Aflac 2011 Annual Report Download - page 20

18 AFLAC INCORPORATED 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW
In 2011, the Aflac Duck made his first
“huge” appearance at the 85th Macy’s
Thanksgiving Parade in New York. Since
2002, Aflac has partnered with Macy’s
to sell Aflac Holiday Ducks, with the
proceeds from the sale of the ducks
benefiting the Aflac Cancer Center and
40 different pediatric cancer hospitals
nationwide.
There was no way we could have predicted it, but
the Aflac Duck has become one of the most suc-
cessful advertising campaigns ever. Since the Aflac
Duck joined Aflac’s sales team on New Year’s Eve
in 1999, he has appeared in more than 55 commer-
cials that have taken him places no duck has previ-
ously gone. One of his more exciting endeavors in
2011 took him down the streets of the Big Apple as
he made an appearance in the 85th Annual Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade.
He shows no signs of slowing down in persistently promoting the protec-
tion Aflac products can provide. Thanks to the Aflac Duck’s eorts, nine out of
ten people recognize the Aflac brand. Through our commercials, consumers get
a chance to see the Aflac Duck explore the world, usually managing to find him-
self in entertaining situations and predicaments. Undeterred, he continues his
mission to help employers and consumers better understand how Aflac prod-
ucts work and how Aflac
products oer the best
competitive value propo-
sition for consumers.
AFLAC CANCER CENTER:
PROTECTING KIDS
FIGHTING CANCER
Our feathered friend has also taken
on the important role as spokes-
duck for our national philanthropic
focus: childhood cancer treatment
and research. The team at the Aflac
Cancer Center and Blood Disorders
Service of Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta is committed to providing
a brighter future for children fight-
ing cancer by continuing to deliver
advanced medical treatment, family-
centered care, a child-friendly envi-
ronment and innovative research.
Since 1995, the combined Aflac fam-
ily has given more than $70 million to
the Aflac Cancer Center—a national
leader among childhood cancer,
hematology, and blood and marrow
transplant programs that serves
infants through young adults. Our
relationship with the Aflac Cancer
Center has drawn in every level of
the Aflac family from our sales force
to our employees, managers, ocers
and board of directors. The common
goal of fighting childhood cancer
has transformed our culture and
brought us together as a team.
Recognized as one of the top
childhood cancer centers in the
country by U.S. News & World Report,
the Aflac Cancer Center treats more
than 370 new cancer patients each
year and provides follow-up support
to more than 2,500 former patients
with sickle cell disease, hemophilia
and other blood disorders. The Aflac
Cancer Center is made up of three
hospital campuses with nationally
renowned physicians and research-
ers, in addition to a world-class fam-
ily support team consisting of child
life specialists, social workers, chap-
lains and teachers—all of whom sup-
port the whole child and the child’s
family.
CAPITALIZING ON
TECHNOLOGY
Eectively employing new tech-
nologies allows us to improve our
products, expand our distribution,
and allocate more resources to mar-
keting. We continue to improve the
functionality and versatility of SNG®,
our unique laptop-based enrollment
system formerly called SmartApp®,
with updates that accommodate
broker needs and empower our
sales associates for success. We
also are always looking for ways to
leverage technology to enable our
sales force for success. For example,
in December 2010, we launched
an industry-first LaunchPad tablet
business productivity application
on the iPad®. This platform-neutral
presentation technology is the ulti-
mate all-in-one sales, marketing and
administrative technology device
that allows sales associates and
brokers to eectively and eciently
manage most aspects of their busi-
ness in real time from a virtual oce.
Features include the ability to create
customized sales presentations and
check claims, and to send market-
ing materials.
EVERYBODY
THE
AFLAC DUCK
The beloved Aflac Duck sets
out on another adventure
in “Pigeon Rap,” an enter-
taining advertisement that
also conveys Aflac’s overall
message.