Gift from MassMutual to Facilitate Additional Junior Achievement Programs across the Nation

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) today announced a $81,500 gift to Junior Achievement USA^® (JA) that will help deliver financial education programming to young people in at least seven local communities across the United States.

"Helping people secure their financial future and protect the ones they love is at the core of who we are," said Nick Fyntrilakis, vice president, community responsibility, MassMutual.  "Learning to make smart financial decisions early in life can help young people make the transition to higher education and financial independence later in life."

For the second year in a row, MassMutual is supporting JA by facilitating classes in at least seven local communities across the U.S. to help elementary and junior high school students gain the knowledge and skills they need to help make smart academic and economic choices.  Additionally, MassMutual representatives in these local communities will serve as JA volunteers, teaching the JA curriculum and sharing their personal and professional experiences with students.

The JA mission is a direct correlation to MassMutual's mission to make a difference in local communities and help families become more confident in their financial decisions and empower them to take control of their financial situations.  According to the 2013 MassMutual State of the American Family Study, three-quarters (74%) of Americans believe it is important to educate children about finances to ensure a strong economy in the future. 

"We are thrilled to receive this gift on behalf of America's students," said Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA.  "MassMutual has given tangible proof of its practical commitment to giving young people advantages through financial education."

In 2013, MassMutual supported JA by facilitating financial education for nearly 1,450 students in five local communities across the U.S.  Ninety-seven percent of teachers who participated in the program believed it had a positive impact on students, with one educator sharing, "It provided them with an in-depth learning opportunity, with resources and experts from our community, which they would not get otherwise."  Another teacher explained, "Students were thinking about how the content being covered applied to them and how they could use what they already know to make more learning connections."

"Personal finance management is an essential life-building skill.  With college debt at an all-time high, students must understand how financial decisions can impact their future," said Kosakowski.  "We are so excited that this partnership will help empower more students to make a connection between what they learn in school and how it can be applied to their lives as they grow older."

About Junior Achievement USA^® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and communities volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches 4.4 million students per year in 118 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.7 million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+.

For More Information, Contact:

Paula Tremblay, MassMutual
(413) 744-0885 or [email protected]

Stephanie Bell, Junior Achievement USA^®
(719) 540-6171 or [email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual