WesleyLife, Athene partner to address food insecurity and isolation

WesleyLife has announced a partnership with Athene, the leading retirement services company headquartered in West Des Moines, to support health, well-being, and human services by addressing food insecurity and social isolation among older adults and military veterans in central Iowa.

Athene committed a $300,000 pledge to support WesleyLife Meals on Wheels over a three-year period. This generous gift will fund an estimated 31,000 meals over three years for food-insecure and socially isolated older adults and military veterans in central Iowa.

Volunteer "takeover"

On March 3 and 4, in conjunction with Meals on Wheels America’s national March for Meals initiative, Athene team members volunteered for WesleyLife Meals on Wheels, delivering an estimated 100 meals and conducting well-being checks to Meals on Wheels clients. Groups of team members also harvested greens in the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm on the Meals on Wheels campus, augmenting client meals with fresh, nutritious greens.

“The gifts of time and treasure from Athene are an impetus for a strategic partnership that will impact food insecurity and isolation and also provide the opportunity to engage Athene’s dedicated employee base through meaningful volunteer and employee resource group experiences,” Sophia S. Ahmad, vice president of philanthropy for WesleyLife, said. “The partnership will focus on health as well as on support for human services that promote purpose, caring for older adults, and supporting military veterans.”

With support from WesleyLife Foundation, WesleyLife Meals on Wheels delivers 2,000 hot, nutritious meals daily to older adults and veterans in Polk and Dallas counties. Eighty percent of Meals on Wheels clients live on a fixed income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level, and 71 percent live alone. Well-being checks conducted by Meals on Wheels drivers have saved eight lives in 2024 alone, reinforcing the program’s critical role in serving the community.

Mission alignment 

“WesleyLife’s mission closely aligns with our community involvement efforts, making this partnership a natural fit,” said Grant Kvalheim, Athene USA president and CEO. “What’s more, our employees are deeply committed to health and well-being as well as services to military veterans, and this collaboration strengthens that commitment.”

Rob Kretzinger, president and CEO of WesleyLife, praised the partnership. “As WesleyLife works to revolutionize the experience of aging, it’s meaningful for us to collaborate with Athene in creating positive social change throughout the greater community,” he said. “We’re thankful to Athene’s leadership for recognizing the ongoing impact of our efforts and for joining us in broadening and strengthening this important work.”