Progressive Puts Down Even Deeper Roots in Colorado Springs as it Celebrates 70th Anniversary by Planting Trees

Most days you’ll find them on the phones helping customers with car insurance, but over the next few months, some of Progressive’s best and brightest call center employees will perform a different kind of service: planting trees in the communities where they live and work. The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, the third largest car insurance group in the country and fifth largest in Colorado, is celebrating its 70th year in business by planting 70 large trees in each of its six call center cities. Progressive is teaming up with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant the 420 large trees. "Our ‘70 Years, 70 Trees’ events are about putting down even deeper roots in the communities where a lot of Progressive people live, including here in Colorado Springs,” said Jim Boland, director of Progressive’s Colorado Springs call center. "Planting trees is a way for us to give back to the customers and communities that helped us achieve this significant milestone in our history.” Over the next three months, Progressive volunteers will plant 70 large trees between six and 15 feet tall in six communities including Cleveland, Tampa, Austin, Colorado Springs, Phoenix and Sacramento. Progressive and the Arbor Day Foundation consulted with local park officials in each location to identify the parks most in need of additional trees. The tree species being planted in Memorial Park on October 17 include the Common Hackberry, English Oak, Plains Cottonwood and Narrow Leaf Cottonwood. "We’re committed to creating greener, healthier and more livable communities by planting and nurturing trees, so we were delighted when Progressive reached out to us to ask how they could help,” said John Rosenow, Arbor Day Foundation chief executive. "Their support will make a real difference in this park.” Progressive has also worked with the Arbor Day Foundation to establish a program in which Progressive plants one sapling tree in a U.S. forest for every online customer who chooses to use less paper by paying their bills electronically. Since the program began rolling out earlier this year, 10,000 trees have been planted. The tree planting events are timed to coincide with favorable tree planting seasons in each location. The actual date of Progressive’s 70th anniversary was March 10. About 30 Progressive people will take part in each half-day event. The Progressive people planting trees in Memorial Park work at the call centers in Colorado Springs in various roles, including helping customers buy and service policies and report claims. The volunteers were chosen to participate in the events by their managers as a reward for their outstanding work. "I was so excited when I found out I was chosen to be part of this event,” said Pam Spangler, a Sales and Service representative in Progressive’s Colorado Springs call center. "To think that I’ll be able to come back to the park years from now, sit in the shade of a beautiful tree, and know that I was part of the Progressive team that planted it is really special.” Below is a full list of events: Date   City   Park   Oct. 10, 2007 Cleveland, Ohio Luke Easter Park Oct. 17, 2007 Colorado Springs, Colorado Memorial Park Oct. 24, 2007 Austin, Texas Town Lake Metropolitan Park Nov. 7, 2007 Sacramento, California Seymour Park Nov. 14, 2007 Tampa, Florida Cypress Point Park Dec. 5, 2007 Phoenix, Arizona Esteban Park About Progressive The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, is the country’s third largest auto insurance group and largest seller of motorcycle and personal watercraft policies based on premiums written, and is a market leader in commercial auto insurance. Progressive is committed to becoming consumers’ #1 choice for auto insurance by providing competitive products and rates that meet drivers’ needs throughout their lifetimes, superior online and in-person customer service, and best-in-class, 24-hour claims service, including its concierge level of claims service available at service centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. Progressive companies offer consumers choices in how to shop for, buy and manage their auto insurance policies. Progressive offers its products, including personal and commercial auto, motorcycle, boat and recreational vehicle insurance, through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the U.S. and online and by phone directly from the Company. Private passenger auto products and prices are different when purchased directly from Progressive or through independent agencies. To find an agent or to get a quote, go to www.progressive.com. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, are publicly traded at (NYSE:PGR). About the Arbor Day Foundation The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.