BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont Mutual Insurance Group® bolsters its commitment to the University of Vermont Catamounts as a new four-year partnership was announced today by the university and its athletics multimedia rightsholder, Learfield’s Vermont Sports Properties.

With this agreement, Vermont Mutual and UVM are proud to introduce a community-based initiative that gives back to local organizations. Throughout the first two seasons of the multi-year agreement, Vermont Mutual will give $100 to the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington for each Catamount win – inclusive of every team, every sport, home and away victories. In years three and four, two additional organizations will be selected as the recipients of the donations based on wins by the Cats. Fans will soon recognize this initiative as “Cats Win, Community Wins” that will be supported through in-game promotion, social media, broadcast and print.

UVM student-athletes will deepen the relationship by being involved with various Boys & Girls Club activities.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to elevate our level of involvement with the Catamounts over the next four years, while at the same time, provide significant resources to a terrific organization in the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington,” said Dan Bridge, President and CEO of Vermont Mutual Insurance Group. “We take immense pride in giving back to our community and the benefits received by the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington gives us all further motivation to support the UVM athletic teams.”

“Our organization is beyond honored, and thrilled, to be an integral part of the new “Cats Win, Community Wins” initiative. We can’t thank Vermont Mutual enough for thinking of us and wrapping this into their broader partnership with the Vermont Catamounts,” said Executive Director Tanya Benosky.

According to UVM’s Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman ’89, “the support and generosity shown by our corporate partners and local businesses at every level is greatly appreciated. We know the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington will be excited to be the beneficiary of this incredible donation by Vermont Mutual, and we look forward to involving the kids and volunteers in our various athletic events.”

The first donation for Catamount wins during the current 2017-18 collegiate athletic season will be retroactive to spring 2017, with a final amount slated for February 2018 and expected to be approximately $14,000 annually.

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group® is a trade name of Vermont Mutual Insurance Company, Northern Security Insurance Company, Inc. and Granite Mutual Insurance Company. Chartered in 1828, Vermont Mutual is one of the 10 oldest mutual property/casualty insurers in the United States and provides coverage throughout New England and upstate New York. Through more than 400 independent agencies, the Group insures over 300,000 policyholders with a direct written premium of more than $435,000,000. The group is rated “A+ Superior” by A. M. Best and a Ward’s Top 50 performing property/casualty insurer in the U.S. for the past nine consecutive years.

Learfield has long been immersed in the collegiate athletics landscape. In addition to Vermont, the company manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for nearly 130 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, in addition to supporting athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup.