ING Run For Something Better is celebrating a big milestone - raising more than $1 million in public donations to help children lead a healthier lifestyle. "We are so pleased about reaching this goal," said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president, ING's Office of Corporate Responsibility and Multicultural Affairs. "It's encouraging that so many people are inspired to support this very important cause that is educating and empowering children to develop healthy exercise habits that will last a lifetime."

Nearly 75,000 children participating in the ING Run For Something Better program have collectively run close to 3 million miles. ING Run For Something Better will reach even more kids today, partnering with New York Road Runners' Run With Champions children's fitness event as part of the 41st ING New York City Marathon race-week activities. Approximately 85 champions for kids' fitness will run in the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 7, to raise additional funds for ING Run For Something Better, including U.S. Navy physician, humanitarian, television personality and endurance athlete Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Baldwin, M.D. Dr. Baldwin is this year's ambassador for the program.

ING Run For Something Better offers free school-based running fitness programs in communities across the nation that challenge children to get active, set goals and realize that fitness can be fun, too. Donations to and fundraising for ING Run For Something Better helps ensure the program continues to serve as a solution to the growing childhood obesity problem in the U.S. by fostering children's desire to exercise before obesity ever begins.

Joining the ING Run For Something Better fundraising team is easy. Anyone can become a champion for kids' fitness as a virtual fundraiser or fundraise for a race in which they are participating. Visit www.orangelaces.com for more information.

About ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in over 40 countries. With a diverse workforce of more than 107,000 people, ING is dedicated to setting the standard in helping our clients manage their financial future.

In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves approximately 30 million customers across the nation.

ING's diversity management philosophy and commitment to workplace diversity, diversity marketing, corporate citizenship and supplier diversity fosters an inclusive environment for employees that supports a distinctive product and service experience for the financial services consumer. For more information, visit ing.us.

About ING Run For Something Better
ING Run For Something Better® helps fund school-based running programs in an effort to combat childhood obesity before it ever begins. Linked to ING's commitment to education, the program helps introduce kids to the benefits of sport, a habit of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Nationally, ING has committed over $2.5 million to fund grants and school-based running programs through ING Run For Something Better. Since 2006, $1 million has also been raised by individual donors through a special charitable fund that encourages others to support the cause through their own contributions. When someone donates $10 or more to ING Run For Something Better, ING will recognize their contribution by giving them a special pair of orange shoelaces to wear showing that they are "tied" to supporting kids' fitness. One hundred percent of the net proceeds go to the ING Run For Something Better fitness programs. For more information about the orange laces, go to www.orangelaces.com.

About the ING Foundation
The ING Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in communities where ING operates and its employees and customers live. Through charitable giving and employee volunteerism, the foundation focuses on programs in the areas of financial literacy, children's education, diversity and environmental sustainability. For more information, visit www.ing-usafoundation.com.

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ING

ING U.S. constitutes the U.S.-based retirement, investment management and life insurance operations of Netherlands-based ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING). In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, including retirement plans, IRA rollovers and transfers, stable value, institutional investment management, mutual funds, alternative investments, life insurance, employee benefits, fixed and indexed annuities and financial planning. ING U.S. holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves approximately 13 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://ing.us.

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