Aflac combines baseball and cancer research at Turner Field with
the Atlanta Braves
COLUMBUS, Ga., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac has announced that 1B Jason
Heyward from McDonough's Henry County High School and LHP Joshua Smoker from
Sugar Valley's Calhoun High School have been named to the 2006 Aflac All-
American High School Baseball Classic roster where they will compete in a game
benefiting pediatric cancer research and treatment. The high school athletes
will be honored on field during a pre-game ceremony at Turner Field on June 1
where they will be presented with their official team jersey by Atlanta Braves
third baseman Chipper Jones. Justin Jackson, a SS from T.C. Roberson High
School in Asheville, N.C. will also be honored during the pre-game event.
The fourth annual Aflac Classic is a showcase of the country's top rising
high school seniors in an East versus West match-up. The game will be played
on Aug. 12 at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium broadcast live on Fox
Sports Net at 3 p.m. Eastern. As a part of Aflac's ongoing commitment to the
fight against childhood cancer, all game proceeds from the 2006 Aflac All-
American High School Baseball Classic will benefit the San Diego Children's
Hospital.
The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic is endorsed by many of
the game's pillars, including Major League Baseball. Baseball legend Reggie
Jackson will serve as the game's honorary chairman.
"I'm proud to be associated with such an elite event," Jackson said. "The
Aflac All-American game stands for more than just excellence in youth
baseball; it also represents an important bridge to the community through
Aflac's dedication and commitment to pediatric cancer research and treatment.
Together, Aflac and its event partners teach these outstanding young athletes
how to be role models both on and off the field."
The newly named All-Americans will also take part in a meet and greet
session with Braves players and patients from the Aflac Cancer Center during a
picnic held in the Right Field Hospitality Area of the stadium prior to the
night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Festivities will include a
bubble gum blowing contest between players and patients hosted by Aflac and
the Rally Foundation.
Since 1995, Aflac's support has helped make the Aflac Cancer Center and
Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta one of the leading
childhood cancer hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs in the
country. Aflac recently surpassed the $20 million mark in donations to the
Aflac Cancer Center.
"For the past three years, the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic has
successfully combined sporting excitement with our core philanthropic focus,"
said Al Johnson, 2nd Vice President, Advertising and Branding at Aflac. "We
look forward to continuing to support the fight against pediatric cancer while
showcasing America's most talented high school baseball players."
Today's announcement is the latest official stop of the 2006 Aflac
National Selection Tour. The selection tour is a multi-city tour that travels
to the hometowns of the Aflac All-Americans to announce their official
selection to the team. Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer, an organization dedicated
to pediatric cancer treatment and research is the official beneficiary for
each Aflac tour stop.
Baseball America and Perfect Game are the official selection partners for
the event and choose the players for their accomplishments both on, and off
the field, including their involvement in the community.
Sports America, Inc., is a sports marketing and event management firm
based out of Rockville, Md., which created and currently produces the Aflac
Classic. Sports America also produces the McDonald's All-American High School
Basketball Game and Jordan Classic High School All-Star Basketball Game.
To learn more about the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic,
or dates and stops on the official selection tour, visit
www.aflacallamerican.com.
For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the
opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting
medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of
guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one
insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan.
Aflac's insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people
worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine's listing of America's
Most Admired Companies for six consecutive years and Forbes magazine's
Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies for five consecutive years.
In January 2006, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best
Companies to Work For in America for the eighth consecutive year. Aflac was
also included in Fortune magazine's list of the Top 50 Employers for
Minorities in August 2005, and in September 2005, Aflac Japan was named the
Life Insurance Company of the Year at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards,
sponsored by the Asia Insurance Review. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500
company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find
out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO)
Media Contacts:
Tim Turner Mechell Clark
Aflac Incorporated Aflac Incorporated
706-243-5594 706-243-8004
trturner@aflac.com meclark@aflac.com
SOURCE Aflac Incorporated
-0- 06/01/2006
/CONTACT: Tim Turner, +1-706-243-5594, or trturner@aflac.com, or Mechell
Clark, +1-706-243-8004, or meclark@aflac.com, both of Aflac Incorporated/
/Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/
/Web site: http://www.aflacallamerican.com
http://www.aflac.com/
(AFL)
CO: Aflac Incorporated; Rally Foundation; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta;
Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer; Sports America, Inc.; Aflac All-American
High School Baseball Classic
ST: Georgia, California
IN: INS SPT MTC HEA EDU
SU: CSR CHI
DL-JE
-- CLTH046 --
8085 06/01/2006 09:37 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com