Northwestern Mutual Employees and Financial Representatives Raise More Than $775,000 for Childhood Cancer

Offices nationwide honored for volunteering in their communities at company's annual meeting

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Jul 27, 2016, 09:02 ET

MILWAUKEE, July 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Time is of the essence when it comes to finding life-saving cures for children with cancer, and Northwestern Mutual is supporting the cause by raising funds for nonprofit partner Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). Thousands of Northwestern Mutual employees and financial professionals nationwide participated in the company's annual Race for Research – a corporate challenge to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research – raising more than $775,000 since June, which will fund more than 15,000 hours of childhood cancer research. Northwestern Mutual honored these efforts tied to its national philanthropic cause at the company's annual meeting this week in Milwaukee.

"Our financial professionals and employees have made great strides this year in supporting the fight against childhood cancer. We are more committed than ever and increased our contributions 50 percent over last year," said Eric Christophersen, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "Their exceptional volunteer and fundraising efforts will impact childhood cancer research, contributing to the development of improved treatments and cures for children and families fighting these diseases."

The top fundraising Northwestern Mutual offices honored include:

2016 Childhood Cancer Impact Award Winners Recognized

In addition, six Northwestern Mutual offices across the country were recognized as recipients of the company's third annual Childhood Cancer Impact Awards for their outstanding commitment to local nonprofits focused on childhood cancer research and family support. These offices were each awarded $50,000 in grant funding to further impact childhood cancer research and family support in their communities. Among them, the Northwestern Mutual – Tampa office was named most exceptional for its efforts and received an additional $50,000 grant – for a total amount of $100,000 – to contribute to childhood cancer research.

Most Exceptional:
Northwestern Mutual – Tampa (Florida)
Managing Partner Kevin O'Connell and members of Northwestern Mutual's Tampa office spent nearly 1,100 hours volunteering and fundraising for childhood cancer programs raising more than $55,000 in 2015. In addition to renting out a children's museum for its Night at the Museum event and hosting its signature Lemon Drop cocktail party, the office hosted more than 10 lemonade stands and office fundraisers throughout the year.

Northwestern Mutual – King of Prussia (Pennsylvania)
Managing Partner Stephen T. Guinan and the Eastern Pennsylvania team dedicated a combined 800 hours on community events, fundraisers and special events in 2015, through which they raised $50,000 for childhood cancer programs. The cause hits especially close to home for this team, as Stephen himself was diagnosed and treated for cancer in 2013-2014.

Northwestern Mutual – Chicago (Illinois)
Engaging more than 100 people in more than 850 hours of service, Managing Partner Corey McQuade and the Chicago team raised nearly $120,000 toward childhood cancer programs in 2015. The office hosted lemonade stands, golf outings, special events and more to rally the local community to support the fight against childhood cancer.

Northwestern Mutual – Capital Region (New York)
Northwestern Mutual-Capital Region and Managing Partner Alex Tronco raised more than $23,000 through 280 volunteer hours in 2015. The local office organized softball and charity golf tournaments, held lemonade stands, compiled boxes of gifts for children at Albany Medical Center and more.

Northwestern Mutual – Cincinnati (Ohio)
More than 70 members of the Northwestern Mutual-Cincinnati team, including Managing Partner Shawn Kelley, spent nearly 850 hours on volunteer initiatives in 2015, raising nearly $75,000. The team partnered with Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation, held lemonade stands in the local community, hosted a 5K run and more.

Northwestern Mutual – Los Angeles (California)
Managing Partner Matthew Plocher and more than 115 team members actively fundraised, volunteered and championed childhood cancer in 2015, dedicating 1,180 volunteer hours and raising more than $61,000 for the cause. Local community initiatives included the annual LA Loves Alex's Lemonade Event, Great Escape events in partnership with Starlight Children's Foundation, the inaugural A Night to Fight Childhood Cancer gala (in partnership with three other local Northwestern Mutual offices) and more.

About Northwestern Mutual Foundation
The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in need. The Foundation has given more than $290 million since its inception in 1992 and is designed to create lasting impact in the communities where the company's employees and financial representatives live and work. We accomplish this by combining financial support, volunteerism, thought leadership and convening community partners to deliver the best outcomes. Our efforts are focused nationally on curing childhood cancer, and locally on education, neighborhoods and making our hometown of Milwaukee a great destination.

About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for nearly 160 years. Our financial representatives build relationships with clients through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation and distribution. With $238.5 billion in assets, $27.9 billion in revenues and more than $1.6 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.4 million people who rely on us for insurance and investment solutions, including life, disability income and long-term care insurance; annuities; trust services; mutual funds; and investment advisory products and services. Northwestern Mutual ranks 100 on the 2016 FORTUNE 500, and is recognized by FORTUNE as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2016.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, life insurance with long-term care benefits, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC).

About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $120 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 550 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual