Nationwide Insurance Wins United Way's 2008 Spirit of America(R) Award

United Way of America today presented Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Insurance ® with its highest national honor -- the United Way Spirit of America® Award -- to recognize the company's outstanding commitments to philanthropy, volunteerism, workplace giving and overall partnership with United Way to strengthen communities across the country. Nationwide CEO Jerry Jurgensen accepted the award at the 2008 United Way Community Leaders Conference Awards Gala in Baltimore, Maryland.

Eli Lilly and Company , General Mills, Inc. , Kellogg Company and Kimberly-Clark Corporation were also recognized as 2008 Summit Award winners for their community work.

"Nationwide Insurance exemplifies the United Way Spirit of America Award in every sense, from its volunteer philosophy of transforming lives in critical moments to its strategic philanthropic investments to meet the most pressing needs in communities," said United Way of America President and CEO Brian A. Gallagher. "They are a valued partner and a model of corporate social responsibility in action."

Nationwide Insurance, who also won the Spirit of America Award in 2001 for their 2000 campaign, is only the third company in the history of the Spirit of America Awards Program to win a second time. Nationwide's win is not surprising, considering their strong support of communities and partnership with United Way and many other community partners. In 2007, Nationwide associates, agents and retirees pledged $8.75 million. The Nationwide Foundation matches associate gifts dollar-for-dollar, resulting in a donation of approximately $17 million benefiting 800 local United Ways across the country. Since 2000, the Nationwide Foundation has made grants of more than $190 million to various nonprofits.

Nationwide's commitment to communities does not end with monetary investments. Over 170 Nationwide executives currently serve on more than 200 nonprofit boards throughout the United States. In addition, thousands of Nationwiders are actively engaged in volunteering in their communities through the On Your Side Volunteer Network®. More than 5,500 Nationwide associates have logged more than 72,000 volunteer hours since the program was created in 2005.

Nationwide's strategic community support also includes hands-on partnerships with United Way. For example, Nationwide provided United Way of Central Ohio with housing and services grants for 200 homeless men and women. Nationwide also provided United Way of Delaware County (Ohio) with a grant and volunteers to launch their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) initiative to help hardworking people improve their financial stability. Lastly, Nationwide's call center staff worked hand-in-hand with their local United Way in Gainesville, Florida, to build a 2-1-1 infrastructure so people can call to give and get help. The company also distributes United Way Born Learning materials and hosts mini-seminars for expectant Nationwiders to provide important childhood development information.

"Nationwide is proud to partner with United Way to strengthen the communities we call home," said Jerry Jurgensen, CEO of Nationwide. "It is Nationwide's exceptional associates, agents and retirees who won United Way's Spirit of America Award today, thanks to their dedication and commitment to helping people in need."

In addition to the 2008 Spirit of America Award, United Way presented four other companies with Summit Awards for exceptional performance in: Corporate Philanthropy, Community Investment, Community Volunteerism and/or Community Impact.

2008 Summit Award winners:

--  Eli Lilly and Company - Corporate Philanthropy, Community Impact and
    Community Investment Awards for its commitment to improving lives and
    communities through corporate contributions, employee and retiree
    volunteerism, community partnerships and grant-making. Lilly strategically
    partners with United Way to create measurable, sustainable change in
    communities and supports innovative organizations and programs that focus
    on vital health and human services, education, and public policy research.

--  General Mills, Inc. - Corporate Philanthropy, Community Volunteerism
    and Community Impact Awards for nourishing lives and communities through an
    outstanding commitment to employee and retiree volunteerism, grantmaking
    and generous corporate contributions. General Mills supports innovative
    organizations and programs that improve their communities through focus
    areas that include youth nutrition and fitness, education, arts and
    culture, and social services like family life.

--  Kellogg Company - Corporate Philanthropy Award for strategic corporate
    philanthropy through overall corporate contributions including financial
    giving, expertise and in-kind gifts. In keeping with Kellogg Company's more
    than 100-year heritage of nutrition leadership, its most important
    corporate giving priority is nutrition and fitness. In addition, Kellogg
    supports programs that improve opportunities for minorities and women and
    build stronger communities.

--  Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Community Investment Award for engaging
    and educating employees in support of United Way and local communities.
    This commitment across the company is evident as Kimberly-Clark is
    regularly recognized as the largest contributor in most of the communities
    where it operates.