With the graying of America, MetLife Foundation saw the looming danger of Alzheimer's and established the MLF Awards for Medical Research in Alzheimer's disease in 1986 to recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to understanding the disease. This year's award honored Karen Hsiao Ashe, MD, PhD, University of Minnesota Medical School and Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
MetLife Foundation also increased its focus on aging issues. Millions of older Americans want to make a difference and add value to society, but need help to do so. The MLF/Civic Ventures New Face of Work Survey was the first to ask Americans in their 50s and 60s what they want to do in later life. The groundbreaking survey found that 58 percent of adults in their 50s are interested in working in retirement to improve quality of life in their communities. A companion publication, The Boomers' Guide to Good Work, is designed to help them find meaningful work.
To balance the new focus on aging, MetLife Foundation continued to emphasize programs that improve education and help young people. The most recent MetLife Survey of the American Teacher examines the support new teachers, principals and students identify as important to their success. Based on the survey findings, MetLife Foundation and the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future have launched a major initiative to develop effective teacher recruitment and retention strategies.
Education does not end at the classroom door. Through partnerships with national organizations, over 1.75 million children in more than 30 cities directly benefited from MetLife Foundation's arts education programs and 5 million people of all ages learned from MLF-supported museum programs. MetLife and the Foundation also support public television, which bring educational and cultural programs into homes across the country.
The after-school hours are a time of risk for millions of youth. Communities In Schools (CIS) brings together local agencies, volunteers and other community resources with public schools to keep young people in school and prepare them for the future. The MLF/CIS Building Sustainable After-School Programs Initiative is identifying best practices of sustainable after-school programs and increasing high-quality programs nationwide.
Young people can also learn from the adults in their lives. A new grant is helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of America expand school-based mentoring, with a focus on engaging the growing baby boomer population as mentors. An important factor in keeping young people safe and healthy is teaching them the dangers of drug use. With the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, MetLife Foundation launched a media campaign featuring radio messages for parents in English and Spanish on the importance of talking to their children about drugs and staying informed about new dangers, such as the growing abuse of methamphetamines and prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
To strengthen our communities, MetLife Foundation supports programs that increase affordable housing, spur economic development and create opportunities for people to learn and grow together. To give people an opportunity to live independently, the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) is working with communities across the country to increase the supply of housing linked with supportive social services for the homeless, people with mental illness and others with special needs. With MLF support, CSH is building awareness of such housing as a cost-effective strategy for helping people lead productive lives and sharing best practices. CSH is also awarding MLF grants to nonprofits to jumpstart supportive housing projects.
In low-income communities, small business owners and nonprofits often cannot get loans to fund much needed services. MetLife made a $3 million loan to the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), a source of financial and development services to nonprofits engaged in economic and community development, youth and family services and other areas. The loan is helping to capitalize NFF's loan fund and providing operating and growth capital to borrowers with limited access to traditional financing.
The arts strengthen communities by bringing people together. MLF Museum Connections grants helped museums reach out to their communities. The Foundation brought diverse arts to cities and towns across the country by supporting tours of exhibits and performing groups, including Ailey II and Ballet Hispanico.
MetLife Foundation encourages MetLife associates to support their communities by volunteering in teams or as individuals. Grants support nonprofit organizations for which associates volunteer.
A copy of the 2005 Report of Contributions of MetLife and MetLife Foundation is available at www.metlife.org.
About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. MetLife and MetLife Foundation have invested more than $15 million for Alzheimer's research and public information programs, including $10 million through the Awards for Medical Research program. MetLife Foundation also sponsored the Emmy-award winning PBS documentary, The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's. Working with the Alzheimer's Association, the Foundation has supported caregiving videos, resources for the Hispanic community and the Safe Return identification program, which addresses the problem of senior wandering. The Foundation has expanded its focus on aging issues, including helping people remain physically and mentally fit and remaining engaged in the community. It also supports programs addressing issues of caregiving, intergenerational activities and volunteer opportunities. Grants support health, education, and civic and cultural programs. More information about MetLife Foundation is available at www.metlife.org.
About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of individual and institutional customers throughout the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. offers life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowner's insurance and retail banking services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.
© 2006 Business Wire
