Month: January 2024

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

COLUMBUS, Ga., January 19, 2024 /3BL/ — Aflac’s sales agents and brokers raised $770,000 during a charitable auction held last week at FOCUS, the company’s annual meeting of leading sales agents and brokers. The tally shattered the pre-auction expectations of $220,000 by more than 350%, with all proceeds going to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, where it will be used to support treatments and research for kids with pediatric cancer and blood disorders.

The items donated and auctioned during a festive “auction for a cause” event included footballs signed by University of Colorado Head Football Coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion “Prime” Sanders, a trip to Aflac’s next commercial shoot and pairs of Aflac emblazoned shoes. The auction, spearheaded by FOCUS Chair and Aflac Senior Vice President of U.S. Sales Distribution Andy Glaub, resulted in what is believed to be the largest single-day fundraising event in Aflac’s 28-year history with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.

“When Kathelen and I initiated Aflac’s partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in 1995 with an initial company donation of $3 million, we never dreamed that nearly three decades later, our incredibly generous sales team would raise more than 25 percent of that amount in a single night,” Aflac Chairman, CEO and President Dan Amos said. “The commitment to our brand and our mission to care on purpose for our customers, communities and families facing childhood cancer and blood disorders was on full display, and I could not be prouder of the best, most giving sales team in the world.”

Kathelen Amos, president of the Aflac Foundation, added, “The ongoing and unwavering commitment of Aflac’s national sales organization to the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Center speaks volumes about the Aflac Way. These new gifts along with the nearly three decades of giving, are sending hope and real care to children and their families from the heart of Aflac.”

“I knew that the auction would be successful, but $770,000 is more than I could have ever hoped for, and it will have a tremendous impact on kids and families going through some very difficult times,” Andy Glaub said. “The Aflac Nation never disappoints — we have an incredible group of giving, caring individuals in our sales force.”

Aflac has been the prime sponsor of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center since 1995, donating $173 million, more than half of which has been contributed by its independent sales force. The center is one of the nation’s top 10 children’s cancer facilities in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report, annually treating 9,000 children for cancer and blood disorders. It is also the nation’s largest pediatric sickle cell program in the country.

“We believe that every child deserves a lifetime, and that is what donations like this are helping us provide for the children and families who come through our doors every day,” said Douglas Graham, MD, PhD, Chief of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Aflac and its incredible sales agents and brokers continue to lift the bar in corporate generosity, and we are so thankful for their continuous support.”

Top items sold at the auction include:

Coach Prime signed footballs with photo $100,0002 pairs of Aflac emblazoned shoes $60,0003 trips to filming of the next Aflac TV commercial $150,0001 blue blazer worn by Coach Prime on TV ads $23,0004 packages to major college football game $46,000

Jaime Gaudet, Aflac Market Director representing portions of Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Wyoming, successfully bid for one of the trips to attend the filming of Aflac’s next television commercial. She summed up the event saying, “The Aflac culture is alive and well! I am so proud to be part of this team and so pleased that we, as leaders, recognize the importance of supporting children and families impacted by cancer and blood disorders in Atlanta and across the country.”

To contribute to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, please click here.

ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED 
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in 2023 in the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 17 consecutive years, Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 22 years and Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn’t cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under “Sustainability.”

Media contact: Jon Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com

Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com

1 LIMRA 2022 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report

SOURCE Aflac

Santa Maria Community Services, Inc. is pleased to announce a significant grant of $150,000 from the KeyBank Foundation, aimed at bolstering its Stable Families program. The grant will be distributed over three installments, providing critical support for families on the brink of homelessness in Hamilton County.

Santa Maria’s Stable Families program seeks to extend a helping hand to households facing housing instability. The program, which targets neighborhoods and schools with high student mobility rates, offers a comprehensive range of services to promote both immediate relief and long-term stabilization. Each participating family receives individual attention and guidance from a case manager who provides:

Family counseling and advocacy;Assistance in negotiations with landlords;Locating resources for healthcare and afterschool programs;Specialized support for children with unique needs;Short-term financial aid for rent, transportation, and utility bills;Household budgeting guidance; andConnections to resources to prevent future crises.

“This generous grant from the KeyBank Foundation significantly enhances our capacity to make a difference in the lives of at-risk families,” said , H.A. Musser, Jr., Santa Maria President and CEO. “It strengthens our commitment to helping our program participants achieve long-lasting change by addressing and resolving the issues that push families to the brink of homelessness.”

“KeyBank’s purpose is to help the communities we serve thrive, and accessibility to services surrounding housing instability is a crucial element of thriving communities,” said Jennifer Damiano, KeyBank Cincinnati Market President. “We are excited to partner with and support Santa Maria in their mission of promoting stable, vibrant communities across Hamilton County. We look forward to the positive outcomes that will come from the Stable Families program.”

To qualify for the Stable Families program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Residency in Hamilton County;At least one school-aged child who is enrolled in school;A housing risk factor such as eviction, inhabitable conditions, or back rent owed;Willingness to participate in 12-18 months of case management; andMust have some form of income and a willingness to seek employment.

HORSHAM, Pa., January 19, 2024 /3BL/ – Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, was awarded the Ann Hunter-Welborn Circle of Excellence Award for its Papernet powered by HyTech Seas dispensers. This award from Hunter Industries is given to companies that have made a significant impact in the areas of social responsibility and sustainability.

“At Hunter Industries, sustainability means achieving a balance between our impact on people, the planet and the profits we earn,” said Warren Gorowitz, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Hunter Industries. “We are thrilled to honor Sofidel for its steadfast dedication to sustainability across all facets of its business practices, especially with HyTech Seas dispensers.”

Through extensive research and development, Sofidel recovers plastic waste from the ocean and repurposes it to create the HyTech Seas dispensers for hand towels and toilet paper. One ton of ocean plastic waste can make 484 hand towel dispensers and 582 toilet paper dispensers.

“Sustainability and social responsibility are at the center of everything we do at Sofidel,” said Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of Sofidel. “We are honored to receive this award, and it serves as a demonstration of our continuing commitment to help create a better, sustainable future.”

Sofidel’s CEO Luigi Lazzareschi was presented the award at an event on November 14 during the 2023 ISSA Show North America.

To learn more about the award, visit https://www.hunterindustries.com/news/2023-ann-hunter-welborn-circle-excellence-awards-recognize-industry-leadership-sustainable.

For more information about the Papernet HyTech Seas dispensers, visit https://hytechseas.papernet.com/.

About The Sofidel Group      
The Sofidel Group, a privately held company, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 13 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,800 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development. For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.

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Media Contact: 
Brianna Fitzpatrick 
Mulberry Marketing Communications 
bfitzpatrick@mulberrymc.com