Foundation grants work to build healthy communities with access and opportunity for all. Emphasis is given to:

• Affordable housing
• Economic and Skills Development
• After-School Initiatives
• Mentoring
• Volunteering and Civic Engagement

Affordable Housing Affordable housing, a critical component of healthy communities, can transform individual lives and entire neighborhoods. Since 1991, the Foundation has awarded more than $3.2 million to Enterprise Community Partners to increase the quantity and quality of affordable housing nationwide. In 1996, the organization established the MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing to recognize local housing groups for excellence in two categories: supportive housing (housing linked with social services) and property and asset management. Over the past 10 years, Enterprise and the Foundation have honored more than 60 organizations, awarded more than $1 million to sustain and expand their work and shared best practices with groups facing similar challenges and opportunities.  (For more information about the awards, check the Enterprise Web site.)

Economic and Skills Development
The MetLife Foundation Healthy Communities Fund is a four-year partnership with the National Urban League (NUL) to help selected Urban League affiliates address the asset accumulation, workforce, youth development and health needs of African Americans in their communities. The project reinforces the Foundation and NUL’s shared commitment to increasing access, inclusion and opportunity and builds on MetLife’s 54 years of support for the NUL.

After-School Initiatives
Recognizing that far too many young people lack constructive activities and adult supervision after school, the Foundation has long worked with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) to increase educational, recreational and leadership opportunities for disadvantaged youth during these critical hours. The MetLife Foundation Leverage for Learning Fund is a $2.7 million initiative to help local Boys & Girls Clubs develop Learning Centers and strengthen education programs. Thirty-six of 37 Foundation Learning Centers have opened in Albany, NY, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Dorchester, MA, Federal Way, WA, Franklin, TN, Glendale, AZ, Houston, Kansas City, MO, Lawrenceville, GA, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, RI, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa and Utica, NY. The Foundation is also the sponsor of B&GCA’s annual Honor Awards, which recognize local Clubs for exemplary programs.

Parks and playgrounds provide opportunities for young people to engage in physical activity and bring together individuals of all ages for recreation and relaxation. The Foundation has awarded $2 million to The Trust for Public Land (TPL) to bring urban parks and playgrounds to the young people and communities that need them most. With a current Foundation grant, TPL is redeveloping parks and playgrounds in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and St. Paul, MN. A key component of each project is the involvement of young people in site design and planning.