OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – American Fidelity Assurance Company (AFA) is ringing in its 50th year in business in 2010, beginning with a special greeting for Colleagues as they arrive at work this morning. The celebration will continue throughout the year and culminate with a gala event in December.

American Fidelity Assurance Company was founded Dec. 1, 1960, by the father and son team of C.W. Cameron and C.B. Cameron as an outgrowth of the insurance agency C.W. Cameron had operated since 1930. The Company is still family owned and managed. Bill Cameron, son of C.B. Cameron, serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board; Lynda Cameron, daughter of C.B. Cameron, serves on the Board of Directors.

C.W. Cameron was a pioneer in providing disability insurance to the working class. He was among the first to market the concept of voluntary payroll deduction for insurance. Much of his work focused on providing services to the education community, which now comprises AFA’s largest Customer base.

David Carpenter was named president of American Fidelity Assurance Company in September. He has been with the Company for 33 years of its 50-year history.

“Through the years, American Fidelity Assurance Company has grown to be among the most respected companies serving our niche markets. We have worked hard to bring new and innovative opportunities to serve our Customers,” Carpenter said. “As we start the next 50 years, we will continue to provide relevant financial security solutions with exceptional Customer service while maintaining the family atmosphere that has made us an Employer of Choice in Oklahoma City and throughout our industry.”

Currently, American Fidelity Assurance Company has more than 1 million Customers who collectively have more than 1.6 million policies in force. 

American Fidelity Assurance Company works hard to be known as an Employer of Choice in our community and our industry. More than 950 Colleagues work for AFA in Oklahoma City, and nearly 1,500 full-time employees nationwide. The Company has been listed on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For in America” for six consecutive years. It also appears on the Training Magazine Top 125 Companies in America for Employee Training and Computerworld magazine’s Best Places to Work in IT.

And although American Fidelity places great value on our Colleagues, the Company recognizes that serving our Customers is the top priority. That focus on Customer service comes from the very roots of AFA’s history. 

While 2009 was a challenging year for businesses and individuals nationwide, American Fidelity Assurance Company’s adherence to conservative practices and values helped keep the Company poised for success. Those values will continue to drive the Company’s success into its next 50 years.

Being a strong business is not enough for American Fidelity; the Company is also a strong supporter of the communities it serves. Through the American Fidelity Foundation, nearly $700,000 was donated to non-profit organizations in 2009. Many of the grants were focused on projects related to public education, but the Foundation also supports initiatives related to health and welfare; arts and culture; and civic and economic development. The Foundation also donates to organizations supported by Colleagues through a donation match program.

This year, American Fidelity entered into a unique agreement with the Oklahoma City Public Schools. Just blocks away from the AFA campus, Wilson Elementary faced some extreme challenges in finding classroom space while the district moves to offering all full-day kindergarten classes and the Wilson campus is renovated. The changes left the school without classroom space for its pre-kindergarten students.

American Fidelity stepped in to help, offering space to the school for at least two years. The Company worked with the district to remodel an area that now houses morning and afternoon pre-kindergarten classes. The public school-private business arrangement is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States.

Colleagues are encouraged to support the community through volunteer efforts as well. About 40 tutor once a week at the Company’s partner school, Buchanan Elementary. Colleagues donated 4,741 pounds of food to the Regional Food Bank, then spent a Saturday morning volunteering for the organization. Colleagues are strong supporters of the United Way and Allied Arts, giving both monetary donations and volunteer hours.

As American Fidelity Assurance Company celebrates its 50th Year, we look forward to even greater opportunities to serve our Customers, our Colleagues and our community in the future.

About American Fidelity Assurance Company
American Fidelity Assurance Company is a third-generation, family-owned organization providing insurance products and financial services to education employees, trade association members and companies throughout the United States and across the globe. Founded in 1960, it has grown to become one of the largest private, family-owned life and health insurance companies in the United States. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, American Fidelity has more than 1,500 employees in 26 locations across the nation. It was named to Fortune magazine's 2009 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for the sixth straight year and was named on Computerworld magazine’s list of the "Best Places to Work in IT," ranking number one in 2004. In addition, it is ranked by Training Magazine as one of the Top 125 Companies in America for employee training. Since 1982, American Fidelity has been rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, one of the nation's leading insurance rating services. Visit American Fidelity Assurance Company at www.afadvantage.com