/PRNewswire/ - In recognition of years of service, including sitting as a Board member and bringing $2.1 million in free life insurance coverage to working families, Stephen Koh and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.'s (MassMutual) San Francisco Bay Area Agency were recently honored by APA, a family support service provider for Asian and Pacific Islander immigrant communities in San Francisco.

Koh, who is vice president of the San Francisco Bay Area Agency, and sits on the Board of APA, was instrumental in making an innovative life insurance program available to the APA community that offers free $50,000 10-year term life insurance policies to qualifying parents to provide for the education of their children, if they should die during the term of the policy. The policies are free, because MassMutual pays all insurance premiums, as part of the philanthropic LifeBridge program.

APA provides child abuse and domestic violence prevention services across a broad array of Asian and Pacific Island communities in the San Francisco area. To the immigrants served by APA, education is a key element of achieving the American Dream. MassMutual's LifeBridge Free Life Insurance program helps them achieve that dream.

"Stephen's efforts in support of APA are honorable and noteworthy," said Chris Mendoza, assistant vice president of Multicultural Market Development for MassMutual's Life Company marketing division. "He firmly believes in the mission of this organization to help families and others in the community."

"Life Bridge is a free program, and we rely on individuals in our national sales force to donate their time and experience in order to make it available to local communities across the country," said Sonja Shaw, relationship manager for MassMutual's LifeBridge Program. "When Stephen learned about the LifeBridge program, he immediately saw how it would benefit the community that APA serves. Ultimately through his advocacy and hard work, we were able to provide over $2 million in free life insurance coverage to the Asian and Pacific Islander community," she added.

Koh's work with APA extends beyond the LifeBridge program, however. ""¦[H]is efforts included educating these, mostly immigrant families, on financial mechanisms to begin them on the road to economic self-sufficiency," said Amor Santiago, executive director of APA, in a letter of recommendation dated June 25. Koh also became active on APA's fundraising committee, facilitating financial contributions and sponsorships for the organization's events. "Since then, Mr. Koh, having demonstrated his commitment to use professional skills and financial resources to help families and children, was elected to our Board of Directors," Santiago continued. "With dedicated volunteers, such as Mr. Koh, we can look forward to continuing our charitable work well into the future with grateful appreciation."

Koh was presented the award at APA's annual fund raising dinner on July 16. Koh, on behalf of MassMutual, also was presented certificates of honor and recognition from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California State Senators Leland Yee and Mark Leno, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Board of Supervisors' President David Chiu, Supervisor Carmen Chu and State Board of Equalization.

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders every year since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit massmutual.com.

About APA

APA is a recognized leader in providing child abuse and domestic violence prevention services across the broad array of Asian/pacific Islander (API) communities in San Francisco. APA was founded in 1987 to serve low-income immigrant API families. Since then, it has added many more programs and now offers a comprehensive array of bilingual and bicultural services that are hospital-based, center-based and school-based. Programs include home education, bilingual counseling, employment assistance and community development.

MassMutual Financial Group

MassMutual Financial Group

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