We’ve seen economic turmoil spur greater need in our communities, witnessed unprecedented natural disasters, faced a growing crisis in our public education system and encountered a very real threat to working people’s financial security.

In each of these cases, and in countless other ways, Unum has played an active role in helping our communities recover and become better places to live. The truth is that our commitment to social responsibility is at the foundation of our corporate culture and influences our actions every day.

For more than 160 years, we have been committed to helping people when they need it most. As a benefits provider, we help individuals protect their families and livelihoods. Working people face dangerous gaps in their financial security, and employer-sponsored benefits like those we provide can be one of the backstops against financial catastrophe for families, should an unexpected crisis occur. Last year alone, we paid approximately $6 billion in benefits to individuals and families in times when they were impacted by illness, injury or even death.

This ongoing commitment to help others not only guides our business practices but also influences our approach to social responsibility. In our communities, we look for opportunities to contribute to positive change. We also work to improve the environment for future generations and focus on finding ways for the public and private sectors to work together for the common good.

Our commitment to the communities where we work and live starts with a focus on promoting excellence in public education. We believe that helping develop stronger individuals grows stronger communities and a better prepared workforce for the future. We also contribute to organizations that support the arts, health and wellness, and people with disabilities. Whether we are making a large financial commitment or helping paint a classroom, we believe that our efforts in total will serve to enrich the lives of others.

In 2009, Unum donated more than $6.6 million to charitable organizations throughout the United States and United Kingdom, and our employees contributed thousands of volunteer hours to causes they care most about – in both cases an increase over the previous year, in spite of a very challenging economic environment.

I’m proud of the commitment our employees make every day to help others. After reading the following pages, I hope you are too.

Sincerely,

Thomas R. Watjen
President and Chief Executive Officer