Broadjam: MAMA Cares Musician Relief Fund

Emergency funding for Madison-area performing musicians impacted by loss of income due to COVID-19

Musicians in the Madison area and across the country were some of the first and hardest hit as COVID-19 swept in with social distancing and caused the cancellations of thousands of gigs for area freelance artists. We all feel the anxiety caused by the difficult conditions and uncertainty about the gradual and ongoing move to a “new normal” in the current and post-pandemic era.  

As summer arrives and event and performance cancellations continue and escalate, the MAMA Cares COVID-19 Relief Fund has been created to provide temporary financial assistance to members in need. The initial fundraising goal for the fund is $250,000.

The Fund will provide monetary awards to self-employed and independent contractor musicians living in the Madison region who are losing work and wages due to COVID-19. Awards will be made based on applications received and resources available.  Applications will identify those most in need with preference to the unemployed. Eligibility for funds will follow the Madison Area Music Association eligibility rules.

We know that the need will be greater than the resources available, but this effort will demonstrate how much Madison values musicians’ well-being and looks forward to enjoying local music at our favorite bars, festivals, and outdoor venues as the pandemic eases. 

APPLY FOR FUNDS HERE: www.themamas.org

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM ON SATURDAY JULY 25, 2020.  We anticipate transferring funds to awardees by August 31, 2020. 

We need your help to serve as many musicians as possible. MAKE A DONATION HERE: 

• through PayPal: MAMACARES@THEMAMAS.ORG
• Send donations by mail:

MAMA Cares Musician Relief Fund

P.O. Box 8754

Madison, WI 53708

MAMA CARES MUSICIAN RELIEF FUND is an independent program under the fiscal sponsorship of the Madison Area Music Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered with the State of Wisconsin and the IRS. Partners in this effort include Broadjam, Inc., City of Madison Arts Commission, and Arts Wisconsin.  All donations are eligible for tax deduction.

Timeline

Now to June 28 – Build community partnerships

June 28 – Public announcement and start of run-up to Online Day of Giving

July 16-21 – Online Day of Giving Thursday, July 16

Mid-to-End of August – Funds Distribution 

Old National Opens New East Towne Branch, $500 Donation and $1,000 Give Away Planned

Madison, Wis. (July 8) – After more than a year of construction, Old National Bank (ONB) has opened their doors on a new bank branch at 4708 East Towne Boulevard in Madison. The newly renovated space is 3,250 square feet and has a new tandem-style drive-up.

The Banking Center utilizes a new concierge model of banking. In the concierge model, each representative in the branch assists the client with their needs from start to finish rather than moving from teller to specialist to loan officer. There is an ATM on-site and computers for individuals who prefer to be self-directed. The branch has an open concept design that is intended to be more interactive and provide the technology experiences consumers seek. The former bank branch was razed and a new one was built on the same site.

As part of the grand opening celebration, a $500 donation was made to the East Madison Community Center (EMCC) in honor of the new location. Branch staff regularly volunteer at the EMCC Food Pantry.

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Basecamp Fitness to Open Second Madison Location in July

MADISON (July 8, 2020) – Basecamp Fitness, a fast-paced and efficient wellness concept designed to maximize every moment of your workout, will open its second franchise-owned location in Madison, WI. The studio is set to open at the end of July and is located at 309 Junction Road between Outback Steakhouse and Kesslers Diamonds. With locations in California and Minneapolis and a rapidly growing following, local entrepreneur Andy Gundlach is thrilled to bring a second Basecamp Fitness studio to Madison in order to meet demand for an efficient high intensity workout and fast paced interval training. 

Basecamp’s high-energy workout session is different by design. It improves strength while increasing cardio performance by alternating 60-second bursts of various strength-training exercises with 60-seconds on a stationary air bike that ‘fights back’ – the faster you pedal, the more resistance you feel – all in an intense 35-minute guided class. Professional athletes have been training this way for years, and Basecamp is excited to bring the benefits of this format directly to those who live and work in the Madison area. The fast and fun class is followed by an optional 10-minute core exercise session to conclude the workout.  

