Districts in Action Featured Project

July 28, 2021
GBU District 45–Altoona, Pennsylvania, selected the Altoona Mountain Lion Backpack Program as its Districts in Action project for this year. The officers felt that there is a great need in the Altoona area to provide food to needy children. These are families that depend on the free and reduced-price food program to feed their children when the children are in school. The children often don’t have enough food on weekends.

The Program feeds an average 1,000 Altoona Area Elementary School children every week and is part of the national Feeding America network BackPack Program.

Funding received is used to purchase food that will be placed in the backpacks. The average cost is $3 a backpack, which is about $100 for 1 student per year. $2,500 will purchase food for 25 children for 1 school year or 32 weekends.

The Mountain Lion BackPack Program is a 501(c)(3) non-profit program through the Blair County Community Action. The mission of the Mountain Lion BackPack Program is to provide elementary children in the Altoona Area School District with food for the weekends when other resources may not be available to them.

In providing school children with food, we hope to nourish their bodies, prepare their minds and encourage their spirits.


We hope to support the teachers of our school district with this program in that students will be more physically prepared to attend school regularly, focus more intently on their lessons and demonstrate healthy attitudes.


We hope to be an encouragement to families who are struggling, to both lift a burden and show that their community cares.


We hope to bring our community together in this effort to touch and change lives, serving families notonly with food but also with love and compassion.

On April 30, 2021, District 54 Treasurer Betty Richardson presented Altoona Mountain Lion Backpack Program Director, Amber Smith, the member's donation checks as well as the matching funds donation check from GBU. The presentation was at the warehouse where the food is stored and packed.



The Altoona Mountain Lion Backpack Program website is www.mountainlionbackpackprogram.org.

By Lesley Mann May 29, 2025
As we move into the second quarter of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and share some of the new initiatives we are implementing in the realms of sales, marketing and community engagement. Over the past year, GBU Life has reached significant milestones thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team and the trust and support of our members. Our sales department has exceeded targets, and we have expanded our reach to more communities than ever before. We have launched several successful marketing campaigns that have not only increased our visibility but have also strengthened our brand's presence in the industry. For this year, our focus will be educating potential new members on the importance of securing their financial futures through life insurance and annuity products while serving their communities as part of our great Society. Looking ahead, we are committed to enhancing our sales strategies to better serve you. We are introducing some tools for our agents to enhance our products. One new tool is our Defined Benefit Annuity program which combines the Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with a software tool that can help determine retirement savings needs and break them down into contributions over time to help you meet your retirement goals. Be sure to keep in touch with your GBU agent to review your plans and products to see how adding an FIA to your retirement planning can help boost your savings efforts
May 15, 2025
GBU members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed Pawprints on My Heart. Three age categories will be judged as follows: Category I: Ages three and four Category II: Ages five and six Category III: Ages seven, eight and nine Entrants may use crayons, colored pencils, markers or watercolor paints. Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The picture on the next page can be reproduced, or copies can be obtained by calling the Community Engagement Team at the GBU Home Office (800-765-4428) or by printing the image above. Cash Prizes for Each Category First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $30 How to Enter Send the three- to nine-year-old GBU member's coloring contest entry with their name and address on the colored page to: GBU Life ATTN: Member Benefits 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15227-3394. Or email contest@gbu.org with "Coloring Contest Entry” as the subject line. General Information Judges reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries. Their decisions will be final. Artwork will be handled at the GBU Home Office with the utmost care. GBU reserves the right to reproduce entries for whatever use it wishes, provided proper credit is given. Permission does not include the sale of such work.
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