Milwaukee, Wis., May 25, 2011—On Thursday, May 26, Assurant Health will host a Karaoke Kabaret, as part of its annual United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) Workplace Giving Campaign. For the sixth year in a row, local comedian and actor John McGivern will emcee the event, which will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the courtyard of the Assurant Health headquarters, located at the corner of 501 W. Michigan St. In the event of rain, the event will be moved indoors to the lobby adjacent to the courtyard.
This year, 16 Assurant Health employees have signed up to sing, dance and compete for the coveted titles of “Highest Money Maker” and “Best Costuming and Stage Presence.” Up to 250 additional employees are expected to turn out for the event, to cheer on their coworkers and donate funds by voting for their favorite performers. Winners will receive a trophy and bragging rights.
Since 2000, Assurant Health employees have raised more than $350,000 for UPAF through its annual Workplace Giving Campaigns, plus an additional $138,000 in matching funds and grants from the Assurant Health Foundation.
“Assurant Health has a long tradition of supporting our community, and the UPAF Karaoke Kabaret in particular is one of our most popular employee volunteer events,” said David Oury, senior vice president, human resources at Assurant Health and co-chair of the 2011 Assurant Health UPAF Workplace Giving Campaign. “It’s a great opportunity for employees to have fun and showcase their creative side, while raising money for a good cause.”
“Life’s better with the arts,” said Cristy Garcia-Thomas, president of UPAF. “UPAF’s performing arts groups build a sense of community, help drive our local economy and enrich the lives of over 400,000 children through education and outreach every year. The support of UPAF by Assurant Health and its workplace giving campaign, along with nearly 200 other community minded businesses that also sponsor employee campaigns and great events like the Karaoke Kabaret, provide resources to our exceptional performing arts. All of this makes our region a great place to live, work and play.”
About Assurant Health
Assurant Health is the brand name for a family of health insurance products focused on providing a variety of affordable plan choices to consumers. The portfolio of health care products includes major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit plans for individuals, families and small employers. Assurant Health is committed to providing access to convenient health care delivery, easy-to-understand products and value-added services that help customers better manage their health care dollars and get the most out of their coverage—ultimately seeking to protect not only financial security but also the health and well being of its customers. Assurant Health’s products are underwritten and issued by John Alden Life Insurance Company, Union Security Life Insurance Company and Time Insurance Company, which has been in business since 1892. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Assurant Health employs approximately 2,000 employees. More information about Assurant Health can be found on the company’s Web site at assuranthealth.com.
About United Performing Arts Fund
UPAF Member Groups reach a million people through over 2,000 performances of live theater, music, dance and opera each year. Member Group educational programming and community outreach reaches over 400,000 school children annually. Arts education has a measurable impact on children, improving academic performance, creative and critical thinking skills, as well as discipline and focus.
UPAF is the largest fundraising organization for the performing arts in the nation, and since 1967 has generated more than $224 million in support for the performing arts. UPAF’s annual, public, community-wide campaign engages more than 21,500 donors and over 300 corporations (over 170 through Employee Giving Campaigns) with volunteer support as a critical component of its success.
UPAF strengthens and stabilizes the performing arts community as a whole by providing general operating funds to groups that vary in size and art form, enabling them to share resources and encourage each other’s creativity. UPAF’s fund allocation formula encourages high artistic, financial and management standards, thereby advancing the organizational excellence of its Member Groups. More information about UPAF can be found on the organization’s Web site at www.upaf.org.
Media Contacts:
For Assurant Health:
Heather McAvoy
Director - Corporate Communication and Media Relations
T: 414-299-1049
C: 414-803-2221
e-mail: heather.mcavoy@assurant.com
For United Performing Arts Fund:
Linda Edelstein
Executive Vice President
T: 414-270-4486
C: 414-704-9115
e-mail: ledelstein@upaf.org