West Bend Names Spirit of the Silver Lining® Award Recipients

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – West Bend Mutual Insurance recently presented the Spirit of the Silver Lining Award to two of its agents in Minnesota. West Bend also donated grant funding to the nonprofit organizations the recipients of the Spirit of the Silver Lining Award support.

The Spirit of the Silver Lining Award honors West Bend agents and the nonprofit organizations they support for their dedication to delivering a silver lining to those in need.

The Minnesota recipients of the 2020 Spirit of the Silver Lining Award are Tom Rekstein for his work with Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of America and Ryan Watkins for his work with the Pinky Swear Foundation and Youth Frontiers.

Rekstein was presented with the Spirit of the Silver Lining Award for his work with Twin Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America in Mankato, where he served as president from 2017 to 2019. The Twin Valley Council prepares young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Its objective is to give youth opportunities in leadership roles, problem solving and communication skills needed to excel in life as well as train them with a sense of community by providing community service and learning about the world around them. The $10,000 grant will fund necessary upgrades at the Twin Valley Council’s Norseland camp.

Watkins was presented with two Spirit of the Silver Lining Awards for his work with the Pinky Swear Foundation and Youth Frontiers. Pinky Swear eases the financial and emotional impacts experienced by children with cancer and their families by providing basic needs support during a very challenging time. Youth Frontiers provides schools with experiences that inspire character, civility and community through one-day retreats focused on kindness, courage and respect. Each organization received a $5,000 grant.

"At West Bend, we have a proud tradition of giving back to the communities in which we do business," said Kevin Steiner, president and CEO of West Bend Mutual Insurance. "The Spirit of the Silver Lining Award is a unique program that allows us to express our gratitude to our agent partners on whom we rely to identify the causes that matter most in our communities."

Since 2006, West Bend has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants for sustaining support, special projects, or capital projects to nonprofit organizations representing a broad field of interests, including, but not limited to, arts and culture; education; the environment; family, youth, and elderly; health and human services; medical research; and community development. Grants are made to organizations in several states in which West Bend operates.

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About West Bend Mutual Insurance

Founded in 1894, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company is headquartered in West Bend, Wisconsin, and provides property/casualty insurance products throughout the Midwest. The company offers a broad personal lines coverage package, a full range of commercial products and services, insurance for specialty lines, and a surety division. West Bend employs more than 1,300 associates and is represented by approximately 2,300 independent insurance agencies throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. The company has been rated A (Excellent) or better by A.M. Best since 1971. West Bend also consistently ranks higher than its competitors in an agency loyalty survey.