The University of Wisconsin – Madison has announced a ten-year, $40 million commitment from American Family Insurance in support of its academic, research, and athletics programs.

The commitment, which doubles American Family's current annual contribution to the university, will provide continued funding for a distinguished chair of risk management and insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business as well as funds for new business development programs and business-related research projects, with a focus on entrepreneurship and data analytics.

The pledge also includes support for the Career Initiative, a new program in the College of Letters & Science; student projects such as consulting efforts in the Marketing MBA program and other innovative learning opportunities; and the athletics program. In addition, American Family will match  donations to the university made by its employees and insurance agents.

American Family has a tradition of supporting UW–Madison that dates back to the company's founder, Herman Wittwer, a 1911 graduate of the university. "American Family and UW have built a remarkable legacy that includes high-profile projects like the American Family Children's Hospital and dozens of shared ventures," said UW–Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank. "American Family employees contribute time and talent to UW as student mentors and recruiters. The ten-year agreement...formalizes our existing partnership and adds new elements that provide value to the university and help further our research, academic, and athletic programs."