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MILWAUKEE, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern Mutual is dedicated to enhancing its headquarters in Milwaukee by providing its residents with access to quality health, educational and community resources. To further its commitment, the company, through its Foundation, today announced nearly $3.4 million in grants to nonprofits and organizations. The organizations receiving funding are committed to propelling Milwaukee toward a better future through community outreach and educational improvement.

Since 2013, the company has invested in and partnered with the Milwaukee neighborhoods of Amani, Metcalfe Park, and Muskego Way to increase safety and build strong families and healthy and thriving youth. Many of the organizations receiving funding through this year's neighborhoods grants, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Journey House, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin and more, share a mission to help local youth reach their goals.

"For our city to thrive, it's so vital to provide opportunities for our children and youth to be successful," said Eric Christophersen, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "It's essential that we help support our communities with the means to achieve their dreams, and it starts with access to valuable community resources and foundational education."

Operation DREAM Spotlight
New this year to funding is Operation DREAM, an organization that provides developmental opportunities for young men and their families through mentorship and work programs such as Operation WORK. The hands-on, incentive-based program offers the opportunity for young men to learn fundamental social and employment skills, understand the value of self-sufficiency and explore entrepreneurial opportunities in Milwaukee through internships and employment.

Those individuals who successfully complete the program obtain jobs throughout the city in various sectors, including law, nonprofit, environmental organizations and more. Last year, Operation WORK partnered with the City of Milwaukee to clean and further develop Pocket Parks, mini-parks that promote wellness through outdoor activities, including two in Amani and one in Metcalfe Park.

In the Milwaukee education system, Northwestern Mutual focuses on funding literacy programs that emphasize third-grade reading proficiency and best-in-class mentoring programs, partnering with six schools located in the Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way areas. In addition, the company aims to provide meaningful STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) educational experiences to students to help shape both their technology proficiency and passion for related industries.

Milwaukee College Prep Spotlight
Among the organizations and schools that the Foundation supports is Milwaukee College Prep, a four-campus network of K-8 schools committed to eliminating the achievement gap to help children develop fundamental skills.

Milwaukee College Prep focuses heavily on literacy and reading fluency, especially in early primary grades, which starts with the intensive training of its instructors through a literacy coaching program. Following the 2016-17 school year, Milwaukee College Prep received five-star Department of Public Instruction (DPI) ratings for all of its eligible schools and reported a 96 percent on-time high school graduation rate among its alumni.

In connection to the Foundation's neighborhoods work, Milwaukee College Prep serves students in the Metcalfe Park and Amani neighborhoods.

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

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 $320 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. Visit Northwestern Mutual Foundation to learn more.

About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years. Through a distinctive, whole-picture planning approach, we empower our clients to make the most of every single day and plan for important moments in their future. We combine the expertise of our financial professionals with a personalized digital experience to help our clients navigate their financial lives every day. With $265.0 billion in assets, $28.1 billion in revenues, and $1.8 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to 4.5 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 manages more than $125 billion of client assets through its wealth management and investment services. Northwestern Mutual ranks 104 on the 2018 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE^® as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2018.

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).

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual