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Our Green Committee has kept the garden going strong this summer. Zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, and basil are all producing. Fresh produce has been making its way into office kitchens weekly.

Thanks to the Green Committee for maintaining it.

If you’re at the Eden Prairie office, battery recycling bins can be found in all copy rooms! Just tape the ends of your batteries and drop into one of the bins pictured below. Please drop off any dead batteries you may have in one of the bins by next Wednesday (9/2) so that we can recycle a hefty amount! Battery recycling bins will continue to be available in EP copy rooms.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Green Committee’s ESOP Garden Happy Hour last week!

There are few things more satisfying than enjoying the harvest from a garden that you help to grow yourself. If you’re interested in helping out with this year’s garden, please sign up for a watering slot (or 2 or 3!) in the link below:  ESOP Garden Watering Sign Up.xlsx

We had the honor of attending the INDY Foundation's Bowties and Arrows Gala 2026, and it was a night to remember.

$243,130 was raised in just one night!

The INDY Foundation provides direct financial assistance to MN families facing a cancer diagnosis, helping cover costs like transportation to treatments, utility bills, mortgage payments, and even meaningful getaways to places like Grand View Lodge. Every dollar stays local, and every bit of support makes a real difference.

We are proud to stand behind this mission.

Thank you to everyone who donated blood at the CG Blood Drive last week. Your generosity made a real impact.

Here's how we did:

• 30 lifesaving units of blood collected
• Approximately 90 patients will benefit from your donations
• 11 first-time donors participated
• 28 whole blood units and 2 double red cell units collected

Missed your chance to donate? You can still make a difference. Visit Memorial Blood Centers to find a donation drive near you.

Our fourth annual networking happy hour at Bear Cave Brewing in Hopkins was a great opportunity to connect with women from our P&C and Benefits carrier partner teams. The conversations were solid, and it was nice to see everyone showing up in person. These events always reinforce why building real relationships face-to-face matters for our partnerships and the broader network. Thanks to everyone who came out, even with the windy patio conditions.

In lieu of an Earth Day celebration, the CG Green Committee is taking a step toward making our offices a little eco-friendlier. If you’re at our EP office today, you can find recycling guides for Hennepin County near the trash & recycling receptacles in the first and second floor kitchens. When throwing something out, review these guides and make a conscious decision to make our planet a better place.

If you’re at one of Christensen Group’s other offices, please keep an eye on your mail! Recycling guides are coming your way as well. Where possible, these guides are directly from your county’s recycling centers. Otherwise, a general recycling guide from Waste Management is on its way to you.

For all, regardless of your location, below you'll find some simple tips on recycling right, starting a compost, and easy eco-friendly swaps you can make today. Small actions add up to a big difference!

Recycling Right Did you know that putting the wrong items in your recycling bin can cause an entire load to end up in a landfill? Here's how to make sure your recycling actually gets recycled:

**DO **recycle:

• Plastic bottles, cups, tubs, and containers
  • Clean them first! Food is not recyclable 😊 (but it is possibly compostable!)
  • Look for the recycling codes on your item: #1, #2, and #5 are generally recyclable, but check with your local recycling center to make sure.
• Aluminum and food cans
• Paper, newspapers, and magazines
• Flattened cardboard boxes
• Glass bottles and jars (check your local guidelines — not all areas accept glass curbside)

** ** **DON'T **recycle:

• Plastic bags or anything in a plastic bag (these jam machinery!)
• Greasy pizza boxes or food-soiled paper
• Styrofoam, bubble wrap, or plastic straws
• Coffee cups (they have a plastic lining)
• Broken glass
• Electronics, batteries, or cords (these need special drop-off locations)

Quick Tips:

• Rinse containers before tossing them in the bin — they don't need to be spotless, just residue-free
• Put caps and lids back on bottles before recycling
• Flatten cardboard to save space
• If it's smaller than a sticky note, it goes in the trash — small items jam machinery
• When in doubt, check your local waste management website for what's accepted in your area
• Some Resources for you: Recycling 101 & Where to find a recycle center for flexible plastics near you.

How You Can Start Composting Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce the food waste that ends up in landfills (where it releases harmful methane gas). And you don't need a big backyard to do it! ** ** What you CAN compost:

• Fruit and veggie scraps
• Coffee grounds and paper filters
• Tea bags
• Eggshells
• Dry leaves, cardboard, and shredded newspaper

What to KEEP OUT of your compost:

• Meat, fish, or dairy (attracts pests)
• Oils and cooking grease
• Pet waste
• Glossy paper or plastic

** ** How to get started:

1. Pick a bin — even a small countertop bin works great for kitchens
2. Aim for a ratio of 3 parts "browns" (cardboard, dry leaves) to 1 part "greens" (food scraps)
3. Keep it moist (like a wrung-out sponge) and turn it every week or two
4. In a few weeks to a few months, you'll have rich, dark compost for your garden or houseplants!

** ** Here is a comprehensive guide on how to compost at home provided by the EPA (Environmental Protection Ageny): EPA Composting at Home Guide

Easy Eco-Friendly Swaps you can Make at Home You don't have to overhaul your lifestyle to make a difference. Here are some of the simplest swaps to reduce your waste and environmental footprint:

Instead of... Try this! Single-use plastic bags Reusable grocery & produce bags Paper towels Cloth dishcloths or reusable wipes Plastic water bottles A reusable stainless steel or glass bottle Plastic wrap Beeswax wraps or silicone food bags Plastic toothbrush A bamboo or biodegradable toothbrush Bottled shampoo/conditioner Shampoo & conditioner bars Disposable sponges Compostable natural fiber scrubs Plastic straws Bamboo, glass, or stainless-steel straws Bottled cleaning spray Concentrated cleaning tablets or refillable bottles

Your Call to Action! This Week, the CG Green Committee would like to challenge you to three things this Earth Day to help make the planet a better place:

1. Double-check one item before putting it in the recycling bin
2. Start a small compost container on your kitchen counter
3. Make one eco-friendly swap, even something as simple as grabbing a reusable bag

Here's to making every day a little greener, one small step at a time!

Thanks, The Green Committee Sean Kurtenbach Jennifer Roberts Wes Slaughter Barb Michaels Abbey Johnson Ashley Braaten Gavin Knott Madeline Garrett

Betsy from the Women's Network and Amanda from the Charity Committee dropped off four full boxes of donated items to the Dress for Success Twin Cities warehouse this week. The donations came from the CG Women's Network in March when we celebrated International Women's Day, and it was great to finally see where the clothing will be put to good use. 

We also got to tour the warehouse and see what it takes to support so many women every month. A team of volunteers assembles Confidence Kits to send out to each woman going through the program, built from donations just like ours. Each kit includes a suit coat, a few blouses, pants, and accessories like jewelry, shoes, and purses, everything a woman needs to show up feeling confident.

Dress for Success Twin Cities offers career and workplace skills development programs for low-income women, helping them reach career advancement, career stability, and economic sustainability. In 2025, they supported over 1,000 women, and they are always looking for donations and volunteers.

Want to get involved as a team? Reach out to the Charity Committee or check out their website to learn more.

https://www.dressforsuccesstwincities.org/

Thank you all for contributing. It genuinely made a difference.

Betsy from the Women's Network and Amanda from the Charity Committee dropped off four full boxes of donated items to the Dress for Success Twin Cities warehouse this week. The donations came from the CG Women's Network in March when we celebrated International Women's Day, and it was great to finally see where the clothing will be put to good use. 

We also got to tour the warehouse and see what it takes to support so many women every month. A team of volunteers assembles Confidence Kits to send out to each woman going through the program, built from donations just like ours. Each kit includes a suit coat, a few blouses, pants, and accessories like jewelry, shoes, and purses, everything a woman needs to show up feeling confident.

Dress for Success Twin Cities offers career and workplace skills development programs for low-income women, helping them reach career advancement, career stability, and economic sustainability. In 2025, they supported over 1,000 women, and they are always looking for donations and volunteers.

Want to get involved as a team? Reach out to the Charity Committee or check out their website to learn more.

https://www.dressforsuccesstwincities.org/

Thank you all for contributing. It genuinely made a difference.

CG employees showed up in a big way at the Minnesota Special Olympics Polar Plunge this year, participating as part of Ross's Rebels with our "Who Let the Dogs Out" theme. Our team of 28, including 7 brave CG employees who took the icy plunge, came together to support an incredible cause and had a great time doing it.

A special shoutout to Matthew Warren, Samuel Doocy, Irene Koelewijn, Andy Bertram, Tyler Gerads, Kyza Engelson and Julie Kack for braving the cold water. The team raised an impressive $17,476, and with an additional $4,715.25 match from CG employees on behalf of the Charity Committee, we brought the total to $22,191.25. These funds will directly support Special Olympics Minnesota athletes by providing year-round training, competition opportunities, and programs that promote inclusion and strengthen community connections.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who participated, donated, or showed support for this event. Your willingness to brave the cold water and your generous contributions truly reflect the values we share as an organization. A special thank you to Julie Kack for organizing and making this event such a success.

CG celebrated International Women’s Day week with several fun activities that brought people together to recognize and support the women who make an impact across our organization.

Throughout the week, employees shared shoutouts to inspiring women and colleagues on CG Connect, wrote postcards of appreciation, and participated in our International Women’s Day BINGO activities. Many also joined in by wearing purple, green, or white to represent justice, hope, and dignity. We also enjoyed donuts from YoYo Donuts & Coffee Bar, a woman-owned business and CG insured partner.

We’re also continuing our Dress for Success Twin Cities clothing drive throughout March to support women and gender-expansive individuals entering or re-entering the workforce.

Congratulations to Ginny S. Hosley and Julianna J. Janssen as our 2026 International Women’s Day Week BINGO winners!

Thank you to everyone who participated and to the CG Women’s Network team who helped plan and organize the week’s activities.

We’re excited to share some great news. The nonprofit organization You're Not Alone (YNA), which CG proudly nominated, has been honored with West Bend Insurance Company's 2025 Spirit of the Silver Lining Award through the West Bend Independent Agents’ Fund. The award was presented at West Bend’s Silver Lining Annual Meeting recognizing YNA’s incredible dedication to delivering hope, compassion, and mental health support to individuals in our community and beyond. As part of the recognition, West Bend doubled their original donation and presented YNA with a $10,000 contribution to further expand their vital work supporting mental health and well-being. Several members of our team were proud to participate in the celebration and assist with the check presentation, including Jake Olinger, Dustin Craig, and Tony Larson. It was a meaningful moment to stand alongside an organization making such a powerful impact.

About You're Not Alone

Founded by Amy Walz, You're Not Alone is dedicated to supporting whole-person health and well-being, with a strong focus on mental health. Their mission centers on creating a compassionate community where individuals experiencing a mental health crisis can find acceptance, understanding, and support without fear of judgment. One of YNA’s most impactful initiatives is its partnership with school districts across the country, where volunteer therapy dog teams visit schools to support both students and staff. Their programming helps educate young people on:

• Social-emotional skills that promote mental wellness
• Strategies to cope with life stressors
• Tools to prevent and address bullying
• The positive role animals can play in emotional well-being

  Supporting Our Own Employee-Owners

  CG has also partnered with You're Not Alone to support the mental health and well-being of our employee-owners. Through this partnership, we have hosted sessions that provide access to YNA’s compassionate, peer-based support. This reinforces our commitment to whole-person wellness in the workplace.

  A Longstanding Tradition of Giving

  Since 2006, the West Bend Independent Agents’ Fund has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants to nonprofit organizations making meaningful differences in their communities. The Spirit of the Silver Lining Award recognizes independent agents and the organizations they support for their commitment to creating a positive impact. We are honored to support You're Not Alone and the life-changing work they continue to do in mental health advocacy and peer support. We are also grateful to West Bend Insurance Company for recognizing the important role this organization plays in strengthening our community. You can view the full list of award winners on the West Bend Philanthropy site: https://philanthropy.thesilverlining.com/

Mark your calendars for March 2nd – March 6th for International Women's WEEK! CG is hosting a celebration each day in preparation for International Women's Day (IWD) on Sunday, March 8th. This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration.

I have attached a flyer for the activities that will be happening throughout IWD Week. One of the activities is BINGO! What Midwesterner doesn’t like Bingo?! If you participate in each daily activity and blackout your Bingo card, you’ll be entered into a drawing where 3 lucky winners will each win a $100 gift card to their favorite women owned business!

In the spirit of giving, we are excited to partner with Dress for Success Twin Cities in support of International Women’s Day by hosting a clothing drive. Dress for Success is a worldwide organization with locations throughout the nation and across the globe. Their mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing professional attire, career development tools, and a supportive network to help them thrive in work and in life. Donations of new or gently used professional clothing and accessories help women feel confident as they enter or re-enter the workforce.

