AEGON and Right To Play Announce Global Partnership
04 July 2008 - 5:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, July 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AEGON
N.V. and the international humanitarian organization Right To Play
announce a new global partnership to extend the organization's
mission to help children in deprived areas of Sudan, Uganda, Ghana
and China. AEGON N.V. has donated EUR 1 million as part of a three
year partnership that will extend through the 2010 Winter Olympic
games in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080704/311773 ) Right To
Play, founded by four-time Olympic Gold medalist and current CEO
Johann Olav Koss, uses sport and play programs to improve health,
develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities
in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Currently,
Right To Play has projects in over twenty countries in Africa, Asia
and the Middle East. Its programs target the most vulnerable,
including young girls, the disabled, children affected by HIV and
AIDS, street children, former child combatants and refugees. "AEGON
is honored to join with Right To Play in improving the lives of
children who are forced to endure some of the most desperate
circumstances around the world," said AEGON CEO Alexander
Wynaendts. "We are committed to making a difference in the
communities where we work and live, and also in places where we may
not necessarily be active in business but where we can still help
to create better futures through respected and effective
organizations such as Right To Play." Right To Play was built in
the 1990s on the power and values of sport, demonstrated by the
engagement of Athlete Ambassadors from more than 40 countries who
serve as positive role models and advocates for children. AEGON has
long sponsored high-achieving athletes to support athletic
excellence and reinforce the value it places on teamwork,
communication, respect and trust. The relationship between AEGON
and Right To Play dates back to 2004, when AEGON's Dutch
organization - AEGON The Netherlands - signed a three year
partnership. Among the activities developed by AEGON The
Netherlands to raise funds for and awareness about Right To Play is
the annual AEGON Right To Play Run for its business partners,
employees and their families. Proceeds of the event in 2007,
totaling EUR 340,000, have been used to support Right To Play
activities in regions affected by war, poverty and disease. Johann
Olav Koss stated: "The relationship that AEGON and Right To Play
have built up over the last 4 years has proven itself as a golden
combination. With the expansion of the partnership, we are now
entering a new phase in which AEGON will support Right To Play in
implementing sports and play projects and building capacity and
programs as a basis for future growth of the organization. The
long-term commitment of AEGON and the passionate involvement of its
employees is a great example of a worldwide respected company
taking its social responsibility by contributing to communities in
the most disadvantaged areas in the world." In addition to
supporting Right To Play, AEGON also funds international cancer
research, and other education, social and civic organizations aimed
at addressing quality of life issues and creating opportunity for
people and communities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. AEGON
AEGON is one of the world's largest life insurance and pension
groups, and a strong provider of investment products. AEGON
empowers local business units to identify and provide products and
services that meet the evolving needs of customers, using
distribution channels best suited to local markets. AEGON takes
pride in balancing a local approach with the power of an expanding
global operation. With headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands,
AEGON companies employ approximately 30,000 people worldwide.
AEGON's businesses serve millions of customers in over twenty
markets throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Respect,
quality, transparency and trust constitute AEGON's core values as
the company continually strives to meet the expectations of
customers, shareholders, employees and business partners. AEGON is
driven to deliver new thinking with the ambition to be the best in
the industry. RIGHT TO PLAY Right To Play is a non profit
athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses
specially-designed sport and play programs to improve health, build
life skills, and foster peace for children and communities affected
by war, poverty, disease. Right To Play has projects in more than
twenty countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Its key areas
of focus are basic education and child development, health
promotion and disease prevention, conflict prevention and peace
education, and community development. Group Corporate
Communications & Investor Relations Media relations Phone:
+31-(0)70-344-8344 E-mail: Investor relations Phone:
+31-(0)70-344-8305 or +1-877-548-9668 - toll free USA only E-mail:
Website http://www.aegon.com/
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080704/311773DATASOURCE:
AEGON N.V. CONTACT: Group Corporate Communications & Investor
Relations: Media relations, Phone: +31-(0)70-344-8344, E-mail: .
Investor relations: Phone: +31-(0)70-344-8305 or +1-877-548-9668 -
toll free USA only, E-mail:
Copyright