Allstate Insurance Agent Karen Butterson, Williamsville, NY

I was born and raised in Amherst, New York where I attended Sweet Home Senior High School. I married my husband Patrick in 1992, and we have three wonderful, active children. Katie is now working as my Allstate office manager. Megan is a waitress and also a dog groomer, and our son, Danny, is a student and works at a local pizzeria. I opened my first Allstate agency in 1993, which I sold in 2001 to stay home for a couple of years with our children. I then purchased my current agency in December 2006.

My husband and I were very active with our children’s activities while they were young. I was a soccer coach for Megan’s travel team, and Pat was a coach and President of our son’s football league. We also spent numerous weekends out of town with Katie and her travel soccer team, where we made many wonderful friends.

We are happy to be able to give back and support the SSG. William R. Wilson III Memorial Foundation. Billy was killed in Afghanistan on March 26, 2012. He and his family are personal friends of ours, and I am grateful that our agency and the Allstate Foundation supports his memory. The SSG. William R. Wilson III Memorial Foundation raises money for current military personnel, veterans and children who need financial assistance to play sports. We also support the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Serving Erie County through donations from the agency. Helping animals is important to our agency, especially those that have been mistreated.

In 2012 my husband passed away at age 48 from pancreatic cancer. I am thankful every day for the profession that I chose, in that I knew how important life insurance is and am so thankful for the wisdom other Allstate agents gave to me. My children and I were personally devastated. However because of Allstate and the insurance that Patrick purchased to help protect us, I can now say that we are financially still able to live the same lifestyle that my husband and I wanted for us and our kids.

I am very proud of where I live and am really happy to finally see the expansion of the city of Buffalo. I love what our city has to offer from our hockey team to my beloved Buffalo Bills. I know they haven’t won the Super Bowl yet, but there’s always next year. GO BILLS!!