Horace Mann employees champion causes close to home
March 25, 2024
Young men and their mentors experienced new adventures this winter as they took field trips to Indianapolis and Chicago following a $5,000 grant from the Horace Mann Educators Foundation to The Outlet. The Outlet helps young men in the Springfield, Ill. area between the ages of 8 and 22 explore their passions, develop skills and plan for their future.
In late 2023, the Foundation asked Horace Mann Educators Corporation employees to select nonprofit organizations that should benefit from a Choose A Cause campaign. Organizations featured in this campaign represented causes employees have supported through volunteer efforts and other contributions. In this year’s campaign, the company’s 1,700 employees cast more than 20,000 votes as groups worked together to generate enthusiasm for worthy organizations. The top five organizations chosen were: The Outlet in Springfield, Food Bank of South Jersey in Cherry Hill, N.J., Metrocrest Services in Dallas, Occupaws Guide Dog Association in Madison, Wis. and Active Minds.
The Outlet chose to direct the grant to experiential learning to enhance their mentoring program. During trips to Chicago and Indianapolis, the young men and their mentors were able to see professional basketball games, explore the cities and visit the DuSable African American Museum. Michael Phelon, Executive Director at The Outlet, said the excursions opened doors for the boys, exposed them to new ideas and endless possibilities.
“It was great seeing the excitement of the boys getting to see what a city like Chicago has to offer,” said Michael Morgan, a mentor. “Being able to take trips like these and see the sites and cultural experiences can set the boys up for a lifetime of success. We all had fun, got to know each other and learned some new things, which is a win in supporting our mentees and reaching their goals and potential.” Russel Moore is also a mentor. He said the trips gave members a chance to engage in a shared experience. “This was a spectacular opportunity to let our youth be able to travel and participate in activities that can both be educational and engaging and open their minds to the similarities and differences in the areas within a different city or maybe a different state,” said Moore.
Earlier in 2023, Horace Mann employees in Springfield had the chance to work with the youth through The Outlet’s job shadowing program, and Horace Mann plans to participate in the program again this year. The Outlet wants to continue to build on the boys’ leadership skills by highlighting motivation, delegation, creativity and decision-making. The program also wants to provide workshops for the students on initiating and managing projects in the workplace through speeches, group projects and brainstorming challenges.