Illinois Fatherhood Initiative Honors Northwestern Mutual-Chicago's Toby Eng
Northwestern Mutual-Chicago Financial Advisor and District Director Toby Eng has been selected as the recipient of the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Award. The award, presented annually by the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, recognizes men who are good fathers, have reached out and made a difference in the lives of youth, and have a demonstrated spiritual dimension to their lives.
"Through his role as a father to his own children, and the support he provides to the Young Men's Educational Network, a youth leadership organization, Toby embodies the spirit of the award," said Scot Marcotte, President of the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative. "It's an honor to recognize him and bring awareness to the critical role fathers play in parenting and impacting their community."
The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative created the award in 1999 in response to the hate crime that took the life of Ricky Byrdsong. Byrdsong was a dedicated husband, father of three, Northwestern University basketball coach, Aon employee and a man of deep faith and convictions.
Other past recipients of the Ricky Byrdsong Award include Mike Singletary, Dr. Harold Davis, Philip Jackson, Johnny Zayas, Carlos Burns, Joseph Whittington, Fernando Carrasco, and Michael Trout.
About Illinois Fatherhood Initiative (IFI)
IFI is the country's first state-wide non-profit fatherhood organization whose mission is connecting children and fathers by actively engaging fathers in the education of children.
IFI was founded with the belief that every child deserves to grow up in a home with a loving, caring and involved father or father-figure.
Through strategic alliances with private, non-profit, and governmental organizations IFI creates and strengthens existing child/father programs by harnessing and unleashing the energy of a diverse group of volunteers (women and men, young and old, and those with and without means) to position Illinois as one of the country's leading advocates of responsible fathering. Further information can be found at http://www.4fathers.org/.
About Northwestern Mutual - Chicago
Northwestern Mutual - Chicago, with offices in Downtown Chicago, Deerfield, Oak Brook and Rosemont, is a leading Chicago-based financial planning firm providing expert guidance to help clients manage financial risk and achieve financial security. Ranked one of Chicago's Top Workplaces, according to the Chicago Tribune, Northwestern Mutual - Chicago provides career and internship opportunities to individuals who want to grow personally and professionally. The company's nationally recognized financial representative internship program was named by Vault.com a top internship for students seeking careers in the financial services industry. Further information on the firm can be found at http://chicago.nm.com.