Housing units will be available in Virginia and North Carolina
RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW)
announced today a coordinated effort to provide 37 housing units for families
left homeless by Hurricane Katrina for a period of up to one year in Virginia
and North Carolina.
Genworth will coordinate with Virginia and North Carolina government
officials, social service agencies and non-profit organizations to provide
housing and case management services. "Thousands of Virginians have made very
generous offers of assistance, and made substantial contributions to help the
Hurricane Katrina relief effort," said Governor Mark R. Warner. "Genworth
Financial's comprehensive approach in housing assistance is a model for other
corporate citizens."
Genworth Financial will fund the costs for housing and utilities and
Genworth Volunteers will engage to help evacuees with supplies, clothing,
furniture, food and other needs. "Finding quality housing is one of the
biggest immediate challenges for Katrina victims," said Michael D. Fraizer,
chairman and chief executive Officer of Genworth Financial. "Working with
local and state officials from Virginia and North Carolina and with our
Genworth volunteers, we feel we can help give victims a leg up as they recover
from this disaster and rebuild their lives."
Previously, Genworth Financial announced it will offer grace periods and
special claims handling for policyholders in the hurricane disaster areas
including extending grace periods for life and long-term care policies,
limiting policy cancellations and non-renewals and providing additional time
for new business delivery requirements for life and long-term care insurance
premiums. For Genworth customers using mortgage insurance products, the
company is working with lenders and investors to coordinate relief that might
include reduction or suspension of mortgage payments or creation of longer
payment periods. Additionally, Genworth contributed $150,000 to the American
Red Cross for disaster victims. All Genworth employee contributions were also
matched dollar for dollar for Red Cross and other relief organizations.
"Many of Genworth's more than 3,300 employees in Virginia and North
Carolina have already expressed strong interest of volunteering for our
Project Home effort," said Melissa Skottegaard, director of community
relations for Genworth Financial. "Many of the evacuees arriving in Virginia
and North Carolina will come with only the shirts on their backs. Our
employees across the world will work together to provide these individuals and
families with much needed support so that they can focus on getting their
lives back in order. We look forward to welcoming our new neighbors to
Virginia and North Carolina."
About Genworth Financial
Genworth (NYSE: GNW) is a leading insurance holding company, serving the
lifestyle protection, retirement income, investment and mortgage insurance
needs of more than 15 million customers, and has operations in 24 countries,
including the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K. and more than a dozen other
European countries. For more information, visit http://www.genworth.com.
SOURCE Genworth Financial
CONTACT: Neal McGarity, +1-804-662-2534, Neal.McGarity@genworth.com, or
Tom Topinka, +1-804-662-2444, Thomas.Topinka@genworth.com, both of Genworth
Financial
