MILWAUKEE – February 6, 2009 – As the nation’s economy continues to sputter, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation sees promise in the future of Milwaukee, investing $4.5 million in community education initiatives. These grants include $2.5 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, $1 million to the Marquette Law School and $1 million to Junior Achievement of Wisconsin. Each grant focuses on programs that develop the next generation.
“Milwaukee has been home to Northwestern Mutual for more than 150 years, and we understand the value of investing in its future,” said Ed Zore, president and CEO of Northwestern Mutual. “We believe that the place to start is with education, which is vital to the strength and stability of this community, and these organizations are poised to make a real difference in the future of Milwaukee.”
The Foundation awarded $2.5 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee to build on their Decade of Hope initiative, a 10-year strategic plan to address the problems plaguing Milwaukee youth. Working with Milwaukee Public Schools and other community partners, the Boys & Girls Clubs will increase the number of sites and expand program hours, as well as enhance programs that have proven to have the most positive impact on Milwaukee’s youth and the future of the city.
Marquette Law School received a $1 million grant from the Foundation for the building of a new signature facility, Ray and Kay Eckstein Hall. This facility, slated to open in 2010, will serve as a resource for students, alumni, and the greater Milwaukee community. Eckstein Hall will house classrooms, conference spaces, offices, courtrooms, a chapel, a two-story vaulted reading room, a 200-person conference center and a law library integrated throughout the building with more than 300,000 volumes and online resources.
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, whose mission is that, “every child in Wisconsin will be inspired and empowered to achieve their full potential by understanding the economics of life,” also received a $1 million grant from the Foundation. The grant will help provide 20,000 students annually the opportunity for experiential learning opportunities about personal finance, work readiness and entrepreneurship through the JA Capstone Program. This includes active, hands-on learning experiences for students, giving them the opportunity to combine practical applications with general principles they have learned in the classroom.
“Whether elementary, high school, college or post-college, our goal is to help Milwaukee provide access to a quality education,” said Deanna Tillisch, director of corporate affairs for Northwestern Mutual. “Junior Achievement, Marquette University and the Boys & Girls Clubs offer learning programs and initiatives, both inside and outside the classroom, that enrich our community and lay the foundation for the future.”
###
About the Northwestern Mutual Foundation
The Northwestern Mutual Foundation has honored its mission — inspiring human potential through lifelong learning and community commitment — by granting support in three focus areas: Education, Health and Human Services, and Arts and Culture. The Foundation is the largest corporate giver in the state of Wisconsin, contributing $19 million nationally and locally in 2008.
For more than 150 years, The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) has been serving the financial needs of its policyowners and clients. The company, with over $1 trillion of life insurance protection in force, maintains the highest available ratings for insurance financial strength from all four major rating agencies: Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings, A. M. Best and Moody’s.
For 25 years, a FORTUNE magazine survey has named Northwestern Mutual “America’s Most Admired” company in the life/health insurance industry. Further information on Northwestern Mutual, its subsidiaries and affiliates can be found at: www.nmfn.com.
For further information, contact:
Jean Towell 1-800-323-7033
mediarelations@northwesternmutual.com
search blogs
share it
blog it
