ING DIRECT Proudly Announces Winners of Planet Orange Financial Literacy Awards; Two...

WILMINGTON, Del. -- ING DIRECT, the nation's fourth-largest savings bank, announced today that Christian Heine, who teaches fifth grade in Cornwells Elementary in Bensalem, and Francesca Ruggeri, a sixth grade teacher at St. Richard Elementary School in Philadelphia, have won Planet Orange

The winning teachers both received $1,500 to further their professional development, while their schools were each awarded with $1,000. Heine and Ruggeri will be publicly recognized at the ING DIRECT Cafe in Philadelphia today at 10:00 a.m. before key members of the community and supporters of financial literacy.

Heine's fifth grade students play the Pennsylvania Stock Market Game, a program in which kids work in teams to learn how to read the financial pages, as well as how to chart, buy, and sell stocks.

"In the 33 years that I have been teaching, I've incorporated the critical skills of financial education into my classroom," said Heine. "By winning the Planet Orange Financial Literacy Award, I hope that more teachers throughout the state will see the importance of teaching young people the basics of money management."

Francesca Ruggeri teaches everyday financial concepts across curriculums, not solely in math class. She believes that when topics are stressed in creative and interesting ways, her students pay closer attention.

"I'm constantly striving for new ways to challenge my students to understand the realities of life and how to use what they have to achieve future dreams," Ruggeri said.

"We are proud to recognize exceptional teachers like Christian Heine and Francesca Ruggeri, whose innovative programs serve as shining examples of how to teach financial responsibility to children," said Arkadi Kuhlmann, President and CEO, ING DIRECT. "By honoring their achievement, we hope to inspire Pennsylvania educators and schools to share best practices and make financial education a top priority."

The Planet Orange Financial Literacy Awards were piloted in the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Arizona and open to first through eighth grade teachers. Applicants were required to complete an online application including an essay explaining their approach to teaching financial literacy.

A panel of independent judges reviewed the applications from the five finalists in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Arizona and selected two winners from each state. Each finalist received an Orange Savings Account from ING DIRECT.

Pennsylvania judges included Andrew Hill, economic education advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and Hilary Hunt, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education.

The awards are named after Planet Orange (orangekids.com), the educational Web site launched by ING DIRECT in 2002 to teach kids about money management basics. Recognized as a USA TODAY Education "Best Bet" and Forbes.com "Best of the Web," Planet Orange includes a Teachers Resource Center, which features free, downloadable lesson plans and quizzes that teachers can easily incorporate into the classroom. A Curriculum Matrix helps teachers find lesson plans that align with their state's core academic standards for economics and math.

About ING DIRECT

ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank and fourth-largest thrift, is dedicated to inspiring Americans to become a nation of savers. Since its inception in 2000, more than 4.3 million Americans have entrusted their savings with ING DIRECT, building the bank to $62 billion in assets. Backed by one of the largest financial services organizations in the world, ING GROUP (NYSE:ING), ING DIRECT offers industry leading interest rates, the most advanced innovations in web security and customer service, and a culture of consumer education and advocacy. ING DIRECT is also an FDIC Member and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information on ING DIRECT, or to learn more about the bank's high-value products, including the Orange Savings Account and the Orange Mortgage, visit www.ingdirect.com or call 1-800-ING DIRECT.

Style note to Editors: ING DIRECT is always capitalized and never referred to as ING.