New York Life Has Awarded More Than $235,000 Since 2004, When The Program Began

NEW YORK, March 15, 2013 – For the ninth year in a row, New York Life has awarded scholarships to five full-time undergraduate students of African-American descent who are majoring in business, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and play an active role in their communities.

“New York Life is proud to support tomorrow’s leaders with scholarships that pay tribute to a trailblazer,” said Eugene Mitchell, corporate vice president and African-American market manager.  “These students are carrying on in Mr. McSween’s footsteps by incorporating the same values that he lived and breathed: determination, solid moral principles, academic aspiration, honesty and humanity. We congratulate them on getting here today and wish them continued success.”

The scholarships are given in honor of New York Life’s first African-American agent, Cirilo McSween, who became an agent in 1957, qualifying for the Million Dollar Round Table (an association of leading sales professionals in the life insurance industry) that year and for 26 years thereafter.  Mr. McSween, who passed away in 2008, was a member of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s board of directors and a renowned civil rights activist who worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Forty-nine students have received more than $235,000 in scholarship funding since the program began in 2004.  The 2012-2013 McSween Scholarship recipients are:

• Basil Lloyd Anderson of Brooklyn, New York, a freshman at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia;
• Chelby Rogers of Chicago, Illinois, a freshman at Howard University in Washington, D.C.;
• Imani Hughes of Bolingbrook, Illinois, a freshman at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana;
• Maya McWhorter of Flossmoor, Illinois, a freshman at Howard University in Washington, D.C.; and
• Tanjeria Crite of Chicago, Illinois, a freshman at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States* and one of the largest life insurers in the world.  New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies: A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody’s Investors Service (Aaa), Standard & Poor’s (AA+).**  Headquartered in New York City, New York Life’s family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance.  New York Life Investments*** provides institutional asset management and retirement plan services.  Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual funds.  Please visit New York Life’s website at www.newyorklife.com for more information.

*Based on revenue as reported by “Fortune 500 ranked within Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual),” Fortune magazine, May 21, 2012.  See http://www.money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/faq/ for methodology.

** Source: Third Party Ratings Reports as of 2/1/13.

***New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management LLC.

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Walmart announced the promotion of Karen Roberts to Executive Vice President and General Counsel. She manages a department that is responsible for all legal matters affecting the company in its domestic and international markets. A 17-year veteran of the company, Roberts previously was Senior Vice President and President of Walmart Realty, overseeing close to 1 billion square feet of real estate. Roberts has a bachelor’s degree from Harding University and a juris doctor from the University of Arkansas.

Charmaine Brown, Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Forest City, was named Diversity Executive of the Year by Commercial Property Executive magazine. CPE cited Brown’s role in implementing a new recruitment strategy and in helping bring the Real Estate Associate Program to Forest City’s hometown of Cleveland. Brown is also involved in the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Commission on Economic Inclusion and the Northern Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council. Brown has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.

Lissiah Hundley has been named Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Cox Communications. She is the primary advisor on the research, development, execution and enhancement of D&I programs and initiatives at Cox, working closely with HR and senior leaders to develop D&I strategies for the business. Previously, Hundley was Vice President and Diversity Project Management Manager at Wells Fargo. She has a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctor from St. Mary’s University in Texas and a master’s degree from the University of Texas. She is a member of the board of directors of Urban League of Central Carolinas. Cox is No. 25 in the DiversityInc Top 50.

Kellogg Company has promoted two women to new leadership roles in its human-resources department. Sammie Long has been named Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources. In her new position, Long is responsible for all of the company’s HR functions for its 31,000-plus employees worldwide. The England native graduated from the University of Salford outside Manchester. Replacing Long as Vice President, Human Resources, Kellogg North America, covering the company’s operations in the United States and Canada, is Lyn Frantz, formerly Vice President, Human Resources, Kellogg North America Supply Chain. Frantz has a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University. Kellogg Company is No. 49 in the DiversityInc Top 50.

Kellogg Company announced the election of Mary Laschinger, Senior Vice President of International Paper and President of IP’s xpedx division, to its board of directors. Laschinger, who is responsible for IP’s North American distribution business, was also appointed to the board’s Manufacturing Committee and to its Social Responsibility and Public Policy Committee. Laschinger has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut.

Wyndham Worldwide has named Tiziana Sullivan as Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion. She will focus on D&I initiatives in recruitment, development and retention of global talent, as well as customer and stakeholder relations. She will also manage diversity initiatives among Wyndham’s associate business groups. Sullivan previously served as Director, University Relations and Diversity Recruitment. She has a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University. Wyndham Worldwide is one of DiversityInc’s 25 Noteworthy Companies.