We will be accepting clothing donations during IWD week and throughout the entire month at some of our Minnesota locations: Eden Prairie, Monticello, and Waite Park.

How you can participate:

• Donate professional clothing items at the EP, Monticello, or Waite Park offices • Purchase items from the Dress for Success Twin Cities Wishlist and have them shipped directly • Organize a clothing drive at your own office location

A donation box will be available in the lobby of the EP office. Donations from Monticello and Waite Park will be collected and brought to EP at the end of the drive.

Please see the attached document for donation guidelines and requirements. If you have questions or need drop-off details, contact Amanda Vagle or Betsy Galvan.

Thank you for helping us support this meaningful mission.

And thank you for participating in IWD Week! We’re excited to celebrate with you!

CG employees and their families came together across all offices to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day through service, connection, and community impact. This year’s MLK Day of Service reflected our shared values in action, bringing people together to support organizations and causes in the communities where we live and work.

Across 10 CG offices, 95 employees participated alongside 80 family members, resulting in 175 total volunteers. Together, teams supported hunger relief efforts, animal welfare organizations, youth and family services, healthcare facilities, and community-based programs through a wide range of hands-on activities.

Volunteer efforts included partnering with food shelves and meal-packing organizations, supporting animal shelters and rescues, creating handmade comfort items for those in need, writing cards and assembling care packages, and spending time building meaningful connections through conversation and companionship.

Many employees shared how fulfilling it was to volunteer alongside coworkers and family members, and how meaningful it felt to know their time made a real difference. From seeing children take pride in serving others to finding purpose in behind-the-scenes efforts, the day created moments of connection, reflection, and impact across CG.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make CG’s MLK Day of Service such a powerful reflection of who we are.

Be sure to check out the MLK Day of Service highlight video to see moments from across our offices. https://christensengroup.wistia.com/medias/hk952qt4tl

We’re excited to congratulate our 2025 co-winning teams of Andy Bertram and Zach Freeman and Brenda Zawatzke and David Berning on their impressive performances in this year’s charity bean bag tournament.

With 40 participants taking part, the tournament raised $400, which CG proudly matched, bringing the total donation to $800. Because this year’s competition resulted in two winning teams, we are donating $400 to each team’s nonprofit of choice.

The original intent was to crown a single champion, but amid the fun and chaos of Christenmas, the tournament concluded with two standout teams. Regardless of brackets and matchups, both teams proved they had the skill, focus, and uncanny ability to throw straighter than the rest of us.

Andy and Zach selected The Bridge for Youth, an organization that empowers youth experiencing homelessness through safe shelter, basic needs, and healthy relationships while centering youth voice, justice, and equity.

Brenda and David chose Rivers of Hope, a domestic violence center serving Wright and Sherburne Counties that provides a coordinated community response to end domestic violence.

Congratulations again to our winners, and thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event such a meaningful success.

Everyone loves a good declutter to start the new year, so Green Committee has organized a Tech Recycling Week starting today! 

When: Monday January 5th through Thursday January 8th **Where: The **recycling bins are in the old 2 Center printer area (across from the employee photo wall on 2nd floor)

A Few Things to Note: ** ·                    We are not limiting the number of items per person that can be recycled - that being said please be mindful that we are limited to the space in the 3 recycling bins, so please do not bring a lot of very large items ·                    See the attached PDF for a list of tech recycling do's and don'ts. ·                    For safety reasons, do not bring swollen or corroded batteries, or anything that contains fluid or hazardous/biohazardous materials   ** For Other Offices: ·                    You can recycle up to 3 items a day at your local Best Buy! You can reference this guide to see what they accept. Please note that Best Buy does charge a fee to recycle anything with a screen, and CG will not be reimbursing the cost. If you work in another office in MN feel free to bring your items to Eden Prairie this week!    Please note: Your data is your responsibility. Please ensure that all important files are removed from your electronics prior to recycling. Be aware that your electronics cannot be recovered after they’re collected, so please only recycle items you will not need back. The Green Committee and IT will not be wiping hard drives; you are not required to wipe your hard drive prior to recycling your electronics, however, CG is not responsible for anything that happens with your data after it leaves your hands.   If you have any questions, please reach out to Sean Kurtenbach.   Thanks,

The Green Committee Sean Kurtenbach Jennifer Roberts Wes Slaughter Barb Michaels Abbey Johnson

This holiday season, our offices came together for the CG Season of Giving, supporting organizations and individuals in the communities where we live and work. Through donations, volunteering, and hands on support, we made a meaningful impact across multiple states. This effort reflects one of CG’s 4 Cs, Community, and our commitment to showing up for the people and places we serve.

Our Kansas team proudly supported Drumm Farm Center for Children, a valued CG client, by purchasing gifts for the Compass Youth stocking program, which supports young adults who have aged out of foster care or are experiencing homelessness. Alyssa Blake also contributed by baking cookies for Drumm Farm’s annual holiday party, where gifts were distributed.

In Minnesota, the Eden Prairie office delivered donated gifts along with a contribution supported through the matching fund to help families shop for the holidays during Hospitality House Youth Development’s Christmas with Dignity event. The Simmons family also volunteered by helping set up for the shopping event. The Monticello office provided winter coats, boots, mittens, and other cold weather essentials for Monticello High School students in need, along with gas cards, a comforter, and yearbooks for graduating seniors. The Waite Park team granted wishes through the INDY Foundation’s Blessing Tree, supporting local cancer warriors and their families with donations that were matched by CG. In New Ulm, the team donated toys and gifts to Ivy House, a 24 hour crisis nursery that provides short term care for children and support for families in crisis. In Alexandria, Dave Deterding made a donation to The Windmill Project in support of its upcoming Christmas event, helping families of children with disabilities and special needs.

In Texas, the San Antonio team volunteered with Meals on Wheels San Antonio, delivering meals to community members in need and providing a financial donation to support the organization’s ongoing work. Our Austin team supported SAFE, an organization dedicated to stopping abuse and providing emergency shelter, counseling, legal services, and 24 7 SAFEline support for children, adults, and families. Donations from the Austin team were matched by CG to further expand their impact.

We are grateful to everyone who participated and gave their time, resources, and support this season. We also want to recognize and thank those who contributed to these efforts outside of the offices listed here. We appreciate your willingness to step in, donate, volunteer, and help wherever needed. We also know many employees give on their own year round to organizations they are passionate about, and we are grateful for the many ways you support your communities. The CG Season of Giving reflects who we are as an employee-owned firm and our ongoing commitment to Community during the holidays and beyond.

On Monday, January 19, 2026, CG will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a dedicated day of service. Our offices will be closed so employees and their families can spend the day volunteering in their communities. This tradition honors Dr. King’s legacy and strengthens our shared commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community support. To get inspired, you can revisit last year’s contributions and community impact here.

There are lots of different options no matter where you live. Check out the organizations we have linked, sign up for pre-planned volunteer events, or create your own activity with your team!

‍

SIGN UP BY JANUARY 6th

Complete your sign-up here: MLK Day of Service Form 

This early deadline helps with planning and supply ordering

1. What should I do before and after my volunteering shift? Your activity may only take a few hours. You are welcome to continue serving in other ways or spend time learning more about Dr. King and his legacy.
2. What if my kids have the day off from school? You can include them! Remote options like card writing or assembling care kits work well for families.
3. Do I have to volunteer? We strongly encourage everyone to participate. If you are unable to volunteer, you may choose to work on this day instead, but you will be asked the reasoning for not taking part in this company initiative. There are exceptions based on client renewals and expectations.
 
January 19th Volunteer Opportunities

OFFSITE OPTIONS

Feed My Starving Children:
Sign up here
There are 30 spots available in Chanhassen | 9:30-11:15pm
And 10 spots in Coon Rapids | 12:00-1:45pm

Monticello Help Center
Time to be determined
Family and children are welcome, please let Amanda Vagle know in advance if they will be joining.
Located near the Monticello Office

Tri County Humane Society
10:00-12:00pm
Family and children are welcome, please let Brandon Boelter know in advance if they will be joining Located near the Waite Park Office

Create Your Own Activity
If your team or office has an idea for a volunteer opportunity that is great! Let us know what you choose so we can share and celebrate your impact.

TIE BLANKETS

Remote
Kits will be available for pickup starting January
12th in the EP, Monticello, and WP offices
You may also purchase your own supplies and expense it

In-Office
Kits will be available on January 19th in the Eden Prairie, Kansas, Monticello, New Ulm, and Waite Park offices
Schedule a time to meet your team at the office, or you can work independently!
All supplies will be provided

Instructions
Check out this YouTube video for instructions to make tie blankets. Super easy and fun to do as a group

REMOTE OPTIONS
Find the links in this Knowledge Center Article.

If you have any additional questions, please contact the CG Charity Committee.

Thank you, and we look forward to another great MLK Day of Service!

The CG Women’s Network hosted two porch pot classes, giving us a fun chance to step away from our desks, connect with one another, and get creative. Using spruce tops and seasonal greenery, everyone built a festive arrangement to enjoy throughout the Holidays.

Leah Gardner of Queen Bee’s lead both sessions. Her guidance made the process easy to follow, and she kept it light, engaging, and approachable for all skill levels.

In Monticello, the group enjoyed the lakeside room at Willy’s on the Water in Big Lake, and the food was a hit. The Eden Prairie office was packed with many creative ladies and the New Ulm team had a great time crafting their pots as well, and we’re glad they were able to participate. Overall, it was a meaningful way to connect across locations and head into the season feeling refreshed.

As we enter the Season of Giving, we are excited to share a variety of meaningful ways you can make an impact in your community this December. Participation is completely optional, as we know many of you already give generously throughout the year, but we wanted to highlight opportunities for us to give back together as offices and teams. Any employee or family member can participate in any of these locations, whether remotely or in person. Just reach out to the team members listed below to find out how you can help. Please keep in mind the early deadlines on some donations to ensure gifts and contributions can be delivered in a timely manner. Curious about last year’s efforts? Check out the recap here.

Below are the initiatives happening across our CG offices and how you can get involved.

Eden Prairie Office The Eden Prairie office is partnering again with Hospitality House Youth Development to support the Christmas with Dignity event. Families can purchase gifts at ten cents on the dollar, helping make the holidays special while preserving dignity and choice. Thank you to Cal and Kyle Simmons and their families for volunteering to help set up. How to contribute: • Financial contributions: Deposit checks in the box at the front desk or send checks to the EP office attention Sophie. • Gift donations: Drop off unwrapped gifts in the large red donation box in the lobby. A list of most needed items is here. • All money collected will be matched. Deadline: December 5th Contact: Cal Simmons with questions.

Monticello Office The Monticello office is partnering with Monticello High School’s Giving Tree to provide gifts for more than 20 students this holiday season. Wish items include winter coats, shoes, hats, and fun gifts. Some of the gifts are a bit pricey, so feel free to team up with a partner or a group. If you'd prefer to contribute financially instead, you can Venmo @Amanda4888 any amount and she will purchase the gifts using the pooled funds. Please send her an email so she can keep track. How to contribute • Sign up to select a gift here. Deadline: Return all items unwrapped to the Monticello office by December 12th at 9 am. Money contributions are due by 11/28. Contact: Amanda Vagle
 

‍Kansas Office The Kansas team is partnering with Drumm Farm Center for Children to support the Compass Youth Program, which helps young adults in need. The office is collecting monetary donations to pool together, match with CG funds, and then purchase gifts from their wish list. Most of their items needed are basic home cleaning supplies and gift cards for Uber, QT, DoorDash, Grocery stores etc. Deadline: to contribute November 28th Contact: Alyssa Blake

New Ulm Office The New Ulm office is partnering with Ivy House, a 24/7 crisis nursery providing care for children ages 0 to 10 whose families are facing crisis or stress. The office is collecting monetary donations to pool together, match with CG funds, and then purchase gifts from their wish list. Deadline to contribute: December 8th Contact: Ashton Sabatino

Austin Office The Austin team is collecting funds to match with CG to buy items from their wish list for Safe Austin, which helps provide shelter and resources for victims of various forms of abuse. Javier is the leader of the team at the office and is taking donations via Venmo is @jcastaneda1105. Deadline: December 10th Contact: Javier Castañeda

San Antonio Office The San Antonio office has collected donations that will be matched by CG. The team plans to deliver the check to Meals on Wheels San Antonio and volunteer as a group on December 2nd. Meals on Wheels San Antonio serves more than 4,000 clients each weekday across Bexar and surrounding counties, providing nourishment and support that helps individuals remain safe and independent. More information can be found at mowsatx.org. Cade Johnson is leading that team this year.

Alexandria Office Dave Deterding from the Alexandria office has made a donation to The Windmill Project in support of their upcoming Christmas event. The Windmill Project has supported families of children with disabilities and special needs since the early 2000s. It began through a federal grant and later became a nonprofit run by parent volunteers focused on peer support and community connection. The organization now provides sensory-friendly events and helps families access resources. Additional information is available on their website.

