Free-of-charge robotic companion helps comfort
18 pediatric cancer and sickle cell patients at Children's of
Alabama
COLUMBUS, Ga., June 6, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- Legendary Alabama
football coach Nick Saban and Aflac
Incorporated, a leading provider of health supplemental insurance
in the U.S., expanded their starting lineup to include My
Special Aflac Duck, a free-of-charge resource
created for children ages 3 and up with cancer and sickle cell
disease. In collaboration with Nick and
Terry Saban and Aflac, Children's of Alabama hosted a special delivery event where 18
patients each received the social robot as part of Aflac's 28-year,
$168-plus million philanthropic
commitment supporting children with cancer and blood disorders.
Since the program began five years ago,
Aflac has delivered more than 23,000 ducks to children
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am happy to work
with Aflac because it's a company of integrity," Coach Saban said.
"As a coach, I've learned the team wins when everyone comes
together, and that is what Aflac has been doing for children with
cancer and blood disorders for nearly 28 years. I am proud to be a
part of this team."
The award-winning, social robot uses medical play, lifelike
movement and mimics emotions to engage and help comfort kids during
their cancer or sickle cell disease journey. It was developed in
partnership with Empath Labs after more than 18 months of
research with children, families and health care providers to help
children cope with their treatments.
"As a committed ally to children with cancer and blood
disorders, Aflac continues our mission to help bring young patients
and their families comfort and joy when needed most through My
Special Aflac Duck," said Aflac U.S. President Virgil Miller. "Since the program began five
years ago, we've delivered more than 23,000 ducks to children in
the United States, Japan and Northern Ireland through hospitals
and disease-focused organizations, free of charge to patients above
the age of 3."
Recipients at the Magic City event participated in a My
Special Aflac Duck demonstration before beginning an exciting
scavenger hunt — including a clue reveal with Ms. Terry and Coach
Saban — to meet their very own robotic companion. Following the
hunt, patients and their families celebrated the new friendship
through various activities like creating a birth certificate and
beaded necklace for their duck, coloring and more.
"Children with cancer or blood disorders, such as sickle cell
disease, spend a lot of time at the hospital, which can lead to
stress or anxiety for these patients," said Emily Hornak, director of Cause Marketing and
Corporate Partnerships at Children's of Alabama. "We are grateful to Aflac and the My
Special Aflac Duck program for providing an innovative resource
to enhance the care experience for the children and the families we
serve."
Additional features of My Special Aflac Duck include an
interactive mobile app that allows children to virtually bathe and
feed their duck, customizable soundscapes that provide soothing
visuals and sounds, smart sensors that enable touch and awareness
of light and sounds, and a calming heartbeat and breathing
vibrations. To help children express themselves, the duck comes
with seven feelings emoji discs that, when tapped to a sensor on
the duck's chest, prompt My Special Aflac Duck to emulate
each emotion. Each My Special Aflac Duck costs about
$200 to manufacture and deliver.
Health care providers, support organizations and families can
order My Special Aflac Duck for children 3 years or older
who have been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease at
https://myspecialaflacduck.com.
ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:
AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial
protection and peace of mind for more than 67 years to millions of
policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S.
and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is
the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance
products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is
the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance policies in
force. In 2021, the company became a signatory of the Principles
for Responsible Investment (PRI). In 2022, the company was included
in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the ninth
year, the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for the 17th
consecutive year, Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for the
22nd time and Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the fourth
consecutive year. To find out how to get help with expenses health
insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com or
aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac
Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility
and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under
"Sustainability."
ABOUT CHILDREN'S OF ALABAMA
Since 1911, Children's of
Alabama has provided specialized
medical care for ill and injured children, offering inpatient,
outpatient and primary care throughout Central Alabama. Ranked among the best
children's hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report,
Children's serves patients from every county in Alabama and nearly every state. Children's is
a private, not-for-profit medical center that serves as the
teaching hospital for the University of
Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pediatric medicine, surgery,
psychiatry, research and residency programs. The medical staff
consists of UAB faculty and Children's full-time physicians, as
well as private practicing community physicians.
Media contact: Jon
Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com
Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or
dyoung@aflac.com
1 LIMRA 2021 US Supplemental Health Insurance Total
Market Report
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SOURCE Aflac