New York Life announced the appointment of Troy Glover as Senior Vice President in charge  of the company’s Long-Term Care Insurance operation. He is responsible for all facets of product development, marketing and administration of the Long-Term Care Insurance line. Glover most recently was Chief Operating Officer of the unit, which is based in Austin, Texas. He has a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a master’s degree from Cornell University.

Ernst & Young has named Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya as the 2012 Overall Award winner in its National Entrepreneur Of The Year program, for his vision in jumpstarting the U.S.’s Greek yogurt boom. The award encourages entrepreneurial activity and recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses. Winners in 10 industries were selected by an independent panel of judges from among 244 regional honorees. Ernst & Young is No. 6 in the DiversityInc Top 50.

Rhonda Davenport Johnson has been named Senior Vice President and Director of the Comerica Loan Center. She oversees all Comerica Loan Center operations for mortgage, home equity, consumer and small-business loans generated through Comerica’s national operations. Davenport has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Michigan University and is a graduate of the Consumer Bankers Association’s Graduate School of Retail Bank Management. Comerica Bank is No. 3 in DiversityInc’s Top 10 Regional Companies.

The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) announced two promotions: Chris Mendoza to Vice President of Multicultural Market Development and Brian K. Lee to head of the company’s Greater Los Angeles agency. Mendoza is responsible for the development of multicultural business and market strategies, including securing and leveraging strategic alliances with diverse organizations that support recruiting and business generation. Lee is building on the agency’s decades-long commitment to Los Angeles as well as expanding the agency’s multicultural reach to address the financial needs of various ethnic groups in and around the area. One of Lee’s goals is to double the number of multilingual financial professionals in the Los Angeles office. MassMutual is one of DiversityInc’s 25 Noteworthy Companies.

The Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress, the division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau responsible for increasing the city’s share of the multicultural meetings, conventions and tourism markets, has appointed Nicole Johnson-Reece as its new Executive Director. Reece most recently was Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion for ARAMARK. She has a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University.

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Grant Given to Support the Study of Bereavement Resources for Native American Youth
– the Most At-Risk Population in the United States

NEW YORK, NY, February 11, 2013 — The Center for Native American Youth, a policy program within the Aspen Institute headquartered in Washington, D.C., announced today a $75,000 grant from the New York Life Foundation.  The funding will support a convening and a study of resources to determine the current and future needs for bereavement and grief programming for the 2.1 million American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth in the United States.

“American Indian children are too often left behind in this country, with chronically underfunded health care and education systems,” commented former U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, founder and chairman of the Center for Native American Youth.  “I am excited about the Center’s partnership with the New York Life Foundation because it is an example of efforts aimed at improving the lives of youth.”

“In our outreach in Indian Country, we hear from youth, parents and teachers that more bereavement programming is needed,” said Erin Bailey, director of the Center for Native American Youth at Aspen Institute.  “We want to make this issue a priority on the national level.”

“The statistics are powerful.  The AI/AN youth face a disproportionately large number of losses but lack culturally-sensitive bereavement services and resources to meet the demand,” said Maria Collins, senior program officer of the New York Life Foundation.  “The New York Life Foundation is pleased to help the Center examine the existing bereavement and grief programming and provide a plan to secure and develop resources to meet the needs of this unique population.”

The Center was established with a goal of bringing greater national attention to the issues facing Native American youth and to foster solutions, with special emphasis on youth suicide prevention.  According to the Center, average suicide rates among Native American youth have reached 3.5 times the national average, with some tribal communities having rates up to 10 times the national average.  The grant will support research into the impact suicides have on youth and communities, and help to determine the bereavement resources and services that are needed to address this specific population.

About The New York Life Foundation

Inspired by New York Life’s tradition of service and humanity, the New York Life Foundation has, since its founding in 1979, provided more than $168 million in charitable contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations.  Through its focus on “Nurturing the Children,” the Foundation supports programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of educational enhancement and childhood bereavement.  The Foundation also encourages and facilitates the community involvement of employees, agents, and retirees of New York Life through its Volunteers for Good program.  To learn more, please visit www.newyorklifefoundation.org.

Center for Native American Youth is dedicated to improving the health, safety and overall well-being of Native American youth through communication, policy development and advocacy.  Founded by former U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan in February 2011, the Center is a policy program within the Aspen Institute, headquartered in Washington, D.C.  The Center works to strengthen and create new connections as well as exchange resources and best practices that address the challenges facing Native youth.  Visit the Center’s website for a comprehensive list of resources available to young Native Americans, tribes and the general public.  For more information, visit www.cnay.org.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C.  Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues.  The Institute is based in Washington, D.C.; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners.  For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

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