Aflac Reaches $40 Million Milestone in Donations to the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare
March 19 2008 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Contributions Help Fund Ongoing Research, Facilities and Family
Support Services ATLANTA, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- In its ongoing
support of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Aflac announced that it has
reached more than $40 million in contributions to the Center,
making it the largest corporate supporter of Children's Healthcare
of Atlanta. "With financial resources provided by Aflac, we have
been able to recruit national leaders in the fields of pediatric
cancer, sickle cell disease and experimental therapy and have also
established a thriving program for cancer survivors," said William
G. Woods, M.D., director for the Aflac Cancer Center. "These
leaders are conducting important lab and clinical research and
helping to bring innovative treatments to patients at the bedside -
not just in Georgia, but nationwide." Thousands of Aflac field
force members across the country and the Aflac Foundation together
have funded four endowed chairs at the Aflac Cancer Center, each of
which provides critical funding in perpetuity for key positions at
the Center. At Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, receiving a chair
signifies a monetary endowment for a specific program directed by a
physician or researcher. To date, Aflac has funded the following
chairs: -- Dr. William G. Woods - The Daniel P. Amos Children's
Chair for the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service --
Dr. Donald Durden - The Aflac Field Force Cancer Experimental
Therapy Chair -- Dr. Lillian R. Meacham - The Kathelen V. Amos
Children's Chair for Cancer Survivorship -- Dr. Peter Lane - The
Aflac Field Force Children's Chair for Sickle Cell Disease Over the
years, Aflac's contributions have also been used to fund other
critical needs, including new inpatient and outpatient facilities,
a new state-of-the-art pediatric research building, and endowments
for the Family Support Team and Fellowship Program. In addition to
the company's donations, both Aflac employees and field force
members support patients and their families by volunteering
personal time to play bingo, to take them to Aflac-sponsored
events, and to attend the annual Braves Baseball Night with them in
Atlanta. "We became involved with the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood
Disorders Service at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta more than 13
years ago to help discover treatments and cures for pediatric
cancer and blood disorders," stated Daniel Amos, chairman and chief
executive officer of Aflac. "Today, it is recognized as one of the
leading pediatric cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow
transplantation programs in the country, treating more than 325 new
cancer patients each year and following more than 2,000 patients
with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders."
The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service provides
advanced diagnostic and clinical care, as well as innovative
treatment and research options to children, adolescents and young
adults. 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. 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. Our 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
seven years and in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best
Companies to Work For in America for ten consecutive years. Aflac
has also been recognized three times by both Fortune magazine's
listing of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and Working Mother
magazine's listing of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.
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 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the leading pediatric healthcare
systems in the country, is a not-for-profit organization that
benefits from the generous philanthropic and volunteer support of
our community. Operating three hospitals with more than half a
million patient visits annually, Children's is recognized for
excellence in cancer, cardiac, neonatal, orthopaedic and transplant
services, as well as many other pediatric specialties. To learn
more about Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, visit our Web site at
http://www.choa.org/ or call 404-250-KIDS. About the 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 five pediatric cancer centers in the country by Child magazine,
the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 325 new cancer patients
each year and follows more than 2,000 patients with sickle cell
disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. The Aflac Cancer
Center is one of many programs at Children's committed to enhancing
the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research
and education. Children's, one of the top three pediatric
healthcare systems in the country, is a not-for-profit organization
that benefits from the generous philanthropic and volunteer support
of our community. Visit http://www.aflaccancercenter.org/ or call
404-250-KIDS for more information. (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080319/CLW006-a ) (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080319/CLW006-b ) (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO ) Media
Contacts: Analyst and Investment Contact: Laura Kane Kenneth S.
Janke Jr. Aflac Incorporated Aflac Incorporated 706.596.3493
800.235.2667, Option 3; Fax: 706.324.6330 Brant Rawls Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta 404.785.7577
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080319/CLW006-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080319/CLW006-b
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aflac CONTACT: Media
Contacts, Laura Kane, Aflac Incorporated, +1-706-596-3493, , or
Brant Rawls, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, +1-404-785-7577, ;
Analyst and Investment Contact, Kenneth S. Janke Jr., Aflac
Incorporated, 1-800-235-2667, Option 3, Web site:
http://www.aflac.com/ http://www.choa.org/
http://www.aflaccancercenter.org/
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