MVP Christian Yelich joins American Family Insurance as brand ambassador and community partner

While fans of Major League Baseball became amazed by last year’s MVP performance of Christian Yelich, American Family Insurance took note of his character and community involvement away from the field. Today, Yelich was named a brand ambassador for American Family, with an emphasis on working together to help those in need.

American Family, Yelich, the Milwaukee Brewers and Ted Kellner, T&M Partners, also announced their support for Milwaukee’s July 3 lakefront fireworks show, preserving a beloved community celebration.

“We partner with ambassadors because of who they are and how they inspire our customers and communities,” said Telisa Yancy, American Family chief marketing officer. “Christian’s story of pursuing his dreams through hard work, passion and dedication, while having fun and giving back, has great appeal to our millennial consumers like him, and fans of all ages. We’re proud to have him on our team and we look forward to doing great things together in the city of Milwaukee.”

In 2018, Yelich was a near-unanimous MVP selection in his first year with the Milwaukee Brewers, helping the team reach the National League Championship Series. He was named to the National League All-Star Team and earned the league’s Hank Aaron and Silver Slugger awards.

Yelich’s accomplishments in the community are just as impressive. He and his Brewers teammates Ryan Braun and Mike Moustakas, along with Mike Attanasio, son of Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, helped create California Strong. The organization provides immediate financial assistance to victims after major disasters, such as last year’s California wildfires and horrific mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California.

This January, the first annual California Strong Celebrity Softball Tournament raised more than $350,000. Along with substantial community grants, California Strong has raised more than $1.7 million and provided funds to 425 families to help them rebuild their lives.

The American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation and Yelich will partner to raise funds and awareness for a Milwaukee cause. The specific cause and the campaign will be identified in the coming months. American Family, which serves customers in California through its subsidiaries, will also join Yelich in supporting California Strong.

As a brand ambassador, Yelich could be involved in a number of activities still to be determined, such as appearing in commercials, and at company and public events on behalf of American Family.

“I know about and appreciate how much American Family embraces their role in helping their customers and others, and I’m happy to partner with an organization that also has a strong relationship with the Brewers,” Yelich said. “The community element of our partnership is important to both of us, and I look forward to seeing the impact we can achieve together.”

The partnership with Yelich follows American Family’s recent agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers. That agreement also contains pledges to work together on community activities, in addition to naming rights on the Brewers spring training complex, American Family Fields of Phoenix, and the team’s ballpark in Milwaukee, starting in 2021.

Yelich joins other American Family brand ambassadors: business executive Kathy Ireland, baseball legend Derek Jeter, PGA golfer Steve Stricker and NFL All-Pro J.J. Watt.

Photos credit: Scott Paulus/Milwaukee Brewers

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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. 311 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. Web www.amfam.com; Facebook www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter www.twitter.com/amfam.