ING Focuses Donation on Devastated School Districts

The stories of devastation, destruction and need across the Gulf region are overwhelming. But while there remains an enormous amount of work ahead, there are signs of hope and rebuilding across the area. Nowhere is that more true than the re-opening of schools and the efforts to provide stable learning environments for children.

ING U.S. Financial Services, with the help of the American Association of School Administrators, wants to help bring the power and optimism of education back to the future generations of Louisiana and Mississippi. In order to do that, they are donating money to the 24 hardest-hit school districts in those two states.

"We worked with federal and state authorities to identify the districts that had a critical need for assistance," said William Jasien, senior vice president and head of ING Education Market. "In order to continue this recovery and focus on regaining some sense of normalcy in that region, it is vital that we get our children back into their schools with proper supplies and get the teachers back to doing what they do best -- educating our most precious resource."

ING, a leader in providing retirement services to K-12 teachers in the U.S., is donating $275,000 over the next few weeks at two separate events -- one in Louisiana, one in Mississippi. The Mississippi event will take place on Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. in the North Atrium of the Mississippi Department of Education in Jackson, MS. ING is donating the money to AASA who will help distribute the checks to the superintendents.

The donations will range from $10,000 - $15,000 per school district. ING and AASA have invited the superintendents of each school district to receive the money directly at these events.

The $275,000 is in addition to the $1 million that ING has already donated to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief.

"I believe one of the key messages here is that the Gulf region is rebuilding and getting stronger by the day and corporate citizens like ING are helping make that happen," said Paul Houston, executive director of AASA. "Our membership is committed to getting their districts up and running again and showing that nothing can stand in the way of providing a quality education to their students."

For more information, contact Caroline Campbell at 212-309-5931 or caroline.campbell@us.ing.com, ING; contact Barbara Knisely Michelman at 703-875-0723 or bknisely@aasa.org, AASA.

About ING:

ING Group is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of more than 112,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

ING is a leader in providing 403(b) plans to kindergarten through 12th grade educators and other employees of nonprofit organizations in America. In the U.S., ING offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients that includes retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, life insurance, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. Currently, ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves more than 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.ing.com/.

About AASA:

The American Association of School Administrators, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries. AASA's mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children.

SOURCE: ING U.S. Financial Services

CONTACT: Caroline Campbell of ING U.S. Financial Services,
+1-212-309-5931, or caroline.campbell@us.ing.com; or Barbara Knisely Michelman
of AASA, +1-703-875-0723, or bknisely@aasa.org

Web site: http://www.ing.com/us