Waite Park Office More details will be shared soon. Or feel free to donate to another office’s activity. Contact: Brandon Boelter

Chicago Office More information will be announced soon. Or feel free to donate to another office’s activity. Contact: Chuck Mazzanti

Thank you for helping share the CG spirit of giving this season, whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading kindness.

CG Charity Committee Cal Simmons Mady Sheets Amanda Vagle Brandon Boelter Ashton Sabatino Alyssa Blake Derek Heaton Matt Warren

Sign up is closed. Playing has started. Stay turned for the 2025 Winners and charity of their choice!

We realize that fall has been incredibly busy for everyone, so we pushed back the bracket a few weeks. For those that are new to CG or for those that need a refresher, it’s a $10 entry fee per person (that’s $20 per team). Teams are randomly paired (by office location) and 100% of the entry fees are matched by CG and donated to the winning duo’s 501c3 organization of choice.     

NEW THIS YEAR   - - - > If you want to simply donate and not play bags, you certainly can! Your $10 donation will still be matched in its entirety.   

Please sign up here if you plan on tossing or donating so we can begin to set up the brackets and finalize the tourney with play starting the week of November 9th and an anticipated ending by Thanksgiving. Final brackets/dates determined based on final number of participants.

Reach out to the CG Charity Committee with questions.

Yesterday, the CG Women’s Network hosted our fall event, “Brewing Strength: A Coffee Talk with Pam Warnke,” joined by Firefly Sisterhood’s Kristin Schrubbe.

Pam shared her incredible story as a breast cancer survivor, a true reminder of courage, faith, and the power of community. Kristin also spoke about Firefly Sisterhood’s mission to connect women navigating breast cancer with trained mentors who offer hope and support along the way.

We were also joined by many of our carrier partners. A huge thank-you to Pam and Kristin for sharing their stories, and to everyone who attended in person or online.

The Green Committee’s Salsa Contest was a flavorful success! Using fresh ingredients from the CG ESOP Garden — including heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeños — participants created salsas ranging from traditional to fruity and fiery.

🏆 Winners:

• 1st Place: Randi Gillen – Traditional Garden Salsa (17 votes)
• T-2nd Place: Jennifer Roberts – Raspberry Salsa & Lillian Rivera – Classic Salsa (16 votes each)
• 4th Place: Amber Taft – Smoky & Spicy Salsa (+1 bonus for creativity!) (10 votes)
• 5th Place: Sean Kurtenbach – Mango Salsa (9 votes)
• 6th Place: Wes Slaughter – “Muy Caliente” Salsa (6 votes)
• T-7th Place: Tyler Gerads – Orange Salsa & Mady Bauer – Green Salsa (5 votes each)

The variety and creativity were outstanding, and it was a perfect way to showcase the garden’s harvest. A huge thank-you to everyone who planted, watered, and cared for the garden all summer. And thank you to all who participated — whether by creating, tasting, or cheering on the contestants!

Thank you to everyone who helped make our 4th Annual School Stuffing Event a huge success! This year, we expanded to even more office locations, bringing teams together to pack, assemble, and write words of encouragement for nearly 400 students heading back to school.

With the support of our partner Impacks, we delivered** packs** filled with essential supplies to students at:

• Forest Hills Elementary (Eden Prairie, MN) – 84 kits
• Eastview Education Center (Monticello, MN) – 52 kits
• Jefferson Elementary (New Ulm, MN) – 20 kits
• Westwood Elementary (Saint Cloud/Waite Park, MN) – 52 kits
• Carlos Elementary (Alexandria, MN) – 20 kits
• Gene Dillon Elementary (Bemidji, MN) – 20 kits
• Lincoln Elementary (Hoffman Estates, IL) – 35 kits
• Santa Fe Trail Elementary (Overland Park, KS) – 52 kits
• Oak Hill Elementary (Austin, TX) – 40 kits
• Rahe Bulverde Elementary (New Braunfels, TX) – 35 kits

This event was about more than just backpacks—it was about coming together as a team, giving our time, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of students across our communities.

We’re proud to support our local schools—and we’re wishing every student a successful school year ahead! 

As you may know, the Green Committee has been part of the Trex Plastic Recycling program for the past few years. Our goal each year is to collect 1,000 lbs of plastic bags—and if we reach it, Trex rewards us with a bench made from recycled materials. Earlier this year, we challenged you all to help us collect 500 lbs by June 30th – half of our yearly goal. You really stepped up! Our collections jumped from about 5 lbs every two weeks to 20 lbs or more.   However, as of July 31, 2025, we’ve collected only **157 lbs **of plastic bags. Since we’re far from meeting our goal, we’ve made the decision to end Trex Plastic Recycling after August 31, 2025.   Why the change?

• Trex is not a paid service; committee members personally deliver plastic from the EP office to Cub Foods for recycling.
• With our current totals, earning a bench isn’t realistic, so these trips end up being additional work for the committee without the program’s intended benefit.

  What you can do instead:

• Recycle: Drop your plastic recycling off at Cub Foods (in EP, their collection bins are outside of the store) or Target (near the registers).
• Reduce: Utilize reusable tote bags for shopping.
• Reuse: Give plastic bags a second life—use them for pet waste, packing, or storage.

  Thank you to everyone who participated in our Trex recycling program. Your efforts made a difference, and we appreciate your commitment to sustainability!   Thanks, The Green Committee Wes Slaughter Barb Michaels Sean Kurtenbach Jennifer Roberts Abbey Johnson

The CG Women’s Network recently hosted its third annual Networking Happy Hour at Bear Cave Brewing in Hopkins. The event brought together a strong group of women from across the insurance industry, including many of our valued P&C and Benefits carrier partners.

Despite the rain, attendance was high and the atmosphere was both energetic and welcoming. It was a great opportunity to expand professional networks, connect with new and familiar faces, and continue building strong relationships within our industry.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to a successful event.

Brandon Boelter from the Charity Committee presented a check to the INDY Foundation, representing the generous donations made by our team. A total of $5,000 was raised during the Assurex Global Operations Conference in Minneapolis.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Green Committee’s ESOP Garden Happy Hour last week! If you’re interested in helping out with this year’s garden, please sign up for a watering slot (or 2 or 3!) in the link below:

ESOP Garden Watering Sign Up.xlsx

Once your watering date(s) comes around, you’ll receive an email reminder with instructions on how to water the garden. If you have any questions, a member of the Green Committee is happy to help!

The summer season is officially underway at CG, kicked off with the beloved tradition of planting our ESOP Garden! Energized by the ever-passionate CG Green Committee, team members rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty planting classics like tomatoes, jalapeños, and cucumbers, while also adding some fresh new fruits and veggies to the mix.

With perfect weather, plenty of snacks, and lots of laughter, the event was a vibrant reminder of what makes our community strong—coming together with purpose and care. It was more than just gardening; it was about growing connection, ownership, and pride.

Huge thanks to everyone who participated. We can’t wait to watch this garden (and season) thrive!

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Please join the CG Green Committee in planting this year’s ESOP Garden! We’ll be planting some old favorites such as tomatoes, jalapeños, and cucumbers, as well as trying out a few new varieties of fruits & veggies.   Drinks and snacks will be provided, but please BYOGG (bring your own gardening gloves!).

A big thank you to everyone who joined CG's Green Committee for our Earth Day Nature Walk today! It was a wonderful opportunity to step away from our desks and into nature at the Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail in Eden Prairie.

With reusable water bottles in hand, we enjoyed a peaceful 0.8-mile walk through the scenic trail, soaking in the sunshine, spring blooms, and even sampling fresh natural spring water straight from the source. It was the perfect way to pause, reflect, and appreciate the planet we all share.

Shoutout to our colleagues in other offices who organized their own local walks—we love seeing the commitment to sustainability across all locations!

Thanks for celebrating Earth Day with us. Let’s carry this spirit forward all year long!

Last week, members of the CG team had the privilege of volunteering at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities Great Futures Fair—a meaningful event focused on connecting teens with potential career paths, post-secondary opportunities, and local industry leaders.

It was a fantastic day of service and connection. We had the opportunity to serve Buffalo Wild Wings (a crowd favorite!) and engage with an inspiring group of young people from across the Twin Cities. Their curiosity, ambition, and energy were truly uplifting.

Thank you to everyone who participated and represented CG with such enthusiasm and heart. It’s always rewarding to give back to the community, and this event was a great reminder of the impact we can make—together.

Our team had the honor of attending the INDY Foundation’s Bowties and Arrows Gala 2025—and it was truly a night to remember!

The INDY Foundation is dedicated to supporting Minnesota cancer warriors and their families through financial assistance, emotional support, and community connection. It was incredibly moving to see so many people come together in support of such a meaningful cause. We're proud to stand with them in raising both funds and awareness for those battling cancer right here in our home state.

If you know someone in Minnesota who is currently navigating a cancer diagnosis and could use support, please encourage them to apply for assistance through the INDY Foundation. You can learn more and find the application here.

Thank you to everyone who represented our team at the event—it’s inspiring to see the impact we can have when we show up for our community.

On March 8th, we celebrated International Women’s Day with this year’s empowering theme: _“Accelerate Action”_—a reminder that progress for women is progress for everyone.

To show our support, we encouraged all employee-owners to wear purple and take meaningful steps toward change. We also indulged in some delicious purple-themed treats from YoYo Donuts & Coffee Bar, a woman-owned business we love supporting (and snacking on!).

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make the day both meaningful and sweet!

The Eden Prairie office participates in a program called Trex, which encourages us to collect plastic bags for recycling! If we collect 1000lbs of plastic bags in a year, we’ll receive a bench made of recycled plastic for the office!   Unfortunately, we’ve only collected 22lbs of plastic bags for recycling since January 1, 2025.   Help us reach our goal of collecting 500lbs by June 30th! Please bring your plastic bags into the office for recycling; these can be dropped off in the collection bins pictured below, which are in the 1-West and 2-West copy rooms.

On Saturday, March 8th, 20 CG employee-owners, along with their friends and family, took the leap for the Special Olympics Polar Plunge. Generous donations from CGers secured a matching contribution of $5,207.14, helping to raise over $21,417 in total. 57 co-workers donated to make this match possile! 

A huge thank you to everyone who signed up, volunteered, filled out the survey, shared photos, and provided valuable feedback! Your participation made this event a success, and we can’t wait to do it again next year—bigger and better than ever. Despite the challenges of EPIC, we made it through and will be even stronger next year. As Sam Olinger put it: "I can’t say it enough, this matters deeply. Giving back is the right thing to do, and we are so blessed that it feels great to pay it forward to the communities we work in."

Participation Breakdown & Survey Highlights

• 111 people signed up to volunteer
• 26 people completed training
• 4 people were on PTO
• 6 people chose not to volunteer
• 6 people have future plans to serve
• 42 people completed the post-survey With over 229 employees, we know there are more incredible acts of service that haven't been accounted for. Since we’re not entirely sure how many people actually served, we need your help! Please fill out the post-survey ASAP so we can gather a more accurate count of our collective impact.

Individual Charity Efforts Our team went above and beyond, supporting various causes, including:

• Donating blood after years of hesitation
• Preparing materials for a Destination Imagination tournament
• Supporting the St. Martin de Porres Food Pantry in Dripping Springs, TX
• Packaging food for The Open Door Pantry
• Organizing a Rafferty’s Pizza Challenge to support CRES
• Preparing 70 meals for The Link Youth Homeless Shelter
• Collecting and donating food, toys, and supplies for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa
• Donating pet food and supplies to Bond Between and Carver Scott Humane Society
• Shopping for and donating essential items to the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
• Volunteering at Open Cupboard in Oakdale, sorting food donations
• Creating greeting cards for sick children in hospitals
• Organizing a kids’ resource room at Summit Church and painting a sign for their new Kids Station
• Volunteering at The Wildcat Sanctuary, assisting with animal care and socialization
• Packing and donating snack packs for children through The Open Door Charity

Future Volunteer Opportunities Several great organizations were suggested for future initiatives, including:

• Animal Welfare & Rescue: The Wildcat Sanctuary, ASPCA, Animal Humane Society, UnbreakaBull Pitbull Rescue
• Community & Family Services: Ronald McDonald House, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, The Jeremiah Program
• Hunger & Shelter Support: Dorothy Day Center, Catholic Charities, Food Shelves, No Kid Hungry
• Youth & Health Initiatives: Special Olympics, Planned Parenthood, Breakthrough Type One Diabetes
• Various local and personal charities where employees are already involved

CG Connect Participation & Winner A special shoutout to the 10 employees who shared their experiences on CG Connect! 🎉 Congratulations to Kelli Kaup for winning the $25 CG Store prize with her heartwarming photo of her daughter making greeting cards for sick kids! 📽️ Check out our MLK Jr. Day of Service 2025 video here!

