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Aflac Duck Enshrined on Advertising Walk of Fame
The Aflac Duck receives honor as a favorite icon
during New York City's second annual celebration of
the advertising industry
 COLUMBUS,
Ga., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aflac Duck was
enshrined on Madison Avenue's Walk of Fame today
during an official induction ceremony recognizing
the beloved corporate mascot as one of America's
Favorite Advertising Icons. The tribute launches a
weeklong celebration honoring the best of the
advertising industry.
During the 2004 inaugural celebration of advertising
week, the Aflac Duck beat out 24 other popular
advertising icons, winning a coveted spot on the
well-known corner of 50th street and Madison Avenue.
The duck competed against such renowned symbols as
Ronald McDonald and the Energizer Bunny through an
online voting poll. This year's festivities began by
honoring the winners of the 2004 contest with the
installation of an image-engraved sidewalk plaque
located in the heart of the advertising capital of
the world - New York City.
"It is an honor to have our Aflac Duck recognized in
such a prestigious manner," said Dan Amos, Aflac
chairman and CEO. "We are pleased to know that so
many people have enjoyed watching the commercials
and that the campaign has become so highly regarded
within the advertising industry."
Following a procession of other famous advertising
symbols competing in this year's contest, the
spokesduck received its official spot on the Walk of
Fame, making it the newest icon on the block. By
fervently touting its namesake to anyone who will
listen, the Aflac Duck has created effective brand
awareness for the Columbus, Ga.-based insurer
through an innovative advertising campaign that
began less than six years ago. Today, Aflac enjoys
more than 90 percent brand recognition.
Following its 2004 win as one of America's Favorite
Advertising Icons, the Aflac Duck went on to have
other major successes. In December 2004, the duck
was placed front and center in the company's logo
and had a cameo appearance in the Academy
Award-winning film, "Lemony Snicket's A Series of
Unfortunate Events." The feathered celebrity also
starred opposite Melania Trump in the widely popular
Aflac television commercial titled "Experiment."
More recently, the duck's latest commercial, titled
"Helping Out," was named Best- Liked New Ad by
AdAge.com.
Other icons sharing an engraved image alongside the
Aflac Duck include the M&M characters, Mr. Peanut,
the Pillsbury Doughboy and Tony the Tiger.
The Kaplan Thaler Group, a New York-based
advertising agency, created the Aflac Duck
advertising campaign in 1999.
Aflac is the number one provider of
guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States
and Japan. Aflac's insurance products provide
protection to more than 40 million people worldwide
and pay cash benefits to policyholders unless they
choose otherwise. Aflac's products are primarily
sold at worksites in the United States. In Japan,
Aflac is the largest life insurer in terms of
individual insurance policies in force. In January
2005, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's list
of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for
the seventh consecutive year. Aflac has also been
included in both Forbes magazine's Platinum 400 List
of America's Best Big Companies and in Fortune
magazine's listing of America's Most Admired
Companies for five consecutive years. Aflac
Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To
find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.
The Kaplan Thaler Group (www.kaplanthalergroup.com)
has been ranked by industry publications as the
fastest-growing New York advertising agency and
touted for its breakthrough creative and immediate
results. KTG is part of the Publicis Groupe, one of
the world's largest communications holding
companies.
Media Contacts:
Yolonda King Mechell Clark
Aflac Incorporated Aflac Incorporated
(706) 243-8547 Voice (706) 243-8004 Voice
(706) 320-2288 Fax (706) 320-2288 Fax
yking@aflac.com meclark@aflac.com
SOURCE Aflac Incorporated
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