New Kid reaches out

In September, actor and former New Kids on the Block frontman Donnie Wahlberg will add another title to his résumé: national spokesman for the Life Foundation’s annual Life Insurance Awareness Month.

The Arlington, Va.-based Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education is educating the public on the benefits of life insurance and stressing the importance of consulting a financial professional when buying a policy. September marks the fifth year that the foundation has reached out to Americans to show them why they should purchase life insurance.

Mr. Wahlberg, who will also tour with his reunited band this fall, will conduct interviews on national television and radio, as well as in print media.

He will be featured in a video message, calling for industry support of Life Insurance Awareness Month. That message will be distributed to carriers and producers nationwide.

Mr. Wahlberg will also speak at the Falls Church, Va.-based National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ annual convention Sept. 8 in San Diego.

The star’s endorsement of life insurance is based on a personal story. Mr. Wahlberg’s sister, Debbie, died at 44 without life coverage, leaving behind a 16-year-old son.

Although the extended Wahlberg family cared for the young man, the event showed Mr. Wahlberg firsthand why planning for the unforeseen is so important. The purchase of life insurance was a “no-brainer” once the celebrity sat down with his financial adviser, Mr. Wahlberg said in a statement.

“My sister was taken away from us too soon. She was a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her, but like so many people, she didn’t think about the ‘what-ifs,’” Mr. Wahlberg said.

“If something were to happen to me, I want to know that my loved ones will be taken care of financially,” he said.