Northwestern Mutual Foundation donates to wellness education
The Northwestern Mutual Foundation will donate more than $660,000 in grants to strengthen nine nonprofit agencies that promote family involvement in wellness education in the Milwaukee area.
"Instilling healthy habits in children and their families is a powerful way for Northwestern Mutual to leave a legacy to future generations," said John Kordsmeier, president of Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "These best-in-class nonprofits have the strong wellness programs, leaders and goals necessary to make an enduring impact."
One recipient of a Northwestern Mutual healthy habits grant is The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. The organization will allocate grant funds to support its Play in the Parks – A Passport to Play program, an initiative designed to encourage the development of family playtime and foster good health through physical activity. The Play in the Parks program, which was introduced last year, is a free program that encourages families to get moving and enjoy an evening of games and activities during the warm weather months. The Northwestern Mutual grant will enable the program to continue for a second year.
"Healthy habits can help to solve so many societal issues – childhood diabetes and hypertension to name a few," said Donna Bembenek, senior vice president, philanthropy and communication strategy, The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. "The Play in the Parks program makes it easy and entertaining for kids to get outside, get active and live healthier."
Other organizations receiving a Northwestern Mutual healthy habits grant include:
Action for Healthy Kids (The Learning Connection); American Lung Association of Wisconsin (Youth and Lung Health – Proactive Protection); Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Milwaukee (Project REACH); Children’s Hospital and Health System (Healthy Neighbors, Healthy Neighborhoods); Education Foundation of Harris Country (On the CASE: Healthy Living); The Medical College of Wisconsin (Family Health Through Worksite Wellness); Neighborhood House of Milwaukee (HUGS: Help Us Grow Strong); and The YMCA of the USA (Play Every Day Outdoors – Phase II).
BizTimes Media will present the Human Wellness Summit to help companies launch and grow employee corporate wellness programs on Thursday, March, 29, at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee West. Companies also can nominate employees who exemplify extraordinary healthy behaviors for the inaugural Light of Wellness Awards. Additional information is available at www.biztimes.com/wellness.
Admission Possible officially changes its name
Admission Possible, the college access and success nonprofit organization, has officially changed its name to College Possible. The name change will support the growth of the organization as it expands in Milwaukee and nationally.
“Our belief is that when college is possible, anything is possible and our new name fully captures that,” said Edie Turnbull, College Possible Milwaukee executive director. “We’re continuing our work to challenge cynicism through idealism and using our effective model to prove that your income level should not dictate your education level. We’re just doing it under a new banner.”
In recognition of the name change implementation, College Possible launched its new website www.CollegePossible.org as well as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles earlier this week.
“We want to invite individuals from every walk of life to get involved in opening a world of opportunity for our young people, our families and our communities,” said Turnbull. “As we expand our intensive college access and success services, we will need partners in that work.”
