American Family Insurance recognized for the sixth year in a row as a leader in sustainability

The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council has again named American Family Insurance as a Green Master company for the sixth consecutive year. American Family was one of 27 companies in the state recognized as leading the way in sustainability, with 127 companies participating in the program this year.

Green Masters Program identifies companies taking action

Recognizing sustainable actions by businesses from across the state of Wisconsin, the Green Masters program works to identify businesses that have taken at least one action within each of the nine pillars of sustainability (emissions, water, waste management, transportation, supply chain, community and educational outreach, workforce and governance). Participants in the program receive recognition for their sustainability accomplishments and develop ideas for future sustainability actions.

“We are extremely proud that our commitment to this work continues to be recognized with the Green Master honor year after year,” said LeeAnn Glover, business and workplace services real estate and shared services director. “We will continue to strive to be good stewards of the environment and take actions to minimize our impact, while investing in people and our communities.”

Corporate responsibility is a priority

American Family believes corporate responsibility means being a leader that creates positive economic, social and environmental impact, together with measurable benefits for customers, employees, agency owners and the world.

The environment is one of three focus areas for American Family’s corporate responsibility program. This includes implementing ways to reduce its environmental footprint and integrating sustainability principles and practices across its operating territory.

An example of the company’s focus in this area was the 2019 completion of the second Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification for a major remodel. American Family received this LEED designation in November. In addition, they are pursuing the third certification for The Spark, American Family’s eight-story building in downtown Madison. Project details pursued as part of LEED certification criteria contributed to this year’s Green Masters ranking.

In addition, for the fourth consecutive year, American Family earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2019 Corporate Equity Index, (CEI), a national benchmarking report administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, that reviews corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equity.

The company has also taken extensive action in the community outreach pillar, continuing to invest in communities through its employee/agency owner matching grant program through the Dreams Foundation. To date, employees and agency owners have submitted more than 12,494 requests, resulting in more than $6,154,908 in matching funds. In addition, American Family Insurance and the Dreams Foundation has awarded more than 1,200 grants, totaling more than $10,680,528 million to communities across the company’s operating territory. And the PGA TOUR Champions American Family Insurance Championship raised more than $2.4 million in 2019. More than $7.1 million in charitable grants has been distributed to non-profit organizations in just its first four years of existence.

Recognizing companies’ commitment

“The Green Masters Program is a comprehensive tool for businesses to assess, monitor and improve their sustainability programming, to benchmark against others in their industry and to receive a third-party certification recognizing and affirming their sustainability achievements,” says WSBC’s managing director, Jessy Servi Ortiz. “Companies like American Family have made a strong commitment to sustainability through many programs and initiatives that benefit both the community and the company.”

The Green Masters Program is a free, objective, points-based recognition and assessment program that enables Wisconsin businesses of all sizes and from any sector to join a group of like-minded companies that are on the road to sustainability. The program has established three levels of participation: Green Apprentice, Green Professional, and Green Master. American Family Insurance joined the program as a Green Master in 2014. Each year at the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference, the current top 20 percent of companies that applied during the calendar year are identified and recognized as the Green Masters level companies.

More details on American Family's corporate responsibility efforts of empowering people, investing in communities and sustaining the environment, can be found at the link on amfam.com.

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About American Family Insurance
Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance group is the nation's 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group and ranks No. 306 on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through its exclusive independent contractor agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General and Homesite) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the internet or by phone. Affiliate Main Street America sells insurance products through independent agents and affiliate Ameriprise Auto & Home sells through partners. Web amfam.com; Facebook www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter www.twitter.com/amfam.

About Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council (WSBC)
The WSBC’s mission is to advance sustainable principles and practices forward through the power of business. We support businesses and sustainability professionals through an array of programming, education, resources and tools and are a catalyst for businesses looking to integrate sustainability into the fabric of their organization and be a force for good. We are a network of businesses integrating sustainability into business operations at a time when the business case for sustainability (defined in terms of people, planet and profit) has never been stronger. www.wisconsinsustainability.com