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NGL activates the community to Step Up for Dane County

1.25 million steps logged to unlock donations for United Way of Dane County

The Madison In Business Expo & Conference brings business professionals from all walks of life together for a day of networking, strategy sessions and educational opportunities. This year, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) aimed to take the ‘walks of life’ aspect of this conference a little more literally.

Leveraging the Kilter technology, NGL challenged the Dane County community to log their steps in order to unlock real-time donations benefitting United Way of Dane County. The steps challenge spanned throughout the week of the business expo, capturing all the steps attendees took from exhibits to sessions, and resulted in a $1,250 donation for United Way.

“United Way of Dane County is celebrating its 100-year anniversary and we wanted to do something fun that gives everyone in the community a chance to get involved and support United Way. Kilter takes your fitness activities and turns it into money for a great cause. It was inspiring to witness how quickly participants stepped up to the challenge and unlocked the full donation amount,” said Maria Lubick, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications at NGL.

In this event, every 1,000 steps logged via fitness tracker resulted in a $1 donation to United Way of Dane County up to $1,000 sponsored by NGL. The event was so successful, with the initial contribution quickly getting unlocked, that an extra $250 was donated by Kilter to the available donation match pool for participants to earn.

“At Kilter, we’re always so excited to partner with forward thinking organizations that see the power and the potential in using technology to promote community health and social impact. NGL is always pushing the limits and we’re excited to grow the impact in initiatives like this in the future,” added Seth Braddock, CEO & Founder at Kilter.

While only the first year hosting this event, NGL was able to test the waters, witness its fruition and success, and has a goal to grow the impact of the event to even greater heights next year. Stepping up for the community has never been easier!

About United Way of Dane County
For 100 years, UWDC has mobilized the caring power of the community to create lasting change for multiple generations. With a mission to unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives, they are committed to being a catalyst for inclusion and systemic change – working collaboratively with local nonprofits, businesses, community leaders, donors and volunteers to solve big-picture issues no one person or organization can address alone.

About Kilter
Kilter is the most inclusive activity-based engagement platform for good. The platform allows users to turn their everyday health, wellness and lifestyle activities into opportunities for to drive charitable dollars to their favorite causes, all while building culture and community to make a global impact. With 50+ trackable activities from running to yoga to pickleball to volunteering, plus our best in class user experience, functionality and customer support, employers, nonprofits and event producers will meet their supporters where they are today (on their phones) and easily exceed engagement and impact goals. Learn more at www.kilterapp.com.

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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AM Best affirms National Guardian Life Insurance Company A (Excellent) Rating

Madison, Wis. (May 27, 2022) – National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is pleased to announce AM Best has affirmed its A (Excellent) rating effective May 6, 2022. This rating reflects the excellent ability of NGL to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations and further attests to its financial strength.

“2021 was a pivotal year in NGL’s history. Throughout the year, NGL sold past acquisitions, as well as a variety of older blocks of acquired life insurance policies. These sales raised meaningful capital and helped NGL reach levels of capital that give it unprecedented strength in its 113-year history,” said Knut Olson, President and CEO at NGL.

“Significantly de-risking the liability profile of the company over the last two years and having the highest level of capital measured by AM Best will further allow NGL to make good on policyholder commitments and weather potential economic headwinds that might arise over time. Additionally, we can now selectively explore potential opportunities that add more functionality, product and scale to our core lines of business,” said John Horbal, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer.

According to a news release from AM Best, NGL continues to maintain the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which has been bolstered by the sale of several legacy blocks of business. NGL enjoys a market leading position in the preneed life insurance space and continues to look for opportunities to expand sales through alternative channels and new product offerings.

Olson continued, “As we look ahead, NGL is poised to expand its preneed business and make an even greater difference in the death care industry.”

AM 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 visit our website, www.nglic.com. For the latest rating, access www.ambest.com.

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.

