Columbus, Georgia-based insurer aligns with The Latino Coalition to honor Hispanic business leaders throughout the United States with Aflac Civic Awards.

COLUMBUS, Ga., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Aflac announced its alliance with The Latino Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit and nonpartisan policy group, to pay tribute to Hispanic contributors to their communities throughout the United States with the newly created Aflac Civic Awards. Aflac will unveil this new initiative to honor Hispanic business leaders who are active in community service on December 12, 2006, in Los Angeles.

The Aflac Civic Awards will identify and reward Hispanic small business owners for their civic contributions. The award is designed to provide support and promotion for causes served by the winning entrepreneurs.

"There has been so much attention given to the problems that touch the Hispanic community and so little attention given to the remarkable achievements of many Latino entrepreneurs that we wanted to find a way to recognize their contribution," said Paul Amos, executive vice president, chief operating officer of Aflac. "We believe that our partnership with the Latino Coalition and the creation of the Aflac Civic Awards are good first steps toward building a greater understanding of Hispanics' contributions to American society."

Earlier this year, Hispanic Trends magazine recognized Aflac as a corporate leader in doing business with minority-owned companies.

"Aflac has a built-in spirit of service. Their balance between leadership in their industry and civic, charitable and patriotic activities is the model that all corporations should follow. We look forward to working with them in honoring Hispanic small business leaders for their contributions in their respective communities," said Hector Barreto, Chairman of The Latino Coalition.

Aflac's supplier diversity program includes an extensive training initiative that helps educate minority vendors on obtaining procurement opportunities with major corporations. In May, the insurer launched AflacSB, a program offering small companies business tips for growing their organizations. For more details visit aflacsb.com.

About Aflac

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. 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.

About the Latino Coalition

The Latino Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. TLC was established to address policy issues that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States. TLC's agenda is to develop and promote policies that will foster economic equivalency and enhance overall business, economic and social development of Hispanics. For more information, visit www.TheLatinoCoalition.com.

Media Contacts:
Laura Kane
Aflac Incorporated
(706) 596-3493
lkane@aflac.com

Mechell Clark
Aflac Incorporated
706-243-8004
meclark@aflac.com

SOURCE Aflac Incorporated