Holiday Shoppers Join Aflac in the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer
November 01 2006 - 1:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Aflac and Macy's partner for the sixth holiday season to raise
funds for children's hospitals COLUMBUS, Ga., Nov. 1
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aflac Duck fans and retail shoppers
looking to experience the joys of giving back to a worthy cause
this holiday season are in for a special treat as collectible plush
versions of the popular duck go on sale at participating Macy's
stores nationwide starting November 6 with proceeds benefiting
hospitals treating children with cancer. This year marks the sixth
season that Aflac and the department store have partnered to sell
the Aflac Holiday Ducks raising more than $1 million since the
program began. "Aflac remains determined to do everything we can to
raise money toward the cure and treatment of this illness that
impacts so many children and their families," said Al Johnson,
second vice president of Advertising and Branding at Aflac. "We are
delighted that the Aflac Duck has become known as a champion for
this important cause." New to this year's Aflac Holiday Duck
program are special gift cards also available for purchase at
Macy's. The Aflac/Macy's Holiday Duck Gift Card will also benefit
pediatric cancer research and treatment. Both the collectible ducks
and gift cards will be available at 140 Macy's stores in 89 cities.
Shoppers can also find out how to purchase Aflac Holiday Ducks and
gift cards online at aflac.com. One-hundred percent of the proceeds
from the duck sales and a portion of the proceeds from the gift
cards will benefit children's hospitals located in the same markets
as participating Macy's stores. A total of 32 hospitals will
benefit from in-store and online sales. "Our customers and
employees love the duck," said Ellen Fruchtman, Macy's divisional
vice president of public relations in Atlanta. "We're pleased that
the sale of these ducks is helping the hospitals to provide much -
needed life-saving services to children living with cancer." The
limited-edition 2006 Holiday Ducks will arrive in stores dressed in
Santa gear, complete with rosy-red cheeks, a bushy-white beard and
a sack chock-full of gifts. When squeezed, the duck says, "Aflac,
Aflac, Aflac!" The cost is $10 for a six-inch plush duck and $15
for the 10-inch version. This season's Holiday Duck Gift Card
quacks the same as it's opened to reveal a snowflake-covered card
with the Aflac logo. The gift cards can be purchased in any
denomination over $5 and can also be used to purchase items through
macys.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. 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: Yolonda King Mechell Clark Aflac Incorporated Aflac
Incorporated (706) 243-8547 (706) 243-8004
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aflac Incorporated CONTACT:
Yolonda King, +1-706-243-8547, or , or Mechell Clark,
+1-706-243-8004, or , both of Aflac Incorporated Web site:
http://www.aflac.com/ http://www.macys.com/
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