Deadline For 2006 ING Unsung Heroes Application May 1, 2006

ING, a global financial services leader, today is reminding educators across the country that applications for the 2006 ING Unsung Heroes awards are due May 1, 2006. Educators can get applications by logging on to www.ing.com/us/unsungheroes, by contacting Scholarship America at 800-537-4180, or by asking your local ING representative for more information.

The ING Unsung Heroes program, which began 10 years ago as a way for ING to demonstrate its commitment to the education community, recognizes educators who are helping students reach new academic heights through creative teaching methods.

Each year, 100 finalists are selected to receive a $2,000 ING Unsung Heroes grant, payable to both the winning teacher and his or her school. Winners are selected by Scholarship America, a national non-profit educational support and student service organization.

Of the 100 finalists, three are selected for additional financial awards: $25,000 for first place; $10,000 for second place; and $5,000 for third place. The top winners are selected by ING's Educators Advisory Board, consisting of six distinguished educators from across the United States.

  Winners are announced in the fall.

  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 113,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves more than 15 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com.

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

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