ING is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of the National Teacher of the Year program for the seventh consecutive year, honoring excellence in education across the nation and joining in a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, May 3, when Michelle Shearer, a high school chemistry teacher in Frederick, Md., will be recognized by President Barack Obama as the 61st National Teacher of the Year. The National Teacher of the Year program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers.

"ING is committed to helping improve student achievement and teachers are the cornerstone of ensuring our youth receive the quality education they deserve," said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president of ING's Office of Corporate Responsibility and Multicultural Affairs. "We extend our congratulations to Mrs. Shearer and all of the state teachers of the year. It's important for ING to join efforts with other organizations in support of educators who are entering the classrooms each day to inspire our youth to achieve a better future."

Shearer teaches Advanced Placement Chemistry at Urbana High School in the Frederick County Public Schools system. Previously, she taught high school science and mathematics at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick. She began her teaching career as a sixth grade general science teacher at New Market Middle School, also in Frederick County.

ING's commitment to education extends beyond the National Teacher of the Year program. The company sponsors the National Superintendent of the Year and partners with organizations such as America's Promise Alliance and Junior Achievement. Through signature programs such as ING Unsung Heroes, ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge and ING Run for Something Better, ING is recognizing teachers for their innovation; ensuring young girls are exposed to financial literacy and helping schools concentrate on one of our country's most pressing issues - childhood obesity.

About ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million residential, corporate and institutional clients in more than 40 countries. With a diverse workforce of about 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, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves nearly 15 million customers across the nation.

ING's diversity management philosophy and commitment to workforce 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 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, connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/act2impact or follow us on Twitter @INGact2impact.

About The National Teacher of the Year
The National Teacher of the Year Program is the oldest and most prestigious awards program for teachers in the country. The National Teacher of the Year Program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), is sponsored by the ING Foundation and Target, in partnership with the University of Phoenix and People To People Ambassador Programs. Please visit www.ntoy.org for additional information.

About The Council of Chief State School Officers
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. The CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress and the public.

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.

More from ING