MassMutual Foundation, Jim McClure of Lenox Advisors Announce Support of Ravinia Festival Association

MassMutual Foundation, Jim McClure of Lenox Advisors Announce Support of Ravinia Festival Association

$15,000 donated to Ravinia's efforts to expand music education among students

CHICAGO, Ill., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- MassMutual Financial Group announced today that MassMutual representative James McClure, Managing Director of Lenox Advisors, Inc., Chicago office, has earned The MassMutual Foundation's Community Service Award for his outstanding volunteer efforts with the Ravinia Festival Association's community outreach and education programs. As a result of his recognition, Ravinia will receive a $10,000 contribution from the MassMutual Foundation for Hartford, Inc. (MassMutual Foundation) in his name.

The contribution was donated to Ravinia's 13th annual fundraiser, Festa Ravinia, which was held at the River East Art Center in Chicago on Saturday, May 14. The black-tie evening featured dinner, music, raffle, dancing and live and silent auctions to benefit Ravinia's community outreach and education programs, and raised $110,000 for the organization. In addition to the $10,000 award, McClure has also donated $5,000 to Ravinia's annual fund.

Based in Chicago, Ravinia Festival's outreach and education efforts provide relevant music programs in schools and communities throughout the city. Through school residencies, Ravinia provides music sessions that enhance the core curriculum in three distinct grade levels in 22 of Chicago's public schools.

Mr. McClure was one of eight field associates of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) selected to receive the Community Service Award due to his volunteer work with Ravinia. The Community Service Award recognizes exceptional community service by members of MassMutual's field sales force. The award consists of a $10,000 grant that is given to the non- profit organization with which an award recipient volunteers. Eight grants are distributed annually throughout the country for a total of $80,000 donated to non-profit organizations.

Mr. McClure serves as Treasurer of Ravinia Associates, a group dedicated to fostering an appreciation for high-quality music, promoting awareness of Ravinia and its musical programs, encouraging audience development and contributing to the festival's community outreach and education programs.

"Ravinia has opened the door to the world of music for many youngsters who may have never had the opportunity to experience it," Mr. McClure says. "I am extremely pleased to be donating funds on my behalf, as well as MassMutual's, for such a worthy and relevant organization."

Mr. McClure, who has been with MassMutual for seven years, resides in Wilmette, Illinois.

For more information about Ravinia and its programs, visit http://www.ravinia.org/.

MassMutual Financial Group -- comprised of member companies with over $350 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2005 -- is a global, growth-oriented, diversified financial services organization providing life insurance, annuities, disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, retirement planning products, structured settlement annuities, trust services, money management, and other financial products and services.

The MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, which include: OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; MML Investors Services, Inc.; The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB; Antares Capital Corporation; MML Bay State Life Insurance Company, C.M. Life Insurance Company, and MassMutual International, Inc.

The MassMutual Foundation for Hartford, Inc. (MassMutual Foundation) is an independent, private foundation under Code section 501(c)(3). Its primary function is to financially assist organizations operated exclusively for charitable, educational and other permitted purposes.

MassMutual is on the Internet at http://www.massmutual.com/.

Contact:
Mark Cybulski
413-744-5427

Source: MassMutual Financial Group

CONTACT: Mark Cybulski of MassMutual, +1-413-744-5427

Web site: http://www.massmutual.com/

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