MassMutual Donates $125,000 to Non-Profit Organizations on Behalf of its Financial Professionals

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has awarded $125,000 to eligible non-profit organizations through its annual Community Service Awards (CSA) program. The awards are given on behalf of MassMutual financial professionals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to non-profit organizations in their local areas.

Through the CSA program, now in its 16th year, MassMutual awards one $25,000 grant to a non-profit in recognition of a financial professional's extraordinary dedication to volunteerism. The program also awards ten $10,000 grants to non-profit organizations across the country on behalf of financial professionals who have provided exceptional voluntary service.

This year's $25,000 grant was awarded to Rick Van Benschoten, a financial professional with MassMutual's general agency Fifth Avenue Financial Group in New York City, for his work with the Covenant House New York, which provides food, shelter, immediate crisis care, and essential services to homeless children.

"MassMutual's Community Service Awards program aims to encourage and recognize those financial professionals who selflessly give their time, talent and resources to help non-profits continue to do great work in their communities," said Nick Fyntrilakis, Vice President of Community Responsibility, MassMutual. "Volunteering is valuable for both the community and volunteers. We are proud of the dedication to non-profits that many of our financial professionals have shown and are pleased to award these grants in their honor."

Each CSA recognizes the many selfless hours of volunteer time and talent members of MassMutual's sales force put in during the year to improve their communities. Since the program's inception in 1996, MassMutual has contributed more than $1.2 million to charitable organizations across the country.

The CSA program is just one of a variety of philanthropic programs sponsored by MassMutual in support of non-profit organizations where its financial professionals volunteer. Last year, in total, MassMutual contributed more than $735,000 in community service award grants and matching gift donations to organizations throughout the United States in honor of its sales force. 

The following financial professionals have been awarded grants for their local non-profit organizations:

 

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. 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 policyholders every year 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+.

Contact: Laura DeMars
413-744-7181

SOURCE MassMutual