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ING and the Competitor Group Align to Launch Kids Running Series

ING Announced as Title Sponsor of 2011 KiDS ROCK Events

ING and the Competitor Group Align to Launch Kids Running Series

ING Announced as Title Sponsor of 2011 KiDS ROCK Events

Published 02-01-11

Submitted by ING

Staggering statistics indicate a generation of kids risk becoming the first to see a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

ING is taking steps to change their future by partnering with the Competitor Group, Inc., as the title sponsor of seven KiDS ROCK events across the country, with an estimated 17,000 kids in grades K-7 participating and hopefully developing a love of running and fitness through their experience. KiDS ROCK is a nationwide kids' running series held in conjunction with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. In 2011, ING will title KiDS ROCK events in New Orleans, Dallas, Nashville, San Diego, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Antonio, making it one of the largest kids' running series that will bring awareness to childhood obesity and serve as a solution for many kids who face this epidemic. ING KiDS Rock is supported by the ING Run For Something Better®, ING's charity that champions running and fitness programs in schools across the country.

"We're extremely proud to be a part of an event that is really helping to solve a major crisis facing our country's children," said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president of ING's Office of Corporate Responsibility and Multicultural Affairs. "Through our charity, ING Run For Something Better, and our partnership with KiDS ROCK, we are expanding ING's efforts to combat childhood obesity and making a change that we hope lasts a lifetime for these kids." Over 74,000 kids nationwide participating in the ING Run For Something Better program have run nearly 3 million miles.

As participants in the ING KiDS ROCK program, young athletes become marathon finishers by completing 25.2 miles of a marathon at their own pace using the ING Run For Something Better training program with guidance from parents or teachers. Children can run their miles at home, during recess at school, soccer practice, or wherever and whenever they can. They keep track of their mileage based on the honor system with supervision from a parent, teacher or facilitator. The training guide for ING KiDS Rock also includes tips to help kids start and maintain an overall healthy and active lifestyle.

The modified marathon program is capped off by a non-competitive, non-timed one-mile fun run for kids grades K-7. Each participant will run or walk one mile, cross the finish line and receive a finisher's medal and goodies to commemorate their accomplishment.

"Physical fitness sets kids up for success in life on many levels, and I want every child to have that. Getting kids active is all about making it fun," said Dr. Andy Baldwin, U.S. Navy physician, humanitarian, television personality, endurance athlete and ING KiDS ROCK and ING Run For Something Better ambassador. "Bringing kids' fitness to a nationwide level is crucial to creating awareness and making an impact on childhood obesity. ING KiDS ROCK is an incredible partnership of dedicated organizations and one I'm thrilled to represent."

The partnership will kickoff at ING KiDS ROCK Mardi Gras on Saturday, Feb. 12, in New Orleans. The event takes place at City Park beginning at 9 a.m.

ING KiDS ROCK aligns with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move!, and the program is teaming up with The President's Challenge to reach as many kids as possible across the nation. The President's Challenge promotes physical activity that is fun and that you can do on your own, with friends or with family members. Participants in ING KiDS ROCK can earn awards for staying active and track progress along with other kids across the country.

To register or for more information, visit www.INGKiDSROCK.com.

About ING KiDS ROCK
ING KiDS ROCK is a cumulative marathon program capped by a non-competitive, non-timed one-mile fun run for kids grades K-7. As participants in the ING KiDS ROCK program, young athletes become marathon finishers by completing 25.2 or 12.1 miles of a marathon at their own pace by completing the ING Run For Something Better training program with guidance from parents or teachers and then run the final mile on race day. The event plans to motivate children to live a healthy lifestyle. They can learn early on that running can be fun and goals can be attainable. On race day, each participant will run or walk one mile, cross the finish line and receive a finisher's medal and goodies to commemorate the accomplishment. ING KiDS ROCK takes place in conjunction with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series and has more than 17,000 young participants in 7 cities: New Orleans, Dallas, Nashville, San Diego, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Antonio. More information is available at: www.INGKiDSROCK.com.

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
The 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, over $1 million has also been raised by individual donors through a special charitable fund to encourage others to support the cause by making their own contributions. When someone donates $10 or more to the 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 Competitor Group
Competitor Group, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, CA, is the leading endurance media and event entertainment company dedicated to promoting the sports of running, cycling and triathlon. CGI owns and operates 45 national events delivering more than 350,000 professional and amateur participants in 2010. CGI publishes four magazine titles with a combined monthly circulation of over 800,000 and has recently launched an online endurance community at competitor.com delivering over 1.5 million monthly unique visitors and over 25 million page views. Further information about Competitor and its media properties can be found at www.cgimediakit.com.

ING

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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