Northwestern Mutual awards $100,000 to area nonprofits

Northwestern Mutual recently held its fifth annual Days of Sharing program, which randomly awards grants to nonprofit organizations nominated by NML employees. This year, the organization awarded 25 organizations with grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
“By nature, our employees are very active in the community. It’s part of our culture,” said John Kordsmeier, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Days of Sharing is a chance for us to acknowledge all the great work that our employees do in the community by supporting those nonprofit organizations that they feel strongly about.”
According to Kordsmier, more than 790 employees submitted nominations representing 500 nonprofits and schools in the area.
“This program reinforces our culture of volunteerism and giving back to the community,” Kordsmeier said. “This program is one of the most direct ways we can connect with our employees and the causes and organizations important to them.”
During the program, a computer randomly selects five organizations a day for one week. The organizations selected on Monday receive $1,000; the organizations selected on Tuesday receive $2,000; the organizations selected on Wednesday each receive $3,000; the organizations on Thursday each receive $4,000 and on Friday they each receive $10,000.
Since the program’s inception in 2007, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in grants on behalf of its employees.
“It’s really an extraordinary privilege to be a part of this experience,” Kordsmeier said. “To be a part of their relationship and award these organizations a grant on their behalf is incredible.”
Organizations receiving grants include:
$1,000
* Alpha Phi Alpha Delta Chi Lambda Foundation
* Cynthia’s Breast Cancer Giving Circle
* Madison Elementary School
* Piano Arts
* Shorewood High Cheerleaders
$2,000 
* Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship
* Germantown High School Warhawk Band Boosters
* Sojourner Family Peace Center
* Sophia’s Heart Foundation                                  
* St. Marcus Lutheran School                                                                                                                          
$3,000 
* Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Wisconsin                    
* Milwaukee Rescue Mission                                                       
* Sherman Park Community Association                                 
* Love 4 Lexi Foundation                                                                
* Washington County Humane Society                                   
$4,000
* Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Milwaukee      
* Centro Legal                                                                                      
* Meta House                                                                                      
* Ronald McDonald House Charities                                         
* Vision Forward Association                                                       
$10,000                                                                                                         
* Adaptive Community Approach Program                            
* Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin                              
* Kidreach Foundation                                                                   
* Milwaukee Public Library Foundation                                  
* MSOE