ING Reaffirms Commitment to Educators Around the US by Sponsoring The National Teacher of the Year Program for Third Year in a Row

ING, a global financial services leader, today announced it is sponsoring the National Teacher of the Year Program, a project by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), for the third consecutive year. ING executives will join officials of CCSSO at the White House today as President George W. Bush names Andrea Peterson of Granite Falls, Washington as the 2007 National Teacher of the Year. All State Teachers of the Year will also be on hand for the celebration.

"By sponsoring the National Teacher of the Year program, we are able to celebrate teachers across the country," said Bill Jasien, senior vice president and head of education and retail market distribution, ING. "We believe in honoring excellence in education and supporting those educators who are committed and devoted to teaching our children."

Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation said, "While ING's primary objective is to help educators manage their financial resources, providing retirement programs and planning to hundreds of thousands of educators across the country, we also believe in the importance of giving back and recognizing their hard work in the classroom."

Today, Andrea Peterson will be named the 2007 National Teacher of the Year. Peterson is a music teacher (grades 1-6) at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Granite Falls, Washington. She has taught at the school of 500 students for all 10 of her years in the education profession, the last eight years full time. All State Teachers of the Year, including the three other National finalists: Justin Minkel of Arkansas, Joshua M. Anderson of Kansas, and Tamra A. Tiong of New Mexico, will be honored at the White House ceremony as well.

ING also honors excellence in education through the ING Unsung Heroes grant program, which recognizes teachers for their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and the ability to make a positive influence on the children they teach.

"The Foundation focuses its giving on financial literacy and children. We collaborate with organizations like Junior Achievement and Operation Hope through volunteer efforts, grants and sponsorships," added Mims.

The National Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by ING, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The program, which began in 1952, is the oldest and most prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching.

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 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of more than 120,000 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 http://www.ing.com/.

Press inquiries:

Caroline Campbell, ING, 212-309-5931 or caroline.campbell@us.ing.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: caroline.campbell@us.ing.com

SOURCE: ING U.S. Financial Services

CONTACT: Caroline Campbell of ING U.S. Financial Services,
+1-212-309-5931, caroline.campbell@us.ing.com

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