Nonprofits benefit from Days of Sharing program

The Northwestern Mutual Foundation donated $100,000 this week to area nonprofit organizations as part of its Days of Sharing Program.  The program, in its fourth year, randomly awards 25 nominated nonprofit organizations with donations ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 throughout the week.
“Northwestern Mutual employees participate by nominating nonprofit organizations they feel passionate about,” said Deanna Tillisch, vice president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “This year we had more than 800 nominations. Selected nonprofit organizations were randomly picked by a computer program.” Nominations were collected for a month and starting this week, nonprofit organizations and the nominating employees were notified of the selections.
There were five organizations selected each day. The event concluded today with five local nonprofit organizations each receiving a $10,000 donation from Northwestern Mutual Foundation. Those receiving the grand prize donation included the Center for Blind & Visually Impaired Children Inc., The Endometriosis Association, Inc., Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Southeastern WI Chapter, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund, and Variety – the Children’s Charity of Wisconsin. Each organization selected was nominated by one or more employees at Northwestern Mutual, Tillisch said.                                                   
On Monday awards of $1,000 were given to, Franklin High School swim team, Milwaukee Montessori School, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Brookfield Central High School band, and the Milwaukee Children’s Choir.
Employees who nominated the organizations also received a small gift from the Foundation, Tillisch said.
On Tuesday,  $2,000 awards were given to the March of Dimes, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Port Catholic Schools, St. Peter – Immanuel Lutheran School and the Village Church Christmas Eve Dinner for homeless in Milwaukee. The Boy Scouts – Potawatomi Area Council, City of Festivals Foundation, Friends of Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Com., Gift of Adoption Fund, and the United Community Center each received $3,000 on Wednesday and the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, Penfield Children’s Center, the Salvation Army, United Methodist Children’s Services of Wisconsin Inc. and the Wisconsin Humane Society received $4,000 each.
“It’s part of our culture here,” Tillisch said. “Our employees are very committed to volunteering and they are very committed to the nonprofit organizations they help out with. This is a great way for us to acknowledge what they are doing for the community while still helping out the organizations they support.”               
The campaign will culminate at a special even in January, where the nonprofit organizations will gather with all of the Northwestern Mutual employees who nominated them, Tillisch said.