Ameritas associates got their hands dirty while planting trees at Robinson Elementary School in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, April 25. In recognition of Arbor Day, the special event was a community effort between Ameritas, the Arbor Day Foundation, Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Forestry program, and fourth and fifth graders at Robinson Elementary School.

The event saw the planting of 150 trees in a newly developed area in need of tree canopy.

Dedicated to planting and celebrating trees, Arbor Day brings awareness to the importance of trees and their environmental, economic, social and health benefits. It has a special connection to Nebraska. Celebrated on the last Friday of April each year, Arbor Day began thanks to the efforts of J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska City-based journalist and politician. He recognized the importance of trees and the need for them on the largely treeless plains of Nebraska. The very first Arbor Day saw the planting of over one million trees in Nebraska and continues to inspire everyone to plant trees each year.

An appreciation for Arbor Day

Dana Summers, marketing, community relations and communications intern at Ameritas was one of the associates who volunteered her time to help plant trees. She says that she has always had a deep appreciation for Arbor Day as a Nebraskan.

“I have always had a deep appreciation for Arbor Day and the work that the Arbor Day Foundation does to create greener, healthier communities. Volunteering at this event felt like a natural way to give back while supporting something I care about,” said Summers. “Being there and seeing young students learn about the value of trees and the role they play in our environment was meaningful.”

Volunteers and local tree experts were present to educate elementary school students about the importance of trees. Local families and students also had the opportunity to take home a free tree sapling.

“It was inspiring to see so many organizations come together to make this event happen,” Summers said. “It’s exciting to think about the long-term impact this will have not just on the environment, but on the kids who will now feel connected to something bigger than themselves.”

Visit Ameritas’ community impact page to learn more about what giving back means to us.

Ameritas associates teamed up to support tree planting initiatives in both Lincoln, Nebraska, and Cincinnati. These events reinforced Ameritas’ focus on one of its community wellness areas: sustainability.

Earth Day means planting trees for Ameritas associates

Earlier this spring, Ameritas partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in Lincoln. Volunteers gathered on Earth Day, planting 25 new trees in Ballard Park.

“What stood out to me the most was the comradery and team-player attitude everybody had while volunteering,” said Jeff Newell, senior account & client consultant. “Despite us all coming from differing workplaces and backgrounds, we all came together to do something impactful for the city of Lincoln.”

A few days later, Ameritas associates supported the larger Arbor Day LNK celebration, distributing 150 free trees to residents. The event featured group fitness classes, live music and educational activities, bringing the community together to celebrate Arbor Day and the importance of green spaces in Lincoln.

“Ameritas choosing to be advocates for tree planting events shows the company cares about the longevity of our local community rather than focusing solely on what’s best for business,” said Newell. “I’m glad Ameritas allows associates to volunteer for something that will really impact the Earth, and all living organisms, in a positive way.”

Helping the Ohio River Foundation

In October, associates gathered once again, this time at Kingswood Park in Cincinnati. Volunteers partnered with the Ohio River Foundation to plant 32 native trees and install deer protection for their survival.

Kingswood Park was previously a closed golf course, but the community united to reclaim the land and transform it into a park. Unfortunately, invasive weeds and plants had overrun the space.

“We were literally in the weeds; some of us even got poison ivy,” said Kristi Kidwell, lead software developer. “But the work will eventually get rid of the invasive species, and these new items will make the park a beautiful place for the community to enjoy.”

This event was part of a larger effort to restore native plant life along the Ohio River and revitalize local parks. The Ohio River Foundation educated volunteers about the native species in the region.

“I enjoyed hearing about the park restoration process,” said Nicole Taulbee, lead data scientist-visualizer. “There is quite a bit of effort that goes into the selection of trees and shrubs as well as the upkeep of the parks.”

Across both events, associates from different departments came together for a common goal: positively impact the environment and create a healthier future.

The trees planted in Lincoln and Cincinnati will create greener spaces that benefit both the environment and the communities around them. As these trees grow, so too does Ameritas’ commitment to sustainability.

Ameritas has announced an agreement to become the presenting sponsor of all women’s athletics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Sponsoring all 13 women’s sports at Nebraska gives the athletes support like never before. The five-year sponsorship is unique, with few like it in the United States.

The sponsorship covers the following Nebraska Huskers women’s sports: basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cross country, golf, gymnastics, rifle, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

The special announcement was highlighted during Celebrating Women in Sports Night at the Lincoln Saltdogs baseball game at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Aug. 24. At the game, attendees could get posters signed by female athletes, creating fun memories and giving youth an opportunity to meet those that they usually see on the field or court.

The investment in women’s sports is timely. Viewership for major women’s sporting events has surged. Last year, Volleyball Day in Nebraska set a world record with 92,003 attendees at Memorial Stadium, and the Nebraska-Texas NCAA title volleyball match garnered 1.7 million viewers, reflecting a 115% increase from the previous year.

