West Bend Mutual Insurance Company supports Make-A-Wish with $10,000 donation

MINNEAPOLIS - (March 2016) –West Bend Mutual Insurance Company (West Bend) is announcing it has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Make-A-Wish® Minnesota. The award was made through West Bend’s Independent Agents’ Fund at the recommendation of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers, Inc. located in Maple Grove, Minn.

Make-A-Wish Minnesota grants the wishes of Minnesota children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors and more than 800 Minnesota volunteers, Make-A-Wish® Minnesota grants a wish somewhere in the state every 27 hours. It has granted more than 4,500 wishes since its inception in 1982. The Independent Agents’ grant will support the Wish Ball in May, Walk for Wishes in August and wishes throughout the year.

“West Bend’s support will help us continue granting wishes for Minnesota children with life-threatening medical conditions,” said Mia Broos Hoagberg, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Minnesota. “We appreciate being selected for this grant, and applaud West Bend and Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers for their commitment to granting the wishes of worthy Minnesota kids.”

West Bend Mutual Insurance Company has worked hard over the last century to provide the highest level of service to its customers and grow its business, and is committed to sharing its success with the communities it serves and the good people who live and work in these communities. West Bend makes donations to causes that its independent insurance agents support in their communities through the West Bend Mutual Insurance Company Independent Agents’ Fund.

“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 Company. “The Independent Agents' Fund 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 Mutual Insurance Company has awarded more than $1 million to worthy organizations supported by its independent insurance agents. This year, West Bend will present over $92,000 to Midwest nonprofit organizations through its Independent Agents’ Fund.

About West Bend Mutual Insurance Company

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 1,200 associates and is represented by approximately 1,300 independent insurance agencies throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska and has grown to more than $1.5 billion in assets and more than $1 billion in annual revenue. The company has been rated A (Excellent) or better by A.M. Best since 1971 and is consistently ranked at the top of a nationwide ease-of-doing business survey.

About Make-A-Wish Minnesota

Make-A-Wish Minnesota grants the wishes of Minnesota children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. With the help of generous donors and more than 800 Minnesota volunteers, Make-A-Wish Minnesota grants a wish somewhere in the state every 27 hours. It has granted more than 4,500 wishes since its inception in 1982. Visit Make-A-Wish Minnesota at mn.wish.org to learn more.