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Zurich Classic's Birdies for Books Program Surpasses Goal and Raises $390,000 for the Laura Bush Foundation and Area Schools

Zurich Classic's Birdies for Books Program Surpasses Goal and Raises $390,000 for the Laura Bush Foundation and Area Schools

Published 07-02-07

Submitted by Zurich Financial Services Group

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 2007--Zurich Financial Services, title sponsor of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans PGA TOUR event, today announced that its 2007 Birdies for Books program raised a total of $390,000. These funds will directly benefit the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries' Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative (GCSLRI). The GCSLRI is a special project to help hurricane-impacted Gulf Coast schools purchase new books for their school libraries.

"I am so pleased with the results of the program and my thanks go out to everyone who participated," said First Lady Laura Bush. "This substantial donation will go a long way toward putting books on the shelves and hope in the hearts of teachers and students alike."

"Thanks to some great golf and generous people in New Orleans, schoolchildren in the region will have the books they need to learn and further their education," said James J. Schiro, CEO of Zurich Financial Services. "We are thrilled and grateful that we surpassed our goal to raise $250,000 for the Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative by more than $140,000."

The Birdies for Books program based donations on the number of "birdies" made during the 2007 Zurich Classic. A "birdie" is the term used to designate a score of one stroke under par on a hole. Zurich Financial Services pledged $100 to the Laura Bush Foundation for each birdie made, and encouraged local businesses and tournament spectators to match with a donation at any level.

During the event a total of 1,556 birdies were made by the talented PGA TOUR players. The golfer with the most birdies - 19 in all - was Nick Watney, winner of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Zurich has now donated $155,600 to the Birdies for Books program.

In an incredibly generous contribution, Martha and Gary Solomon, local New Orleanians, donated $150,000 to the program. In addition, Nu-Lite Electrical Wholesalers, the largest independent electrical distributor in the New Orleans area, donated $76,000 to the Fore!Kids Foundation, which was immediately earmarked for Birdies for Books. Other local businesses, including Gennaro's Bar and Restaurant and New Orleans Country Club, also contributed, as well as Houston, Texas-based The Coneway Foundation. As well, generous spectators at the Zurich Classic made donations at booths across the course and TV viewers contributed through BirdiesForBooks.com.

Zurich Classic 2007 champion Nick Watney stated that along with Zurich's announcement of the $390,000 raised, he will personally donate $25,000 to Birdies for Books, making the total donation $415,000. In winning this year's tournament, Watney carded a tournament-leading 19 birdies.

Pamela Willeford, former Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein and now chair of the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries, accepted the donation on behalf of the Foundation.

About Zurich Financial Services

Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 55,000 people serving customers in more than 150 countries. In North America, Zurich(www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, small business, specialties and programs sectors.

About the Fore!Kids Foundation

The Fore!Kids Foundation produces the annual stop on the PGA TOUR in New Orleans. Since its inception, the Foundation has helped to raise more than $15 million for area charities. Additionally, the Fore!Kids Foundation, through the PGA TOUR event, provides an estimated $25 million in annual economic impact to the city and state.
The tournament is televised to an international audience, allowing millions of people to see some of the area's greatest attractions.

About The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries

The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries awards grants to our nation's neediest schools to purchase new books to expand and improve their library book collections. As a fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region in Washington, DC, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded over $3 million to schools in 49 states since its establishment in 2002. The Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative is a special project undertaken by LBF to help Gulf Coast schools as they rebuild and provide needed services to students in their communities.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

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Zurich Financial Services Group

Zurich Financial Services Group

Zurich Financial Services (www.zurich.com) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network that focuses its activities on its key markets in North America and Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Through its offices in more than 50 countries, 62,000 Zurich employees serve clients in more than 120 countries. In North America, Zurich (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, small business (not offered in Canada), specialties and programs sectors. Behind this success is a culture of continuous improvement and a pride in excellence. It comes from 130 years of experience, taking care of the risk protection and wealth creation needs of individuals, businesses and corporations all over the world. With our global spread and cross-business connections, we can draw on the expertise of a worldwide network of Zurich professionals and business partners.

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