Northwestern Mutual's Childhood Cancer Program Marks Five-Year Milestone

News Releases

Company celebrates with $500,000 in research grants and new nonprofit partnership to improve treatments and provide family support

MILWAUKEE, July 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, today announced it will co-fund five promising childhood cancer research grants through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The grants – each for $100,000, totaling a $500,000 contribution – recognize of the five-year anniversary of Northwestern Mutual's national philanthropic program focused on childhood cancer.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7991453-northwestern-mutual-childhood-cancer-program-milestone-grants/

Edie Gilger’s cancer journey and how research saves lives is an inspiration. Northwestern Mutual is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its Childhood Cancer Program, which funds family support and critical research.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation – a national nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness for childhood cancer while funding research into new treatments and cures – has been a partner to Northwestern Mutual since 2012. Through this partnership, Northwestern Mutual funds researchers on the forefront of discovery, giving children and families the chance to create and share more memories. The five childhood cancer researchers who will receive the new grants include:

Meenakshi Hegde, M.D., Texas Children's Cancer Center/Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas)
Lia Gore, M.D., Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora, Colorado)
Bruce Compas, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee)
Lisa Jacola, Ph.D., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, Tennessee)
Fiona Schulte, Ph.D., University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

"All kids should have the chance to live life to the fullest, and Northwestern Mutual is proud to support the patients, families and the medical professionals helping to treat and find cures," said John E. Schlifske, chairman and CEO of Northwestern Mutual. "Together, with our partners as well as our passionate employees and financial representatives we're continuing to make a difference together."

Northwestern Mutual launched its Childhood Cancer Program to give all kids the chance to just be kids. The program has raised more than $15 million in the fight against cancer while funding more than 165,000 hours of research, accelerating the search for pediatric cancer cures and providing family and survivor support. While the causes of childhood cancer are unknown, Northwestern Mutual remains committed to funding research to better understand childhood cancer and develop better treatments.

"The new technologies and advances in pediatric cancer research are so exciting, but they simply won't happen if we rely solely on government support," said Dr. David Poplack, director of Texas Children's Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. "It's so critically important for organizations like Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, working together with Northwestern Mutual, to fund childhood cancer research. Together, they're helping us develop new therapies and get them to patients as rapidly as we can."

In addition to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Northwestern Mutual named Beads of Courage a new strategic partner in 2017. Beads of Courage is an arts-in-medicine program for children and teens coping with cancer and other serious illnesses to decrease stress, encourage positive coping and provide self-esteem strategies. Other partners include Ronald McDonald House Charities, Gabe's Chemo Duck and additional family support organizations across the country.

Northwestern Mutual offices around the country will build awareness by hosting fundraisers and other events throughout 2017 in celebration of the Childhood Cancer Program's anniversary.

Click here to learn more about Northwestern Mutual's Childhood Cancer Program, here to learn more about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, and here to learn more about Beads of Courage.

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 $300 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 160 years. Through a distinctive, whole-picture planning approach including both insurance and investments, we empower people to be financially confident so they can live life differently. We combine the expertise of our financial professionals with a personalized digital experience to help our clients navigate their financial lives every day. With $250.4 billion in assets, $28.2 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 life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, brokerage and advisory services, trust services, and discretionary portfolio management solutions. The company holds more than $100 billion of client assets as a part of its wealth management company and investment services. Northwestern Mutual ranks 97 on the 2017 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2017.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) 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) (securities), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance).

Northwestern Mutual supports families like the Guerreros, whose son Manny bravely beat cancer. The company celebrates the fifth anniversary of its Childhood Cancer Program in 2017 and gets closer every day to a future with a cure.

Northwestern Mutual’s Childhood Cancer Program, celebrating its fifth anniversary, supports researchers such as Dr. Paula Aristizabal. Dedicated researchers helping kids live life to the fullest.

Northwestern Mutual is proud to support the patients, families and the medical professionals like Peyton Richardson and Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer of Texas Children’s Cancer Center. Together, we’re helping to treat and find cures.

Northwestern Mutual supports strong moms like Fonta Taylor, who stood by daughter Reniyah’s side as she battled cancer. The company’s Childhood Cancer Program celebrates five years of providing family support and research funding.

Childhood cancer survivor Peyton Richardson rings a bell at Northwestern Mutual’s Annual Meeting to symbolize the end of her treatment and celebrate the company’s dedication to the fight.

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual

Elizabeth DeLuca, 1-800-323-7033, mediarelations@northwesternmutual.com