West Bend Mutual Insurance Company supports Laura Baker Services Association with $10,000 donation

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (March 2016) – West Bend Mutual Insurance Company (West Bend) is announcing it has awarded a $10,000 grant to Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA), a local Northfield nonprofit. The award was made through West Bend’s Independent Agents’ Fund at the recommendation of West Bend’s independent insurance agency, Heartman Insurance located in Northfield, Minn.

For almost 120 years, Laura Baker Services Association has offered lifetime support and service to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping create opportunities for individuals to live a life of their choosing.

“West Bend’s grant will help us continue providing family support services, creative arts programming and advocacy efforts. We are honored to be chosen for this grant as it serves as a wonderful confirmation that our work – providing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the choices they need to live their dreams – is worthy and valued,” said Sandra Gerdes, executive director of Laura Baker Services Association. “We are continually humbled by West Bend and Heartman Insuance’s generosity and commitment to our Minnesota community.”

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 has 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 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.