“It’s no secret that the Madison market is a very health focused community,” says Gundlach, President and Owner of ARGENT Companies, which includes 32 Anytime Fitness locations and soon to be two Basecamp Fitness locations. “Being a lifelong resident of the Madison area, I have seen the need for an efficient, high-intensity workout for people seeking fast-paced interval training. After taking my first Basecamp Fitness class, I was hooked. I think this is just the workout Madison is missing.”  

“We couldn’t have found a better owner and market for the first Basecamp franchise location,” explains Ben Camper, President of Basecamp Fitness. “Andy has a proven track record of running successful gyms, and the Madison market is one of the most fitness-focused in the country. Its residents are knowledgeable about fitness, value healthy lifestyles, and have full and busy lives. These characteristics indicate Basecamp will be a great workout solution for the people of Madison.”  

Basecamp is offering discounted founding membership rates that are locked in for perpetuity, and members that sign-up prior to the official open will get their first two weeks free. 

“In addition to offering a great workout, Basecamp’s focus on community is something we are eager to bring to Madison” explains Taylor Westrick, Area Manager of Basecamp Fitness Madison. “With regular ‘Pedal for a Cause’ events and member mixers, Basecamp builds strong hearts through the workout and then nurtures those strong hearts by creating a strong community.” Even prior to opening, the Junction Road location co-sponsored an event with its sister studio on Monroe Street to raise funds for Urban Triage, a Madison non-profit whose mission is to foster Black families’ self-sufficiency, community leadership, advocacy, and student success through parent engagement and cultural heritage. The Basecamp for Change event raised more than $1,000 for the non-profit organization.   

When asked about opening a new fitness studio during a global pandemic, Gundlach reassures “The health and safety of our members and employees is our top priority. Our team has been hard at work for weeks, rethinking the Basecamp experience from top to bottom in order to ensure we don’t just meet, but exceed CDC and local government guidelines – all while delivering the incredible workout our members have come to know and love.” 

The studio is increasing the amount of time between classes to allow additional time for sanitation, and members will have dedicated workout spaces with their own bikes and weight equipment. Check-in is touch free and in-house showers have been closed. Additionally, members and staff will be asked to refrain from high-fives and hugs and instead, air fives, waves, shout-outs, foot bumps and peace signs will be encouraged as gestures of comradery and support. 

Basecamp launched on the West Coast in 2013 and currently has five locations in California and two in Minnesota. The brand targets coveted locations to be in the heart of the action while still maintaining easy accessibility. Gundlach plans to open two additional Basecamp Fitness studios in 2021.  

For more information on Basecamp Fitness, please visit www.basecampfitness.com, call 608-819-6260, email danielle@afitwi.com or follow along on Facebook and Instagram at @basecamp.monroe.st.  

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About Basecamp Fitness 

Basecamp Fitness is a high-energy efficient workout, designed to help you discover a stronger, faster you. Each 35-minute workout focuses on interval training, rotating between an Air-bike and heart-pumping floor exercises. Supported by a trained instructor, members receive additional guidance via large instructional video screens. An optional 10 minutes at the end of each workout features a wide array of core exercises, which means participants benefit from intense cardio, strength training and abdominal training during every session. The first Basecamp Fitness studio opened in Burlingame, CA in 2013. Self Esteem Brands purchased Basecamp Fitness in 2018, and today, there are seven corporate locations – two in the San Francisco area, three near Los Angeles, one in Minneapolis and another in Edina, MN. Basecamp’s first franchised location opened on Monroe Street in Madison, WI in March 2020, and its second franchised location will open on Junction Road in Madison, WI in July of 2020. 

