MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 2005--Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life)(R) announced today that it will extend its sponsorship of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation into 2006. Allianz Life is the official insurance company of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and shares their commitment to promote Hispanic pride, culture and accomplishment through comprehensive programs designed to educate, enlighten and inspire.

In 2005, Allianz Life was actively involved in the Foundation's Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards, a program that recognizes the academic excellence and community leadership of Hispanic high-school students across the United States. Allianz Life provided a special contribution to the national winners with an all-expense paid trip to New York City. As part of the trip, an educational workshop was led by Allianz Life representatives who taught the young winners about effective financial planning and covered such topics as personal finances, basic saving and investing, potential financial pitfalls, and long term saving and retirement.

"It has been an honor for Allianz Life to get to know the honorees of the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards and we admire their academic accomplishments and their commitment to the Hispanic community and culture," said Rafael Gutierrez, director of multicultural markets, Hispanic division, Allianz Life. "We look forward to our continued partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation."

Allianz Life will strengthen its partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in 2006 by expanding its efforts to the LOFT program. LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) is an initiative that connects corporations in the United States with previous youth award winners to help strengthen and diversify their workforce. The LOFT program is aligned with Allianz Life's multicultural strategy of becoming the preeminent financial services company for multicultural markets, while promoting diversity throughout the company.

About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life)(R) is a leading provider of fixed and variable annuities, life insurance policies and long term care products in the U.S. Allianz Life is also a major provider of health excess of loss insurance products. Allianz Life is one of the primary companies of the Allianz Group - the 14th largest corporation in the world based on revenue (Fortune, August 1, 2005). Allianz Group is represented with 250 subsidiaries in over 70 countries around the globe, and employs 162,000 people worldwide.
Founded in 1896, Allianz Life is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) celebrates and promotes Hispanic pride, culture, accomplishment and leadership through national and regional educational and inspirational programs focusing on putting Hispanics in a position from which to lead. The 19-year-old, Washington-based nonprofit fulfills its mission through year-round programs including: the Hispanic Heritage Awards, which honors notable Hispanic leaders onstage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and is broadcast on NBC and Telemundo; the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards, a leadership program recognizing outstanding young Hispanic role models by rewarding them with over $500,000 in educational grants and features a Speakers Bureau to inspire their peers; and the LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) initiative which systematically provides corporate America with top Hispanic talent in an effort to bolster and diversify the workforce with a focus on a management track.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

More from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America