Promoting the welfare of others has always been an integral part of Mutual of America’s culture. We were founded in 1945 as the National Health & Welfare Retirement Association by an extraordinary group of business leaders who were dedicated to supporting the nonprofit social sector. These leaders believed that every worker, especially those who dedicate their lives to working in the social sector, who at that time were not even covered by Social Security, deserves a financially secure and dignified retirement.
For 78 years, this strong sense of social responsibility has been seen in the many ways we support nonprofit organizations across the country. Notably, our Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award was created in 1996 specifically to recognize and support nonprofits that, in partnership with the public and private sectors, are creating innovative solutions to the pressing social and economic challenges faced by their local communities and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those most in need. Now in its 27th year, the Community Partnership Award has become one of the most prestigious and coveted national awards in the country.
As we look to the future, I am pleased to have Lisa Loughry, who now serves as Chair of the Mutual America Foundation in addition to her primary responsibilities as Mutual of America Financial Group’s Executive Vice President of National Accounts, also taking a leadership role with respect to our annual Community Partnership Award competition.
Under Lisa’s leadership, working together with the Community Partnership Award competition’s independent Selection Committee, I am delighted to announce that a new annual award was created in November 2022 and named in honor of Frances Hesselbein. Frances, who passed away in December 2022, was a longtime friend and Board member of Mutual of America and a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. Frances’ deep understanding of and connection to the nonprofit social welfare sector led to the creation of the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award in 1996, on whose Selection Committee she served as a founding member until her passing this past year.
The Frances R. Hesselbein Award will be presented annually to recognize and support a nonprofit that, in partnership with the public and private sectors, is addressing social and economic challenges by developing innovative solutions that have been replicated, or that demonstrate the potential to be replicated, in other local communities across the country.
As you will read in the Community Partnership Award profiles that follow, each of the award winning programs is making a substantial difference in the lives of those it serves. I am honored to recognize the achievements of these outstanding, forward-thinking nonprofits as they work in collaboration with the public and private sectors to help individuals and families in their communities reach for a better life.
John R. Greed
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mutual of America Financial Group