Northwestern Mutual is continuing its tradition of holiday giving as it spreads $225,000 among 25 area nonprofit organizations.
The donations, facilitated by Northwestern Mutual Foundation, stem from the company’s eighth annual “Days of Sharing” program, through which its employees nominate nonprofit recipients they deem deserving.
Winning organizations are being awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
“Our ‘Days of Sharing’ program is a very personal way of supporting our community,” John Kordsmeier, president of Northwestern Mutual Foundation, said in a press release. “By encouraging employees to nominate organizations close to their hearts, we are aligning our employees’ passions and helping to shape a stronger future.”
More than 500 Northwestern Mutual employees submitted nonprofits for consideration. Organizations were selected at random throughout November.
Winning organizations are: Alverno College; Bayview Neighborhood Association; Center for Communication, Hearing & Deafness; Cynthia’s Breast Cancer Giving Circle; Elmbrook Hockey Association; Greendale Friends of Music; Industries for the Blind; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; March of Dimes; Marguerite M. Pavlic-Gostomski Scholarship through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Foundation; Milwaukee Irish Arts; Milwaukee LGBT Community Center; Milwaukee Mustangs Track Club; Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals; National Kidney Foundation; Next Door Foundation; Northwest Catholic School; Philippine Cultural & Civic Center; Racine Habitat for Humanity; South Milwaukee Human Concerns; Special Spaces Wisconsin; United Community Center; Washington County Humane Society; Waukesha County Community Dental Clinic; and Wings of Angels at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
As part of its “Days of Sharing” program, Northwestern Mutual segmented $125,000 of its $225,000 donation for five employee choice grants. Employees were able to vote from a list of nonprofits for grant awards totaling $125,000. The 2015 employee choice grant winners are: Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative; Alzheimer’s Association of southeastern Wisconsin, Diverse & Resilient, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, and Best Buddies.
Since Northwestern Mutual introduced “Days of Sharing” to its workforce in 2007, the company has gifted more than $1.3 million in grants to community organizations.
