Now in her second year as Chair of the Mutual of America Foundation, Lisa Loughry recently shared her plans for the Foundation and its Community Partnership Award. Joining her was Sara Wiencken, who was appointed Vice President of Philanthropic Relations this past January.
What are you looking forward to this year regarding the Foundation?
Lisa Loughry: I’m excited that Sara has joined the team, and I’m looking forward to working with her to advance the Foundation’s mission, deepen and grow its partnerships, and shape its philanthropic impact. She’s been with Mutual of America for more than 12 years, most recently as Regional Vice President of our Sales and Operations team, so she knows the Company well. And many of her clients were nonprofit organizations, so she understands their unique needs and challenges, and she brings a caring approach to her work.
Sara Wiencken: I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate and promote the Foundation and its long-standing tradition of supporting the nonprofit sector. And I’m looking forward to helping it evolve in meaningful ways that enable our employees, clients and nonprofit partners to lift up and transform their respective communities for the greater good. It’s my dream job come true!
The Community Partnership Award is central to the Foundation’s work. What are some plans you have in mind for this prestigious award?
Lisa Loughry: We have a lot of exciting things in the works, including exploring ways to grow the Community Partnership Award and recognize even more nonprofit organizations that are working to address pressing social justice issues such as poverty, homelessness and joblessness. Innovative nonprofits like our Community Partnership Award winners have never had a bigger role to play in helping to move our communities forward. At the same time, they’ve never needed more support. We’re carefully considering how we can extend the value that the Community Partnership Award brings to these organizations.
Sara Wiencken: We’re also developing opportunities to connect all of our award winners with each other. We’re creating a network that brings these remarkable nonprofit leaders together to share their experiences and successes, as well as their challenges and best practices, in the service of building valuable connections that might inspire them on their journeys to even greater impact.
How is the Foundation committed to making a positive, lasting impact?
Lisa Loughry: I recently spoke with a past winner, who shared that the Community Partnership Award continues to benefit their organization long after the financial award was put to good use. She said that earning recognition from a national organization like Mutual of America has helped them to open doors with donors and to continue to dream big, even when faced with significant challenges.
Sara Wiencken: Hearing feedback like this furthers our belief that, while the financial awards given are beneficial for these organizations, building and strengthening relationships can be just as impactful. This year, we’re hosting “hometown” celebrations in all of the 2023 winners’ communities to bring greater local awareness to these organizations’ remarkable achievements and to engage civic and business leaders to help them to do even more.
Lisa Loughry: Sara and I are proud to be part of a Company that is dedicated to using its resources to help support and extend the work and impact of these essential nonprofit organizations.