MUTUAL OF OMAHA ANNOUNCES STARS OF NEXT YEAR’S TV AD CAMPAIGN


Social Media Platforms Drive More Than 45,000 Votes in Aha Moment Online Survey


OMAHA, Neb. — November 2, 2009 — Mutual of Omaha, proud sponsor of life’s aha moments(SM), has announced the 10 aha moments that will be featured in its 2010 nationwide TV ad campaign. The featured moments were selected by voters during a month-long survey that relied heavily on social media.


“The survey has confirmed again that these incredible stories from real people truly resonate, and we’re thrilled to recognize them in our 2010 TV spots,” said John Hildenbiddle, senior vice president of brand management and public relations at Mutual of Omaha.


The online survey started with an initial round of voting, which was held October 1-15 and featured 75 aha moments selected from more than 1,000 recorded during this year’s five-month aha moment tour. From those, 25 were chosen to move on to the final voting round, which took place October 19-31. The top-10 moments with the most votes appearing in next year’s TV campaign are:


Harrisburg, Pa. – Leigh
Leigh started a successful non-profit foundation that raises breast cancer awareness.


Cheyenne, Wyo. – Jeremy
Jeremy pursued his dream of becoming a professional bullfighter.


Columbia, S.C. – Carol and Eleanor
Carol and her mom, Eleanor, opened a tea room.


Idaho Falls, Idaho – Ann
Ann started a camp for kids with cancer.


Birmingham, Ala. – Chris
Chris lost his leg in a motorcycle accident and overcame his disability.


La Crosse, WI – Anne
Anne opened a children’s museum.


Savannah, Ga. – Joseph
Joseph helps kids in needy communities discover their true musical potential.


Oklahoma City, Okla. – Toni and Caroline
Toni and her mother, Caroline, opened Sara Sara Cupcakes.


Billings, Mont. – Jessica
Jess was amazed watching an athlete at the Special Olympics.


Syracuse, N.Y. – Stan
Stan creates works of art out of toothpicks.


Many of the individuals featured in the aha moment spots strategically used social networking sites, to encourage others to vote for them. As a result, the campaign received a significant amount of its exposure via social media, with more than two million exposures on Facebook and Twitter alone.


The road to commercial stardom started in Oklahoma City, Okla. in May, when Mutual of Omaha launched its 25-city aha moment tour. At every stop, people lined up to share their personal aha moments in an Airstream trailer that served as a mobile television studio. All of the moments recorded on the tour can be viewed on the aha moment Web site.


Mutual of Omaha launched its sponsorship of the aha moment in February 2009. For more information about the aha moment campaign, visit http://www.ahamoment.com

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About Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha is a full-service, multi-line organization providing insurance and financial products for individuals, businesses and groups throughout the United States. For more information about Mutual of Omaha, visit http://www.mutualofomaha.com.

Media Contacts:
Brittany Thoms
(678) 409-8140
brittany@seesparkgo.com

[SinglePic not found]From 75 semi-finalists in the first round, we are down to 25 finalists in the aha moment survey. Your votes will determine which 10 aha moments will be featured in our 2010 television commercials. Voting comes to an end on October 31st so now’s the time to pick your favorites. Here are some of the remaining finalists:

From Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Hugh had an aha moment that inspired him to launch an online community that helps new dads prepare for fatherhood.



As a wedding planner from Evansville, Indiana, Saundra experiences an aha moment with each bride before they walk down the aisle.



Joseph from Savannah, Georgia, decided to help kids in needy communities discover their true musical potential after his aha moment.




Go to www.ahamoment.com/vote and start voting!

As voting in the aha moment online survey gets underway, local media outlets are giving a lot of attention to the aha moments being featured from their communities.

In Idaho Falls, the video below from the local CBS affiliate KIDK tells the story about Jacie, whose Strings for Kids program offers free violin lessons to local kids from low-income families.

And in Springfield, OzarksFirst.com posted this article featuring Terry, whose aha moment inspired him to become a professional photographer, and Michelle, who now walks for a cure for cancer in memory of her mother. Both interviews can be seen below.

We’re really excited to see the survey getting so much great press, and hope that it continues to attract attention as people vote for their favorite aha moments! Don’t forget to vote for your favorite aha moments at www.ahamoment.com/vote

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader cast the spotlight on three locals from the aha moment tour in anticipation of Mutual of Omaha’s online survey. From Hugh, who started an online network for new dads, to Sanaa, who brought gourmet, healthy food to South Dakota, and Heather, who founded an alternative online newspaper to get her generation excited about journalism, Sioux Falls is home to some incredible aha moments which we hope will inspire you to realize your own aha moments. Voting starts October 1st so don’t forget to check out www.ahamoment.com/vote to cast your vote for all of your favorite aha moments!