Aflac 'Causes Campaign on Facebook' Raises $1.16 Million for Fight Against Pediatric Cancer
October 07 2009 - 10:03AM
PR Newswire (US)
More Than 851,000 Members Join the Aflac Cancer Center Cause
COLUMBUS, Ga., Oct. 7 Aflac (NYSE:AFL) announced that it has raised
more than $1.16 million for the Aflac Cancer Center through a
matching grant campaign with Causes on Facebook, making it the
largest sponsored campaign in the history of Causes. The effort
also resulted in 851,215 new members joining the Aflac Cancer
Center Cause, helping to generate awareness and financial support
during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The Causes application on
Facebook has more than 85 million users who have created over
300,000 charitable causes that have benefited 60,000 nonprofits in
the United States and Canada. Donors have used the Causes
application on Facebook to give more than $14 million to these
organizations. Prior to the launch of Aflac's pediatric cancer
Cause, the largest matching grant on a Facebook Cause was $100,000.
"Thanks to Aflac's campaign to raise money for childhood cancer and
blood disorders on Causes on Facebook, children at the Aflac Cancer
Center will be assured cutting edge treatment and clinical research
to get them back to being kids," said Dr. William G. Woods,
Director of the Aflac Cancer Center. "With every dollar raised we
offer new hope for our kids and their families." "Our goal is to
find a cure," said Aflac chairman and CEO Dan Amos. "We want to
thank the more than 851,000 people who rose to the challenge and
joined Aflac's fight against pediatric cancer. With their help we
can continue the progress that has seen survival rates soar from 20
percent in the 1980's to 80 percent today." Aflac Chairman and CEO
Dan Amos personally contributed $100,000 to the cause, and his
donation, like all the others, was matched dollar-for-dollar by
Aflac. NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, who is sponsored by Aflac,
responded to Amos's gesture by contributing his portion of his
team's earnings from the September 6th race at the Atlanta Motor
Speedway. "Aflac's $1 million initiative is the largest sponsored
cause that we have ever seen on Facebook and it demonstrates the
growing philanthropic power of Causes," said Joe Green, founder of
Causes. "This matching grant is a success not only because of the
money raised, but also because 851,215 individuals were empowered
to make a difference through peer to peer activism. We're delighted
that Aflac chose our application to generate awareness and that
together, we were so successful in producing potentially
life-saving results for children with cancer." Each year the Aflac
Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients. It also
provides the largest sickle cell disease program in America, with
1,635 active cases and has cured more children of sickle cell
disease than any treatment center in the nation. In addition to
funding research and treatment, Aflac contributions serve other
critical needs, including new facilities, a new state-of-the-art
pediatric research building, and endowments for the Family Support
Team and Fellowship Program. In August, the Aflac Cancer Center
announced that Aflac had surpassed $50 million in donations to this
cause. About Aflac: For more than 50 years, Aflac products have
given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is
needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial
challenges. As the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable
insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company
in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan, Aflac
insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million
people worldwide. In 2009, Aflac was recognized by Ethisphere
magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the third
consecutive year and was also named by the Reputation Institute as
the Most Reputable Company in the Global Insurance Industry for the
second consecutive year. In 2009 Fortune magazine recognized Aflac
as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the
eleventh consecutive year. Fortune magazine also ranked Aflac No. 1
on its global list of America's Most Admired Companies in the Life
and Health Insurance category. Aflac appears on Hispanic Enterprise
magazine's list of the 50 Best Companies for Supplier Diversity and
on Black Enterprise magazine's list of the 40 Best Companies for
Diversity. Aflac was also named by Forbes magazine as America's
Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated
is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit
aflac.com. About Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta: The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood
Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is a national
leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow
transplant programs, serving infants to young adults. Recognized as
one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S.News
& World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350
new cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients
with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders.
Visit http://www.aflaccancercenter.org/ or call 404-785-1112 or
888-785-1112 for more information. Media Contacts: Analyst and
Investment Contact: Laura Kane Kenneth S. Janke Jr. Aflac
Incorporated Aflac Incorporated 706.596.3493 1.800.235.2667, Option
3 Fax: 706.324.6330 Jon A. Sullivan Aflac Incorporated 706.763.4813
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090422/CL03654LOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090422/CL03654LOGODATASOURCE:
Aflac CONTACT: Media; Laura Kane, +1-706-596-3493 , or Jon A.
Sullivan, +1-706-763-4813, , or Analyst and Investment Contact;
Kenneth S. Janke Jr., +1-800-235-2667, Option 3, Fax:
+1-706-324-6330, , all of Aflac Incorporated Web Site:
http://www.aflac.com/
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