Farmers Insurance(R) Executive Mhayse Samalya to Be Honored With Special March of Dimes(R) Award, June 25 in Beverly Hills

LOS ANGELES, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Mhayse Samalya, President of Farmers Business Insurance and Executive Vice President of Farmers Group, Inc., will receive a special March of Dimes® recognition award during the group's 12th annual Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures: A Salute to African-American Families black-tie banquet on June 25, 2010 at the Beverly Wilshire, Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills.

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"I couldn't be more honored or more humbled by this distinguished award," said Samalya.  "Assuring the health and well-being of all babies is something that is important to my immediate family and my Farmers family, as well.  Being recognized in this manner is truly special."

The unique fundraising event saluting African-American families is one of the March of Dimes' most successful events and helps attract needed attention to the unique challenges facing communities of color in raising healthy babies.  The event has raised nearly $3 million for the March of Dimes since its inception.

"Farmers is a huge believer in the mission of the March of Dimes," said Faye W. McClure, Vice President of Strategic Marketing at Farmers.  She is the Healthy Babies, Healthy Families event chairperson.  "This year, being able to honor our own Mhayse Samalya for his efforts on behalf of all babies will make our event all the more special," she added.

Farmers Insurance has enjoyed a long and meaningful partnership with the March of Dimes.  Last year Farmers agents, district managers and employees raised over $4.8 million, including an unprecedented $2.6 million on one day, to help the group continue its work on behalf of babies.

Mr. Samalya joined Farmers in June 2005 as Senior Vice President of Farmers Group, Inc., and President of Farmers Business Insurance.  He was promoted to Executive Vice President in June 2008.  His is responsible for all activities relating to the company's commercial lines business.

Prior to joining Farmers, Mr. Samalya was President of the Hanover Insurance Company from 2001 to 2005, having held several other leadership positions at Hanover since the time he joined the firm in 1999.  Samalya also held a number of senior management positions within the personal lines organization of the Travelers Property Casualty and at Aetna, where he began his insurance career in 1978.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Long Island University in New York and an AAE designation from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

Also scheduled to be feted at the June 25th fundraiser will be local entrepreneurs and philanthropists, Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, and WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who will receive the group's Renaissance Award.

About the March of Dimes

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. It carries out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, and low birthweight.

About Farmers

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc. or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be.  Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Financial Services Group.  The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

SOURCE Farmers Group, Inc.