“The Ameritas sponsorship of Husker women’s athletics is energizing and builds on the excitement surrounding women’s sports in our country,” said Kristen Brown, deputy athletic director, senior woman administrator, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic department. “Ameritas has been a corporate sponsor of Husker athletics for many years, and partnering with them will give female athletes of all sports increased support. Like Volleyball Day at Memorial Stadium proved, women’s sports has reached new heights. And we are at the forefront here in Nebraska.”

Ameritas President and Chief Operating Officer Sue Wilkinson noted that supporting women’s sports aligns with Ameritas’ diversity and inclusion goals. “We want corporate sponsorship efforts to align with all our priorities and values at Ameritas,” she said. “The new Ameritas sponsorship symbolizes a strong support for women. The sponsorship deal increases chances to develop leadership skills and become role models for youth in our community.”

Nebraska fans will see an increase in Ameritas brand exposure at sports venues, Huskers social media platforms and other marketing activations. Other women’s athletics sponsorship activations include the Ameritas Masters Classic gymnastics meet, soccer scarves and replica championship rings for fans, National Girls and Women in Sports Day at a women’s basketball game and basketball camps with the Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln. Ameritas has also worked with organizations centered on mentoring female athletes and are exploring further chances as the sponsorship deal progresses.

Ameritas’ commitment to women extends beyond sponsorship of athletics. The company supports women through initiatives like the Women’s Inspiration Network at Ameritas and Women in Insurance and Financial Services, and strives to enhance women’s financial security and independence.

To begin a summer of giving, Ameritas leadership team members spent some time at Lincoln nonprofits, lending a hand in whatever needed done, from constructing raised garden boxes to yard work.

Nonprofits visited included the Center for People in Need, Community Action Partnership, Food bank of Lincoln, Fresh Start Home, Good Neighbor Community Center, Matt Talbot’s Kitchen and Outreach and People’s City Mission Help Center.

The Fresh Start Home

Brandon Mann, president, Ameritas Investment Company, LLC, and Ameritas Advisory Services, LCC, spent his afternoon at Fresh Start Home, an organization that helps women transform their lives by overcoming homelessness through housing programs and client-focused practices to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency. Mann thinks nonprofits like it can assist individuals during tough times.

“Life can be hard, people go through challenging situations and sometimes need a helping hand and to know that people care about them,” said Mann. “These nonprofit organizations provide assistance when needed and improve our communities by giving others hope and getting them through difficult periods in their lives.”

The importance of giving back

Other Ameritas associates volunteered at the Center for People for Need and built raised boxes that could be used to plant herbs and vegetables, creating a more sustainable food source for the community. The Center for People in Need’s mission is to provide services and programs to low-income individuals that address basic needs and help them achieve economic independence.

“Volunteers make everything possible,” said Macala Carter, executive director of the Center for People in Need. “We are fortunate to have regular volunteers who help our small staff assist visitors to the center seeking basic needs as well as the upskilling or re-skilling offered in our educational programs.”

The afternoon was part of a summer filled with Ameritas volunteerism, including the 2023 United Way campaign, which lasts from the end of July through Aug. 11. The campaign will seek to raise money for the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, an annual giving campaign that frequently produces thousands of dollars for local nonprofits and the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County.

There are many ways to remember and honor those who sacrificed so much for freedom. Some visit cemeteries and place flowers or flags on the graves of loved ones. Others wear a red poppy in remembrance. And some visit memorials and monuments.

Ameritas is helping mark this Memorial Day by participating in a dedication ceremony for the Fairfield Township’s Veterans Memorial, 30 minutes from Ameritas’ Cincinnati office. The Ameritas Foundation contributed to the fundraising campaign in 2022.

“The campaign to raise money for the memorial was heartwarming and it matched Ameritas’ mission of fulfilling lives because it can serve as a place for families to remember loved ones or for the public to honor heroes,” said Liz Ring Carlson, vice president of corporate communications and community relations at Ameritas.

The Memorial

The memorial includes a circle of granite monuments that honors the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. At the center is a flagpole displaying the American flag. The base of the flagpole includes the names of veterans killed in action and other Purple Heart recipients. The memorial also features a POW/MIA dedication, a Gold Star Families dedication and donor recognition walls. On the edge of the memorial, benches will provide images and scenes from U.S. wars and conflicts from the American Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror.

The Fairfield Township’s Veterans Memorial serves as an entrance to the recreational area of Heroes Park. It will remind all who enter of the courage displayed by those who defended freedom, some giving the ultimate sacrifice.

Remembering the past and looking to the future

Ameritas’ Jeff Martinson, director of IT, platform services, is a former petty officer second class for the U.S. Navy and says Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by fellow service members who gave their lives in defense of our nation.

“For me personally, it’s a day to reflect on the unity and dedication that I experienced during my service in the United States Navy,” Martinson said. “Memorial Day symbolizes remembrance of the past, appreciation for the present and hope for the future.”

A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony will occur on Saturday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m. at 6116 Morris Rd. in Fairfield Township, Ohio.

For more information, visit Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial.

