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West Bend Philanthropy

One of West Bend's operating principles is "We serve our community." We take great pride in supporting not just our hometown, but many other communities in which our associates and independent agent partners live and work.

Company Giving

To fulfill our mission, West Bend established two foundations through which grants are awarded each year to very deserving, nonprofit organizations. They are the West Bend Insurance Company Charitable Fund and the West Bend Independent Agents' Fund.

 

 

West Bend Insurance Company
Charitable Fund

The West Bend Insurance Company Charitable Fund, an affiliate fund of the West Bend Community Foundation, was established in 1994 to better the West Bend area and improve the lives of its citizens. Grants from the Trust address broad fields of interest, such as education, the arts, children and families, and the environment. The Trust is administered by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

Ribbon cutting at the Bucks Sport Court Dedication.

West Bend Independent Agents' Fund

Each year, West Bend presents the Spirit of the Silver Lining Award to several of our independent insurance agents and the nonprofit organizations they support. The award recognizes those agents and organizations for their dedication to delivering a silver lining to those in need.

In addition, the nonprofit recipients of the award also receive grants from the West Bend Independent Agents’ Fund. Since 2006, the Fund has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants which are used for sustaining support, special projects, or capital projects for nonprofit organizations that represent 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.

2025 Spirit of the Silver Lining Winners

Agency Organization
Alliance Insurance Services United Fund of Surry, Inc.
AssuredPartners of Illinois. LLC Thresholds
AssuredPartners of Minnesota, LLC Wolf Ridge Enviornmental Learning Center
AssuredPartners of Missouri, LLC Valley Hope Association
Breinholt Anderson Insurance Consultants, LLC Ross Farnsworth – East Valley Family YMCA
Callahan and Rice Insurance Group, Inc. Fayetteville Area Operation InAsMuch
Calvin Eddy Kappelman, Inc. O'Connell Children's Shelter, Inc.
Central Insurance Services Refuge for Women, Inc.
Connor & Gallagher OneSource Lisle Township Food Pantry (Friends of Lisle Township)
Conrade Insurance Group, Inc. All Together Now Fund - within Central Kansas Community Foundation
Core Insurance and Risk Advisors, LLC Best Christmas Ever, Inc.
Coriano Insurance Agency Mitchell Swaback Charities, Inc DBA Harvest Compassion Center 
Coyle-Kiley Insurance Agency, Inc. YMCA of Rock River Valley
Dimond Bros Insurance, LLC Reach Counseling Services, Inc.
Dominion Risk Advisors. LLC West End Center for Youth
Doyle & Ogden Insurance Advisors Meals on Wheels of Western Michigan
G W Mountcastle Agency, Inc. Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem
Hughes, Brennan, Wirtz Inc. Emmetsburg Youth Basketball Association
Hylant Group, Inc. Iris Family Support Center
Insurance Associates of the Triad Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina
Insurance Partners Agency, LLC Ben Curtis Family Foundation
Karn Sitkins Payette Insurance Agency, Inc.  Children with Hair Loss, Inc.
Knight Insurance Group Mom's House, Inc.-Toledo
Marshik Insurance Agency Morrison County United Way Inc.
McGowan Insurance Group, LLC Bolt for the Heart
MJ Insurance, Inc. The Dayspring Center, Inc.
Nelson Insurance Agency, Inc. The Arrow Fund
Perspective Insurance Le Mars Community Daycare Center Inc.
The Bulow Group, Inc. Lightkeeper Academy NFP
The Daniel & Henry Co. EarthDance Organic Farm School
TIS Insurance Services, Inc. Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville
Vizance, Inc. Racine Zoological Society
Wallace, Cooper and Elliot Insurance Agency, Inc. The Richland Hospital Foundation, Inc.

Silver Lining Classic

The Silver Lining Classic is West Bend’s biennial charity event established to support worthy charities that do so much for the communities where we work and live. The focus of this year’s event was youth education. The Silver Lining Classic was attended by representatives from the benefiting organizations, including John Kaczkowski, president and CEO of the Western Golf Association for Evans Scholars, Donald Driver of the Donald Driver Foundation, and Pat Connaughton of the Pat Connaughton Foundation. 

Read more about our 2024 Silver Lining Classic event →

How it all began

In 2006, West Bend hosted the first Silver Lining MACC Fund event, raising $60,000 to fight childhood cancer and related blood disorders. Held every other year since, the amount raised progressively increased, for a grand total of $3,775,000 raised from 2006 to 2020! West Bend is so grateful for the incredible generosity and support of our agents, business partners, and associates whose time and contributions made this possible. With the creation of the Silver Lining Classic, we're excited to be able to extend the reach and impact of our biennial event by raising funds for other worthy organizations and continuing to serve our communities in meaningful ways.

Silver-Lining-Classic-2024-Connaughton-Driver

Silver-Lining-Classic-2024-golf-outing

 

Associate Giving

West Bend is blessed with kind-hearted and generous associates. They care about each other and their communities. So, it's a natural part of our culture to not only encourage our associates to volunteer, but to provide them with opportunities to do so.

 

 

West Bend associates help lay foundation for a house.

Habitat for Humanity

West Bend stands alongside Habitat for Humanity, showcasing a strong commitment to community welfare. Through donations and associate volunteer building efforts, West Bend actively supports Habitat's mission of providing affordable housing solutions for families in need. This partnership not only builds homes but also fosters empowerment and a sense of belonging, reflecting our core values of excellence, integrity, and responsibility.

A West Bend associate gives blood at an office blood drive event.

Blood Drives Save Lives

Every eight weeks, we host in-house blood drives run by Versiti. Thanks to our generous associates, hundreds of units of blood are donated to help save lives in our community each year.

Associates help prepare food for an United Way event.

United Way

West Bend joins forces annually to make a tangible difference in people's lives through the United Way. West Bend's involvement extends far beyond financial contributions as we work tirelessly to support United Way's multifaceted mission, which spans crucial areas such as education, financial stability, and health. Our associates have fun supporting the United Way with bake sales, cornhole games, and more!

The West Bend Relay for Life team gathers for group photo.

ACS Relay for Life®

The American Cancer Society (ACS) works to find cures for the many types of cancer affecting people today. They also provide extensive resources to help those dealing with cancer or caring for someone with it. West Bend is proud to sponsor a Relay for Life event each year. Associates team up, raise funds, and participate in the event.

At lunch time, associates donate to UPAF and enjoy milkshakes together.

United Performing Arts Fund

West Bend is a dedicated partner to United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) uniting to enrich the cultural landscape and support the performing arts community through donations and volunteer efforts. This dynamic partnership not only fuels artistic excellence but also cultivates a profound sense of connection and pride among audiences and performers alike. Through this shared commitment, West Bend and UPAF continue to uplift spirits, inspire creativity, and strengthen the fabric of the community through the power of the arts.

Associates gather in meeting room to help wrap presents for families in need.

Holiday Gifts for Those in Need

Associates run an annual holiday gift drive to benefit those helped by Friends, Inc. a local nonprofit organization whose mission is: To empower those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault by offering safety, support, and community awareness.

Community Impact Reports