January 28, 2015
American Family Insurance Partners with Kevin Durant and J.J. Watt
On Jan. 26, American Family Insurance announced the addition of two new brand ambassadors, superstar athletes Kevin Durant and J.J. Watt. Durant, dominating NBA MVP superstar with the OKC Thunder and Watt, three-time Pro Bowl player with the Houston Texas, have joined AFI in hopes of inspiring consumers to chase their dreams.
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Durant opened up on becoming a new brand ambassador, stating, “It’s important to me to inspire others to pursue and achieve their dreams, and I’m honored to work with American Family in its efforts to do the same. I have been fortunate enough to achieve many of my dreams both on and off the court.†Watts also made a statement, “American Family is a company I am very familiar with from my days growing up in Wisconsin, and I am excited to have this opportunity with them. I share American Family’s belief in dreamers, and I am grateful for its support of the Justin J. Watt Foundation as we work to help young kids along the journey to accomplish their dreams.â€
Durant is the first NBA player to sign on as brand ambassador for AFI. While his presence is astronomic on the court, off the court he is known for his large contributions to nonprofits and activity helping out his own community, as well in his work with the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation supplies educational, athletic and social programs. The charity aims at increasing and enriching the lives of young kids who are at-risk and come from low-income backgrounds.
In addition, the 6-foot-9 superstar donated $1 million to the American Red Cross foundation for victims of the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma tornado. Watt is also involved in charitable work, being the president and founder of the Justin J. Watt Foundation. His nonprofit organization is dedicated to presenting after-school programs for kids to join, so they could have fun and be involved in sports in a secure environment. The NFL superstar, who was the first player in the league’s history to have 20 or more sacks in separate seasons, was nominated for the NFL’s Salute to Service Awards. The award is given to player, coach or owner who supports the nation’s service men and women.
AFI is based in Madison, Wis., and is the nation’s third-largest mutual property insurance company, ranking 373rd on the Fortune 500 list.
Telisa Yancy, marketing vice president for American Family touched on the exciting addition of two new athlete brand ambassadors stating, “American Family’s commitment to champion and protect our customers’ dreams is strong and evolving. As part of that evolution, we seek out different ambassadors whose experiences and values can help motivate consumers to dream and go after those dreams fearlessly. “Kevin and J.J. have distinctive stories that transcend sports. They epitomize what American Family and our customers believe in, devoting extraordinary effort, taking risks and conquering the odds to realize their dreams and, in the process, supporting and helping others.â€