MetLife Foundation has announced it is expanding its Community Impact Grant Program to Asia, including Australia. Originally launched in the US last year, the Asia program will also address acute needs disproportionately impacting people with low to moderate-incomes. An invitation-only program, selected recipients will receive programmatic support through grants between USD $50,000 - $100,000 in the following four focus areas:
- Hunger Relief and Nutrition to provide access to healthy food options that address food insecurity, nutrition, and healthy eating.
- Physical and Mental Well-Being to provide access to shelters and affordable housing, social services, mental health and well-being services.
- Environmental Sustainabilityto mitigate the impact of changing weather patterns and improve the environment in local communities.
- Quality of Life to improve access to transportation to increase the accessibility to critical needs and services; emergency supplies; and access to recreation, arts and cultural experiences.
MetLife employees will continue to lead the effort as volunteers drawn from across the company’s Asia network will participate on the selection committee. The committee will assess and recommend grants to local organisations who are addressing emergency needs of people with low incomes and communities impacted by the growing income and wealth divide.
“Employee care is at the center of this program, creating connectivity and vitality across our communities,” said Mike Zarcone, Head of Corporate Affairs for MetLife and Chairman of MetLife Foundation. “The program’s success is driven by MetLife employees coming together to live our purpose, with the expansion reflecting our commitment to our communities and our efforts to provide a source of immediate assistance to those in need globally.”
The Foundation is now inviting organisations with demonstrated success in one of the four focus areas to submit requests for proposal (RFP) for the 2024 calendar year. The Foundation will award grants to organizations who plan to implement their program in one of the following six markets where MetLife has a presence:
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- South Korea
- Vietnam
Regional President for MetLife Asia, Lyndon Oliver, noted, “Serving the communities in which we all live and work by helping in both big ways and small is central to our purpose, and the addition of the Community Impact Grant Program allows us to do just that, complementing all our MetLife Foundation strategic initiatives in the region.”
The RFP for this round of funding in Asia is by invitation only. All organisations who apply will receive a decision on their proposal by June 2024.
For more information on the program, visit metLife.org
The MetLife Australia Corporate Affairs team can assist with media enquiries including organising interviews with MetLife spokespeople. To contact the team please email media@metlife.com.
About MetLife
MetLife Insurance Limited (MetLife), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., is a specialist provider of life insurance to affinity partners, superannuation trustees and employers in Australia. MetLife has expertise in designing and executing direct insurance programs for partners’ customers and insurance solutions to meet the needs of specific member groups. MetLife has been a specialist provider of life risk insurance products in Australia since 2005. For more information, visit metlife.com.au.
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit metlife.com.