component of the event, 13 companies from Wisconsin and surrounding states presented to a panel of judges and more than 200 event attendees. Each company leader was given the opportunity to demonstrate their product or explain their service for the chance to win a small-business grant from Hy-Vee. Local community business experts served as judges and selected the finalists from a pool of more than 90 applications.

Hy-Vee recognized the following businesses during its awards presentation for the pitch competition:

Grand Prize Winner – $30,000: FAVORYT Brand, Amy and Josh Woods, Seymour, WI
About: FAVORYT Brand manufactures natural body care products for sensitive skin. Products are designed to be compact and convenient for on the go.

Category: Food & Beverage
1st place – $5,000: Yips Snacks, Madison, WI
About: Yips Yogurt Chips are the first chips made from real Greek yogurt; no fridge required. Imagine a smoothie with all your favorite ingredients packed into sweet, crunchy chips.

Category: Innovation & Technology
1st place – $5,000: Altruize, Beloit, WI
About: Altruize is the first data management platform that is volunteer driven creating a centralized database with verified volunteer activities and easily accessible by all parties involved for seamless usage. 

Category: Health, Wellness, Beauty
1st place – $5,000: EverFit, Shawnee, KS
About: EverFit is a small gym that aims to make fitness fun! In additional to regular training, unique classes like the EverFit60 (20 mins each of Cycling, Boxing, and HIIT), and Sweat & Sip (Workout and Wine Tasting), and other pop-ups happen monthly to keep fitness top of mind. 

Luscious Beauty by Courtney (Madison, WI) and Valley Self Defense (Stillwater, MN) were named Judges’ Choice Winners and presented with smaller cash prizes for their business ventures.

In addition to the above winners, the following also participated in the pitch competition:

• Bear’s Bites, East Peoria, IL
• FlavR Beverage Company, Kansas City, MO
• theEATbar, Lake Forest, IL
• T-Rex Cookie, Eagan, MN
• FerskTech, Corcoran, MN
• Melanin Minded, Milwaukee, WI
• Nerdbugs, Madison, WI

The event featured an expo that offered resources for small businesses, learning opportunities through presentations and panel discussions, the chance to learn about local brands and more.

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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 285 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of more than $13 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 5 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 3 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 80,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.

Great Lakes Roofing Corporation Helps Open Camp Hometown Heroes in Time for Campers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2023

Contact: Tiff Brennan
(608) 402-6072
tiff@brandhouse.marketing

GLRC Helps Open Camp Hometown Heroes in Time for Campers

Campbellsport, WI – Great Lakes Roofing Corporation (GLRC), a leading provider in commercial and industrial roofing and 2022 Better Business Bureau Torch Award Recipient, served at Camp Hometown Heroes on May 15, 2023, in preparation for the summer camp’s seasonal opening. GLRC’s work honors the families of fallen US military personnel, a cause that is close to their hearts.

Camp Hometown Heroes is a non-profit organization that has been providing a free week-long overnight summer camp for children (aged 7 to 17) of fallen US military personnel for ten years. GLRC celebrates Camp Hometown Heroes’ mission to assist community building among peers, help them process grief, support the healing process, and know they are not alone.

“Many adults shouldering their own grief and new reality find it difficult to also help their kids navigate through. These children, grieving the loss of a parent or sibling, often feel alone in relation to other kids at school. Camp is here to help them realize there is a whole community of kids just like them, but they’re widespread. To achieve Camp’s unique mission, they fly kids in from all over the nation at no cost. This is a mission worth leaning into and supporting any way we can,” said Kris Moran, GLRC Marketing Director.

“We recognize that the loss of a parent is something like no other but the loss of a parent in a tragic and often sudden way is even harder for children to handle and fathom. The Camp Hometown Heroes program is designed to provide recreational programming with an embedded element of trauma-informed support throughout the experience. This includes art therapy, meditation, yoga, effective communicating surrounding grief and so much more. Further, we honor the fallen family members – the service men and women – throughout the week at camp in some very special ways so the kids can fondly remember their loved ones. While there are tears, this is the time in which the campers get to celebrate their loved ones and remember them fondly,” said Liz Braatz, Director of Development, Hometown Heroes, Inc.

Over 85 GLRC staff – from office and production teams – devoted their time cleaning the cabins, fixing roofs, clearing trails, and more, capping off the day with over 30 projects around the camp accomplished in time for the season opener.

“One of the projects that we finished was a rebuild of camp’s outdoor amphitheater seating, President of GLRC, Chris Lampien, recounts. “After removing the old splinter-ridden seats, we leveled all the stones and installed new wooden benches. Finally, we added our logo and signatures to the benches, so in a fun way our whole crew left our mark on camp! It was great to come together as a team to offer tangible support to all future Campers,” says Lampien.

GLRC also brought three pickup trucks full of much needed supplies for the summer camp, which they sourced with the help of their staff, the community, and their generous business partners through a donation drive. Snacks, art supplies and outdoor sporting gear were at the top of Camp’s wish list this year.

“These donated items are so greatly needed and appreciated. Art supplies allow us to conduct our art therapy programming and many of the other donated items, such as sporting gear is costly for our organization. Thanks to your donation, we are able to utilize our resources in other areas, such as flying in the children from other parts of the country to Wisconsin. Every donation to our small organization makes a big difference!” Braatz said.

Volunteering at Camp Hometown Heroes is among the many events that GLRC has planned during 2023 to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Living out their culture of community building, GLRC staff were eager to work together and contribute their time and skills to Camp Hometown Heroes’ mission.

“Everybody was working with smiles on their faces and enjoying the effort that they were putting in. Our office staff worked side-by-side with our production crews and got to know each other personally, which they loved because their daily tasks don’t often overlap. It was not only a great event to support a cause we’re passionate about, but also a great team bonding experience for our employees,” said Moran.

You can help too! Camp Hometown Heroes needs continuous support to carry out their mission. They are currently seeking staff and volunteers to help them run the camp 24 hours a day and fill roles like grief counselors and safety marshals. In addition, they are actively requesting donations and supplies to keep the camp running and fully stocked for their campers.

“Our organization thrives on the kindness of others. Volunteers who cook, clean, can do ground keeping work, laundry and assist in caring for the kids are treasured. Further, we sincerely love the kindness of volunteers who are also veterans. The campers really taking a kinship to those who have served and the veterans also get so much from helping the kids,” said Braatz.

For more information on how to volunteer, please contact Tommy Losch, Camp Program Director at losch@hometownheroes.org or visit camphometownheroes.org.

Headquartered in Germantown, WI, Great Lakes Roofing Corporation (GLRC) is a national award-winning roofing company providing commercial/industrial building owners with the solutions they need to keep their products and people safe. GLRC is celebrating 40 years as a quality roofing contractor that maintains its core values and family culture while providing clients with the safest and best services. GLRC’s mission is to be their clients’ trusted partner and first choice in roofing solutions. Learn more at www.greatlakesroofing.net.

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