DENVER, May 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Janus Foundation today revealed the nine finalists for its J-Tank initiative, which will channel $195,000 to non-profit organizations nominated by Janus Capital Group Inc. (NYSE:JNS) employees.
The inaugural J-Tank challenge allows the Janus Foundation, which has distributed more than $38 million to non-profits since its inception in 1994, to directly benefit causes that matter personally to its employee community. Employees submitted more than 55 proposals to be considered for the finalist round, where each finalist will present to a panel of judges, why they believe their non-profit should win the top $75,000 prize. Janus employees voted on the submissions and selected nine finalists.
The finalists include:
- A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure Foundation, sponsored by Janus employees Janis Preese, Senior Data Privacy Analyst; Sheri Nystedt, Senior Compliance Manager; and Steve Colby, Senior Security Analyst
- Freedom Service Dogs of America, sponsored by Janus employee Katy Foster, Executive Assistant
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, sponsored by Janus employee Lisa Neison, Executive Assistant
- INROADS, sponsored by Janus employee Terrence Crumpton, Financial Reporting Supervisor
- Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, sponsored by Janus employee James McHugh, Senior Managing Director Client Relations, INTECH
- The GEANCO Foundation, sponsored by Janus employee Megan Hopps, Vice President
- Chicago Jesuit Academy, sponsored by Janus employee Tom Reynolds, Portfolio Manager, Perkins
- Cody Unser First Step Foundation, sponsored by Janus employee Courtney Toevs, Senior Investment Data Analyst
- The Joshua School, sponsored by Janus employee David Schrock, Vice President, Senior Managing Director
"It’s genuinely moving to know that so many people at Janus care so passionately about such a wide range of issues," said Tiphani Krueger, President of the Janus Foundation and Executive Vice President, Human Resources, at Janus Capital Group. "The inaugural edition of J-Tank has far exceeded our expectations and we look forward to it becoming a regular and much-anticipated fixture on the Janus Foundation’s calendar."
The winning submission will be revealed on May 24 after deliberations by Krueger and her fellow judges, former Denver Broncos player Reggie Rivers; Nelson Garcia, Education Reporter at Denver’s NBC affiliate 9 News; philanthropic strategist Bruce DeBoskey, owner of The DeBoskey Group; and Monica Mendoza, who writes about finance, banking and law for the Denver Business Journal.
The winning non-profit will receive $75,000, with the first and second runners-up receiving $40,000 and $25,000 respectively. Each finalist will receive $5,000 for their charity, while Freedom Service Dogs of America, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and A Kids' Brain Tumor Cure Foundation will split a further $10,000 after tying for the most votes cast in the employees’ choice category.
About the J-Tank Finalists
Freedom Service Dogs of America
Freedom Service Dogs of America rescues and trains dogs to help veterans and non-veterans with physical and/or mental disabilities lead a more productive life. http://freedomservicedogs.org/
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national not-for-profit dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy. http://afsp.org/
A Kids' Brain Tumor Cure Foundation
The foundation aims to find a cure for the number one cause of cancer death in children -- one of the least researched and underfunded types of pediatric cancer. http://akidsbraintumorcure.org/
The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund
After James’s brother, Col. John Michael McHugh, was killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 18, 2010, his West Point classmates raised money to send his children to college. The mission now pays college tuition for the children of any fallen soldier, spouses and for returning veterans. http://www.johnnymac.org/
The GEANCO Foundation
GEANCO conducts joint replacement surgery and fights anemia in Nigeria, where it is developing a world-class hospital. It also provides six-year scholarships to female victims of terrorism in Nigeria. http://www.geanco.org/
INROADS
INROADS helps talented students throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico to become high-performing contributors in the workplace through programs including its College Intern Program. https://www.inroads.org/
Cody Unser First Step Foundation
This global not-for-profit is dedicated to raising research funds, public awareness and the quality of life for those afflicted with spinal-cord related paralysis. http://cufsf.org/
The Joshua School
The Joshua School, at its Denver campuses, helps children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities by providing a smaller school with a controlled environment. http://www.joshuaschool.org/
Chicago Jesuit Academy
Chicago Jesuit Academy offers children with educational and economic needs access to a Catholic, college preparatory middle school education in the Jesuit tradition. https://www.chicagojesuitacademy.org/
About the Janus Foundation
Since 1994, The Janus Foundation has been the primary giving arm of Janus Capital Group Inc. Its mission is to help children succeed and achieve their goals and aspirations through education, as well as to support communities and organizations in the U.S. and globally. In past years, our support has gone to relief efforts in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the tsunamis in Japan and Thailand, the earthquakes in Nepal, Colorado wildfires and more. We believe the path to a better world starts at home. As such, we've fostered a corporate culture of social awareness and volunteerism among our employees that has enabled us to extend our philanthropic reach to thousands of deserving organizations. Our people are empowered to give through our Matching Gift Program and volunteerism is fostered through company events and an allotment of Community Investment Time. https://www.janus.com/community
About Janus Capital Group Inc.
Janus Capital Group Inc. ("JCG") is a global investment firm dedicated to delivering better outcomes for clients through a broad range of actively managed and smart beta investment solutions, including fixed income, equity, alternative and multi-asset class strategies. It does so through a number of distinct asset management platforms, including investment teams within Janus Capital Management LLC ("Janus"), as well as INTECH Investment Management LLC ("INTECH"), Perkins Investment Management LLC ("Perkins") and Kapstream Capital Pty Limited (“Kapstream”), in addition to a suite of exchange-traded products. Each team brings distinct asset class expertise, perspective, style-specific experience and a disciplined approach to risk. Investment strategies are offered through open-end funds domiciled in both the U.S. and offshore, as well as through separately managed accounts, collective investment trusts and exchange-traded products. At the end of March 2016, JCG's complex-wide assets totaled approximately $191.3 billion for shareholders, clients and institutions around the globe. Based in Denver, Colorado, JCG also has offices in London, Milan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Melbourne, Sydney, Paris, The Hague, Zurich, Frankfurt, Dubai and Taipei, as well as Boston, Mass., Darien, Conn., Princeton, N.J., West Palm, Fla., Chicago, Ill., and Newport Beach, Calif.