Ratings current as of 05/06/22. 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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Madison Ballet Announces 2022/23 Season

41^st Season Marks First Under Leadership of New Artistic Director Ja’ Malik 

Madison, WI – Madison Ballet is proud to announce its 2022/23 Season, the first to be programmed by incoming Artistic Director, Ja’ Malik. The season reflects Ja’ Malik’s bold, athletic vision for the future while building upon many successes from a 40^th anniversary season that saw the organization ingeniously perform outside to avoid pandemic interruptions, debut a new production of The Nutcracker, and expand innovative repertory programs at their Overture Center home. This season also marks the company’s debut performance at the MYArts Center, with a premiere of Paquita, a commission from emerging choreographer Yusha-Marie Sorzano,and a family-focused program that will introduce dance to new audiences of all ages.

“This season speaks directly about change”, Ja’ Malik said. “It will allow our audience to witness the growth & evolution of Madison Ballet as we honor our past while becoming an even more inclusive organization that truly reflects Madison.”

Ja’ Malik joins Madison Ballet as its first full-time Artistic Director in several years, taking the mantle from Sara Stewart Schumann, who will return this season to stage her production of The Nutcracker. A visionary choreographer, Ja’ Malik will move to Madison at the height of a career of executing commissions from nationally-renowned dance companies, advocating for representation of Black artists. He founded and has served as Executive Director of New York City’s Ballet Boy Productions, whose mission is to create pathways for young Black men to thrive in a career in dance. He is a former member of Cleveland Ballet, Oakland Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Nathan Trice Rituals, City Dance Ensemble, Ballet Hispanico, and Ballet X. He made his Madison Ballet debut in the company’s previous season, debuting Guitar Concerto in the program Turning Pointe.

Ticket Information

Tickets can be purchased online at MADISONBALLET.ORG or by calling The Overture Center Box Office at 608.258.4141. 

Power, Passion, Precision 

September 9 – 11, 2022

SummerStage of Delafield

After last season’s sold-out run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Madison Ballet returns to perform under the stars at this beautiful venue within Lapham Peak State Forest. Featuring works from both dance’s new leading voices and legendary choreographers of the past, this program will include highlights from the historic 40th anniversary season and more. 

Next Steps

September 23 – October 2nd, 2022

Promenade Hall, Overture Center for the Arts

The power of Madison Ballet is on full display in the company’s return to Promenade Hall after the groundbreaking success of last season’s Turning Pointe.

Next Steps, a program built entirely of world premieres, will feature new work by Artistic Director Ja’ Malik and Rehearsal Director Richard Walters. Continuing a commitment to celebrate and present female-identifying choreographers, San Francisco-based Marika Brussel will also present her first new work for Madison Ballet. 

The Nutcracker

December 16-24, 2022

Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Arts

The passion of the holiday classic The Nutcracker returns to Madison! In the return of Sara Stewart Schumann’s production, audiences will join Clara on a night of adventure as she is transported from her home to The Lands of Sweets. This magical wonderland where flowers waltz, snowflakes twirl, and enchanted lands come to life, is underscored by Tchaikovsky’s mesmerizing music, played by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. This timeless production will delight all families and friends. 

Ballet Beyond

March 31-April 9, 2023

Starlight Theatre, MYArts

Precision, the quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate is the driving force of our season finale. Ballet Beyond will showcase where ballet comes from, where it is currently, and where we will take it in the future! This program will feature the company premiere of the classic Paquita Suite highlighting the virtuosity of the classical ballet technique, a world premiere by former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Yusha-Marie Sorzano, and the company premiere of Artistic Director  Ja’ Malik’s RE/COMPOSED to the music of Bach.

Ballet Beyond: Family Series

April 1-9, 2023

Starlight Theatre, MYArts

Madison Ballet is proud to partner with MYArts in presenting its premiere family matinee showcase. Combining performances by School of Madison Ballet and excerpts from the professional company’s season finale, this 45-minute program is specifically designed to inspire children and engage families in the beautiful world of ballet.

The Cider Farm Adopt A Day Blood Drive at ImpactLife

Madison, WI – The Cider Farm has partnered with ImpactLife Blood Center on World Cider Day, June 3, 2022. All presenting donors will receive a coupon for a FREE pour from the Cider Farm along with the regular ImpactLife donor promotion of a choice of $10 gift card or 500 bonus points to spend in the ImpactLife donor loyalty store. Individuals who are FIRST TIME donors with ImpactLife will receive a $50 gift card voucher to redeem.

Read more here