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MILWAUKEE, June 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To create stronger, safer communities, research¹ indicates residents must feel invested in their neighborhoods and work together to implement change from the ground up. To support the community-led initiatives in its hometown of Milwaukee, Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, today announced nearly $1 million in grants to nonprofits through the company's neighborhood grants program.

The foundation grants will benefit the 70,000 residents living in Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way neighborhoods - these areas have demonstrated significant opportunity for enhancement. Northwestern Mutual has been investing in these neighborhoods since 2013 by providing funding to nonprofits focused on the following four outcomes: safe neighborhoods; healthy and thriving youth; strong families and quality education.

"The residents in these three areas are serving as change-makers in their communities by advocating for safer and stronger neighborhoods, an initiative we have supported for many years," said Eric Christophersen, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "By working together we can see the positive change in our communities that has a ripple effect on our whole city."

ACTS Housing Spotlight

One of the foundation grants will support ACTS Housing, a nonprofit full-service real estate brokerage that helps families in Milwaukee reclaim vandalized and foreclosed properties. The grant funds will support the new office at St. Ann's in Metcalfe Park, which opened in January.

"ACTS believes that a safe, sanitary and affordable home is a crucial component of strengthening individuals, families and ultimately Milwaukee communities. We are honored to have Northwestern Mutual as a partner to help us achieve this goal," said Michael Gosman, executive director, ACTS. "The opening of a new ACTS office at St. Ann's will help families access affordable homeownership in Metcalfe Park and throughout Milwaukee's north side."

The nonprofit operates five offices throughout the greater Milwaukee region and currently has 7,000 individuals living in homes purchased through the ACTS program.

2016 Neighborhood Grant Recipients:

All grant recipients are required to show measureable impact and results of their programs.

Northwestern Mutual is also working with partners to improve education, make Milwaukee a great place to live, work and play through its destination grant program, and accelerate the search for childhood cancer cures nationally.

About ACTS

ACTS Housing's mission is empowerment through home ownership. ACTS empowers families with obstacles to become home owners by providing financial counseling, real estate brokerage, rehab counseling and rehab loans. Founded in 1992, ACTS has supported over 1,900 households in becoming home owners and more than 800 with home improvement projects. Our work empowering home ownership for the last twenty years proves that home ownership is possible and transformative for families even in Milwaukee's most challenged neighborhoods. Each year, ACTS supports over 100 families in the purchase and rehab of their homes. Every time we do, the city of Milwaukee gets a little bit stronger. To learn more about ACTS Housing, learn about becoming a home owner, or how you can get involved visit www.actshousing.org

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 4.3 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 is recognized by FORTUNE magazine 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).

¹ Center for the Study of Social Policy, A Handbook for Using Community Decision-Making to Improve the Lives of Children, Youth and Families, 2011

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual