National Press Club Launches Educational Outreach Campaign Based on Centennial Film

National Press Club Launches Educational Outreach Campaign Based on Centennial Film

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Press Club today announced that Aviva USA, a subsidiary of UK based Aviva plc, the world's fifth-largest insurance group, will underwrite a major U.S. public education campaign to promote the history and future of the National Press Club -- the world's leading professional organization for journalists and journalism.

Aviva USA, which is headquartered in Des Moines, IA, has provided funding for the co-branded production and distribution of 12,000 DVDs and an accompanying brochure linked to the NPC's Centennial documentary, "The National Press Club at 100: A Century of Headlines," to schools of journalism, public libraries and community organizations.

The NPC commissioned award-winning filmmaker Gerald Krell to produce the documentary, which will premiere tonight at the National Press Club. A copy of the documentary will be presented to the Library of Congress at a ceremony prior to the film, so that it may be preserved and catalogued. After the screening, journalistic legends Helen Thomas and Jack Germond will join NPC President Emeritus John Cosgrove and current President Jerry Zremski for a panel discussion of the NPC.

"The National Press Club has a deep and rich history that tells a large part of the story of the development of journalism in America," said Zremski. "We are pleased that Aviva USA, a company with an impressive history and tradition, shares our belief that the story of the Press Club will help transmit journalistic values and traditions to young and aspiring journalists. Aviva USA is a great partner for this worthy project, and we honor them tonight with the presentation of our first National Press Club Centennial Founders Award and are deeply grateful for their generous support."

Tom Godlasky, President and CEO of Aviva USA said: "As a forward-thinking company, Aviva is dedicated to building better tomorrows in American communities and worldwide." He added, "The National Press Club has an illustrious history of promoting the highest professional standards in journalism, and Aviva USA is honored to support this landmark Centennial education program in 2008."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About the National Press Club

With nearly 3,500 members worldwide, the National Press Club has been supporting journalists and the mission and development of journalism for 100 years. http://www.press.org/

About Aviva

Aviva is the leading provider of life insurance and annuities to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth-largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2006.

Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of $76.4 billion and assets under management of $713 billion at 31 December 2006.

http://www.aviva.com/

Aviva USA is the second-largest business within the Aviva group, and it serves more than 1.1 million customers. Aviva had $38.4 billion in assets as of December 31, 2006, and nationally is ranked number one in sales of indexed life insurance and number two in sales of indexed annuities. Aviva has more than 1,200 employees and 37,000 licensed agents throughout the U.S. Aviva USA is committed to helping customers meeting their long-term savings, insurance and retirement income needs.

http://www.avivausa.com/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: National Press Club

CONTACT: Jerry Zremski of the National Press Club, +1-202-246-2396; or
Jonna LaToure of Aviva USA, +1-515-557-3910; Vanessa Rhodes of Aviva plc in
London, +011-44 20-7662-2482; or Tony Culley-Foster of CFCO International,
+1-571-277-2020

Web Site:

http://www.aviva.com/
http://www.avivausa.com/
http://www.press.org/

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