Wisconsin Bank & Trust: SBA Releases PPP Loan Data

CONTACT:
Shawn Kesler
Regional Marketing Officer, VP
414.394.5946
SKesler@htlf.com

Brent Giles
President and CEO
608.203.1224
BGiles@wisconsinbankandtrust.com

SBA Releases PPP Loan Data
Disclosed details vary based on loan amount

July 7, 2020 – Madison, WI – On Monday, July 6, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan data at the request of Congress, media and others given the significant taxpayer commitment to the program.  This was not a decision made by Wisconsin Bank & Trust or any other bank that participated in the government program.

Names of borrowers with a PPP loan for less than $150,000 were not disclosed.  Only the city, state, zip code, number of employees that benefited, and the congressional district were disclosed for these loans, along with the name of the lender that made the loan.

For PPP loans of $150,000 or more, the SBA released the borrower’s name in addition to the business location, number of employees that benefitted and the congressional district.  The SBA released a dollar range for these loans, not the exact amounts.

“Wisconsin Bank & Trust is proud to have helped hundreds of small businesses during this difficult and challenging time,” said Brent Giles, President and CEO of WBT.  “We’ve processed 449 PPP loans of $103 million, preserving more than 11,289 jobs.”

To date, banks of all sizes have provided more than $500 billion in PPP loans to small businesses across the country, helping to preserve 51 million jobs, according to the Small Business Administration.  The size, scale and speed of the banking industry’s response was unprecedented, and we were honored to be a part of this important effort.

There is still more work to do to help businesses overcome the economic effects of the pandemic.  Wisconsin Bank & Trust will continue to support our business customers as we do our part to help fuel the economic recovery in our community.

About Wisconsin Bank & Trust

Wisconsin Bank & Trust (WBT), a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., (NASDAQ: HTLF), is a business-focused community bank with assets of more than $1 billion. With fifteen banking centers, Wisconsin Bank & Trust serves customers in the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Monroe and southwest areas of Wisconsin. WBT offers a wide range of personal and business banking, private client and mortgage lending services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com or call 608.203.1214. Wisconsin Bank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a diversified financial services company with assets of $13.3 billion. The company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment and insurance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 114 banking locations serving 83 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.

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Bridgett Boucher, Thomas Spelsberg selected for new leadership positions at WPS Health Insurance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli, Director of Communications
608-977-7343
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

Bridgett Boucher, Thomas Spelsberg selected for new leadership positions at WPS Health Insurance

MADISON, Wis.—July 6, 2020—Jim Baird, Executive Vice President of WPS Health Insurance, announces two new leadership roles on his team. Bridgett Boucher becomes Chief Actuary and Thomas Spelsberg succeeds her as Vice President of Medicare Market Solutions. Spelsberg previously was Vice President of Business Unit Services at WPS Health Solutions.

“I am excited to have Bridgett take on this very important role for WPS,” Baird said. “She has both the required actuarial credentials and the experience to do this job extremely well.”

Boucher started her career at WPS as an actuary in June 2002, right out of college. She is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA designation) and a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries (FSA designation).

She was promoted to Vice President of Medicare Market Solutions in July 2018.

In her new role, Boucher oversees the actuarial, underwriting, and reporting teams. As the Chief Actuary, she will sign off on rate filings and other actuarial requirements across all product lines.

Spelsberg has responsibility for all aspects of the senior market business, including claims, customer support, sales, product management, and regulatory support.

“Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge to the Health Insurance team, as well as an understanding of how to continue to build on the excellent culture in Medicare Market Solutions with his great leadership skills,” Baird said.

Spelsberg joined WPS in December 2016 as Director of the Project Management Office (PMO). He was promoted to VP of PMO in 2019. In early 2020, he was promoted to VP of Business Unit Services, covering the PMO, Operational Training, Operational Quality Assurance, Business Analysis, and Operational EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and Imaging.

About WPS Health Solutions

WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans, and their families. Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions) has been based in Madison, Wis., for more than 70 years. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.