Foresters Set for Record Fundraising Helping Disadvantaged Children This Christmas

    KENT, ENGLAND, November 28, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With Christmas fast approaching, Foresters UK - the international financial services organisation - are proud to once again support the Cash For Kids (CFK) Mission Christmas Appeal in a bid to help disadvantaged children from all over the UK have a happier Christmas.

This is the fifth year that Foresters have worked with Bauer Radio's Cash For Kids Mission Christmas initiative and this year, they plan to make it their biggest success yet. Last year:

- nearly 1,000 Foresters volunteer members in the UK created 3,949 baby packs;
- over 250,000 disadvantaged children received toys:
- a record-breaking GBP5.3 million in toys, gifts and donations were made to needy children aged from 0-18 years old.

Steve Dilworth, MD Member Network UK, from Foresters says: "We are delighted to once again be supporting such a wonderful cause through national radio promotions and events as well as on a grass roots level, with staff and some of our volunteer members getting involved too.

"We have a whole host of fund raising and gift wrapping events lined up, including the staff at our UK Head Office in Bromley, Kent, wrapping up donated baby gifts on December 4th."

Sally Aitchison, Cash for Kids Managing Director, says: "We are extremely proud of our Mission Christmas campaign, demand was 40% up in 2012 and with the commitment from our listeners we helped to deliver gifts to over 250,000 underprivileged children across the UK. Sadly we believe demand this year will be even higher from local social services and other organisations working with families in need as the number of children living in poverty continues to increase.

"All of our stations are actively involved with their communities to inspire as many people as possible to donate to such a worthy cause. We are overwhelmed by the way our listeners engage with this initiative and very much appreciate the support of organisations like Foresters.

Steve adds: "Having been involved with the CFK campaign for five years now and actually hearing some of the sad stories - such as two sisters who each asked for a brand new pair of socks for Christmas as they had only ever had hand-me-downs - makes us very proud to be supporting this invaluable campaign, as it really makes a difference to young lives".

Foresters will also be running a Facebook campaign, where, for every new 'Like' they get on the Foresters UK page, they will donate GBP5 to the appeal*.

To find out more, visit: http://www.facebook.com/ForestersUK

* The Facebook Campaign runs from 29.11.13 to 23.12.13 and an amount up to a total of GBP2,000 will be donated.

At Foresters we believe in enriching the lives of our members, their families and the communities they live in. We're member-based, family-focused, and community spirited.

Our products benefit both your family and your community. We champion the well-being of families through quality financial products, unique member benefits and inspiring community activities.

We share our financial strength with over one million members across the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Throughout our 135-year history, our purpose has been to enrich the lives of members, their families and communities. The priorities remain today and will guide our future.

As an example, our work with Cash for Kids in their 2012 Mission Christmas Appeal helped over 250,000 children to have a better Christmas and granted GBP5.3m in cash, gifts and toys to local children.

Forester Life is responsible for funds under management of over GBP2.8bn* and is part of Foresters, the international financial services organisation.

Internationally, Foresters has over GBP11bn** funds under management and has been assigned an 'A' excellent rating by A.M. Best.***

Safeguarding our members' interests is at the heart of what we do. Being financially strong and responsive, with sound governance and continuing professional service have always helped us to protect our members' benefits.

*As at 31 May 2013
**As at 31 March 2013

***An "A" (Excellent) rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best assigns ratings from A++ to F, A++ and A+ being superior ratings and A and A- being excellent ratings. In assigning the ratings for The Independent Order of Foresters (Foresters) and its subsidiaries Foresters Life Insurance Company and First Investors Life Insurance Company on July 3, 2013, A.M. Best stated that the outlook for all ratings is "stable", which means they are unlikely to change in the near future. See ambest.com for the latest ratings.

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