Lincoln Financial Group's Commitment to the Arts Recognized Nationally by Americans for the Arts

Lincoln Financial Group LNC announced today that it has been named a BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America honoree for 2017. Each year, the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), a division of Americans for the Arts, honors 10 U.S. companies, a business leader, and an arts and business partnership for their exceptional commitment to the arts through grants; local partnerships; volunteer programs; matching gifts; sponsorships and board membership. Lincoln Financial was nominated by ArtsGreensboro, and the BCA 10 awards will be presented on October 11, 2017, at a black-tie gala at the Central Park Boathouse in New York City.

"Exposure to the arts provides young minds with a springboard to academic achievement, innovation and outside-the-box thinking," said Nancy Rogers, president of the Lincoln Financial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Lincoln Financial Group. "Arts education and cultural activities are not only catalysts for learning; they also foster community engagement and economic development. For these reasons, Lincoln Financial Foundation has been a longtime supporter of the arts. We applaud our grantees, whose work enriches our communities, and we are sincerely grateful to ArtsGreensboro for nominating us for this award. The recognition is truly an honor."

Lincoln Financial believes that the arts build strong communities, transform lives and enrich the workplace. Since 2006, Lincoln Financial Foundation has contributed more than $23 million to arts organizations in the communities in which it has a major business presence. The Foundation made nearly $1.6 million in grants to 90 arts nonprofits in 2016.

"We are grateful to honor these businesses and individuals for their exceptional involvement in ensuring that the arts thrive in their communities," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "They provide the arts with significant financial and in-kind support, and they incorporate meaningful arts-related programs into their employee, customer, and community relations activities – truly setting a standard for other businesses to follow."

Lincoln Financial Foundation supports ArtsGreensboro's Arts Access and Development Program, opening the arts to low-income people, promoting arts education, and fostering cultural tourism and economic development. ArtsGreensboro serves as an important community catalyst, seizing transformational opportunities like the successful bid to host The National Folk Festival in Greensboro. Through this event, the Lincoln Financial Foundation supports ArtsGreensboro as it drives increased economic activity and access to the arts in the city and region.

"America's creative communities are thriving thanks to the support from companies like Lincoln Financial," said Thomas Philion, president and CEO ArtsGreensboro, the non-profit organization that nominated Lincoln Financial. "Through its ongoing contribution to the arts, the company is enriching the lives of thousands of residents – both in Greensboro, and other communities across the nation."

For information on the BCA 10, including the complete list of winners, please contact Jessica Gaines, Business Committee for the Arts Coordinator, at (202) 371-2830 or via e-mail at jgaines@artsusa.org.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group provides advice and solutions that help empower people to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. Today, more than 17 million customers trust our retirement, insurance and wealth protection expertise to help address their lifestyle, savings and income goals, as well as to guard against long-term care expenses. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation LNC and its affiliates. The company had $236 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2017. Learn more at: www.LincolnFinancial.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. To sign up for email alerts, please visit our Newsroom at http://newsroom.lfg.com.

About Americans for the Arts

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 55 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at AmericansForTheArts.org.

Business Committee for the Arts (BCA) was founded in 1967 by David Rockefeller. A division of Americans for the Arts, the BCA encourages, inspires, and stimulates businesses to support the arts in the workplace, in education, and in the community. BCA merged with Americans for the Arts in 2008.

About ArtsGreensboro

As an arts council and community catalyst, ArtsGreensboro connects the citizens of central North Carolina to the arts through a variety of programs and services. Through the years, ArtsGreensboro has awarded more than $22 million in grants to arts organizations and projects, and currently supports approximately 70 grant projects annually. From saving the historic Carolina Theatre and creating downtown's Cultural Center, to co-producing the National Folk Festival's first-ever residency in North Carolina, ArtsGreensboro is working to make Greensboro a vibrant destination for work, live and play. artsgreensboro.org

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