Aviva USA, a subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, the world’s fifth-largest insurance group, today announced that it has underwritten a major U.S. public education campaign to promote the history and future of the National Press Club.
Aviva underwrote the NPC’s Centennial documentary, “The National Press Club at 100: A Century of Headlines,” by providing funding for the co-branded production and distribution of 12,000 DVDs of the documentary and an accompanying brochure to schools of journalism, public libraries and community organizations.
Award-winning filmmaker Gerald Krell was commissioned by the NPC to produce the documentary, which premiered Friday night at the National Press Club. A copy of the documentary was 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 joined NPC President Emeritus John Cosgrove and current President Jerry Zremski for a panel discussion of the NPC.
Thomas C. 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. 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.”
“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. We honor them tonight with the presentation of our first National Press Club Centennial Founders Award and are deeply grateful for their generous support.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About Aviva
Aviva is the leading provider of life and pensions 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. 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. www.avivausa.com
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.