Atlanta Benefits, begun in 2005, is Humana's charitable giving program for Atlanta-area nonprofit organizations who improve the community through their work in the areas of mind, body and spirit. Each year, Humana will award a $100,000 grant to a local nonprofit organization working for Atlanta residents and their neighbors in one of these areas of community service.

Last October, Humana presented the one-time $100,000 grant in the inaugural Atlanta Benefits charitable awards program to Genesis Shelter Inc., an Atlanta nonprofit which provides housing, meals and other transitional services for homeless newborn babies and their families.

Atlanta Benefits this year gave emphasis to grant proposals that focus on the educational, cultural and health needs of Metro Atlanta children, families and seniors.

More than 135 Atlanta-area nonprofit organizations and charitable agencies applied this summer for Humana's 2006 $100,000 Atlanta Benefits grant. A panel of prestigious Metro Atlanta business, civic and community leaders evaluated the Atlanta Benefits grant applications and narrowed the field in October to three grant finalists - Trees Atlanta, The Center for Children & Young Adults, and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.

Feruck also presented the two other 2006 Atlanta Benefits finalists - The Center for Children & Young Adults and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers - with one-time $10,000 checks in recognition of their significant contributions to the Atlanta community.

"We're extremely pleased at Humana," said Feruck, 2006 Atlanta Benefits cochairman, "that we can play a small part in saluting and supporting some of Atlanta's outstanding nonprofit organizations and charitable groups that make a difference every day in improving the lives of those in our community. Our associates look forward to staying involved in the Atlanta community, and providing a helping hand to area nonprofits through Atlanta Benefits."

"We are honored and humbled by this award," said Trees Atlanta Executive Director Marcia Bansley. "Atlanta is known for its trees, and they are truly one of our city's greatest assets. Trees Atlanta works each day to educate citizens of metro Atlanta about the important social and health benefits of trees. We are deeply grateful for the investment that Humana's Atlanta Benefits program has made in Trees Atlanta, and we are excited about sharing our new resources with the communities we serve."

The Atlanta Benefits grant must be used for a specified program, with no more than 15 percent of the contribution used to support the nonprofit group's administrative costs.

Trees Atlanta, the 2006 Atlanta Benefits award winner, will use the $100,000 Atlanta Benefits grant to establish an urban forestry program in the Atlanta area and to help create and implement programs and exhibits for a new environmental education center.

About the 2006 Atlanta Benefits Finalists

• Trees Atlanta: The nonprofit citizens group was founded in 1984 by Central Atlanta Progress, The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc., and the Atlanta Parks Commissioner. Trees Atlanta has been a prime force in addressing Atlanta's tree loss; creating increased green space; and conserving the city's trees. In its 20-plus years, Trees Atlanta has planted and distributed more than 68,000 shade trees; cared for more than 100,000 trees; recruited thousands of volunteers; and, educated an average of 1,000 children and adults annually about the importance of urban trees. For more information, visit www.treesatlanta.org.
• The Center for Children & Young Adults: A private nonprofit organization that provides a safe, nurturing environment with comprehensive services for homeless children, youth and young adults. The Center operates Open Gate for children (birth to 11); Another Chance for adolescents (12-17); and Turning Point, a unique, transitional living facility for homeless young adults (17-21), who are aging out of the foster care system and in need of independent living skills. For more information, visit www.umbrellaweb.org.
• LifeSouth Community Blood Centers: Founded in 1975 in Gainesville, FL, LifeSouth is a full-service blood center, providing blood donor recruitment, blood collection, testing, component production and distribution to hospitals in the Atlanta metro area. LifeSouth established the Greater Atlanta region in 1995 at the request of members of the Atlanta medical community, who had identified the need for another full-service, community-based blood supplier. For more information, go to www.lifesouth.org.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with more than 11 million medical members. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.

Over its 45-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
 
With offices in Atlanta, Humana insures more than 55,000 commercial health plan members and more than 100,000 Medicare members in Georgia.

For more information on Humana, visit its Web site at http://www.humana.com.