Keep the Spirit of Giving Alive! Giving back is a year-long effort! Remember to submit your matching donations throughout the year. If you're interested in volunteering, we still have a few spots left for the Futures Fair on February 19—reach out to the CG Charity Committee to sign up!

Want to get even more involved? Join the Charity Committee! We’re always looking for team members to help us make a greater impact.

Thank you all for your generosity and commitment to our communities. Let’s keep making a difference together!

Calling all those brave and/or adventurous soles that want to make a difference in 2025?  

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‍ Add doing the Polar Plunge to your bucket list and join me along with several of your co-workers in making a MN Winter splash for Special Olympics!!!!!

‍  I will be plunging again this year and would love to have other brave souls join me.  Last year, with the help of Christensen Group employee match, the team of 28 plungers raised over $17,000! Let’s work to exceed that this year!!  Who’s in (literally?!))) Let’s make an even bigger splash again this year!! 😊

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All offices are welcome to join us. If you want to be part of the fun and it more convenient or are more comfortable doing a virtual that is fine as well. Our very own Sarina Khariwala has experience in this or the Minnesota Polar Plunge website has some suggestions but bring out your creative side!!!  

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When: Saturday March 8,2025

‍ Where: Eden Prairie, MN Time: _Plunging begins at noon- our exact plunge time is not determined until Friday evening before- a group text will be sent to the team members announcing the time as well as an email to the staff if anyone is interested in coming out and cheering us on). _ Pre-Plunge & Post Plunge Parties – Time / Place: TBD – more info will be sent to those brave enough to join us.

Team Name: _08.MSS Marshall Area Special Olympics Ross's Rebels _ Ross Abraham is a Special Olympic Athlete and has been a team member for 12 years. He enthusiasm for this event is contagious! 😊

Team Theme: Paul Buyan and Babe (Thanks Lillian for coming up with the theme – I love it!!!).  Dress in Buffalo Plaid flannel, black stocking caps and suspenders (if you have them) (and maybe accessorize with a fake ax?..?)

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For those who have joined the team in the past, and/or anyone who has expressed interest in either joining the team or donating, now is the opportunity to sign up to join us or to donate to this wonderful cause!

(It would be great to have some producers and management team join in on the fun this year!!) **Spouses and family members are also welcome and encouraged! **ALL are welcome.

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You can sign up to join the team or donate using the link below. We can also use support the day of the plunge at Lake Riley in Eden Prairie as it does take encouragement to make that plunge into those icy waters!!! (NOTE: Each Plunger is required to raise a minimum of $75 to participate, and your participation is one important piece of an inclusive movement that raises millions of dollars every single year for Special Olympics Minnesota! There are other added incentives for different levels of monies raised. (I challenge you to go big on your Fundraising goal – go for $500! It is very doable, and it is for a great cause.)

https://reg.plungemn.org/team/08mssmarshallareaspecialolympicsrosssrebels     AFFINITY PLUS BONUS DONATION for the 1st 2000 Plungers to use the code so act now!:  USE PROMO CODE: AFFINITYPLUS Because of our generous friends at Affinity Plus, when you register for the 2025 Plunge (virtual or in person) and use the promo code AFFINITYPLUS, you’ll receive a $50 donation toward your fundraising efforts! This campaign is limited to the first 2000 Plungers who use the code. (This must be done at time of registration). Here’s what you need to do to earn an automatic $50 donation: Register for a virtual or in-person Plunge and enter the code AFFINITYPLUS in the promo code field during Step 3. Don’t forget to click the APPLY button after entering the code! (Note: This must be done at time of registration and cannot be added afterwards). Special Olympics MN makes a positive impact on athletes with intellectual disabilities that will last a lifetime and all funds raised goes towards programming and events for more than 8,000 athletes statewide.  

Through sports, SOMN athletes celebrate their abilities, not their disabilities. Their world opens with acceptance and understanding. They become more confident and empowered by their accomplishments. They make new friends, joining the most inclusive community on the planet- a global community that's growing every day.  

Our agency currently writes several accounts that specialize in providing care for the developmentally disabled and the compassion that the owners have for the work/service they provide is impressive.

  So, while we do not provide the care that they do, we can offer support to empowering these individuals to celebrate who they are by participating in the annual Polar Plunge event and raise funds for a group that also shares that same compassion/enthusiasm for those with disabilities.  

It feels good to be able to be part of it.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me and I will be more than enthusiastic to share the details and excitement.

~ Julie Kack 

As we wrap up another incredible Season of Giving, we want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable impact we’ve made together. Your generosity and dedication embody the true spirit of giving, and the results have been extraordinary.

Here’s a recap of our collective achievements:

Eden Prairie Office Cal Simmons spearheaded contributions to the Christmas with Dignity event at Hospitality House. On December 12, Cal delivered $1,500 in donations, including a $750 matching gift from CG.

The volunteers’ gratitude was overwhelming, as reflected in their heartfelt message: "Because of your gift, we served 414 families and 1,249 children. The smiles on the parents' faces as they left Hospitality House were unforgettable. Thank you for making this possible." ** ** Waite Park Office The Waite Park team partnered with Bri’s Lodge to support six grieving families, providing essential items such as food, gas, personal care products, and toys. The team raised $750, which was matched by CG, resulting in a $1,500 gift.

This meaningful partnership honors the memory of BriAnna Kruzel and continues to bring hope and healing to families navigating loss.

Monticello Office The Monticello office worked with Monticello High School’s Giving Tree to bring joy to over 30 students this holiday season. Contributions included winter coats, shoes, hats, and wish-list items, ensuring these students felt supported and valued before their break.

Kansas Office The Kansas team raised $600 for Drumm Farm and matched it, totaling $1,150 in gifts. This included Adidas duffle bags for their Compass youth program and other wish-list items curated by young adults in the program. A smaller office with a big heart—great work, Team KC! ** ** New Ulm Office Through the holiday gift drive for Ivy House, the New Ulm office donated a highchair, pack-and-play, and sheets. Ivy House, a 24/7 crisis nursery, provides care for children ages 0–10 whose families are experiencing crisis or stress. Their gratitude reflects the meaningful difference this partnership makes for families in need. ** ** Austin/San Antonio Office The Austin/San Antonio team has partnered with the Austin Diaper Bank, which serves over 35,000 Central Texas families each month by providing diapers and wipes. The team is currently combining donations and securing a matching gift to amplify the impact of their contributions.

Looking ahead, they hope to volunteer as a team for this cause next year. If you’d like to contribute, please donate using this link and submit to the CG Charity Committee for a match. Thank you for your generosity, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to our communities. Together, we’ve made an extraordinary difference.

January 7-9: Tech Recycling is back! This will be the only Tech Recycling event for 2025, so make sure to bring in your old tech. More details to come, but we WILL be allowing small appliances once again.   March 18: Backyard Composting Lunch & Learn! Join us in the EP Event Center or virtually to learn from Kira Berglund, Hennepin County’s Composting & Recycling Specialist, all about composting in your own backyard. While some information will be county specific, you do not need to live in Hennepin county to join and much of the information will be a general overview of composting.   April 22: Earth Day! Join the Green Committee for a nature walk and end with some hot chocolate back at the EP office to warm up.

May - Date TBD: ESOP Garden Happy Hour! Our annual event returns in 2025. Come help the Green Committee ready the garden beds for our ESOP Garden and enjoys some refreshments while you’re at it!   Fall - Date TBD: Tree Planting returns! Meet the Green Committee at Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul for lunch and two hours of tree planting.

The CG Women's Network hosted three amazing Winter Porch Pot classes this year in Monticello, New Ulm, and Eden Prairie! Huge thanks to Leah at Queen Bee's for guiding us through crafting stunning creations while enjoying great company and conversations. What a perfect way to take a break from the holiday hustle!

This group got out of the office, rolled up their sleeves and worked on a couple of our outdoor projects. Continuing on the curb appeal out front and enhancing the trail with wood mulch along the path. We are so grateful for their dedication to serving the community in this way.

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Congratulations to the 2024 winning team of Eric Simmons and Tyler Gerads! They were able to fend off a thrilling two-peat attempt from Zach Freeman and Tayler Amoe amidst a beautiful afternoon listening to the best hits of the 80s and 90s.

Eric and Tyler have chosen the Northside Achievement Zone in Minneapolis as the recipient of all the entry fees and corresponding match from the CG Charity Committee totaling $680.    

The Charity Committee is excited to kick off another year of intense competition to benefit a charity of choice! Last year we had a record turn out with the winning team of Zach Freeman and Sam Doocy donating $1,020.

Please sign up here by end of day on October 7th so we can facilitate brackets and begin play late next week.

$10 entry fee (per person) will be collected up front and can be paid via cash or Venmo.

      Eden Prairie – Pay Mady Sheets

      Monticello – Pay Amanda Vagle

      Waite Park – Pay Brandon Boelter

      Venmo – Ashton Sabatino

Championship round to take place at high noon on Wednesday, October 23rd amidst the aroma of fresh cooked chili in Eden Prairie.  

As a reminder, 100% of entry fees will be matched by the Charity Committee to the charity of choice chosen by the winning team!

Prost!

My name is Juan Quiñonez, and I am the school social worker at Forest Hills Elementary in Eden Prairie. I wanted to take a moment to extend a heartfelt thank you to you, your organization, and everyone cc'd in this email. Please forgive me if I’ve missed anyone.   Returning to school and seeing such an amazing gesture for our students and families was truly moving. Your donation and support mean so much, and I know it will make a significant difference for many families in our district.   If you’re interested in continuing this amazing work and possibly extending it to other schools in our district, I’m cc’ing Reta Johnson, our Family Resources Coordinator and Homeless & Foster Care Liaison. Reta has tirelessly organized our back-to-school supply drive for every school in the district over the years.   Again, thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to all of us.   Thank you/Gracias,   Juan C. Quiñonez, LSW School Social Worker Inspiring Each Student Every Day   Forest Hills Elementary 13708 Holly Road Eden Prairie, MN 55346

The CG garden update you've all been waiting for: The Green Committee and other employees have been busy this summer, diligently watering, nurturing, and harvesting a variety of vegetables.

With a well-organized watering schedule, their efforts have truly paid off, and we couldn't be happier with the bounty they've shared with the office. This season, we've had great success with jalapeños, zucchini, tomatoes, kale, and cucumbers. We even had a few unexpected visitors, including a sleepy frog and a grumpy turtle.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in our recent school supply packing event! CG employees from across our offices came together to help students in need at local schools. Community involvement is a cornerstone of our culture at CG, and your dedication to making a difference is truly inspiring. Here's what we accomplished together:

• Eden Prairie Office: 84 packs for Forest Hills Elementary School
• Monticello Office: 52 kits for Eastview Elementary School
• Kansas Office: 52 essential school kits for Santa Fe Trail School
• Waite Park Office: 52 boxes for Talahi Community School
• New Ulm Office: 20 bags for Jefferson Elementary School

In total, we packed 260 school kits for students in our communities. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to giving back, whether through fundraisers, employee matching programs, or service opportunities.

Thank you for embodying CG’s values and making a positive impact where it matters most. Let’s keep up the great work as we continue to support our communities!

We welcomed many accomplished women from our P&C and Benefits carrier partners to expand our personal networks within the insurance industry. We had a wonderful time discussing industry topics and enjoying each other's company.

The CG agency services team spent an afternoon volunteering at The Open Door in Eagan, MN.

The Open Door is a hunger relief organization committed to ending local hunger by providing access to healthy food. Through its various programs, The Open Door supports over 15,000 Dakota County residents each month and distributes more than 3 million pounds of food annually, with 70% being fresh or perishable.

The INDY Gala was a huge success with early estimates of over $180K raised for local cancer warriors in March. CG's silent auction basket cash pool of $675 in office was matched by the CG Charity Committee for a total of$1,350 which turned into $2,075 raised from the items we donated! Pretty awesome 😊. Thank you again to all who have helped with INDY events, donated to the silent auctions, and helped spread the word about INDY’s cause in MN.

As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we would like to encourage everyone to join us in our efforts to reduce paper usage within CG.

Since January 1st, 2024, Christensen Group has physically printed 148,006 pages across all printers and offices. There are numerous alternatives to printing unnecessarily, which not only helps to reduce wear and tear on our printers, but also to preserve our environment and contribute to cost savings for us as employee owners.

Here are a few simple ways we can all contribute to saving paper:

• Think Before Printing: Before hitting the print button, consider whether the document truly needs to be in hard copy format. If it's possible to review or share the information digitally, opt for that instead.

• Double-Sided Printing: When printing is absolutely necessary, utilize the double-sided printing feature to maximize paper usage and reduce waste.

• Digital Signatures: Utilize Foxit for signing documents whenever feasible, eliminating the need for printing, signing, and scanning.

