Horace Mann to distribute more than $100,000 to groups working to close educational equity gaps during COVID-19 pandemic

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., October 1, 2020 - Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE:HMN) today announced $105,000 in grant funds from Horace Mann and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) Targeted Impact Fund will be distributed to four organizations focused on closing student opportunity gaps: the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois, Springfield Urban League, Compass for Kids and The Matthew Project.

Horace Mann's $45,000 community donation was supported by an additional $60,000 from FHLBank Chicago.

“Every student should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, and that has become more challenging for many during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Marita Zuraitis, Horace Mann President and CEO. "We're proud to support these organizations addressing opportunity inequities in our community by providing safe remote learning spaces with reliable Internet access, additional learning opportunities for students falling behind, and basic needs like food and housing assistance for families."

The Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois and the Springfield Urban League will each receive $35,000, while Compass for Kids and The Matthew Project will each receive $17,500. These grants allow the organizations to assist nearly 500 additional low-to-moderate income families with targeted educational support.

"Safe and supervised remote learning sites are critical when parents are working outside the home to provide for their family," said Tiffany Mathis, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois. "For other families, a challenge to supporting learners is reliable Internet access, which we can now provide to 200 students with this grant."

The Matthew Project, a program that provides clothing, food, tutoring and mentoring to homeless Springfield Public Schools students, will partner with the Boys and Girls Club to expand existing remote learning opportunities for the Matthew Project children as well as provide food assistance. Compass for Kids will expand its Virtual Club Compass program for at-risk students in Springfield schools. It offers social-emotional lessons and support, enrichment activities, a book club and meals for students.

"In addition to providing digital learning supports, the Springfield Urban League will also use this grant for emergency assistance for families facing uncertain circumstances with housing and overall financial stability," said Springfield Urban League President Nina Harris. "We have seen so many more families in need at this time, and this grant will really help keep them afloat."

"FHLBank Chicago created the Targeted Impact Fund to help those in our members' communities hardest hit by the pandemic and to promote racial equity," said Katie Naftzger, Vice President, Community Investment Officer, FHLBank Chicago. "We're proud that with this member grant, hundreds more Springfield students in need will have stronger educational and social support." Horace Mann has been a member of FHLBank Chicago since 2013.

About Horace Mann

Horace Mann is the largest financial services company focused on providing America's educators and school employees with insurance and retirement solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators^® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. For more information, visit horacemann.com.

About Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

The mission of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago is to partner with our member institutions in Illinois and Wisconsin to provide them competitively priced funding, a reasonable return on their investment in the Bank, and support for community investment activities. We are one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932 to promote homeownership. Our members include banks, thrifts, credit unions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions throughout our district.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s Targeted Impact Fund provides our member institutions with grants to support relief efforts for populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic including Black, Latino, Native American, elderly, rural, and low-and moderate-income communities, and to help promote equity and opportunity for these underserved populations. The Targeted Impact Fund opened on Monday, August 17, with funding extended through Tuesday, November 10. For more information visit fhlbc.com.

About our grant recipients

Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois

Chartered on November 1st, 1956, the Boys Club of Springfield set out to become the positive place for children in the area. Today, it operates in nine locations, including its Central Unit, as well as eight elementary and middle school sites throughout the local area. Each day, the Club serves roughly 900 youth, providing character building activities, academic programs, and healthy activities.The Club will be using this grant to provide a safe place for remote learning for children who otherwise would have nowhere else to go or would have to be home without adult supervision. Providing a remote learning location for students keeps working families working. The Club’s goal is to assist every remote learner with their entire school day to increase their ability to achieve good grades and consistent attendance, while also ensuring students are well-fed, feel socially and emotionally supported and have access to as many resources as possible.

Compass for Kids

Compass for Kids is a not-for-profit organization changing the landscape of the local Springfield community. Through innovative after-school and summer programs, they provide resources and support to at-risk children in Springfield Public Schools - District 186.Compass for Kids plans to use this grant for supplies to support remote learning, including enrichment activity videos, learning extensions, supply kits and books, as well as technology supports. In addition, it will help with the additional staffing needs due to remote learning.

The Matthew Project

The Matthew Project is an academic and mentoring program (ran 100% by volunteers) for children identified as homeless in Springfield, Illinois' school district. They provide food, clothing and academic assistance as well as support to the entire family. Their mission is to love without judgment and to help the children be successful in school.The Matthew Project will use the grant to add additional remote learning sites through its trusted partners. It will provide opportunities for more Matthew Project children to participate in a safe, remote learning site every day.

Springfield Urban League

Established in 1926, the Springfield Urban League Inc. (SUL) is a human service corporation and direct service organization that serves over 9,000 people each year in urban communities through job training, computer literacy, economic development, health, and education initiatives.SUL plans to use the grant for its Education and School-Age Youth Department to assist in ensuring the educational gap does not widen for students of color due to COVID-19. These necessary resources will be used to support the training of Urban League education staff on the remote facilitation of social-emotional learning techniques, support children and families with housing and food insecurity, increase the digital literacy skills of parents and guardians, and provide the necessary technology infrastructure for seamless remote learning. It will also assist the Urban League in reinforcing the role parents have on child development.