ING Receives Corporate Vision Award

Financial services leader ING today received the 2009 Corporate Vision Award from Girls Incorporated for the company's efforts to create new opportunities for women, achieve success through risks and innovation, and serve as career role models for girls and young women. In 2009, the ING Foundation, the charitable giving arm of ING, partnered with Girls Inc. to launch the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge. The investment challenge is a financial literacy-empowerment program that gives girls real experience managing money, allowing them to keep their gains in the form of college scholarships. Employee volunteers assist Girls Inc. professionals in delivering the curriculum, guiding the girls in making investment decisions and serving as mentors and role models. "ING is a trailblazing corporation that demonstrates true commitment to providing growth and advancement opportunities for women and multicultural people throughout the company," said Joyce Roche, president and CEO of Girls Inc. "This dedication clearly extends to the next generation of women as demonstrated by ING's support of innovative programs for girls that develop critical economic-literacy skills and allow them to observe women in top management roles."

Thomas J. McInerney, ING Group executive board member, chairman and chief executive officer, ING Americas, accepted the award on behalf of ING. "We are honored to receive the 2009 Corporate Vision Award," said McInerney. "We believe that partnering with Girls Inc. through our ING Foundation to teach girls fundamental investing principles and practices, while helping them to invest towards their long-term education, will make it easier for them to achieve a better future. Given today's market volatility, what better time for the girls to learn about long-term investing, experiencing first-hand the importance of quality investments, diversification and asset allocation." The ING Foundation's areas of focus include financial literacy, children's education and diversity with an emphasis on financial empowerment, particularly among underserved communities such as multicultural youth.

The other 2009 honorees include Linda Spradley Dunn, CEO/publisher, Odyssey Media; Eileen Fisher, founder and chief creative officer, EILEEN FISHER, Inc.; Kim K.W. Rucker, senior vice president and general counsel, Avon Products, Inc.; and Mary Beth West, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Kraft Foods Inc.

About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million residential, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of about 125,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes 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 29 million customers across the nation.

ING's diversity management philosophy and commitment to workforce diversity, diversity marketing, corporate citizenship and supplier diversity fosters an inclusive environment for employees that support a distinctive product and service experience for the financial services consumer.

  For more information, visit www.ing.com.

  About the ING Foundation

The ING Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities where ING operates and its employees and customers live. Through charitable giving and employee volunteerism, the foundation focuses on sustainable programs in the areas of financial literacy, children's education and diversity.

  For more information, visit www.ing-usafoundation.com.

  About Girls Incorporated

Girls Incorporated® is a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold(SM). With local roots dating to 1864 and national status since 1945, Girls Inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls and their communities through research-based programs and advocacy that empower girls to reach their full potential and understand, value, and assert their rights. In 2007, Girls Inc. reached over 900,000 girls through Girls Inc. affiliates, its website, www.girlsinc.org and educational publications.

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First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: Audria.Benn@us.ing.com

SOURCE: ING

CONTACT: Audria (Aud) Belton Benn, ING, Office: +1-770-980-5715, Cell:
+1-404-934-8743, audria.benn@us.ing.com

Web Site: http://www.ing.com/