Woman wearing mask with food and drink supplies.

We are here in good times and bad.

2020 was year of many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1992, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation has supported the communities where we live and work and 2020 was no different. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, we found new ways to support national and local partner organizations to ensure the availability of essential services and relief for those impacted by the pandemic in the following ways:

  • $1.3M

    Addressing Food Insecurity

    We donated a total of more than $1.3 million to Feeding America, both nationally and locally in Milwaukee, and to American Red Cross’ Disaster Recovery program that enables relief efforts, including storage, food, shelter, supplies and medical and emotional support.

    $630K

    Addressing Relief Needs

    Our relief efforts provided more than $630,000 in grants to the following organizations:

    • Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s MKE Responds Fund
    • United Way Milwaukee and Waukesha
    • United Way New York
    • The Bowery Mission
    • Veterans Outreach Wisconsin
    • Vivent Health
    • Chinese American Planning Council & Hmong American
    • Women’s Association
    • National Alliance for Mental Illness
    • Northcott Neighborhood House
    • St. Ann Center
    • United Migrant Opportunity Services

    $240K

    Addressing Personal Protective Equipment Shortages

    We donated a combined total of $240,000 to:

    • Replace lenses for Controlled Air Purifying Respirators (CAPR), Children’s Wisconsin’s preferred protective apparel when treating children
    • Partner with Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Florentine Opera, and First Stage to bring people back to work in the costume shop to sew masks and gowns for frontline workers. 10,000 pieces were donated to Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin.


    Northwestern Mutual employees also made masks at home in batches of 700 provided by #MaskUpMKE

  • $250K

    Addressing Childhood Cancer

    Children with cancer are among those most susceptible to COVID-19, and face even greater challenges during the pandemic.

    • $170,000 Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund helped 1,150 families with grocery support
    • $62,000 in technology grants to 16 childhood cancer camps to virtually bring the joy of summer camp to kids after many in-person camps were canceled
    • Provided meal gift cards and vouchers to workers and inpatient families at the Children’s Wisconsin MACC Fund Center
    • Beads of Courage origami crane strings and strength bracelets to encourage kids with cancer while they were isolated

    $45K

    Addressing Neighborhoods’ Needs

    To help our neighborhood partners meet essential supply needs in the Muskego Way, Amani and Metcalfe Park neighborhoods, we provided $45,000 to the Dominican Center, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges and Milwaukee Christian Center.

    With our employees working from home, we also donated over 1,000 rolls of toilet paper from our Milwaukee campus to the residents in these neighborhoods.

    Involvement

    Addressing Emotional Needs

    We know financial support doesn’t solve every problem. Therefore, Northwestern Mutual employees helped meet the emotional needs of people during the COVID-19 crisis by:

    • Read stories to kids online
    • Wrote cards with words of encouragement to residents of our neighborhoods
    • Send happy grams
    • Help seniors with spring year clean up
    • Called seniors to check on their welfare