  | Michael Matone ’74 and Frank Caruso ’67 | ||||||
Profile in Giving
A Mutually Beneficial Relationship Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, the insurance and financial services giant, is a household name. This 145-year-old company has consistently ranked No. 1 in the insurance industry on FORTUNE magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies list. To achieve this honor, the company is rated according to nine criteria, including the ability to attract, develop, and retain talent, and community responsibility. As the University that educated two of the company’s finest, and as the recipient of its generosity, URI concurs with the FORTUNE findings. General Agent Michael Matone ’74, right, and Field Director Frank Caruso ’67 of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, the sales arm of Northwestern Mutual, are tireless URI promoters. Serving the company for a combination of 58 years, Matone and Caruso have devoted their professional careers to Northwestern and dedicated an equal amount of time to supporting URI. Matone and Caruso, who hold undergraduate degrees in management and general business administration respectively, have served URI in a variety of ways. Matone is a URI Foundation trustee and a member of the College of Business Administration’s Advisory Council. Caruso is also a Foundation trustee, and his love of sports keeps him involved as a board member of the Fifth Quarter Club. Given the time these gentlemen donate to URI, it appears they both have Keaney blue in their blood. But why speculate? “URI helped me mature and grow. I am thankful for the education that contributed to a successful career,” says Caruso. Matone adds, “I worked in Northwestern’s corporate office for seven years. My specific intent in returning to Rhode Island was to get involved with URI. I chose to live in East Greenwich because it is equidistant to my Providence office and to my University.” Clearly, Matone and Caruso demonstrate the sense of community responsibility for which Northwestern is known. Paramount among the company’s charitable activities is its matching gifts program. The company matches employees’ gifts to educational institutions on a one-to-one basis. Over the last seven years, URI has received $130,000 through this program. A large portion of that total represents matches to Matone’s and Caruso’s donations. Each contributes to the Annual Fund and to athletic programs. Most recently, Caruso donated $25,000 to the Convocation Center. Matone, together with General Agent Warren Negri ’71 of Washington, D.C., donated $50,000 to the Ballentine Hall campaign. Given their positions with the company, Northwestern is matching Matone’s and Negri’s gift, making the total gift value of $100,000. “Our company’s culture is predicated upon giving back to your University,” say Matone and Caruso. “We embrace this philosophy.” Through philanthropic acts, Northwestern Mutual is lifting community spirits. URI is grateful to Matone and Caruso for making this University a part of Northwestern’s community. —Maria V. Caliri ’86, M.B.A. ’92 Maria V. Caliri is the editor of Gilbane Bulletin, a biannual magazine published for the company’s customers and friends in the construction industry. |
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