Milwaukee, U.S.A. – At its annual meeting of more than 10,000 financial representatives and staff members on July 23, Northwestern Mutual announced its new multi-year philanthropic program to fight childhood cancer. The effort, through the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, builds upon the company’s legacy of helping children and families. It leverages Northwestern Mutual’s field force throughout the country to implement a range of community events and programs to raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer.

To kick off the program, Northwestern Mutual donated nearly $500,000 in grants to two leading nonprofit organizations focused on fighting childhood cancer and helping families, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) and Starlight Children’s Foundation (SCF). Through these partnerships, Northwestern Mutual will activate a range of programs and events in communities across the country. The company is establishing the Northwestern Mutual Childhood Cancer Research Fund and Family Travel Fund in partnership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. In early 2013, it will also fund Great Escapes and Fun Centers around the nation through Starlight Children’s Foundation.

“Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States. And yet, childhood cancer research and services for families currently facing this disease are vastly and consistently underfunded,” said Northwestern Mutual Chairman and CEO John Schlifske.”This effort will harness the spirit and passion of thousands of Northwestern Mutual field force members and employees to make a real and lasting impact.”

The Northwestern Mutual Childhood Cancer Research Fund will support ALSF’s current initiatives to provide grants to support a wide range of critical research, including:

• Innovation Grants to provide vital seed funding for experienced medical investigators with a novel and promising approach to finding causes and cures for childhood cancer;
• Young Investigator Grants to encourage the best and brightest young scientists to enter the field of pediatric cancer research; and
• Program Infrastructure Grants to speed up the process of enrolling children with cancer in clinical trials.

The Family Travel Fund will fund ALSF’s existing efforts to assist families facing the enormous financial costs of traveling to help their children receive life-saving treatments away from home. The fund will help pay for food, airfare, gas and lodging.

In partnership with Starlight Children’s Foundation, Northwestern Mutual will give families with a seriously ill child the chance to spend time together, escape their medical worries and return home with a renewed sense of strength, hope and community through Great Escapes. Northwestern Mutual will also give children and teens in hospitals a chance to play video games and watch movies through Starlight Fun Centers, mobile entertainment systems that bring needed fun and distraction from medical treatments.

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