Prudential Financial, Inc., (NYSE:PRU) today announced an agreement between its Individual Life Insurance and Annuities businesses and the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement to help individuals in the Greater D.C. area through financial education to help protect their family’s financial future. This independent community-based financial education program was developed by Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J., and creator and founder of dfree. In the D.C. area, Dr. Soaries’ organization and local Prudential representatives are working with Collective Empowerment Group, a community economic empowerment group of about 125 churches.

The announcement, which was made during an event at the National Press Club earlier today, marks the launch of a financial education initiative that aims to empower people to create a healthy financial future for themselves and their loved ones through valuable advice from and engagement with Prudential financial professionals.

“We’re delighted to work with the dfree team because we share a commitment to help Americans better strengthen their personal finances,” said Mark Hug, executive vice president, Product and Marketing, Prudential Individual Life Insurance. “The knowledge we’ve gained about approaching multicultural markets through our research and financial educational outreach, combined with the efforts of Dr. Soaries’ program, will help deepen our relationships in the communities we serve.”

Prudential’s 2013 survey, the African American Financial Experience is one in a series of studies focused on the financial attitudes and behaviors of diverse markets. According to the biennial report, the African American community remains optimistic and continues to demonstrate financial progress, confidence and growing affluence, despite mounting debt and little contact with the financial services industry.

The dfree Financial Freedom Movement offers a training program designed to help individuals improve their financial situation, such as becoming debt-free and take more control of their money.

“Prudential’s commitment to the African American community complements the work that dfree is doing as we continue to build upon the number of churches and pastors that offer financial education to their members,” said Dr. Soaries. “We are proud to work with Prudential and value the strength it brings to the communities throughout the U.S.”

In addition to the greater D.C. area, the program launched last year in Indianapolis and will expand in the New York metropolitan area later this year. Prudential will also be a leading sponsor of the dfree® third Annual Financial Freedom conference which takes place October 31, 2015 at First Baptist of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J.

dfree® is an independent program dedicated to providing financial education and empowering participants to change their perspectives related to money, alter behaviors and taking ownership of their financial future. For more information, please visit www.mydfree.org and www.billiondollarpaydown.com.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit http://www.news.prudential.com/.

dfree and Financial Freedom Movement are trademarks of the Corporate Community Connections, Inc., which is not affiliated with The Prudential Insurance Company of America or its affiliates, Newark, NJ. Each company is solely responsible for its own financial condition, content, liabilities and contractual obligations. Dr. Soaries provides marketing consulting services to Prudential.

The Prudential Insurance Company of America and its affiliates, Newark, NJ.

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