Healthy communities form a vital backdrop for our lives and build a solid foundation for the future. Every day, we see the many ways a strong community shapes its members:
- Vibrant cities and towns attract solid employers.
- Strong schools excite young minds and inspire lifelong learning.
- Neighborhood centers and local outreach programs build cohesive families and help them clear life's hurdles.
- Civic events and the arts bring meaning to our leisure moments, encourage our children's creativity, and expand the horizons of young and old alike.
But all of this doesn't just happen. If you're fortunate enough to live and work in a strong community, you probably understand that creating such a community requires the effort, imagination, and resources of many people and organizations.
It is with great pleasure that I share with you our work within communities. While the projects on these pages include only a fraction of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation's efforts, these highlights will give you a sense of the purpose and the scope of our commitment.
Overall, in fiscal year 2007, the Foundation granted over $15 million. Long known as the "quiet company," Northwestern Mutual tends to be quiet about its giving, too. However, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you that our Foundation gives more money than any other corporation in the state of Wisconsin to develop the health of communities.
At Northwestern Mutual, we're very proud of our efforts that support national programs and Milwaukee area organizations. We are especially proud of our employees and financial representatives who volunteer thousands of hours of their personal time and talents every year to preserve and improve the communities in which we live and work.
I invite you to read about these worthwhile efforts. I find it inspiring and I hope you do, too.