Life Insurance Company Supports Guard, Reserve Employees

By Steven Donald Smith
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug.  2006 – Allianz Life Insurance, with headquarters in Minneapolis, is one of 15 recipients of this year’s Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for outstanding support of employees in the Guard and Reserve.

“We take great pride in being named a recipient, but we're also very humbled,” said Jim McManus, an Allianz spokesman. “We believe this kind of honor belongs to all of the servicemen and women who serve our country.”

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency established in 1972, runs the Freedom Awards program. ESGR’s mission is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve.

Then-Defense Secretary William Perry instituted the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award under ESGR’s auspices in 1996. The award publicly recognizes employers, nominated by their employees who voluntarily serve in the National Guard and Reserve, for exceptional support above the requirements of federal law.

“On behalf of the men and women serving in the National Guard and Reserve, I would like to congratulate these firms and thank them for their outstanding support,” said Bob Hollingsworth, ESGR’s executive director. “By going above and beyond what is required by law, these firms set a high standard for all of America’s private and public employers.”

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America was founded in 1896. The company provides fixed and variable annuities, life insurance policies, and long term care insurance products in the United States.

ESGR will present the Freedom Awards Sept. 21 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here. Allianz chief executive officer Mark Zesbaugh will accept the award on behalf of the company.

McManus said Allianz supports the Guard and Reserve because it is simply the right thing to do.

“At Allianz, we believe the kind of support recognized by the Freedom Award should be the standard for all employers, not the exception,” he said. “It's made us a stronger company and helped us build a real culture of pride here at Allianz.”