MSF ANNOUNCES $150,000 MATCHING DONATION TO KIDS' CHANCE OF MONTANA
Thursday, July 27, 2023 | 662 | 0
$30,000/Year for Five Years Will be Donated When Matched with $30,000/year in Other Contributions
HELENA, MT—Montana State Fund (MSF), the state's not-for-profit and leading workers' compensation insurance company announced a donation of up-to $150,000 over five years ($30,000/year) to Kids' Chance of Montana (KCMT). Kids' Chance is a non-profit organization established in all 50 U.S. states to assist the dependents of workers who have been injured or killed on the job with their higher education ambitions. Montana's chapter was established in 2017—since its inception, Kids' Chance of Montana has raised more than $365,000 and awarded scholarships to 28 students totaling more than $185,000.
The donation is a matching donation intended to raise awareness of the KCMT program and the fact that often, severe workplace accidents can have ramifications for years—or decades—to come. The mission of KCMT is to alleviate the financial burden a life changing injury can have on not just the injured worker, but also their family. Previously MSF donated more than $25,000 to establish an endowment to help carry the organization into the future.
Most recently, Kids' Chance awarded a scholarship to Mia Palmer, the daughter of Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer. Trooper Palmer was catastrophically injured by a gunshot wound to the head while in pursuit of a murder suspect in 2019.
Trooper Palmer's wife Lindsey, and their daughter Mia were on hand for the ceremonial check presentation from MSF to Kids' Chance on Friday. Kids' Chance also presented Mia with a ceremonial check for $4,000, the amount of her first-year scholarship. Mia will be a freshman in Fall 2023, attending the University of Idaho. Palmer is one of three freshmen, joining ten returning recipients, receiving a KCMT scholarship for the 2023/24 school year.
"Montana State Fund is our state's leading workers' compensation insurance company; we take that role and responsibility seriously and are honored to participate in the Kids' Chance program to help Montana families," said MSF Board Chairman, Richard Miltenberger. "Being the industry leader means going above and beyond by working to make sure injured workers and employers know we are more than just their insurer—we are their partner in achieving a healthier and safer workplace."
Holly O'Dell, MSF's President and Chief Executive Officer added: "As Montana's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurer, we know workplace accidents may have impacts beyond the injured worker; they can have lasting effects which may extend to other family members—sometime for years. We believe it is our duty, obligation, and opportunity to help relieve some of those impacts through Kids' Chance so families and communities know when the worst happens, they are not alone. We are proud to play an active role in raising awareness of this worthy cause and invite our fellow Montanans to help Kids' Chance of Montana meet their matching goal of $30,000/year."
Leah Tietz, President of Kids' Chance of Montana had the following to say about the program and donation: "I echo the sentiments of Richard and Holly and thank them from the bottom of my heart for this generous donation. With $150,000, we will be able to help so many more Montana students achieve their educational aspirations. The entire goal of Kids' Chance is to help take a potentially catastrophic situation, such as the one the Palmer family has experienced, and make it just a little better. If we can do that, we are truly making a difference for our fellow Montanans. I invite all Montanans to visit our website to donate as they are able."
Trooper Palmer's family issued the following statement following the presentation: "As Wade continues his recovery and works to adjust to our new normal, we want to sincerely thank Kids' Chance of Montana for awarding Mia this scholarship, and Montana State Fund for helping support such a wonderful program. Our hope with this presentation is to raise awareness of the program so other children, like Mia, can be embraced in the same way."
To learn more about Kids' Chance of Montana, visit www.kidschanceofmontana.org for more information or to donate.
Video of the presentation can be found and downloaded by clicking here.
CONTACT: Ethan Heverly
eheverly@safemt.gov or (406) 544-8287
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Montana State Fund is Montana's Not-for-Profit Workers' Compensation Insurance Company,
Insuring Approximately 24,000 Montana Businesses and Organizations.