(Raleigh, N.C., March 6, 2014) – Northwestern Mutual, with offices in Raleigh and Durham, presented $100,000 to University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Duke University nurse researchers who are investigating the quality of care and life for children with cancer, childhood cancer survivors and their families.

“One of the biggest obstacles to curing childhood cancer is the lack of research funding,” said Mike Condrey, Northwestern Mutual managing partner. “Northwestern Mutual launched a national philanthropic program to find a cure and provide support to kids and families facing the daily struggles of the disease. Locally, we’re funding top university nurse researchers who are making a difference,” he added.

Two research grants of $50,000 each were presented on March 5 through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF). Visiting the Triangle to help present the research grants was Jay Scott, father of Alexandra (Alex), the namesake of ALSF. Alex raised $1 million for childhood cancer through her own lemonade stands and inspired others around the world to do the same before she died of neuroblastoma at the age of eight in 2004. Today, ALSF has raised more than $75 million for childhood cancer research.