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About Ameritas

Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments; asset management; and public finance. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company LLC., member FINRA/SIPC and investment advisory services offered through the business name of Ameritas Advisory Services.

Ameritas is proud to partner with Math Motivators, a tutoring program from the Actuarial Foundation that sees students receive personalized instruction to help boost their skills in the subject.

Ameritas has awarded the Actuarial Foundation’s Math Motivators more than $16,000 to date and has associates volunteer their time with the program. Sam Futterman, Ameritas senior actuarial associate—corporate actuarial, says he volunteers because it’s a welcoming program and is flexible with his schedule.

“Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was regularly contacted by my local Math Motivators representatives with opportunities to volunteer both in-person and remote. In addition to in-person volunteering, I’ve remotely volunteered with schools in Colorado and Minnesota. I think it’s incredible how committed Math Motivators is to helping students, no matter the obstacles,” said Futterman.

Futterman says volunteering with the program is important because it helps students succeed in the classroom and beyond. The goal of Math Motivators is to help students not only while they’re in high school, but prepare them for college and college entrance exams.

Jordan, a Lincoln Northeast High School student, believes the program is helpful to students who want to prepare for the ACT.

“It was nice to review past math concepts that I hadn’t done in a couple of years. Sam was very helpful. He was very understanding and patient,” said Jordan. “I don’t think I would have done as well on the exam if it wasn’t for Math Motivators.”

Futterman says giving back is important as he’s had help along the way.

“To be able to work with Math Motivators is an incredible opportunity,” he said.

About the Math Motivators Tutoring Program

The goal of the Actuarial Foundation’s Math Motivators is to close the opportunity gap to, in turn, close the achievement gap by using a volunteer-driven math tutoring program that pairs underserved middle and high school students with professionals and college students with strong mathematics backgrounds.

In late April, wildfires devastated areas of Nebraska’s southwest. Burning over 40,000 acres of land, destroying homes and other structures, the wildfire injured 15 volunteer firefighters and tragically claimed the life of a former fire chief of Cambridge. The fires also forced temporary evacuations and destroyed important agriculture infrastructure that will take time to recover from. More than 60 volunteer fire departments responded to the emergency.

Ameritas recognizes the heroic work of volunteer firefighters and is proud to contribute $5,000 to rural volunteer fire departments in the towns and service areas of Arapahoe, Bartley, Beaver Valley, Cambridge and Indianola.

“Containment of the wildfires would not have been possible without the courage of volunteers,” said Liz Ring Carlson, second vice president for corporate communications and community relations. “The contribution to the volunteer departments will help them recover while also provide funds for travel in future emergencies at a time when transportation costs are high.”

To learn more about the strategies of Ameritas’ charitable giving, visit the community impact page.

LINCOLN, Nebraska (June 23, 2022) – The United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County announced on Thursday a new initiative to help refugees resettle in Lincoln. The Lincoln Resettlement Fund will help families coming from Afghanistan and Ukraine, two countries that have seen significant geopolitical upheaval. The fund will target areas of need such as housing and transportation and supply services such as case management support and childcare.

Ameritas is part of this project and will donate $20,000 through Ameritas Charitable Giving to assist in this effort. One of the five community wellness target areas that Ameritas Charitable Giving has is financial stability, and this resettlement fund from the United Way matches that. Ameritas believes that this area is crucial because it leads to a fulfilling life and to a thriving community.

“Coming to a new city where you may not know anyone can be a difficult experience. The United Way is helping make that transition a little easier with the Lincoln Resettlement Fund. Ameritas wants to ensure that these families have a stable foundation, allowing them to establish financial security in a new community they will call home,” said Liz Ring Carlson, second vice president, corporate communications and community relations.

Lincoln has a long history of welcoming refugees. The United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County estimates that more than 30,000 immigrants and refugees reside in the capitol city, including 446 new Afghan refugees since August 2021 and 65 Ukrainian refugees since February 2022, with additional refugees from the eastern European country expected in the months to come.

Ameritas and its associates will donate $31,275 to the American Red Cross of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, which will go directly toward the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Ameritas associates raised $16,275 on their own before a donation match up to $15,000 was made by the company.

The campaign began with a $5,000 match offer after a call-to-action was made company-wide. Donations increased exponentially in the weeks following, resulting in Ameritas raising its match from $5,000 to $15,000.

“The imagery coming out of Ukraine caused many of us to feel moved to action,” said Liz Ring Carlson, second vice president, corporate communications and community relations. “Our local Red Cross was instrumental in helping make this happen and we know the critical work the organization does will help those who need it.”

“The crisis in Ukraine is very large and the push for aid is real. Millions of people have fled their homes in Ukraine for safety in neighboring countries,” said John Thompson, American Red Cross of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa board member and vice president of investments at Ameritas. “The American Red Cross is helping lead the huge effort of delivering aid and over 1,800 tons of life-saving supplies to those affected.”

Ameritas encourages further donations to local Red Cross chapters. Visit the Nebraska chapter page for more information or visit RedCross.org.