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The Humana Foundation Honored for Philanthropic Work

The Humana Foundation Honored for Philanthropic Work

Published 04-26-07

Submitted by Humana Inc.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2007--The Humana Foundation announced today that it is the recipient of two national awards honoring philanthropic work for the Humana Romanian Assistance Project and the company's three decades of support of the American theatre through the Humana Festival of New American Plays. The Humana Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM).

The Council on Foundations will be honoring The Humana Foundation with a Critical Impact Award for its 16-year effort to transform the Romanian health system, damaged by 40 years of Communist rule. In a letter to the Foundation, The Council on Foundations called Humana's success in Romania "extraordinary." In bestowing the award, they acknowledged the foundation's innovative leadership and bold vision in enhancing the common good through effective grantmaking.

The Romanian Assistance Project began in 1990 when then President Bush contacted Humana's then chief executive officer, David A. Jones, encouraging him and other American business leaders to assist in the newly emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. Enlisting the help of Boone Powell, Jr., then CEO of Baylor Health Care System, the Romanian Assistance Project began sending medical teams to Romania in September 1990, visiting hospitals, clinics and orphanages. Three hundred and twenty American volunteers have visited Romania, and 340 Romanian
physicians and nurses have received training in Louisville and Dallas.

"The Romanian Assistance Project is the most meaningful philanthropic project I have ever seen," Mr. Jones said. "I am very grateful to the hundreds of dedicated health professionals who volunteered their time and talent to this wonderful initiative."

Former Romanian Minister of Health Mircea Maiorescu said, "The Humana/Baylor programs have changed the destiny of a whole generation of children in Romania."

As a by-product of this project, there now exists a new Division of International Pediatrics at the University of Louisville. In 2006, The Humana Foundation and the Jones family donated $1 million each, which was matched by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, providing a $4 million endowment to replicate the project model in other countries.

The Critical Impact Award will be accepted by Mr. Jones, immediate past chair and founder of The Humana Foundation, at ceremonies to be held April 30, 2007, in Seattle.

The Humana Foundation has also been chosen as recipient of the 2007 Theatre Communications Group Corporate Funder Award. Teresa Eyring, newly appointed TCG executive director said, "Humana's support
of American theatre has been longstanding and has impacted an unrivaled number of theatre artists and audiences. The Humana Festival for New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville has nurtured the careers of artists across the country, and has had a profound impact on the shape of American theatre today."

The 31st annual Humana Festival of New American Plays ended April 7, 2007, and featured ten premieres by emerging and established playwrights. The Festival draws more than 26,000 patrons annually, and an estimated 90 million people worldwide have seen a play that originated at the Festival. Three - D. L. Coburn's The Gin Game, Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart and Donald Margulies' Dinner with Friends -- have won Pulitzer Prizes. Several other Humana Festival plays have been nominated for Pulitzer Prizes. Additionally, six Humana plays have won the American Theatre Critics Award, and four have won an Obie Award. In 2004, Variety acknowledged the Humana Festival as "the leading showcase of new American works for the theatre."

Humana's 30-plus years of support is believed to be the longest running corporate sponsorship of performing arts in the United States.

About The Humana Foundation

The Humana Foundation was established in 1981 as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. A private foundation located in Louisville, Kentucky--the site of Humana's corporate headquarters--The Humana Foundation supports and nurtures charitable activities that guide others toward decisions promoting healthy lives and healthy communities.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 11.3 million medical members. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

Over its 46-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:

-- Annual reports to stockholders;

-- Securities and Exchange Commission filings;

-- Most recent investor conference presentations;

-- Quarterly earnings news releases;

-- Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls;

-- Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call
dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research
analysts and institutional investors);

-- Corporate Governance Information.

About The Council on Foundations

The Council on Foundations is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit membership association of more than 2,000 grantmaking foundations and corporations, with assets totaling more than $282 billion. The Council is a vision and voice of philanthropy and a partner at the global level. The Council provides the opportunity, leadership and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance and sustain their ability to advance the common good.

About The Theatre Communications Group

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, offers a wide array of services in line with its mission: to strengthen, nurture, and promote the professional not-for-profit American theatre. Through its artistic, management, and international programs, advocacy activities, and publications, TCG seeks to increase the organizational efficiency of its member theatres, cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the field, and promote a larger public understanding of and appreciation for the theatre field. TCG has over 440 member theatres nationwide.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

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