Latest award recognizing insurer’s ground-breaking support, focus on abilities
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) announced today it has received the 2009 Paralympic Amazing Investor Award from U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, in recognition of its long-time support of disabled sports organizations and athletes.
U.S. Paralympics presents the Paralympic Amazing Investor Award to a person or organization that has been instrumental in the creation of resources in support of the Paralympic movement. The Hartford is the founding sponsor of U.S. Paralympics, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting and training elite athletes with physical disabilities.
“We are honored to receive the 2009 Paralympic Amazing Investor Award. We believe the athletes of U.S. Paralympics are amazing. They are the true embodiment of our Ability Philosophy - that success is possible when we focus on abilities, not limitations,” said Ron Gendreau, executive vice president of The Hartford’s Group Benefits Division. “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue helping them reach their dreams.”
“This award recognizes The Hartford’s ground-breaking leadership in the Paralympic sport movement,” said Charlie Huebner, chief of Paralympics, USOC. “Because of The Hartford’s long-standing commitment and enthusiastic support, thousands upon thousands of athletes have had opportunities to achieve success in and out of the sports arena.”
In presenting the award during the 2009 Developing Amazing Leaders Paralympic Conference on April 17 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Huebner praised the personal commitment by The Hartford’s employees, noting the many hours that they volunteer in support of Paralympic programs. “This award is for their amazing engagement,” he said.
In addition to the 2009 Paralympic Amazing Investor Award, The Hartford recently received two additional honors for its lengthy history of helping people of all abilities, through its products, services, research, and philanthropy. The Hartford was named to the Top 50 Employers List by CAREERS & the disABLED magazine and is the recipient of the 2009 Disability Matters award presented by Springboard Consulting LLC in partnership with Work Life Matters magazine.
The Hartford’s investment in the abilities of U.S. Paralympic athletes began 15 years ago this month, with the launch of Team Ability, a group of elite disabled athletes. In 2003, The Hartford increased its support by becoming the first company to forge a multi-year agreement exclusively with U.S. Paralympics. This past December, The Hartford renewed its commitment by extending its support through the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
“The elite athletes of U.S. Paralympics are powerful, positive role models for our disability claimants. They demonstrate that the healing power of sports, and they show that with the right resources and support, what one’s heart, mind and body can accomplish is limitless,” said Gendreau.
As part of its partnership, The Hartford sponsors and organizes more than 200 events with Paralympic athletes throughout the United States annually. A majority are educational programs to promote awareness among Americans - particularly within the business community - about the value that employees with disabilities bring to the workplace.
About The Hartford
The Hartford is one of the nation's largest financial services companies and a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and Ireland. The Hartford's Internet address is
www.thehartford.com.
HIG-L
Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.
Contacts:
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Kelly J. Carter,
860-843-9420
Kelly.Carter@hartfordlife.com
or
David
Potter, 860-843-8993
david.potter1@hartfordlife.com