ING Run For Something Better Supports Youth Fitness

Global financial services company ING has established its ING Run For Something Better program, the charitable companion to its ING Georgia Marathon sponsorship designed to raise funding for free running programs for Atlanta-area children through Atlanta Public School middle schools.

Runners and spectators alike can make donations that will benefit the Atlanta Public Schools' running programs, this year being piloted at Brown, Inman, Price and Sutton Middle Schools. Everyone who donates $10 or more will get a special pair of orange shoelaces to wear in support of being "tied" to youth running.

Donations can be made at http://www.orangelaces.com/, the ING Georgia Marathon Expo, or 25 retail locations around Atlanta, including Moe's, Planet Smoothie, The Big Peach and others.

"We are encouraging everyone in Atlanta - whether they are running the marathon or cheering - to donate and wear their orange laces as a visible way to show their support for healthy and active children," said Tom Waldron, executive vice president, ING Americas.

More than 250 students will complete a 13.1-mile half marathon by running 12 miles during physical education classes and the final 1.1 miles across the ING Georgia Marathon finish line on race day. In the fall, the program will expand to all 16 middle schools and increase the students' running to the 26.2-mile marathon.

By 2010, ING hopes to make the program available to all 3,000 middle school kids in Atlanta, making the running total jump to 78,600 miles -the equivalent of the children of Atlanta running around the Earth more than three times.

"With childhood obesity a leading health concern, ING believes that by funding free running programs in schools, it can help kids get a healthier start to life. The sport of running helps build stronger bodies and minds, which can help build better communities," said Waldron. "The ING Run For Something Better orange laces program is our commitment to help ensure every child gets a healthy start to life through fitness."

NOTE: The orange laces will be used to fund youth fitness programs in select markets. The amount of an individual's contribution is tax deductible, less the cost of the merchandise, valued at $1. Funds will be managed and allocated by the ING Foundation.

ABOUT ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 112,000 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 offer 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 over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.ing.com/

About the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon

The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, to be held on Sunday, March 25, is Georgia's first neighborhood-based marathon and half marathon. It will travel through 26.2 miles (and 13.1 miles for the half marathon) of the Metro Atlanta area's most interesting and historic areas including the Sweet Auburn District, Inman Park, Decatur, Midtown and Downtown. Along the way, it will pass landmarks including the King Center, Carter Center, Margaret Mitchell House and finish at Underground Atlanta. The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon includes a marathon, half-marathon and a wheelchair half-marathon. Volunteers, spectators and participants can get information about the route, expo, the ING Neighborhood Challenge, Cheering Zones, and more at: http://www.inggeorgiamarathon.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: christina.divigard@us.ing.com

SOURCE: ING U.S. Financial Services

CONTACT: Christina Divigard of ING, +1-860-723-2293,
christina.divigard@us.ing.com; or Gregory Hendricks of MS&L, +1-404-870-6823,
gregory.hendricks@mslpr.com

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