Where Are They Now?

August 11, 2023

Celebrating 60 years of GBU Foundation Scholars

GBU Foundation was founded in 1963 to encourage and assist members in furthering their education through its scholarship program. In honor of its 60th anniversary, we are celebrating GBU Foundation Scholarship and Grant recipients’ achievements.

Christine van Breukelen

Dayton, OH

GBU District 815 Referral Agent & Fraternal Secretary 

District 815–Dayton, OH 

GBU Freshman Scholarship, 1970 through 1974

University of Dayton, BS Medical Technology

University of Dayton, MBA

About my GBU Foundation Scholarship: 

“It’s so important when others believe in you and encourage your success. The GBU scholarship helped provide that confidence.”

Since I graduated: “I started in medical technology, then medical sales. Serving as the referral agent gave me the flexibility for a career and family. My husband Wilfred and I live in Dayton. Our daughter Celine, also a GBU Scholar, lives in Anchorage.”

Gracie Jablonski

Altoona, PA

Prep, Mission BBQ

District 45-Altoona, PA

GBU Foundation Two-Year Scholarship, 2020

Pittsburgh Technical College Culinary Arts School, Associate Degree, Food Science 

About my GBU Foundation Scholarship: 

“It helped me succeed in what I needed to use to earn my degree. It paid for my knife kit and books for schooling.”

Theodore Roman

Pittsburgh, PA

Health Insurance Payor Digital Strategy Practice Lead & Engagement Manager, Adobe

District 171-Pittsburgh, PA GBU Foundation Freshman Scholarship, 2007 through 2011

Case Western Reserve University, BS Computer Science & BA Mathematics

Carnegie Mellon University, PhD Computational Biology

About my GBU Foundation Scholarship: 

“My GBU scholarship, along with other financial awards, made it possible for me to attend graduate school without the pressure of accumulating student loan debt.”

If you are a GBU Foundation Scholarship or Grant recipient and would like to update us on your career, please fill out our online form. We will publish your information in the “Where Are They Now” posts in The Reporter and social media throughout 2023. Go to gbulife.typeform.com/to/iRwhSrK5.

Spring into Excellence for 2025

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

GBU Life's Contributions by Pillar

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GBU has designated four Community Pillars - Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving and Hometown Hero Support - which are a concentrated list of causes that resonate with our values.

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The 2025 GBU Foundation Scholarship and Grants

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Feel Good Food: Comforting Casserole Recipes

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Looking to try some new recipes this winter?

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We've found some tips to keep up your sleeve this winter.

Help Secure Your Retirement, One Smart Choice at a Time

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The Defined Benefit Annuity from GBU Life can help you to create a plan for a guaranteed income in retirement by making regular contributions based on your retirement income targets.

Money Moves Recent Grads Should Consider

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Graduating from college is an exciting milestone, but it’s also the perfect time to focus on your financial future. Building on the foundation you’ve already laid the groundwork for with smart money choices will set you up for long-term success. Here are a few key financial products to consider as you take the next step.

Youth 3 Pay Life Insurance

January 3, 2025
Kick-start your child’s journey to financial success with a whole life policy from GBU Life.

The Office Trivia

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How well do you know the characters from the hit TV series The Office? Watch your reruns and get ready to test your skills in our winter trivia contest!
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