A Few Words on Community Involvement From Guardian's Executive Vice President & Corporate Secretary

As a large organization operating in various locations throughout the country, it's important for Guardian to be a 'good citizen,' and give back in a variety of ways to the communities that support our business. Our community involvement activities fall in line with our mission statement, which, in part, reads, 'Our purpose is to enrich the lives of the people we touch.' They are also an additional way for our company to provide protection and security to individuals and families who are facing significant life challenges. Since the people we help might not normally be part of the target markets we serve, our company is able to expand the scope and scale of how we help people build better tomorrows.

It's also important for Guardian to set the right example for our associates, showing them that we truly are a company that cares. We always ask our associates, in addition to doing the right thing, to be good corporate citizens and to find ways to live out our core value of 'people count.' Community involvement is a great way to stand behind our request, and our associates have responded with great personal enthusiasm and support. This is especially true in our regional offices, where our associates live and work in the same communities. I think we can all be proud of our efforts.

Joseph A. Caruso
Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary