New York, NY (November 19, 2009) --- Thomas J. Moran, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, announced today that Florida Institute for the Advancement of Teaching, Boca Raton, Florida, was named a Merit Finalist for the 2009 Mutual of America Community Partnership Award.

Florida Institute for the Advancement of Teaching (FIAT), developed by Florida Atlantic University College of Education, counts as its partners Florida Atlantic University Foundation, Palm Beach State College, Broward College, Indian River State College, and 106 schools in 8 local county school districts. FIAT received the award for recruiting and retaining effective teachers to work in underperforming schools in economically disadvantaged areas.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) created FIAT to address Florida's critical shortage of capable teachers. Undergraduate education majors participating in FIAT receive four years of intensive mentoring by retired and current teachers and up to 1,300 hours of classroom teaching experience. Graduates benefit from an established network of peers and mentors who provide further support during their challenging -- and critical -- first years of teaching.

"Many of FIAT's undergraduate students become teachers in the communities where they grew up," says Dean Valerie Bristor of FAU. "Those community ties lead to strong connections with local families and create powerful role models."

In the last six years, 206 FIAT graduates have become teachers, and 204 (99%) are still teaching in Florida -- a significantly higher retention rate than the state and national averages.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award has recognized 140 partnerships from cities and towns across America, expanding public awareness of their work and helping them attract additional partners and new sponsors.

Criteria for the Community Partnership Award

The criteria for the Community Partnership Award (CPA) are the duration of the partnership (a minimum of one year), a demonstration that the partnership has made a difference, the ability of the partnership to be replicated and stimulate new ideas for partnerships to address social issues, and the partnership's commitment to advancing the mission and principles of the organization. For more information about the CPA, visit "Community Partnership Award" at www.mutualofamerica.com.