ING Honors Excellence in Education Through Sponsorship of National Teacher of the Year Program

ING, a global financial services leader, today announced its fifth consecutive year as title sponsor of the National Teacher of the Year Program, a project by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). ING will join officials of CCSSO at the White House today as President Barack Obama names Anthony Mullen of Greenwich, Conn., as the 2009 National Teacher of the Year. All State Teachers of the Year will attend the celebration.

"ING is pleased to honor teachers for their excellence in education and congratulate Mr. Mullen for his devotion to teaching," said Catherine Smith, CEO, ING U.S. Retirement Services. "At ING we are focused on making it easier for educators to manage their financial futures by providing retirement programs and planning, but we also understand the important role they play in shaping today's youth for tomorrow's challenges. Recognizing teachers through this program is just one way we can demonstrate our support for everything they do to inspire our youth."

Today, Anthony Mullen will be named the 2009 National Teacher of the Year. Mullen is a 9th through 12th grade special education teacher at The ARCH School, an alternative education branch of Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn. He is the 59th National Teacher of the Year. Mullen will begin a year as a full-time national and international spokesperson for education on June 1, 2009.

"ING's commitment to education is comprehensive," said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation. "We not only honor educators for their excellence in the classroom, but through our charitable giving and employee volunteerism, we are helping to enhance student achievement."

ING has a number of signature programs that focus on education. The ING Unsung Heroes grant program recognizes teachers for their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and the ability to make a positive influence on the children they teach. In addition, the company supports teachers in their efforts to address childhood obesity. The ING Run For Something Better awards program offers grants to schools that want to establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one. Through the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge, girls in participating Girls Inc. affiliates are receiving practical, hands-on investment experience while keeping their gains in the form of college scholarships.

The National Teacher of the Year Program, the oldest and most prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching, began in 1952.

About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 40 countries. With a diverse workforce of about 125,000 people, ING is dedicated to setting the standard in helping our clients manage their financial future.

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 supports a distinctive product and service experience for the financial services consumer.

  For more information, visit www.ing.com/us.

  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.

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Rhonda Mims

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=86660

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

SOURCE: ING

CONTACT: Press inquiries: 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/us