MassMutual FutureSmart(SM) Challenge to Visit Five Cities

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- More middle school students around the U.S. will have a chance to get smart about money as Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company's (MassMutual) FutureSmart Challenge continues with its latest cross-country tour. Now in its third year, the FutureSmart Challenge will visit five cities and reach an additional 10,000 students across the country this year. The tour started in Miami, FL with nearly 3,000 middle school students and continued in Oakland, CA with more than 1,500 Bay Area students last week.

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MassMutual's FutureSmart Challenge is a national program that provides financial education to middle school students with the goal of empowering and challenging young leaders to take positive steps toward a successful career and financial security for themselves, their families and their communities. The exciting interactive event is held in collaboration with select NBA teams, followed by Junior Achievement curriculum in participants' classrooms during the school year.

"With 25,000 students already FutureSmart, we are thrilled to continue with our third year of the Challenge and further our mission of inspiring young leaders to take charge of their education, plan for their future and learn to manage their finances," said Nick Fyntrilakis, Vice President, Community Responsibility, MassMutual.

MassMutual's FutureSmart Challenge is hosted by award-winning actor and New York Times best-selling author Hill Harper.

Harper strives to engage participating middle school students and teach them tangible, memorable financial knowledge. At each event, students will learn:

1. What it costs to survive, live and thrive
2. The impact of education and career on income
3. What you spend your money on matters, highlighting the difference between 'needs' and 'wants'
4. How you pay for things matters, highlighting the costs of consumer debt
5. The importance of saving and the power of time, highlighting the concept of compound interest

"I believe my partnership with MassMutual is transformational. Financial education is so important for everyone, especially young students who have the added benefit of time to help them cultivate solid financial footing," said Harper. "I'm excited to be a part of MassMutual's FutureSmart Challenge because we're inspiring young people to live up to their potential by valuing higher education and making smart financial decisions from the start. I truly believe the MassMutual FutureSmart Challenge can change not only individual lives, but families, schools and communities."

At each event, students hear from NBA legends and players who share their opinions on education, careers and finances. The NBA teams' dunk squads, cheerleaders, dance teams, and mascots also provide engaging entertainment.

Following the events, students who participated will be taught Junior Achievement classroom curriculum led by local MassMutual representatives and Junior Achievement affiliate volunteers. Their families also have the opportunity to apply for coverage through MassMutual's LifeBridge^SM Free Life Insurance Program, which provides free $50,000 term life insurance to income-eligible parents and guardians.

MassMutual's FutureSmart Challenge schedule:

• January 20, 2016, Miami, FL – AmericanAirlines Arena
• January 27, 2016, Oakland, CA – Oracle Center
• February 9, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Arena (third visit)
• February 16, 2016, Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Arena
• April 11, 2016, Boston, MA – TD Garden (second visit)

Since its inception in 2014, MassMutual's FutureSmart Challenge has reached 25,000 students and visited 12 cities including Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago.

For more information, please visit http://www.massmutual.com/futuresmartchallenge.

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 find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+.

CONTACT: Laura DeMars413-744-7181
[email protected]