Supporting Communities

supporting communities

Strong communities create opportunities for individuals, families and businesses to thrive. At Horace Mann, we invest in communities through the Horace Mann Educators Foundation, supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference where our employees live and work, particularly in Springfield, Ill.; Dallas, Texas; Madison, Wis.; and Cherry Hill, N.J.

Our impact extends beyond funding. Horace Mann employees actively contribute through civic engagement, volunteer leadership and nonprofit board service, sharing their time and expertise to strengthen local organizations. In Springfield, for example, employees support organizations such as the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, Downtown Springfield Inc., and United Way of Central Illinois, helping advance economic development, community revitalization and services that support local families.

Investing in Strong Schools & Communities

We believe strong schools and strong communities go hand in hand. Through strategic partnerships and targeted grant funding, we focus on: 

  • Strengthening financial stability and family well-being 
  • Expanding access to educational opportunities and resources for students 
  • Addressing essential needs so students are ready to learn 
  • Supporting communities and first responders during times of crisis  

In 2025, the Horace Mann Educators Foundation contributed $500,000 to support educators, their students and the communities where Horace Mann employees live and work.

Strengthening Community Programs

Through United Way partnerships in Springfield, Ill.; Dallas, Texas; and Madison, Wis., we contribute to programs that: 

  • Advance student achievement and mentorship 
  • Support family stability and financial empowerment 
  • Expand food security and digital literacy 

In 2025, Horace Mann funding helped deliver measurable impact:

  • United Way of Central Illinois (Springfield, Ill.) – Supported access to basic needs, strengthened financial stability and connected families with education, health and workforce resources. 
  • United Way of Dane County (Madison, Wis.) – Supported Schools of Hope and Achievement Connections, providing literacy and math tutoring to approximately 920 students. 
  • United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (Dallas, Texas) – Supporting Reading Day 2026, engaging 1,000 volunteers reading in classrooms and reaching approximately 15,000 students. Horace Mann employees volunteered at RISD Academy, helping promote early literacy and a love of reading. 

Supporting Student Needs

supporting communities

Educators know students struggle to learn when they lack essentials like food, clothing, school supplies, mentoring and academic support. The Horace Mann Educators Foundation invests in programs that remove these barriers and help students succeed.

  • Springfield Public Schools Care Closets – Serving more than 1,500 students across 33 schools with essential items such as food, clothing, hygiene items and school supplies.  
  • Camp Kindergarten (Springfield Public Schools) – Preparing incoming kindergarten students build early literacy, math and social-emotional skills before the school year begins, helping students start school confident and ready to learn. 
  • Madison Public Schools Foundation Teacher Support Network – Helping educators quickly access essential classroom supplies so teachers can respond immediately to student needs. 
  • Mentoring and youth development programs (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters) – Connecting students with trusted adult mentors and leadership opportunities. 
  • Credit Recovery Coach programs (e.g. Carrollton–Farmers Branch ISD program) – Helping at-risk students stay on track for graduation. 
  • EmpowerEd educator grants – Funding 20 teach-led initiatives in 2025, supporting literacy, STEM and student leadership initiatives.  

Addressing Child Hunger

Access to nutritious food is essential for learning and development. Horace Mann supports organizations working to reduce food insecurity:

  • Central Illinois Foodbank – Providing healthy food to families connected to Harvard Park Elementary School. 
  • Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin – Operating school-based food markets providing groceries to students and families experiencing food insecurity. 
  • Providing nutritious meals to children through the Kids Thrive 365 program when school meals are unavailable.
  • Feeding America – Helping provide an estimated 150,000 meals through food bank partners nationwide.
These partnerships help ensure students have access to healthy food at school and at home, enabling them to stay focused, engaged and ready to learn.

Responding in Times of Need

When communities face unexpected challenges, the Horace Mann Educators Foundation provides targeted support to help schools and families recover.

  • Ball-Chatham Educational Foundation (Illinois) – Following a local tragedy, funding supported sensory and calming equipment for elementary school spaces, helping students process trauma and strengthen social-emotional well-being. 
  • Kerrville ISD (Texas) – After devastating flooding, a grant helped establish trauma-informed counseling spaces and self-regulation resources for middle school students affected by the disaster. 

Through these initiatives, Horace Mann is building stronger, more resilient communities by ensuring access to basic needs, education and supporting long-term resilience.