Aflac combines baseball and cancer research at Turner Field with the Atlanta Braves COLUMBUS, Ga., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has announced that 1B Jason Heyward from McDonough's Henry County High School and LHP Joshua Smoker from Sugar Valley's Calhoun High School have been named to the 2006 Aflac All- American High School Baseball Classic roster where they will compete in a game benefiting pediatric cancer research and treatment. The high school athletes will be honored on field during a pre-game ceremony at Turner Field on June 1 where they will be presented with their official team jersey by Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones. Justin Jackson, a SS from T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville, N.C. will also be honored during the pre-game event. The fourth annual Aflac Classic is a showcase of the country's top rising high school seniors in an East versus West match-up. The game will be played on Aug. 12 at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium broadcast live on Fox Sports Net at 3 p.m. Eastern. As a part of Aflac's ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, all game proceeds from the 2006 Aflac All- American High School Baseball Classic will benefit the San Diego Children's Hospital. The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic is endorsed by many of the game's pillars, including Major League Baseball. Baseball legend Reggie Jackson will serve as the game's honorary chairman. "I'm proud to be associated with such an elite event," Jackson said. "The Aflac All-American game stands for more than just excellence in youth baseball; it also represents an important bridge to the community through Aflac's dedication and commitment to pediatric cancer research and treatment. Together, Aflac and its event partners teach these outstanding young athletes how to be role models both on and off the field." The newly named All-Americans will also take part in a meet and greet session with Braves players and patients from the Aflac Cancer Center during a picnic held in the Right Field Hospitality Area of the stadium prior to the night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Festivities will include a bubble gum blowing contest between players and patients hosted by Aflac and the Rally Foundation. Since 1995, Aflac's support has helped make the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta one of the leading childhood cancer hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs in the country. Aflac recently surpassed the $20 million mark in donations to the Aflac Cancer Center. "For the past three years, the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic has successfully combined sporting excitement with our core philanthropic focus," said Al Johnson, 2nd Vice President, Advertising and Branding at Aflac. "We look forward to continuing to support the fight against pediatric cancer while showcasing America's most talented high school baseball players." Today's announcement is the latest official stop of the 2006 Aflac National Selection Tour. The selection tour is a multi-city tour that travels to the hometowns of the Aflac All-Americans to announce their official selection to the team. Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer, an organization dedicated to pediatric cancer treatment and research is the official beneficiary for each Aflac tour stop. Baseball America and Perfect Game are the official selection partners for the event and choose the players for their accomplishments both on, and off the field, including their involvement in the community. Sports America, Inc., is a sports marketing and event management firm based out of Rockville, Md., which created and currently produces the Aflac Classic. Sports America also produces the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game and Jordan Classic High School All-Star Basketball Game. To learn more about the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic, or dates and stops on the official selection tour, visit http://www.aflacallamerican.com/. 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. Aflac is 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's insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired Companies for six consecutive years and Forbes magazine's Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies for five consecutive years. In January 2006, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the eighth consecutive year. Aflac was also included in Fortune magazine's list of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities in August 2005, and in September 2005, Aflac Japan was named the Life Insurance Company of the Year at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards, sponsored by the Asia Insurance Review. 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. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO) Media Contacts: Tim Turner Mechell Clark Aflac Incorporated Aflac Incorporated 706-243-5594 706-243-8004 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aflac Incorporated CONTACT: Tim Turner, +1-706-243-5594, or , or Mechell Clark, +1-706-243-8004, or , both of Aflac Incorporated Web site: http://www.aflacallamerican.com/ http://www.aflac.com/

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