ING Run for Something Better to be Featured at 2008 Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference

Pamela Bishop, head of cause related marketing for ING Financial Services, will be a featured presenter at the 2008 Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference (RWRFC) on February 28 at Atlanta's Renaissance Waverly Hotel. Bishop will speak at 4:00 p.m. EST, providing an overview of ING's successful cause-marketing program, the ING Run for Something Better.

ING, one of the world's leading financial services companies, is a sponsor of premier distance running events across the country. Races include the ING New York City Marathon, as well as the ING Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon, which takes place in Atlanta on March 30.

The ING Run for Something Better was established as a charitable companion to ING's race sponsorships. It provides funding for free school-based running programs and encourages a healthy, active lifestyle in the fight against childhood obesity. Since its inception in 2003, the ING Run for Something Better has reached thousands of children, parents and teachers nationally with a positive message about fitness. The program has donated more than one million dollars to youth running initiatives and has committed two million dollars through 2010. ING also launched the Orange Laces Charitable Fund in 2006, a campaign which allows the public to join in this effort.

"Building connections with communities and helping young people lead healthy lives has been the cornerstone of the ING Run for Something Better," noted Bishop. "We're thrilled with the program's success. Besides promoting health and self-esteem, it introduces young people to setting bigger goals in life, like passing tests, graduating from college or planning one's finances."

In addition to the presentation, the ING Run for Something Better will also benefit from a unique, fundraising event set up for conference attendees. To start the day, attendees are encouraged to support school running programs by working out in the hotel fitness center between 6:30 am and 8:00 am. For every participant who runs on a treadmill, rides an exercise bike or swims laps in the pool, the RWRFC will donate $20 to ING's Run for Something Better.

David Hessekiel, president of the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council, will present a check to Bishop during her conference presentation.

"The future of athletic event fundraising depends on a steady supply of healthy active people to run, walk, ride, swim, climb and otherwise work up a sweat for good causes," said Hessekiel. "We're 'walking the talk' this morning to support ING's Run for Something Better because it's all about getting kids moving. It's the incubator for our future participants."

Media are invited to attend the conference and the fundraising event for interviews and photo opportunities. Other conference highlights will include the release of the Run Walk Ride Thirty, an annual ranking of America's top athletic fundraising programs, and presentations by industry experts on topics such as sponsorship, online fundraising strategy and legal issues.

  Press inquiries:
  Joe Loparco                           David Hessekiel
  ING Americas                          Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference
  Office:  860.580.2677                 A division of Cause Marketing Forum
  Cell:  860.462.6525                   Tel: (914) 921-3914
  joseph.loparco@us.ing.com             dh@runwalkride.com

  About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 75 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 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 over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com.

About the ING Run for Something Better

The ING Run for Something Better is a fundraising campaign that supports community and school-based running programs. Linked to ING's long-distance race sponsorships, the program was created to introduce kids to the benefits of sport, a habit of physical fitness, and a healthy lifestyle that prevents conditions such as childhood obesity. In today's world of poor nutrition and less-active lifestyles -- which may contribute to childhood obesity -- ING is using its position as a sponsor of marathons worldwide as a platform for helping kids get fit through free school-based running programs. ING's goal is to invest in the health of American children by donating $2 million to running programs to get 500,000 kids running by 2010. ING has also created a special charitable fund to encourage others to support the cause by making their own contribution. When someone donates $10 or more to the ING Run for Something Better, ING will recognize their contribution by giving them a special pair of orange shoelaces to wear showing that they are "tied" to supporting kids' fitness. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of orange laces go to the ING Run for Something Better fitness programs. For more information about the orange laces, go to www.orangelaces.com.

About the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council

The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council was launched in May 2007 to support the professionals who manage the events that raise in excess of $1 billion a year for American charities. The council seeks to fill communication gaps that have left thousands of event managers without easy access to the statistics and best practice information that could help them improve and expand their programs. For more information, visit www.runwalkride.com.

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SOURCE: ING Financial Services

CONTACT: Joe Loparco of ING Americas, +1-860-580-2677, Cell:
+1-860-462-6525, joseph.loparco@us.ing.com; or David Hessekiel of Run Walk
Ride Fundraising Conference, A division of Cause Marketing Forum,
+1-914-921-3914, dh@runwalkride.com

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