COLUMBUS, Ga., May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated,
a leader in supplemental insurance at U.S. worksites, today
announced a $1 million donation to
Crisis Text Line. A global, not-for-profit organization
established in 2013 and specializing in mental health intervention,
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support to
people in crisis via SMS texting. Aflac's donation will help fund
the organization's new campaign, For the Frontlines, aimed at
helping individuals battling the COVID-19 crisis in the U.S.
Crisis Text Line responds to thousands of texts each day from
individuals experiencing mental or emotional distress and has
reported an increase in communication with frontline workers and
their family members impacted by the pandemic. Individuals seeking
crisis counseling who text FRONTLINE to 741741 are connected
to trained counselors who provide support in dealing with issues
such as anxiety, stress, fear and isolation and help them identify
coping strategies and other resources.
"The physical toll this pandemic has levied against so many
people has been profound," Aflac Incorporated Chairman and CEO
Dan Amos said. "An equally and
sometimes greater emotional impact has been felt by the frontline
and essential workers who have faced this virus head-on for months,
without relief, in areas like New York
City and other communities. Aflac Incorporated wants to
recognize these dedicated heroes by providing this donation of
$1 million to Crisis Text Line, who
will use it to assist those enduring unbearable mental and
emotional fatigue."
"When you're sinking and you reach up for a hand, Aflac and
Crisis Text Line are those hands you want to be there. And right
now, a lot of folks could use a strong hand. We want to thank Aflac
for this generous donation that will help us help frontline workers
and others in need," said Nancy Lublin, Co-Founder and CEO of
Crisis Text Line.
In April, Aflac Incorporated donated a total of $5 million to the Global Center for Medical
Innovation (GCMI) and Direct Relief to manufacture and deliver
personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medical items to
health workers responding to the coronavirus. The company also
donated ¥500 million to similar organizations in Japan, where Aflac generates more than 70% of
its revenues.
As part of its overall pandemic response, Aflac has addressed
the needs of policyholders, employees, 1099 independent agents who
sell Aflac products, and the local communities where Aflac and
Aflac Group Insurance are headquartered.
"We are pleased that Aflac Incorporated is able to step up and
do our share to help communities and individuals in crisis," said
Aflac Incorporated President and COO Fred
Crawford. "Like all responsible businesses across the
country, we understand there are extraordinary challenges caused by
COVID-19 that require attention. Providing assistance to people in
distress aligns with our core mission, and that of our partners and
shareholders, of being there for people in their time of
need."
About Aflac Incorporated
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:
AFL) is a Fortune 500 company, helping provide protection to more
than 50 million people through its subsidiaries in Japan and the U.S., where it is a leading
supplemental insurer by paying cash fast when policyholders get
sick or injured. For more than six decades, insurance policies of
Aflac Incorporated's subsidiaries have given policyholders the
opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. Aflac Life
Insurance Japan is the leading provider of medical and cancer
insurance in Japan where it
insures 1 in 4 households. For 14 consecutive years, Aflac
Incorporated has been recognized by Ethisphere as
one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2020, Fortune
included Aflac Incorporated on its list of World's Most Admired
Companies for the 19th time, and Bloomberg added Aflac Incorporated
to its Gender-Equality Index, which tracks the financial
performance of public companies committed to supporting gender
equality through policy development, representation and
transparency. To find out how to get help with expenses health
insurance doesn't cover, get to know us
at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol.
About Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line provides
free, 24/7, confidential support for people in crisis via text.
Crisis Counselors complete a 30-hour training and have 24/7
supervision by full-time Crisis Text Line mental health
professionals. In the US, Text CRISIS to 741741 to be connected to
a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line currently offers its
service in the USA, UK,
Canada, and Ireland.
Aflac | Aflac NY | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999.
Media contact
–
|
Aflac - Jon A.
Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or Jsullivan@aflac.com
|
|
Crisis Text Line
– Ashley Womble, 212-729-7797 or
press@crisistextline.org
|
Analyst and
investor contact –
|
David A. Young,
706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com
|
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SOURCE Aflac