Having food, shelter, family and a safe place to go in times of trouble are essentials within a community. Northwestern Mutual is proud to continue its commitment to health research, providing access to care for the underserved, and supporting human services initiatives. These programs serve fundamental needs. Without them, no community can function, much less learn to grow.
Health Research:
Northwestern Mutual Foundation provides annual grants for research programs for Alzheimer's, childhood obesity, heart, lung and other health issues.
Pioneering Research in Immunotherapy. A grant of $750,000 to Aurora St. Luke's explores the power of patients' own cancer-destroying lymphocytes to battle this disease. Based on National Cancer Institute research, this immunotherapy treatment is focused on patients with advanced melanoma.
Childhood obesity. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's NEW (Nutrition, Exercise, and Weight Management) Kids program treats children whose obesity results in serious medical conditions, such
as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. For these children, weight not only hinders their activities but endangers their life.
Nutritional experts, clinical psychologists, exercise physiologists and physicians work intensively for six months with families, developing ways to reduce their child's weight. Parents are taught about nutrition, how to encourage exercise and how to discourage sedentary activities, like electronic games and television. After the formal treatment program concludes, families may return "as-needed" for the rest of their lives.
Providing access to care for the underserved:
Our programs help those who need our assistance the most — the underserved and underprivileged — by providing the basic needs such as shelter, food and clothing. 
We support community health clinics, food banks, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and mental health counseling.
United Way. Northwestern Mutual is an annual $3 million contributor since 2005. When combining employee donations and the Foundation's contribution, Northwestern Mutual continues to be the largest contributor to United Way Greater Milwaukee. These dollars support more than 600 programs at 135 nonprofit organizations and target issues of breaking the cycle of poverty, teen pregnancy and providing a safety net of services for those in need in our community.
Stamp Out Hunger. Northwestern Mutual is a proud supporter of Hunger Task Force, one of only two food banks nationwide that provide food free of charge to pantries and kitchens in Milwaukee. Stamp Out Hunger partners with United States Postal office letter carriers around the state for non-perishable food donation pick ups from home mailboxes. Food is donated to local food banks, just in time for summer when the need is the greatest for school children who may receive their only meal at school during the school year.
Supporting Human Services Initiatives:
We work with many groups to help improve quality of life for Milwaukee's inner city. From educational programs to rebuilding projects, we provide not only financial sponsorship but also Mutual Friends volunteer hours.
Rebuilding the inner city. Our support helps rebuild areas that are in need of refurbishing as well as revitalization through organizations like Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee, Habitat for Humanity and Community Warehouse. Community Warehouse offers their members, who are homeowners or nonprofits within certain zip codes, a 75% discount on new items.
The Next Door Foundation. Next Door serves as a multi-dimensional education and service provider for thousands of central city children and their parents. Begun in 1969, its mission is to support the intellectual, physical, spiritual and emotional development of children so they become self-sufficient, contributing members of the community. In addition, the facility added a medical clinic in conjunction with Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and has plans to open a dental clinic.