• Share Documents Electronically: Instead of distributing physical copies of documents during meetings or presentations, share them electronically through email or cloud-based platforms like OneDrive or SharePoint.

By collectively adopting these practices, we can make a significant impact on reducing our environmental footprint. 

The CG Green Committee put together a tree planting event at the Dodge Nature Center to celebrate Earth Day. Embracing the outdoors, disconnecting from screens, and lending a hand to the environment always garners great enthusiasm and drew a large crowd. We were also fortunate to witness newborn animals on the farm during our visit.

Mark your calendars for the Rock the Barn event at the Dodge Center on May 18 to support the Preschool Scholarship Fund. Visit their website for further details or to download a walking map for an escape from the daily grind.

The CG Women's Network Winter Porch Pot class was a great success! We crafted beautiful creations, made meaningful connections, and enjoyed a pause in the midst of the bustling season.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Leah at Queen Bee's and Nordic Brewpub for arranging such a fantastic event.

CG Women's Network, held a coffee talk last month. We explored the claims process in Commercial Lines and Employee Benefits, with Angelia Roe, Robyn Selby, and Katy Mullin sharing their expertise on the panel. Special thanks to Amy Filzen for her excellent emceeing. A big thank you to all who joined—we're excited for more enlightening discussions in the future!

CG took the plunge in the Polar Plunge, Special Olympics of Minnesota. With 27 team members bravely diving into icy waters, we collectively raised an impressive total of $17,833, showcasing our commitment to fostering inclusion and acceptance.  

The Polar Plunge stands as a cornerstone event for Special Olympics Minnesota, providing essential funding for year-round training and services for thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state. Our contribution highlights the significance of corporate engagement in supporting initiatives that champion inclusivity and empower individuals of all abilities.

  CG Employees that did the Plunge: Gail Bloxham, Sam Doocy, Amy Filzen, Shelby Gierdal, Tyler Gerads, Becka Hoffman, Julie Kack, Meghan Kimmerle, Amanda Kimmerle, Lillian Rivera, Kyle Simmons, Matt Warren, and Yarden Wolfe.

Find out more here: https://specialolympicsminnesota.org/about/

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the 3rd annual MLK Jr. Day of Service. On that day, 118 individuals dedicated their time to serving, and we are grateful for the 74 participants who took the time to complete the post-event survey. The feedback received indicates that we indeed made a positive impact on our community. Today, we will release a video and social media post summarizing our community contributions.

Additionally, we're excited to announce the winners of our CG Connect photo sharing contest. Congratulations to Heather Joerg, Jenn Wendorff, Christine Andrews, Kelli Kaup, and Molly Bell. Each of you will be rewarded with a $20 CG Store credit.

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Your valuable feedback from the post-event survey has provided insights into the charities you support and the ways you prefer to give back. We are inspired by your responses and will incorporate your ideas and suggestions into our future plans for MLK Jr Day and other charitable endeavors. We are sharing the survey results on "What impact did you make on the community today?" below because the outcomes are too significant not to be shared.

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What impact did you make on the community today?

• Packed 80 snack bags for The Open-Door Pantry in Eagan.
• My 5-year-old daughter and I made 10 greeting cards for recipients of Meals on Wheels via the Greater Twin Cities United Way.
• My friend and I brought old towels, blankets, dog, and cat food to the local SPCA / Humane society. In addition, last week I donated scarves that I knitted to Street Warriors, a group that provides clothes, food, and assistance to the homeless.
• 33,000 meals packed - feeds 90 children for a year.
• A group of us were able to make ~4-6 blankets for those in the community to stay warm in the winter months.
• We packed 153 Boxes of food which is 33,048 meals.
• Helped pack 153 boxes which feeds 90 kids for a year!
• Put together 80 snack packs for school kids for The Open Door (Eagan, MN).
• The bags packed for the INDY foundation will hopefully give a little light during a difficult time.
• Made blankets to donate to the Monticello Cancer Center.
• Our family packed boxes of food for families. We spent time at the Monticello Help Center for two hours, with the Craigs, and packed many boxes for our local community.
• Our family purchased and packed 80 lunch packs for kids in need in our local community.
• My wife and I also made 2 tie blankets to be donated.
• We donated tie blankets to Ivy House in New Ulm. Ivy House is a 24/7 crisis nursery that provides care to children whose families are in crisis or stressful situations. Kids will be able to use the blankets during their stay or bring them home once they leave. We were able to tour of the home and learn more about the program. They shared some great information and amazing stories. We felt very fortunate to be able to help such an impactful organization.
• Made two tie blankets.
• We packed over 100 boxes of food for local families at the Monticello Help Center
• The entire shift produced 153 boxes of meals. I believe it was enough for 90 children for the year.
• Not our local community, but at the Coon Rapids FMSC location meals packed will feed 90 children one meal a day for one year.
• I provided 3 warm blankets to those in need.
• Packing bags for children battling cancer really got me today. Packing these bags is the least I can do to help a young child get through the worst days.
• Packed 1000 Cancer Warrior bags to help children as they go thru their cancer battle.
• We participated in 3 projects. 1) Made over 50 meals for homeless youth through TheLink MN. 2) Created 30 hygiene kits to be donated to the homeless and mobility unit of Minneapolis Schools and 3) tie blanket for CG
• We made Valentine cards with candy gift bags for 20 isolated seniors in the community. These will be delivered to ACCAP (Anoka County Community Action Program) to handout to the isolated seniors enrolled in their kinship program.
• I feel like my personal impact was minimal, and I wish that I could have done more! With this being my first year for the day of service, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
• Worked on projects for our school.
• It felt good to know we helped starving children. They show videos of our impact and tell you which country you are helping that day. It is a very good feeling!
• We fed 90 Kids for a year!
• I'm hopeful that our blankets provide comfort either to a child in need or an adult that is going through a tough time (such as a tough medical diagnosis) or needing to find source of warmth.
• Worked with an Assistance Dog in-training. Someone will be able to be helped in the future by the work of Can-Do Canines and their volunteers.
• Anything that is volunteered is making someone's heart smile.
• I made 1 Tie Blanket
• I donated handmade fleece blankets, food, and supplies to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
• Our table packed 24 boxes and the entire facility packed 156 boxes.
• I would like to think that making laundry pod bags and shopping for needed items at the food shelf will help people in need. We also gathered several bags of dog and cat food to donate to the pet food shelf.
• We packed 33,048 meals in our short time at FMSC!! This will feed 90 children for a year! It's a HUGE impact on a lot of lives. It is an incredible feeling to know that we are helping so many starving people around the world. The crazy part is.... we only gave up about 2 hours of our own time to make such a meaningful impact.
• Made greeting cards for hospitalized children.
• We made meals for Haiti at FMSC.
• We, along with the other volunteers, made enough meals to feed 90 children (I believe was the number).  Although this does not feed our local population, the positive impact is the local community coming together by sharing their time/resources to do good works and lifting fellow humans across the world.
• I am proud to support the important work Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery provides to our community.  By serving as a trusted resource for families in crisis, in addition to other services, they provide care for children for up to three nights, to allow families time to address their crisis. Crisis Nursery has a "wish list" of items needed so that while children are in their care, all the "essentials" needed are provided for children/families free of charge.  I helped to support the organization by purchasing some of those "wish list" essential items and delivered to their center.
• We packed over 20 snack bags for United Way/Chicago
• Donated dog, puppy and cat food to our local animal shelter and spent time with the animals.
• I volunteered with Community Table. They provide free meals to members of the community 4 nights a week. I helped to serve and clean up. I met a couple that has been married over 44 years and they have been running the meals at Mt. Zion Church since the 90's. Their commitment to the program is inspirational.
• I feel the kids know each year this is kind of do on MLK day. Maybe next time I will do something different, but this became sort of a tradition. They always ask are we making tie blankets?
• The New Ulm Office made tie blankets for The Ivy House, which is a crisis nursery located in New Ulm. When we delivered them, they gave us a tour and told us what they do, and it was so amazing! The Ivy House in New Ulm does so much for the kids/families in our community and local areas. They are incredible and we were so excited to donate the tie blankets to them!
• I look forward to the impact the cozy blankets will have on members of our community! They will feel wrapped in love!
• Helped make blankets for community members.
• By making a tie blanket we will bring warmth to someone in need. My children and I made it together and read about the story of MLK. It was a day of learning and service.
• I donated blood and then went to pack food. We packed 136 boxes which turns into 29,376 meals and will feed 80 kids for a year in Haiti.
• We packed 136 boxes/29,376 meals/fed 80 kids a daily meal for a year.
• We packed over 33,000 meals during our session at FMSC.
• We helped pack 136 boxes, feeding 80 kids a daily meal for a year.
• You could just go buy blankets and donate them, but I think taking time to make tie blankets feels more meaningful, and hopefully the people that receive them will special that people took time to make them something, rather than just buying it.
• 80 kids fed for 1 year in Haiti.
• We made 6 blankets with 4 more on the way (the shipping was delayed due to weather) - We are planning on donating these to Drumm Farms once we have them all completed.
• Packing warrior bags for the Indy Foundation
• Made tie blankets and donated towels to the humane society.
• The Warrior Bags were not only an awesome way to give back to the community, but a great team building activity. We don't do many outsides of work activities that allow time to converse outside of work. This allowed everyone to bring their kids to help and enjoy each other’s time outside of work doing something for the community.
• We made 5 tie blankets and donated them to the Ivy House which is a crisis "nursey" in New Ulm. Upon dropping them off, we were able to meet some of the staff who took us on a tour of the home. During the tour we learned about the many services and support they offer not only in New Ulm but in many surrounding communities (even the Twin Cities!) When kids come to Ivy House, they are provided with their own clothing, shoes, toiletries, and blankets, all of which they are allowed to take home. The staff explained that something as simple as a brand-new blanket means the world to these kids. Some of them have never had anything new of their own. Knowing that what we made will provide a child with something this special is a feeling I will cherish forever. The connection we made with Ivy House through this donation was incredible. We plan to make a point to find ways to support them in the future.
• Our group packed 156 boxes at FMSC - our table alone packed 24 boxes! It was a great experience and I'm so happy we were able to pause from work for a day to give back in the community.
• So far, $250 raised for Second Harvest - local food shelf = 2,500 meals (with approved CG match, 5,000 meals)
• It so sad to see the Homeless Encampments around the Cities. I hope these blankets bring some comfort to those who will receive them.
• Helped with tie blankets.
• As a team, we made a variety of tie blankets that are going to be donated to those who will benefit from them most. Whether they go to hospitals, homeless shelters, animal shelters or anywhere in between, our tie blankets will help bring warmth to recipients near and far.
• Made tie blankets for children and sending those blankets to local charities.
• Helped to provide a small amount of entertainment to kids and families that are dealing with cancer in their family.
• Glad we were able to participate in some positive way in our community.
• I have heard food shelters are needing donations and food; it felt good to visit with the volunteers and I have planned to help in the future.
• Donating gifts to the Monticello Giving Tree and reading the heartwarming responses from the students’ lives that were touched.
• I feel the tie blankets will keep someone warm when needed.

_It’s that time of year again to do something crazy!!!! _ _ _ Looking for all those brave and/or adventurous souls that are looking to plunge for a great cause!!

Who is brave enough to join in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge?

Julie Knack will be plunging again this year and would love to have other brave souls join her. Last year, with the help of Christensen Group employee match, the team of 22 plungers raised over $16,000! Let’s work to exceed that this year!!  Who’s in (literally?!))) Let’s make a big splash again this year!! 😊 _ _ All offices are welcome to join us. If you want to be part of the fun and it more convenient or are more comfortable doing a virtual that is fine as well. Our very own Sarina Khariwala has experience in this or the Minnesota Polar Plunge website has some suggestions but bring out your creative side!!!)

When: March 9,2024 Where: Eden Prairie, MN Time: _Plunging begins at noon- our exact plunge time is not determined until Friday evening before- a group text will be sent to the team members announcing the time as well as an email to the staff if anyone is interested in coming out and cheering us on). _ Team Name: 08.MSS.CG ROSS'S REBELS Ross Abraham is a Special Olympic Athlete and has been a team member for 11 years. He enthusiasm for this event is contagious! 😊 He is in the photo attached.)  (Team theme: TBD- Any suggestions?)   For those who have joined the team in the past, and/or anyone who has expressed interest in either joining the team or donating, now is the opportunity to sign up to join us or to donate to this wonderful cause! (It would be great to have some producers and management team join in on the fun this year!!) **Spouses and family members are also welcome and encouraged! **ALL are welcome.

