Utah children and adults with disabilities get taken out to the ballgame
Salt Lake Bees put special needs families center stage at Spring Mobile Ballpark
Salt Lake City, UT • July 2, 2009― When children or adults have special needs, their parents or caregivers can have special fears about their future care, finances, happiness and independence.
But families in the state of Utah will take a break from that anxiety on July 8th during a trip to the Spring Mobile Ballpark to see the Salt Lake Bees take on the Colorado Springs Skysox. The Salt Lake Bees, MassMutual Financial Group, and EP Global Communications are making this trip to the ball park possible by donating at least 250 tickets, although double that amount of been requested, to special needs families so they can attend the game.
“This is much more than a trip to the ballpark. It’s a loud and clear statement that people with disabilities are an important part of our community,” said Bret Hortin, Agency Special Needs Planner, at Intermountain Financial Group, LLC, the Salt Lake City general agency of MassMutual.
Parents raising children with autism are very concerned about the future independence, quality of life, social and inter-personal connections, employment and housing opportunities for their children, according to a December 2008 Living with Autism study by Harris Interactive, MassMutual and Easter Seals.
These parents also say they’re “financially drowning” and don’t know where to turn for help. The study found parents afraid their family will fall short of cash when they need it most – to care for their children and retire.
“Taking in a ballgame won’t erase their fears or the challenges these families face, but the spirit and symbolism of hundreds of people going to a ballgame together shows people with disabilities and their families are not alone and they play a critical role in their community,” said Todd A. Reid, JD, CLF, General Agent
MassMutual and its agencies are holding these ball park events across the country this spring and summer. They’re called Disability Awareness Nights (DAN) and are done in collaboration with Exceptional Parent Magazine.
“DAN events are important because parents who have children with special needs are not only struggling to manage their finances and care for their children – they’re trying to give their children typical life experiences, like making friends, or simply enjoying a day at the ballpark,” said Todd Reid.
People with disabilities are a special focus for MassMutual and its SpecialCare planners across the country. The Special Care Planner receives advanced training and information in estate and tax planning concepts, special needs trusts, government programs, and the emotional dynamics of working with people with disabilities and other special needs and their families. The certificate program is offered by The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA exclusively for MassMutual financial professionals.
“We’re advocates for people with disabilities and other special needs. There is no reason why they should live in fear or isolation; helping them improve their quality of life is a top priority for MassMutual,” said John Chandler, MassMutual senior vice president.
For more information on MassMutual’s SpecialCareSM program contact the Special Care Planning team at Intermountain Financial Group at 801-453-2264 or visit www.massmutual.com/specialcare
-END-
CRN201103-117329.
About MassMutual
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual and its subsidiaries had more than $360 billion in assets under management at year-end 2008. Assets under management include assets and certain external investment funds managed by MassMutual's subsidiaries.
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a mutually owned financial protection, accumulation and income management company headquartered in Springfield, Mass. MassMutual's major affiliates include: OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MML Investors Services, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC (http://www.finra.org/ and http://www.sipc.org/); MassMutual International LLC and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. MassMutual is on the Internet at http://www.massmutual.com/.
About Intermountain Financial Group, LLC:
For more than 156 years, local residents and businesses rely on Intermountain Financial Group to help them secure their financial futures. The company has been in awarded the Work/Life Award by the Utah Department of Workforce Services in 2008 and 2007 naming them one of Utah’s best places to work and the national Sloan When Work Works award in 2008 and nominated again in 2009. The company currently has offices in Salt Lake City, Utah; St. George, Utah; and Provo, Utah. The agency boasts over $530 million assets serviced as of year-end 2008.
Salt Lake Bees put special needs families center stage at Spring Mobile Ballpark
Salt Lake City, UT • July 2, 2009― When children or adults have special needs, their parents or caregivers can have special fears about their future care, finances, happiness and independence.
But families in the state of Utah will take a break from that anxiety on July 8th during a trip to the Spring Mobile Ballpark to see the Salt Lake Bees take on the Colorado Springs Skysox. The Salt Lake Bees, MassMutual Financial Group, and EP Global Communications are making this trip to the ball park possible by donating at least 250 tickets, although double that amount of been requested, to special needs families so they can attend the game.
“This is much more than a trip to the ballpark. It’s a loud and clear statement that people with disabilities are an important part of our community,” said Bret Hortin, Agency Special Needs Planner, at Intermountain Financial Group, LLC, the Salt Lake City general agency of MassMutual.
Parents raising children with autism are very concerned about the future independence, quality of life, social and inter-personal connections, employment and housing opportunities for their children, according to a December 2008 Living with Autism study by Harris Interactive, MassMutual and Easter Seals.
These parents also say they’re “financially drowning” and don’t know where to turn for help. The study found parents afraid their family will fall short of cash when they need it most – to care for their children and retire.
“Taking in a ballgame won’t erase their fears or the challenges these families face, but the spirit and symbolism of hundreds of people going to a ballgame together shows people with disabilities and their families are not alone and they play a critical role in their community,” said Todd A. Reid, JD, CLF, General Agent
MassMutual and its agencies are holding these ball park events across the country this spring and summer. They’re called Disability Awareness Nights (DAN) and are done in collaboration with Exceptional Parent Magazine.
“DAN events are important because parents who have children with special needs are not only struggling to manage their finances and care for their children – they’re trying to give their children typical life experiences, like making friends, or simply enjoying a day at the ballpark,” said Todd Reid.
People with disabilities are a special focus for MassMutual and its SpecialCare planners across the country. The Special Care Planner receives advanced training and information in estate and tax planning concepts, special needs trusts, government programs, and the emotional dynamics of working with people with disabilities and other special needs and their families. The certificate program is offered by The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA exclusively for MassMutual financial professionals.
“We’re advocates for people with disabilities and other special needs. There is no reason why they should live in fear or isolation; helping them improve their quality of life is a top priority for MassMutual,” said John Chandler, MassMutual senior vice president.
For more information on MassMutual’s SpecialCareSM program contact the Special Care Planning team at Intermountain Financial Group at 801-453-2264 or visit www.massmutual.com/specialcare
-END-
CRN201103-117329.
About MassMutual
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual and its subsidiaries had more than $360 billion in assets under management at year-end 2008. Assets under management include assets and certain external investment funds managed by MassMutual's subsidiaries.
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a mutually owned financial protection, accumulation and income management company headquartered in Springfield, Mass. MassMutual's major affiliates include: OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MML Investors Services, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC (http://www.finra.org/ and http://www.sipc.org/); MassMutual International LLC and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. MassMutual is on the Internet at http://www.massmutual.com/.
About Intermountain Financial Group, LLC:
For more than 156 years, local residents and businesses rely on Intermountain Financial Group to help them secure their financial futures. The company has been in awarded the Work/Life Award by the Utah Department of Workforce Services in 2008 and 2007 naming them one of Utah’s best places to work and the national Sloan When Work Works award in 2008 and nominated again in 2009. The company currently has offices in Salt Lake City, Utah; St. George, Utah; and Provo, Utah. The agency boasts over $530 million assets serviced as of year-end 2008.
