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Press Release

December 7, 2007

United Way Designates Assurant Solutions As ‘Child-friendly Organization’

KINGSTON, Ontario: The United Way serving Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington has designated the Assurant Solutions operations centre in Kingston as a “child-friendly organization.” Assurant Solutions was among 12 Kingston area employers to be so designated in 2007 as part of United Way’s Success By 6 program.

Assurant Solutions was honored on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Success By 6 Council of Partners meeting.

Success By 6 is a United Way-sponsored program designed to build community awareness of the importance of early childhood development. As part of this campaign, United Way has developed a certification program through which employers can achieve the designation “child-friendly.”

“It truly does take a community to raise a child,” said Kathy Burke, vice president, Customer Services, Assurant Solutions Canada. ”When we focus on our smallest citizens and ensure that they are provided the best environment possible in which to thrive, we all will have a much brighter future.”

Assurant Solutions offers a number of benefits that consider the needs of employees with young children:

  • A flexible time-off policy with eight paid emergency absence days, enabling employees to take time off to care for sick children, take them for medical and dental appointments and attend to other needs
  • Employee Assistance Program coverage that provides support for child-rearing and domestic violence protection and prevention programs
  • A designated area for nursing mothers and refrigerators
  • A designated parking for expectant mothers
  • Baby supply gift baskets for all new mothers and fathers on staff
  • Company-sponsored family events
  • Active support and participation in family-oriented affordable housing initiatives, including construction of three Habitat for Humanity family homes over the past three years
  • A charitable giving program that targets agencies, programs and services for children

To qualify for the designation a company is required to meet certain criteria, including maintaining a family-friendly work environment that is supportive of employees with child-raising responsibilities.

About United Way’s Success By 6 Program

United Way Success By 6® is the nation’s largest network of early childhood coalitions, focused on improving school readiness through community change. In more than 350 communities, Success By 6® (SB6) coalitions are changing the way things work so young children come to school ready to succeed.

Operating under local United Way organizations, SB6® coalitions are galvanizing business, government and nonprofit leaders around early learning. For 16 years, SB6® coalitions have been raising awareness of the importance of early childhood development, increasing access to services, advocating for public policies and improving systems – budgets, laws and supports – to improve young children’s lives.

At the national level, United Way Success By 6® provides a strategic framework and support for local innovation. In the last 5 years, more than 500,000 children have benefited from SB6® early learning, childcare, parent education, health, literacy and family resource center programs. www.successby6ofkfla.com

About Assurant Solutions

Assurant Solutions businesses develop, underwrite, market and administer specialty insurance, extended service contracts and other risk management solutions through collaborative relationships with leading financial institutions, retailers, automobile dealers, funeral homes, utilities and other entities. With operations in 25 cities, including executive offices in Atlanta, Ga., Assurant Solutions serves clients and their customers in 13 countries throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. www.assurantsolutions.com

Assurant Solutions is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North American and selected international markets. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. Assurant has over $US25 billion in assets and $US7 billion in annual revenue. www.assurant.com

Media Contact:

James A. Sykes
Director, External Communications
Telephone: 770.763.1015
E-mail: james.sykes@assurant.com

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