COLUMBUS, Ga., June 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary Hall of Fame Athlete
turned University of Colorado Boulder
Head Football Coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders joined Aflac, a
leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S., on
Monday, to deliver My Special Aflac Ducks at Children's
Hospital Colorado. The social robotic duck provides comfort to
pediatric patients with cancer and sickle cell disease by helping
them prepare for medical procedures, communicate their feelings,
practice distraction techniques and more. From championships and
personal achievements on the gridiron to both the Pro and College
Football Halls of Fame, Coach Prime matches his on-field passion
with his desire to give back to the community.
"This is my second My Special Aflac Duck delivery, and
I'm so honored and humbled to spend some time with these incredibly
strong and brave kids," said Coach Prime. "I jumped at the chance
to bring joy to these patients and their families in the
Colorado community. These
deliveries with Aflac are a BLESSING. I'm talking about
inspiration and being a part of something greater than myself. It's
rewarding beyond words."
My Special Aflac Duck is distributed free of charge
to children ages 3 and up who are diagnosed with cancer or sickle
cell disease. The robotic companion was designed in consult with
more than 100 children, families and medical professionals in
partnership with Empath Labs to produce the comforting, lifelike
movements, medical play and many more features that bring cheer.
My Special Aflac Duck was the focus of a three-year clinical
study spearheaded by researchers at Emory
University and conducted at eight hospitals across the
country. The study, released in April, shows that My Special
Aflac Duck helps pediatric patients with cancer cope with
treatment-related distress and anxiety. The duck was named one
of Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions and named Best in Show at CES
and South by Southwest in 2018.
The pediatric patients went on a scavenger hunt through the
hospital before the children were surprised with their new, cuddly
companions to keep, complete with a birth certificate where the
child names their new friend.
"The joy on the faces of the kids and their caregivers at
Children's Hospital Colorado, knowing they will find comfort, is at
the heart of the My Special Aflac Duck program," said Aflac
Executive Garth Knutson. "The recent
clinical study confirms what we've always believed — the duck helps
reduce stress and anxiety for children facing cancer and sickle
cell disease. This resource, gifted today with Coach Prime,
exemplifies the spirit of giving back and offering support where
it's needed most."
Since My Special Aflac Duck was first introduced in 2018,
Aflac has delivered nearly 31,000 ducks to children in the United States, Japan and Northern
Ireland, and the company has worked with more than 500
hospitals, in addition to working directly with families, to
distribute these ducks. In 2022, Aflac expanded the program to
include sickle cell patients and, to date, nearly one-third of
My Special Aflac Ducks are sickle cell-specific. Aflac's
commitment to pediatric cancer and blood disorders spans decades
with Aflac employees, independent agents and The Aflac Foundation
Inc. contributing more than $182
million to childhood cancer and blood disorders treatment
and research since 1995.
"It was incredible to have Coach Prime visit our patients and
help provide them with a special scavenger hunt experience," said
Christy Dobson, Vice President of
Board and Community Relations at Children's Hospital Colorado. "His
presence and the engaging activities provided a much-needed boost
to our patients' spirits."
Health care providers, support organizations and families can
order My Special Aflac Duck free of charge for
children 3 years or older who have been diagnosed with cancer or
sickle cell disease at 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 68 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 in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in
being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well
as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by
Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune's World's Most
Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg's
Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In
addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for
Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the
Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years.
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."
1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total
Market Report
Media contacts:
Amy
Persons, apersons@aflac.com
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
Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road
| Columbus, GA 31999
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SOURCE Aflac
