FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian H. Wahe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian H. Wahe

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MASSMUTUAL ST. LOUIS RAISES MONEY FOR LOCAL FOOD PANTRY WITH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER

CHESTERFIELD, MO, OCT. 30, 2013 –Employees at MassMutual St. Louis will gather for a Thanksgiving meal on November 20 to raise money for Circle of Concern, a food bank in Valley Park that has seen a dramatic increase in demand for services over the past five years. MassMutual St. Louis is a general agency of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual).

Juliet Holden, community communications director for Circle of Concern, said the closing of two Fenton-based Chrysler plants, in 2008 and 2009, has severely impacted the region. The St. Louis regional economy lost more than 43,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, from the closure, according to a study by the consulting firm AECOM. The study estimated the overall local economic impact of the closure at $15 billion.

The annual luncheon has been held for several years, first starting out as a means to collect food for the pantry. Three years ago, the agency decided to collect cash and has since averaged about $2,200 each year from the agency’s home office, associates at the company, and a match from the company president, Carl L. Kickham.

Kickham learned about Circle of Concern at a Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce meeting and was surprised to learn about poverty in the region, which, he said, is generally considered a more stable, even affluent, region.

“I was amazed to learn about how many people in the area they support,” he said. “This is a fun thing for our employees to do. Everyone feels good about it. It’s a chance for us to get together and give thanks for what we have, but also help others in need.”

Brian H. Wahe, vice president of MassMutual St. Louis, smokes, grills, and fries five turkeys for the fundraising dinner and other employees and their relatives bring in side dishes.

“During the holiday season, it is especially important to give thanks and help others in their time of need,” Wahe said.

Holden said the area has always had pockets of “hidden” poverty, but the recent economic recession and the closing of the Chrysler plant, followed by the failure of other businesses, has made the situation worse.

“We have families now that had always been donors to us, bringing food in, but now they are carrying food out,” Holden said. “These people were always our neighbors, but now they are our neighbors in need. It’s a scary thing.”

She said that many Chrysler suppliers in the region folded, as did other businesses that flourished when the automobile plant was in operation. In 2007, there were more than 6,000 workers on site at Chrysler.

Holden said workers displaced by the Chrysler closing and the failure of other businesses are not able to find good middle-income jobs, even though the economy is starting to recover. Many people are working two jobs to support their families because they have not been able to find jobs at the same pay rate they made before. Holden said the area is seeing some return of retail employers, including the recent opening of two outlet malls, but has not seen much growth in industry or financial sector jobs.

Circle of Concern provides monthly groceries for families that will last from 7 to 10 days. The organization provides other forms of assistance to help families get back on their feet and the food assistance is designed to help reduce the amount they spend on groceries so they can pay other outstanding bills. Circle of Concern also runs a college scholarship program for needy high school graduates, sends children to summer camp and other programs, and provides low-income youngsters with birthday and holiday gifts, among other services.

Holden said the donation of $2,200 from MassMutual is significant. Cash donations allow the food bank to supplement donated canned goods and dry food with eggs, lean meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables, which increases the nutritional value of a family’s meals.

“We estimated that a donation of $500 allows us to put chicken in 111 pots,” she said. “A donation of $2,200 will put a chicken in the pot of every family we serve.” Holden said the food bank serves between 2,200 and 2,800 people each month.

“It’s huge and we are very grateful to MassMutual,” Holden said. “That $2,200 is a happy dance for us. It allows us to put real, fresh, and healthy foods into the hands of families who are desperate for it.”

Holden recalled a recent client who came into Circle of Concern after losing a longtime job at a nearby wallet-making company that moved its operations elsewhere. The only job she could secure was part-time for a few hours each week at Subway. As the woman gathered her paperwork to apply for food assistance, she sat in her chair, and became flustered before crying and saying, “All I want is a job.”

“That is who our client is these days,” said Holden. “Gifts like the one from MassMutual are what allow us to provide help and make it possible for her to take a deep breath, with a little food in her belly.”

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or 'Like" MassMutual on Facebook.

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