Last year, with the help of Christensen Group employee match, the team raised over $16,000! Let’s work to exceed that this year!!  Who’s in (literally?!)))   You can sign up to join the team or donate using the link below. We can also use support the day of the plunge at Lake Riley in Eden Prairie as it does take encouragement to make that plunge into those icy waters!!! (NOTE: Each Plunger is required to raise a minimum of $75 to participate, and your participation is one important piece of an inclusive movement that raises millions of dollars every single year for Special Olympics Minnesota! There are other added incentives for different levels of monies raised.) _ _ https://reg.plungemn.org/team/08msscgrosssrebels

AFFINITY PLUS BONUS DONATION for the 1st 2000 Plungers to use the code so act now!:  USE PROMO CODE: AFFINITYPLUS Because of our generous friends at Affinity Plus, when you register for the 2024 Plunge (virtual or in person) and use the promo code AFFINITYPLUS, you’ll receive a $50 donation toward your fundraising efforts! This campaign is limited to the first 2000 Plungers who use the code. Here’s what you need to do to earn an automatic $50 donation: Register for a virtual or in-person Plunge_ and enter the code AFFINITYPLUS in the promo code field during Step 3. Don’t forget to click the APPLY button after entering the code!_ Special Olympics MN makes a positive impact on athletes with intellectual disabilities that will last a lifetime and all funds raised goes towards programming and events for more than 8,000 athletes statewide.   Through sports, SOMN athletes celebrate their abilities, not their disabilities. Their world opens with acceptance and understanding. They become more confident and empowered by their accomplishments. They make new friends, joining the most inclusive community on the planet- a global community that's growing every day.   Our agency currently writes several accounts that specialize in providing care for the developmentally disabled and the compassion that the owners have for the work/service they provide is impressive.   So, while we do not provide the care that they do, we can offer support to empowering these individuals to celebrate who they are by participating in the annual Polar Plunge event and raise funds for a group that also shares that same compassion/enthusiasm for those with disabilities.

It feels good to be able to be part of it.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Julie Knack the details.

The Monticello High School giving tree was another major success! We were able to get almost all the gifts out to students before the break. We got to those who were absent before break yesterday. Thank you so much for your care & support! With your help, we were able to spread cheer to over 50 students in our building this year.   Here are some of the reports from staff:   A girl got a longboard. She said she had dreamt of getting one for several years but said her family would never be able to get her one.  She was so happy!    A boy opening his gifts said he'd never opened such a beautifully wrapped present before. He acted like his gifts inside were made of gold.   "This is so amazing. I've been to 14 schools and none of them did anything like this."   Once the student opened his gifts, he immediately put the sweatshirt on!!! Smiling from ear to ear. I told him... but wait, there is more!! I gave him a grocery sack and asked him to look through the extras table. He was SO HAPPY!!!  As I walked him back to the office so he could store his stuff there until the end of the day... he said... this is the best day ever!!!   A student got a suit & said he's wearing it every week. He was so happy & proud. He wore it the next day & the first day after break.   We had one student cry. He said he didn't think anyone cared & didn't think he deserved it. The teacher assured him he deserved it & they both cried.   All students were so thankful & appreciative. Many wore their new clothes immediately. We saw so many smiling faces! New shoes, winter coats, clothes & lots of fun stuff were opened. We had students who also got much-needed hygiene & personal care products. It was tear-jerking to see how excited some were about those items in particular.   Thank you so much for bringing these students such joy! We appreciate your help & support more than words can ever say.

Thank you for all that participated in making this a very special time for those in need.

Our Waite Park office spread the joy and donated gifts to four families through Bri's Lodge helping to spread holiday cheer to families this holiday season.

The CG Kansas office lit up the holidays for homeless youth. We joined forces with Drumm Farm Center for Children to provide essential services in the Missouri/Kansas Area. The contributions help create a nurturing and healing community.

Eden Prairie employee-owners partnered with Perspectives in the Twin Cities to address pressing societal issues. Together, we're making a difference in equity, diversity, inclusion, homelessness, and more.

The New Ulm team spread warmth and hope with a donation to NUMAS Haus, offering emergency shelter and support to homeless women and children in Brown County, Minnesota.

Monticello Public Schools students benefited from the office's generosity, granting over 30 wishes to kids in need this holiday season.

Please join the Green Committee in recycling your electronics January16th at the EP office! We’ll be sending an email with more information closer to this date. If you’re at the Eden Prairie office, battery recycling bins can be found in all copy rooms! Just tape the ends of your batteries and drop in to one of the bins pictured below.

As part of the TREX Recycling Challenge, we aim to recycle 1000 lbs of plastic bags every year.

So far in 2023, we have recycled a whopping 652 lbs! Keep bringing your plastic bags to the white bins in the EP copy rooms (pictured below) so we can get a little closer to our goal before the end of the year!

‍

This year’s ESOP Garden yielded another successful harvest! With the addition of a second garden bed, we reduced the risk of overcrowding our vegetables, which allowed the plants room to grow and thrive.

This year’s crops included:

Tomatoes

Bell Peppers

Cucumbers

Zucchini

Jalapeños

Black Cherry Tomatoes

The ESOP Garden is for all to enjoy, so don’t be shy! Take anything you’d like, anytime.

Thank you to all who helped us plant the garden this year. And if you haven’t already seen it, check out our new ESOP Garden sign when it’s set up again next year.

Please join the Green Committee in recycling your electronics January 16th at the EP office! We’ll be sending an email with more information closer to this date.

If you’re at the Eden Prairie office, battery recycling bins can be found in all copy rooms! Just tape the ends of your batteries and drop into one of the bins pictured below.

CHARITY COMMITTEE: ** If you are looking to give back this Holiday Season, Christensen Group is partnering with a few organizations:   Monticello High School (Monticello) ** Each year the Monticello office gives back to their local High School. Please review the available gifts HERE and sign up if you would like to take part. You may sign up for more than one gift, as we have 31 wishes to grant. The Monticello office will be wrapping these gifts on December 13th in the morning. Contact Amanda Vagle for questions!   Perspectives (Twin Cities Based) Perspectives is a human services program that addresses society’s most pressing issues: equity, diversity, inclusion, homelessness, poverty, addiction, mental illness, food security, and lack of access to life-changing opportunities for disenfranchised women and children. The women and children served at Perspectives have experienced numerous traumas that have left them in despair, with little hope for a new life. Their model is designed to create a path of healing from their trauma so that they can move on to a promising future – free from addiction and mental illness. Perspectives is also insured by Christensen Group.   How can you help? Perspectives is having a Toy Drive! See the attached flyer for more information. Please have any diapers or toys shipped to Eden Prairie to my attention (Alicia Williams) or to Tom Broback’s attention.   Drumm Farm (Missouri/Kansas Based) Help make the holiday season bright for youth experiencing homelessness! This list includes essential basics as well as items personally selected by the young adults. In order to make sure all items are ready for the youth holiday party, please have all gifts to Drumm Farm (3210 S Lee's Summit Road, Unit 1, Independence, MO 64055)** **by Monday, December 11th. For questions regarding Drumm Farm (our insured) or donations, contact Alyssa Blake or Eric Bloss.

**Bri's Lodge (Waite Park) ** Bri’s Lodge in Waite Park has identified several families that would benefit from a little extra Christmas spirit this year. Bri’s Lodge was founded by Randy & Tami Kruzel of Sartell who lost their daughter Brianna unexpectedly to natural causes in 2013. Since then, Randy and Tami have made it their passion to help others navigate the loss and grief of losing a loved one. More information about Bri’s Lodge can be found here. The local families identified have lost immediate family members recently to car accidents, cancer, murder/suicide, and will remain anonymous. These are needs/wants that were noted by Bri’s Lodge when they inquired with these families and certainly not all encompassing so feel free to provide in any capacity.  Please contact Brandon Boetler to find out what needs are still on the list. We have four families we are supporting this season. We need all items collected in office by Friday, December 15th.

**NUMAS Haus (New Ulm) ** The New Ulm office is parenting with a local organization called NUMAS Haus. NUMAS Haus provides emergency shelter and support services to homeless women and their children primarily in the Brown County, Minnesota area. Find our more here. Contact Ashton Sabatino with any questions.   This is certainly not a mandatory event by any means but provides employees an outlet as a collective group to help sponsor local families in our community in need.   Thank you in advance for your support of these opportunities.

The Charity Bags Tournament concluded with a victory for two past champions. Zach Freeman and Sam emerged as the winners of the 2023 tournament, triumphing over the team of Tony Larson and Amy Jo Van Culin from the Monticello office, as well as Tyler Gerads and Brittany Ratke, who substituted for Lauren Johnson from the Waite Park office.

The championship took place at the EP racquetball court following the fall business meeting on November 9.

A total of 50 participants signed up for the tournament, and an additional person chose to contribute through donation only, resulting in a total of $510. The CG Charity Committee matched these funds, leading to a substantial donation of $1,020 to an organization of their choice.

CG Monticello, New Ulm, and Waite Park offices each donated $625 to local organizations with the aim of making a meaningful contribution within their respective communities.

CG’s Monticello office directed their contribution to the Monticello Public School's Magic Closet program. This resource is accessible at all Monticello schools and serves as a lifeline for students facing crises or referred by their counselors. It supplies vital items such as food for families, socks, underwear, and hygiene products that may be lacking in their homes. The Magic Closet relies on continuous donations and extends its support to students from preschool age to high school.

The CG New Ulm team made their donation to the New Ulm Public Schools system, striving to make a positive impact in the region where they live and work. Sean Koster, the New Ulm Superintendent, expressed his gratitude for the donation, which will be utilized to enhance the district's playground equipment.

CG Waite Park continued its partnership with the INDY Foundation and contributed funds to the Warrior Pack Program, which provides bags to warriors battling cancer in hospitals and cancer centers across Minnesota. These bags include a journal, pen, warrior socks, water bottle, chapstick, and a personal note, offering comfort and reminding these brave individuals that they are not alone.

CG has chosen the INDY Foundation of Minnesota as the recipient of a $5,000 donation, which West Bend Mutual Insurance sponsored in acknowledgement of our Silver Circle Agency status.

On October 9th, Kayla Keenan, the founder of INDY, along with other members of the INDY organization, visited our Waite Park office to accept the donation. During the visit, Kayla shared insights about the INDY Foundation, its profound impact on the community, and its goals for the future.

INDY is a Minnesota-based non-profit organization committed to helping courageous individuals battling cancer. We are privileged to join hands with this organization, thanks to West Bend's support, in our mission to aid cancer warriors across Minnesota.

Thanks everyone for participating in the 2023 Charity Bags Tournament! Your $10 entry donations will also be matched by the Charity Committee.

We had 50 people sign-up this year! 30 from Eden Prairie, 12 from Waite Park, and 8 from Monticello.

For Eden Prairie, we grouped everyone and then used random.org/lists to put you together into random teams:

• Kim Bryan & Tim Munoz
• Alicia Williams & Spencer Rose
• Katy Mullin & Tony Reed
• Carrie Des Marais & Eric Svobodny
• Barb Michaels & Sean Kurtenbach
• Becka Hoffman & Bill Kelly
• Kristina Schmitz & Dan Rockwell
• Sam Olinger & Matt Warren
• Emily Cannon & Eric Johnson
• Amanda Vagle & Brandon Perkins
• Kyle Simmons & Charlie Anderson
• Alan Starks & Tayler Amoe
• Matt Hartlieb & Eric Simmons
• Luke Olson & Joe Papa
• Sam Doocy & Zach Freeman

For Waite Park, we grouped everyone and then used random.org/lists to put you together into random teams:

• Kim Nygaard & Brandon Boelter
• Kayla Helm & James LaTour
• Lanette Boelter & Sean Karsch
• Lauren Johnson & Tyler Gerads
• Laura Falconer & Pat Waye
• Ramona Schaefer & Terry Hanson

For Monticello, we grouped everyone and then used random.org/lists to put you together into random teams:

• Amy Jo Van Culin & Tony Larson
• Ashley Luoma & David Berning
• Dustin Craig & Kyle Nybakken
• Jake Olinger & Colton Oquist

The tournament starts 10/7.

• You will be responsible for coordinating games with your partner and your current opponents.
• Matches will be best 2 out of 3.
• Attached is a copy of the rules that were used for the last tournament.
• A fillable copy of the EP bracket will be in the event center for reference throughout the tournament.

The goal is to gather together and host the Championships around the fall party, Thursday November 9th. Each participating office will have a winner. And then we will have a double elimination tournament with the 3 winning teams.

Also, please share photos of the tournament on CG Connect!

Any questions?! Ask the Charity Committee.

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!

‍

Join us for our Annual Charity Bags Tournament! Last day to sign up is Monday, October 2nd!

‍ We will be stretching out the timeframe of each round so more people will be able to play. The Tournament will run from October 5th through November 8th. 

  The event will be RANDOMIZED TEAMMATES.** If you would like to participate, you will enter as an individual and we will randomly partner you with someone else. This is open to all offices so you will be matched with someone at your office location. **Matches will be best of 3 games, single elimination.

