MassMutual Supports Rebuilding Together

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) today announced a new multiyear effort to support Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit organization which believes in a safe and healthy home for every person, and also supports families in disaster-stricken areas repair and rebuild their homes and lives.

The new program is the result of MassMutual's efforts to encourage its retirement plan participants, employees and agents to sign up for e-delivery for their quarterly statements, sent by email and available on the company's RetireSmart website, in the place of mailed paper statements. For every plan participant that opts for e-delivery, the company makes a donation to Rebuilding Together. In 2012, the program had more than 50,000 participants sign up for e-delivery, raising $100,000. Those funds will be donated to the Arkansas and Oklahoma affiliates of Rebuilding Together to help in the long term recovery of the families' homes, which have recently been affected by multiple tornadoes.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to all of the families and communities affected by recent tornadoes, and we hope our donation to Rebuilding Together will help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible," said Elaine Sarsynski, Executive Vice President of MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and Chairman, President and CEO of MassMutual International LLC. "Our e-delivery program is an important part of MassMutual's continuous efforts to improve our customer service and help the environment by lessening our paper consumption. It's also a great way for us to give back to communities and help many families in their time of need."

Founded in 1988, Rebuilding Together brings together volunteers, community leaders, and corporate partners to provide critical repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to the service recipients. With nearly 200 affiliates across the country, Rebuilding Together mobilizes 200,000 volunteers to complete more than 10,000 projects each year.

In addition, Rebuilding Together Affiliates incorporate long-term recovery efforts to help rebuild homes and the lives of those affected by disasters as low-income homeowners are among the most vulnerable population when it comes to recovering from a disaster. 

"The recent floods, tornadoes and current wildfires remind us that natural disasters can inflict devastating losses without warning - anytime and anywhere. Coping with loss of life and property is difficult under any circumstance, but when disasters strike those most vulnerable - the elderly, veterans, and disabled - recovery may not happen soon enough or at all," said John Fiegel, Interim President and CEO, Rebuilding Together. "Through our Disaster Recovery Fund and the generous assistance of partners like MassMutual,  Rebuilding Together's Arkansas and Oklahoma affiliates and volunteers will work to ensure safe and healthy housing once the immediate crisis has passed and the long term recovery process of revitalizing lives and rebuilding communities begins."

The Rebuilding Together donation is in addition to MassMutual's recent $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help with immediate relief efforts after the tornadoes and severe weather that hit Oklahoma and surrounding areas in May.

Customers interested in signing-up for MassMutual's e-delivery program may log into their RetireSmart account online at www.retiresmart.com or contact MassMutual's Retirement Services Participant Information Center at 800-743-5274.

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 'Like" MassMutual on Facebook.

Contact: Laura DeMars
413-744-7181
[email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual