Northwestern Mutual: Kicks off ‘Leaving a Legacy’ volunteer initiative

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Retiring CEO Ed Zore and employees commit to one million volunteer minutes

(June 1, 2010 – Milwaukee, WI) Northwestern Mutual is committing to one million volunteer minutes throughout the southeast Wisconsin community as it kicks off its “Leaving a Legacy for Future Generations” volunteer initiative.

As a gift, retiring Northwestern Mutual Chairman and CEO Ed Zore is offering the company’s 5,000 employees four hours of paid-time off to volunteer for a nonprofit in 2010. The company hopes to donate at least one million minutes of employee volunteer time by the end of the year.

“Throughout my career, I’ve found it important to offer my knowledge and my time to help community organizations achieve worthwhile goals,” said Zore. “No company recognizes the value of securing future generations more than Northwestern Mutual. And now, our employees have the opportunity to increase their volunteer commitment and help others reach their full potential.”

To kick off the campaign, today, Zore is joining Northwestern Mutual employees and volunteers from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and KaBOOM! (a nonprofit dedicated to creating places for kids to play across North America) to build a playground – in a single day – at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s Camp Whitcomb/Mason in Hartland. Children from the Boys & Girls Club helped design the playground.

Free Camp to 80 Children

Zore is also announcing scholarships to send 40 Milwaukee area children to Camp Whitcomb/Mason’s resident camp and an additional 40 kids to its day camp, honoring the CEO’s 40-year legacy with Northwestern Mutual. Each Greater Milwaukee area Boys & Girls Club will nominate children to receive one of the 80 scholarships, enabling them to attend camp during “Northwestern Mutual Week at Camp Whitcomb/Mason” from July 19 to 23.

“This wonderful playground will be meaningful to generations of local children, many of whom have never been outside of the inner city,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. “We are so thankful for the support we’re receiving from Northwestern Mutual to help children from underserved families – many who earn less than $15,000 annually. Going to camp can be an amazing learning experience for kids as they build independence and confidence in a fun, safe environment.”

About Edward J. Zore’s Community Legacy

* Named “One of the 100 most influential in business ethics” by the Ethisphere Institute

* Recognized as the “Most popular CEO in the insurance industry” by Glassdoor.com

* Chair of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee board of directors

* Former Chair of the Greater Milwaukee Committee

* Former Co-Chair of the Milwaukee Seven

* Member of numerous community organization boards

About Northwestern Mutual

The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to build strong, vibrant communities that serve as a legacy to future generations. The Foundation’s giving is designed to create an impact on the communities where the company’s employees and financial representatives live and work. In fiscal year 2009, the Foundation contributed more than $15 million to nonprofit organizations across the country.

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company – Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) – the industry leader in total individual life insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance dividends paid to participating policyowners – has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 150 years. Though dividends are not guaranteed, are reviewed annually and are subject to change, the company has paid life insurance dividends every year since 1872. As a mutual company with over $1.2 trillion of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual seeks to share its gains with policyowners and deliver consistent and dependable value to clients over time. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability 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; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

About the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is the oldest and largest youth-serving agency in Milwaukee. It offers after-school and summer programming for children ages 6-18, focusing on those who have major life obstacles, most often poverty. The Clubs operates 38 sites, which include six primary locations, 30 school sites, Camp Whitcomb/Mason in Hartland and an extension site at the Ethan Allen School for Boys in Wales. Membership to the Clubs is only $5 per year, per child, but no one is ever turned away based on inability to pay. For more information, visit the Clubs’ website at http://www.boysgirlsclubs.org.

About KaBOOM!

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play. Through community building, the company is focused on giving every child in America a great place to play within walking distance. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,700 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and Playmakers – a national network of individual advocates for play. KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit http://www.kaboom.org.