  **The cost is $10/person. Upon entry into the tournament, each participant will submit their entry fee and name a charity that they are playing for. The funds raised by the entry fees will be donated to the winning team’s charity, and CG will match the donation! We will be putting more emphasis on the charity aspect of the tournament this year so please make sure to select a nonprofit organization that matters to you!

  If you would like to play, please sign up here. Tom Broback will be collecting your entry fee and keeping track of the charity you pick. Your team must pay the $20 entry fee prior **to starting your first game. Cash or Venmo is accepted (message Tom Broback for Venmo information). Once we have a head count on teams, we will be sending out a bracket which will be updated by the Charity Committee. We will send out teams and final details once everyone that wants to play is signed up.

CG has teamed up with the Kids In Need Foundation to provide students with school supplies for the upcoming academic year. We packed 150 backpacks for the students of Stonebridge World School in Minneapolis.

The results are in for the Potato Head Project Donation Drive:

WP - 10

Monti - 10

EP - 14

Remote - 5 + blankets

We also got a lot of snacks, baby books, tissue, hand sanitizer

If we stick to our original plan of seeing if the other locations could come together to form an Eden Prairie equivalent, then they've achieved it! The combined total is 25 compared to EP's 14. However, what really stood out to us was the impressive donations of our colleagues across the board and the remarkable skills of a few team members who crafted items to donate.  

‍

Kristin Moan, from The Potato Head Project, came to EP to pick up the donations saying "We are SO thankful at the generosity and encouragement from Alicia and the team at Christensen Group Insurance!!! We couldn’t do what we do without such amazing supporters!!" 

A quick reminder, The Potato Head Project is an organization with a mission to provide care packages to families currently in the NICU due to the premature birth of their infants. The goal is to bring a ray of hope during this challenging period.

A big thank you goes out to all who took part!

‍

We want to thank everyone for a great first year of the Christensen Group Women’s Network! This group was kicked off and filled with various gatherings which included many learning and networking opportunities.

**Christensen Group Women's Network **purpose is to foster a community of women who lift each other up, encourage, and motivate one another to thrive in work and life. The network hosts an event each season of the year. All CG employees and carrier partners, including men, who want to be supporters are invited to join.

What’s upcoming? A sneak peek into this fall’s gathering and what’s brewing for 2024! Virtual and in-person opportunities are available!

Fall
O C T O B E R 1 7 T H :
T R I C I A D I R K S
H O W T O O W N Y O U R V O I C E A S A W O M A N I N
L E A D E R S H I P
L E A D E R S H I P I S N O T D E F I N E D B Y R O L E
O R T I T L E - W E A R E A L L L E A D E R S

Winter
E D E N P R A I R I E :
S E L F D E F E N S E C L A S S

M O N T I C E L L O / W A I T E P A R K :
W I N T E R P O R C H P O T S

Spring
COMMUNITY GIVING FOCUS: CRISIS NURSEY VOLUNTEERING

Summer
C G & C A R R I E R S
N E T W O R K I N G E V E N T

Keep an eye out for Outlook invitations to each event which will be forthcoming throughout the year. In addition, all events and announcements can be found on CG Connect at https://connect.christensengroup.com/cg/cg360/womens-network. An easy way to add upcoming events to your calendar!
 
If you would like to receive invitations to our upcoming events & join the Teams group, please follow the link: Distribution list link
 
We look forward to building our Women’s Network with you.

Our CG Women’s Network coordinated a wonderful night of networking with our carrier partners. Thank you to all who came to build connections and grow a network of women in insurance.

Christensen Group’s Charity Committee is partnering with the Potato Head Project again this year!

The Potato Head Project donates care packages to families that are currently in the NICU with prematurely born babies with the intent to spread hope during an unsettling time.

Potato Head Project Impact Story (from their website):

How are we partnering with the Potato Head Project?
We will be setting up donation sites at the front desks of Waite Park, Monticello, and the Eden Prairie Office.
And to make this more exciting… It’s a COMPETITION! All offices vs. Eden Prairie, who can donate the most? We are accepting donations until June 30.

What items are they looking for? (All items must be new and unused)

• Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head
• Personal care items (i.e. ChapStick, purse size tissues, unscented personal size lotions, personal size hand sanitizer).
• Water Bottle packs
• Snacks for the NICU families
• IPSY bags
• Items from their Amazon Wishlist (this will be shipped directly to them)
• NICU Journal: https://www.mypreemiebabybook.com/order
• Handwritten notes for families to read
• Sew, Crotchet, Knitted items, see this page for specifics.

If you are remote, you can still participate by ordering items online and having them sent to an office location.

If you have any specific questions, please reach out to Alicia Williams on the Charity Committee.

Thank you to everyone who participated in Earth Day Bingo! It was so fun to see you all posting your photos on CG Connect and getting involved in your communities to do something good for our planet.

Here are our randomly drawn winners from the 26 bingos we received:
Gift #1: Ginny Hosley
Gift #2: Dawn Blaisdell
Gift #3: Jenn Wendorff
State Park Pass #1: Amanda Vagle
State Park Pass #2: Betsy Galvan

Tuesday, April 25th at 7pm EST. FREE workshop to help you feel more confident CONNECTING, HEALING, and GROWING with Indigenous culture.

This workshop is a MUST attend if
You often suffer from imposter syndrome with your Indigenous heritage, feeling detached, and misrepresented of who you really are.
You’re an ally of Indigenous peoples, seeking to listen, learn, and build connections in a respectful way that values and honors the all
You want to connect with others who are on the same journey as you to build supportive relationships based on positivity, inclusion, and like-minded values.

Sign up here: https://malloryrose.mykajabi.com/workshop
malloryrose.mykajabi.com

CG Earth Day Bingo!
(Starts, Monday April 17)
The Green Committee encourages you to go out in your community and make eco-friendly changes over the next week and complete a bingo board.

5 in a row – vertically, horizontally, or diagonally – gives you one entry into a drawing for one of five prizes. Feel free to do more; for each bingo, you will get an additional entry.

**If a square has a camera icon, you must submit a photo of the task on CG Connect to receive credit. **https://connect.christensengroup.com/cg/photos

Prizes:
3 Gift Baskets
2 State Park Passes

Bingos can be submitted until the end of day Tuesday, April 25th.
Abbey Johnson will be collecting bingo cards, or you can submit electronically here or by replying to this email with a list of the squares you completed. Bingos submitted electronically will receive an additional entry into the prize drawing.

Please email Abbey to get a copy of the bingo board. AJohnson@christensengroup.com

BGCTC’s Great Futures Fair (GFF) seeks to connect passion with purpose. Teens and young adults from across the Twin Cities will have the opportunity to meet with local corporations, businesses, colleges, tech schools, and trade unions as they begin to plan their post-secondary paths. Attendees, representing the next generation of the workforce, will have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of hands-on, interactive opportunities with top Minnesota employers and education institutions.
 
BGCTC’s Great Futures Fair is part of BGCTC’s Teen Pathways program, an inclusive model designed to prepare ALL youth for success post-graduation. Key components of Teen Pathways include social/emotional learning (SEL) integration, alignment of each participant’s aptitude and interest to a chosen post-secondary option, and a comprehensive multi-year strategy to engage youth in career exploration and teach real-world job skills that are transferable to the current job market. https://boysandgirls.org/get-involved/events/great-futures-fair/
 
Thank you to all the CG employees that participated. Look for this event next April!

CG Women’s Network united to learn and engage in topics focused on time management, building your external network and how to be resilient. Ashely Kellerman, Linda Jackson and Sam Olinger led the round table discussions.

Thank you all who attended the Power of Awareness Based Leadership & Decision Making sessions this week. Ramon Pastrano did a great job facilitating the event.
 
There is still time for anyone to join the April 10th virtual session. Encourage others who are on the fence to join for the last session.
 
I’d like to hear your feedback and suggestions for future topics. Please fill out this feedback survey. Your input will help shape future leadership and DEI courses we bring to the team.
 
Unconscious Bias Workshop resources and references:
 
Six Photographers
https://youtu.be/F-TyPfYMDK8
 
Blind Spots
https://youtu.be/BFcjfqmVah8
 
**IAT – Why/how it was created. **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWa09tUzqf4
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr9xAcWv790
 
**IAT Assessment: **https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/
 
Peanut Butter, Jelly & Racism
https://youtu.be/1JVN2qWSJF4
 
Google: Making the Unconscious Conscious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW5s_-Nl3JE
 
**Trusted 10 Exercise: How diverse is your trusted network of people?: **https://tomorrowtodayglobal.com/2019/03/05/whose-in-your-top-ten/

An update on our progress towards the 3 focus areas outlined in our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roadmap. As you may recall, these three focus areas were created through hearing employees’ ideas during Listening Sessions in 2020. The roadmap was developed to guide our efforts towards creating a move diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.

Over the past few months, our Diversity Task Force has been hard at work defining next steps and implementing initiatives outlined in the roadmap. We have made significant strides in areas such as:

Have a more diverse candidate slate and hire the best, qualified candidates.

• Designed a program for Women Interested in Sales. Hosted an overview session on International Women’s Day.
• Created a Job Shadow Policy to host individuals interested in learning about a career in insurance. Why did we decide this was a good next step? You can read more on the DEI Page.
• Reached out to 7 community colleges and universities career centers for a partnership.
• Posting entry level jobs at 19 universities and community colleges, increasing our outreach by more than 50%.

Have an inclusive culture.

• Hosted 5 CG Women’s Network events. Next event, April 5, Roundtable Event.
• Added a cultural floating holiday to our company holidays.
• Added pronouns (optional) to our signature templates.
• Providing (optional) Unconscious Bias training for all employees, April 2023. Event Calendar.

** **
Next, we will focus on defining next steps in our third focus area: **Give back to organizations that support our diverse communities. **We encourage you to share ideas or suggestions directly with the Diversity Task Force or through this feedback channel.

During a recent Diversity Task Force Meeting, we discussed the hurdles to getting students interested in insurance.

We tried to partner with Career Centers at colleges to present at careers courses or to get in touch with the head of business departments, but quickly realized the career centers mostly limited us to posting our entry-level jobs on Handshake, a job posting site. We expanded where we posted jobs, but we wanted a better connection to students.

We wanted a way to create a more meaningful way to get someone excited about our career opportunities. We thought, a job shadow experience, could be a great way to expose individuals to the vast opportunities in insurance. Whether they pursue a role with us or at a carrier, it would be building the next-generation pipeline of insurance talent.

This is open to high school students, college students or any individual who is deciding to explore insurance roles.

We forged ahead to create a Job Shadow policy/best practice. We also added a simple application/interest form to weed out anyone not truly interested in exploring an insurance job. Such as students only interested in checking a box for a school requirement.

We then went a bit further and added a best practice for our current team to explore job shadows internally. Check that out too! Talk to your manager if you're interested.

So what? If you run into someone interested in a job shadow.
-Read up on the Job Shadow Policy to know what your role is in the progress. -Have them fill out the interest form.
-Get the job shadow experience approved by your manager.
-Don't forget to share names and information with HR if you think this person would be a good hire in the future.

CG’s Polar Plunge team, Ross’s Rebels, raised over $16,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota on Saturday, March 11, with many employee donations matched by the CG Charity Committee. Julie Kack led the team of 22 with Ross Abraham, a Special Olympic Athlete and team member for 10 years whose enthusiasm for the event is contagious!

Special Olympics Minnesota makes a positive impact on athletes with intellectual disabilities that lasts a lifetime and all funds raised go toward programming and events for more than 8,000 athletes statewide. 
Thank you to all that participated and donated.

On behalf of Stearns County Community Corrections, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the charitable contribution from Christensen Group Insurance towards the evening meals served on Monday, January 30, 2023.

With personal funding provided by the employees of our agency, corporate contributions by Costco, Christensen Group Insurance, and Sysco, we were able to purchase, prepare and serve a warm meal to homeless/transient individuals and families at three different locations in the St. Cloud area.

**Place of Hope-Westside: **Meal consisted of Pizza, bottled water, homemade desserts for individuals/families residing in temporary housing. Served approximately 120.

Lincoln Center Shelter-Eastside: 25 takeout meals were prepared and delivered consisting of long spaghetti, meat sauce, breadsticks, homemade desserts, bottled water for transient individuals spending the night.

Place of Hope-Downtown: Cafeteria style meal served of long spaghetti, meat sauce, mac/cheese, lettuce salad, breadsticks, assortment of desserts, milk, lemonade, and water for individuals/families residing at the housing facility and walk-in people. Served approximately 125.

Thank you for your partnership in reaching out to those in need within the St. Cloud area.

Best Regards,

Becky Bales Cramlet-Director
Greg Boelter-Supervisor
Brian Christian-Supervisor
Scott Ergen-Supervisor
Jenn Luberts-Supervisor
Enoch Owens-Supervisor
Joy Silbernick-Supervisor 

Nathan Bemboom- Agency staff coordinator for the meal.

Greg Boelter-Supervisor
Community Corrections-Juvenile and Adult Services Unit

Mission: Provide exceptional services to assure a safe, healthy, vibrant county for all
Values: Professional, Approachable, Responsive, Collaborative, Fair & Equitable

CG Women's Network had special guest, Alison Bowers, CIC, Senior Vice President at Christensen Group. She shared about her career journey as a Business Insurance Sales Producer and the team enjoyed time engaging and growing with each other.

WOMENS NETWORK
Join us for the next Women’s Network event on Wednesday, February 8th at 9am in the Eden Prairie event center. Our special guest speaker is Alison Bowers, Senior Vice President & Producer Council Member. Hear Alison's career journey as a Business Insurance Sales Producer.
RSVP here and we will send you a calendar invite. 

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ Martin Luther King Jr.

CG Employee Owners took part in the MLK Day of Service and spent the day impacting the lives of many people in their communities.

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35 employees spent time at Feed My Starving Children packing over 26,352 meals for families, enough to feed 72 kids for one year. Over 75 tie blankets were tied to be donated to the New Ulm Medical Center, Monticello Cancer Center, the United Way organization and Hospitals in St. Cloud.

Laundry Packs, Care Kits, Lanyard Paracords, Port Pillows, and Comfort Packs were assembled and donated to many outstanding groups helping to make a difference is so many lives.

One employee donated blood, a few gave of their time at local animal shelters, another family made Valentines for isolated seniors and a few employees donated snacks to their local police and EMT departments. Others wrote letters to military service members, packed lunches for the food shelf and heard about the process to becoming a partner for the Can Do Canines program.

In total over 122 CGers took part in the MLK Day of Service 2023. These acts of kindness enhance our personal lives, add value to our work lives, and positively impact our community. Check out photos on CG Connect.

CG Eden Prairie donated over $1600 worth of gifts, paper goods and diapers to Perspectives in St. Louis Park. Perspectives is a human services program that addresses society’s most pressing issues: equity, diversity, inclusion, homelessness, poverty, addiction, mental illness, food security, and lack of access to life-changing opportunities for disenfranchised women and children. The women and children served at Perspectives have experienced numerous traumas that have left them in despair, with little hope for a new life. Perspectives is also insured by Christensen Group.
The CG Monticello and Sarina K. helped to grant over 20 wishes to local high school students in need through the Giving Tree program. Students asked for a variety of items including a winter coat, shoes, gloves, a high school yearbook and clothes. Thank you to all that helped this Holiday season!  

CG donated 435 pairs of socks to the Sock It To Em Sock Campaign, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that aims to put new socks on the feet of men, women and children experiencing homelessness and/or are in need. This was a collaboration with the Personal Lines department, the personal lines clients and the company Sock Club, which offered a buy one get, one promotion on Giving Tuesday.

The CG Women's Network hosted a Winter Porch Pot class and enjoyed learning the tips and tricks to creating their very own decoration to display during the Holidays. Leah, a fellow woman and small business owner of Queen Bee's located in downtown Monticello did a fabulous job of instructing the group and showcasing her professional knowledge of greenscaping.

Happy Monday,

Reminders

Upcoming Office Closures

• Christensen Group will be closing at 3:00pm on December 23rd and will remain closed on December 26th. We will reopen at 8:00am on December 27th.
• Christensen Group will be closing at 3:00pm on December 30th and will remain closed on January 2nd. We will reopen at 8:00am on January 3rd.

Employee Well-Being

Charity Committee: Giving Tree

If you are looking to give back this Holiday Season, Christensen Group is partnering with two organizations:

• Monticello High School
  Each year the Monticello office gives back to their local High School. Please review the available gifts HERE and sign up if you would like to take part. You may sign up for more than one gift, as we have 20 wishes to grant. The Monticello office will be wrapping these gifts on December 14th. Contact Amanda Vagle for questions!
• Perspectives
  Perspectives is a human services program that addresses society’s most pressing issues: equity, diversity, inclusion, homelessness, poverty, addiction, mental illness, food security, and lack of access to life-changing opportunities for disenfranchised women and children. The women and children served at Perspectives have experienced numerous traumas that have left them in despair, with little hope for a new life. Their model is designed to create a path of healing from their trauma so that they can move on to a promising future – free from addiction and mental illness. Perspectives is also insured by Christensen Group.

How can you help?
Perspectives is having a Diaper and Toy Drive! See the attached flyer for more information. Please have any diapers or toys shipped to Eden Prairie to my attention (Alicia Williams) or to Tom Broback’s attention. We will be wrapping the gifts in the Event Center on December 13th at 2:00pm during the Cookie Exchange.

Get Involved

The below committees are looking for new members – read what they do below and contact the committee for more information.

Culture & Wellness Committee

The mission of the Culture & Wellness Committee is to support employee engagement and promote a healthy organization through internal programs and events. They aim to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life of CG employees.

What has the Culture & Wellness Committee done in the past? They have put together the Biggest Loser Challenge, Smoothie Bars, State Park Pass Giveaways, Monthly Lunches, and ESOP week.

Contact John Talbot (jtalbot@christensengroup.com) if you’re interested in learning more.

Charity Committee

The Charity Committee helps to promote community service across the organization and throughout the community in which we operate. Their mission is to spark engagement by providing employee-owners an avenue to give back. Ultimately, enhancing our personal lives, adding value to our work lives, and positively impacting the community.** **They have been able to make an impact at many organizations such as Potato Head Project, Boys and Girls Club, Perspectives, Monticello High School, and more.

Contact Tom Broback (tbroback@christensengroup.com) if you’re interested in joining.

Green Committee

The mission of the Green Committee is to assess CG’s environmental impact, explore creative ways to minimize those impacts and build sustainable solutions for the future. Most of the time, these sustainable solutions include cost savings, which is a double win for CG.
 
In 2022 the Green Committee launched the ESOP Community Garden at the Eden Prairie office.
 
Contact Tommy Watson (twatson@christensengroup.com) if you're interested in joining.

Welcoming Committee

They’re responsible for letting each and every new hire at CG feel part of the team. First days and impressions matter. They do everything from desk drops with CG swag to follow-ups and lunches to make sure newcomers are settling in nicely.

Contact Alex Moreno (alex.moreno@christensengroup.com) if you’re interested in joining.

Women's Network at the Bowlero in November

Thank you to all that participated in the bags tournament this year! We hope to make this event even bigger next year with more participation from all locations.
The winning team of Gail Bloxham & Zach Freeman picked Feed my Starving Children as their charity.
We had 42 participants who each donated $10 for a total of $420. The Charity Committee will be matching that to bring the total to $840.
Find out more about Gail and Zach’s charity here: https://www.fmsc.org/about-us

The Christensen Group Women’s Network held their kickoff event last week featuring Heather Boyer, President at Society Insurance, where she shared about her career journey and what led her to be who she is today.
The purpose of CG Women's Network is to foster a community of women who lift each other up, encourage, and motivate one another to thrive in work and life. The group of over 50 women and men shared a light breakfast and listened to Heather’s inspiring story on how to cultivate work life balance, set boundaries, be purposeful in all your endeavors and the power of mentorship in your career journey for both the mentor and mentee. 

Happy Monday,
 
Employee Well-Being
 
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join in and wear pink on Wednesday, October 12th.
Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. You can make a large difference in terms of prevention! 
 
Here are additional ways you can show your support or donate to Breast Cancer Awareness.

1. Firefly Sisterhood
   1. This is a foundation that provides mentors (social and emotional support) for women impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis
2. Breast Cancer Awareness events around the Twin Cities area
3. Pay It Forward
   1. Pay It Forward is a non-profit fund that helps breast and women’s cancer patients pay basic living expenses while they go through treatment so they can focus on what’s really important - getting healthy
4. Susan G. Komen

 
HEALTH
We will be having our annual Benefits Fair on October 18th, 2022. The fair will be from 10:00am-12:00pm in the Eden Prairie Event Center. This is a great time to learn about CG’s offerings before open enrollment in November. You can meet and chat with representatives from our carriers while enjoying a mid-morning coffee.
*If you plan on getting a flu shot at the fair, please sign up here for an appointment time and mark it on your calendar. (Flu shots are only open by appointment for employees at this time, dependents will be not able to come.)

Happy Monday,
 
Employee Well-Being
 
CAREER
It’s important to have clear communication. We communicate with others through writing every day whether it’s texting, emailing, or handwritten notes. Do you want to freshen up your writing skills? Cal Simmons is hosting a writing class for all skill levels.
The writing class will be on October 11th from 10:30-11:00am. A calendar invite will go out to those that are interested. Sign up here.
 
HEALTH
We will be having our annual Benefits Fair on October 18th, 2022. The fair will be from 10:00am-12:00pm in the Eden Prairie Event Center. This is a great time to learn about CG’s offerings before open enrollment in November. You can meet and chat with representatives from our carriers while enjoying a mid-morning coffee.
 
Who will be there?

• Medica
• Delta Dental
• First Stop Health
• LegalShield
• Train Right Fitness
• Flu Shot Clinic*
• Barista
• And more!

 
*If you plan on getting a flu shot at the fair, please sign up here for an appointment time and mark it on your calendar. (Flu shots are only open by appointment for employees at this time, dependents will be not able to come.)
 
CHARITY
Join us for our Annual Charity Bags Tournament! Last day to sign up is Tuesday, September 27th!
We will be stretching out the timeframe of each round so more people will be able to play, even if they are out of the office on a specific day. For example, the first round will last a week; second round will be three days, etc... and you will coordinate with your opponent to find a day & time that works for everyone playing. We will announce the championship round at a later date.
 
The event will be RANDOMIZED TEAMMATES.** If you would like to participate, you will enter as an individual and we will randomly partner you with someone else. This is open to all offices so you will be matched with someone at your office location. **Matches will still be single elimination, but every round will now be best of three with the finals being best of five.
 
**The cost is $10/person. **Upon entry into the tournament, each participant will submit their entry fee and name a charity that they are playing for. The funds raised by the entry fees will be donated to the winning team’s charity, and CG will match the donation up to $500! We will be putting more emphasis on the charity aspect of the tournament this year so please make sure to select a nonprofit organization that matters to you!
 
If you would like to play, please sign up here. Tom Broback will be collecting your entry fee and keeping track of the charity you pick. Your team must pay the $20 entry fee **prior **to starting your first game. Once we have a head count on teams, we will be sending out a bracket which will be updated by the Charity Committee. We will send out teams and final details Friday, September 30th.  

CG met on Tuesday, September 13, to stuff backpacks for the Kids in Need Foundation. The school supplies will be donated to Hennepin Elementary School, in Minneapolis, to help students in need this upcoming school year. The team in Eden Prairie stuffed 100 bags in a short amount of time and the boxes will be delivered by the Charity Committee in the next few days. Thank you to everyone that participated! 

We are excited to launch the Christensen Group Women’s Network. Our purpose is to foster a community of women who lift each other up, encourage, and motivate one another to thrive in work and life.
The network is open to all CG employees and carrier partners, including men who want to be supporters.
Kick Off Event: October 12, 9am, Event Center
CG will host Heather Boyer, President at Society Insurance 
Enjoy coffee and a light breakfast while Heather shares her career journey and what led her to be who she is today.
We will reach out closer to the date to get a final RSVP list.
Feel free to save the Outlook event to your calendar. You can share with carrier partners too!

CHARITY

The Charity Committee is joining forces with The Potato Head Project. The Potato Head Project donates care packages to families that are currently inthe NICU with prematurely born babies.

We will be setting up donation sites at the front desks of Waite Park, Monticello, and the Eden Prairie Office. This donation drive will go until August 5th.

What items are they looking for? (All items must be new and unused)

• Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head
• Personal care items (i.e. ChapStick, purse size tissues, unscented personal size lotions, personal size hand sanitizer).
• Water Bottles
• Snacks for the NICU families
• IPSY bags

If you have any specific questions, please reach out to Alicia Williams on the Charity Committee.

CAREER

Travelers is putting together another SHE Travels Speaker Series and they are featuring Nicole Schmidt. This virtual event is on July 12th at 11:00amCST.

Nicole Schmidt is a Managing Partner, co-founder and member of the management committee of Oberon Securities, a New York City-based investment banking firm specializing in middle market businesses. In this speaker series event, Nicole will join Lisa Caputo, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience at Travelers, for a fireside chat. The pair will discuss topics including:

• The concept of failure and how it is a stepping stone for success
• Principles of integrity and how they should drive your decision-making
• Workplace flexibility and its impact on women in the workforce
• The importance of women advocating and supporting each other

Register for this webinar here.

ESOP Meeting

Employee Well-Being

• Increase your risk for certain conditions like diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
• Negatively affect your relationships with those you love.

•   Anxiety & Depression Care
•   Substance Use
•   Work/Life Stress
•   Grief and Loss
•   Family & Relationships
•   And more!