Northwestern Mutual Is New Corporate Partner Of Coach To Cure MD

MORE THAN 600 COLLEGIATE COACHING STAFFS UNITE AGAINST DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY THIS WEEKEND

WACO, Texas, Sept. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In virtually every college stadium this weekend, more than 10,000 football coaches at more than 611 educational institutions will unite to support the Coach To Cure MD program, with the support of a new corporate sponsor, Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial security company.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100119/DC39975LOGO)

Coach To Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a professional organization for over 11,000 college football coaches and staff, and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Many of the coaches and schools participating this weekend will host Duchenne boys on their campuses this week as honorary game captains.

As part of its sponsorship, Northwestern Mutual provided a financial contribution to AFCA's charity partner, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

"Our effort with the AFCA has had an immeasurable effect on raising awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. With the support of Northwestern Mutual, we can fund more critical research to end Duchenne," said Pat Furlong, founding president and CEO of PPMD.

College football fans can donate online at http://www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999 to donate $5 through an addition to their mobile phone bill.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys across all races and cultures. Boys and young men with Duchenne develop progressive muscle weakness that eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne and limited therapeutic options exist.

"The AFCA membership has enthusiastically embraced Coach To Cure MD," said Grant Teaff, executive director of the AFCA and legendary former coach at Baylor University. "We are proud this initiative unites coaches at all levels of football behind such an important cause."

"The AFCA is proud to support such a worthy cause as Coach To Cure MD for the sixth year," said Texas head coach Mack Brown, president of the AFCA. "My wife Sally and I have long been active in the fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and we are heartened by the effort of coaches nationwide to continue to raise awareness of this deadly disease."

In addition to the coaches' efforts, families affected with Duchenne muscular dystrophy will also gather for fund-raising tailgate parties on campuses around the country to encourage more fans to get involved.

The Coach To Cure MD program will be promoted through television, radio and digital advertising this week featuring Coach Brown, Coach Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern University, and legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson. The ads are donated by Learfield Sports, Yahoo! Sports Radio, DirecTV, Big Ten Network, Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Southwest, Roots Sports, MASN and Undertone.

For more information regarding this partnership and the organizations involved, visit: CoachToCureMD.org.

About the AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association was founded in 1922 and is the primary professional association for football coaches at all levels of competition. The 11,000-member organization includes more than 90 percent of head coaches at the 700-plus schools that sponsor football at the college level.

About PPMD
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The organization's mission is to end Duchenne, accelerating research, raising voices in Washington, demanding optimal care, and educating the global community.

About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual is among the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2013 according to FORTUNE® magazine and has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 156 years. As a mutual company with $1.4 trillion of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual has no shareholders. The company focuses directly on its clients and seeks to deliver consistent and dependable value to them over time.

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 holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)