Shining Star of Perseverance

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Shining Star of Perseverance award?
The Shining Star of Perseverance is a national award presented annually by Assurant Employee Benefits’ WillReturn Council® to an individual(s) who has made a significant recent contribution toward demonstrating perseverance through disabling illness or injury.
Why was the award established?
The award was established to mark the fifth anniversary of Assurant Employee Benefits’ WillReturn Council in 2003, when the Council also created the Perseverance Hall of Fame to further honor its Perseverance Award winners.

Each Shining Star of Perseverance award winner also joins the Perseverance Hall of Fame. The award provides recognition for its deserving recipients, who serve as beacons of hope to others fighting to overcome obstacles, and as examples to all that obstacles need not be insurmountable.
How are award recipients chosen?
Assurant Employee Benefits employees are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals for consideration. The winner is selected by members of Assurant Employee Benefits’ WillReturn Council® from submitted nominations.

When was the award first given?
The first award was presented on July 23, 2003.


Who has won the award in the past?
The first Shining Star of Perseverance award was presented to Aron Ralston, the mountaineer who made national and international headlines for amputating his arm in order to save his life. The 2004 recipient was former U.S. senator Robert Dole, who overcame devastating battlefield injuries sustained during World War II. The 2005 award recipient was Air Force Lt. Col. Andrew Lourake, the first American military pilot to return to active flying duty after an above-the-knee amputation. The 2006 award winner was Jeff Matovic, a non-doctor who researched his own surgical cure for Tourette Syndrome and spent years searching for a doctor who would agree to perform the surgery. Winners of the 2007 award were the authors of Nordie’s at Noon, a book about coming together to reach the common goal of beating breast cancer. The 2008 award recipient was Corporal J.R. Martinez, U.S. Army (Retired), who suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation as the result of a Humvee accident and subsequent explosion that occurred while on active duty in Iraq.
What is the WillReturn Council®?
The WillReturn Council® is a special group of employee and outside consultants that recognize the efforts of disability claimants in returning to productive lives after disabling illnesses and injuries. At the same time, this group also seeks to learn from successful disability situations and use the acquired knowledge in the development of future Assurant Employee Benefits products and to enhance existing claims management initiatives to benefit Assurant Employee Benefits’ policyholders and insureds.

In addition to the annual Shining Star of Perseverance award, the Council gives its Perseverance Award to exceptional disability claimants of Assurant Employee Benefits and its Partnership Award to policyholders who have demonstrated a committed to helping their employees return to productive lives following disability. The Council’s Pacesetter Award is presented to health care facilities or individuals working in the health care field who demonstrate exceptional leadership, dedication, skill and commitment in their efforts to help disabled patients return to active, productive, healthy lifestyles.
What is Assurant Employee Benefits?
Assurant Employee Benefits specializes in quality employee benefits and services, including long-term and short-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, dental coverage, and disability reinsurance management services. Assurant Employee Benefits also offers voluntary (employee-paid) disability, life and dental plans. Products and services marketed by Assurant Employee Benefits are underwritten or provided by Union Security Insurance Company, Union Security Life Insurance Company of New York, or an affiliated prepaid dental company. Plans contain limitations and exclusions. Underwriting flexibility allows Assurant Employee Benefits to market tailor-made benefit plans for groups of most any size. Assurant Employee Benefits is located in Kansas City, Mo.

Assurant Employee Benefits is part of Assurant, which offers specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected international markets. Its four key businesses -- Assurant Employee Benefits, Assurant Health, Assurant Solutions and Assurant Specialty Property -- have partnered with clients who are leaders in their industries and have built leadership positions in a number of specialty market segments worldwide.

Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ.