MassMutual named Top 10 Volunteer Provider for Junior Achievement USA

Date: 11/30/2009

SPRINGFIELD Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has been named a Top 10 Volunteer Resource Provider in the U.S. by Junior Achievement USA. This year, more than 950 MassMutual employees and financial professionals have volunteered their time and talent for Junior Achievement (JA) activities and programs.

"MassMutual is very proud to be listed as a Top 10 Volunteer Resource Provider and thanks the many volunteers that have made this recognition possible," said Nick Fyntrilakis, Assistant Vice President, Community Respon-sibility, MassMutual. "Our company has had a long history of helping to expand educational opportunities for students, and we salute Junior Achievement for its dedication to educating and preparing students for success in both their academics and careers, and look forward to continued collaboration."

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. The Top 10 Volunteer Resource Provider list recognizes U.S. companies that provide the most volunteers to JA activities. This year the Top 10 collectively provided more than 13,000 volunteers to JA.

Jack E. Kosakowski, President of Junior Achievement USA, noted, "Junior Achievement's volunteers are the backbone of our organization. They play a critical role in delivering our programs to students, but just as importantly, model the concepts taught by JA programs, such as leadership and teamwork. Our volunteers also provide students with valuable career role models and help them see the important connections between what they learn in school and life after graduation."

MassMutual employees and financial professionals participate in a variety of JA activities throughout the year including: the MassMutual Achievers Conference; JA Job Shadow, where students visit MassMutual and shadow an employee for a day; the JA Stock Market Challenge, where students learn through hands on experience about investing in the stock market; and JA in a Day and JA classes, where MassMutual volunteers enter schools and teach students using their personal business and career experiences.

"We are very fortunate to have a great partnership with MassMutual and to be able to work with their employees to inspire and prepare our young people to succeed in the future," said Jennifer Connolly, President of Junior Achievement Western Massachusetts. "MassMutual believes in JA and in our young people, and together we are building a successful future for everyone."