Huntington Employees, Business Partners and Customers Exceed $1 Million Fund Raising Goal for Pelotonia Bike Tour

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- When Huntington (Nasdaq: HBAN; www.huntington.com) announced its commitment to recruit 1,000 riders and raise more than $1 million in donations for Pelotonia, a grassroots bike tour benefiting cancer research, it was an ambitious goal, especially since the bank fielded a team of 55 riders and raised $50,500 for the inaugural bike tour in 2009.

But less than five months later, Huntington has not only met its rider goal, but has also surpassed its fundraising goal. To date, with more than two months remaining for fundraising, Huntington employees, business partners and customers have donated more than $1 million. One hundred percent of the money raised for Pelotonia goes to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

"Our entire team is proud to support Pelotonia in its quest to end cancer," said Huntington CEO Steve Steinour. "I have been inspired by the openness of my teammates who have shared moving stories of how cancer has touched their family members and friends. I am also impressed with how our Huntington colleagues consistently and enthusiastically dedicate their time and energy to our communities."

One of the challenges facing fundraisers has been the economic climate over the past two years. According to "Giving USA 2010: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the year 2009" by the Giving USA Foundation™, total charitable giving fell 3.6 percent (-3.2 percent adjusted for inflation) in 2009, to an estimated $303.75 billion. This is the steepest decline in current dollar terms since Giving USA began its annual reports in 1956. However, corporations have picked up some of the slack, with corporate giving showing an increase of 5.5 percent during that same time period.

"When we joined with a corporate commitment to Pelotonia, we also pledged to recruit 1,000 riders. Our entire team has come together to reach the $1 million goal through grassroots fundraising efforts, ranging from bake sales to executive dunk tanks and garage sales," explained Huntington Senior Executive Vice President Daniel B. Benhase, who is leading Huntington's rider recruitment and fundraising efforts and will be a part of the team on Aug. 21. "Additionally, our business partners and customers have stepped up to demonstrate their support. This entire effort is a wonderful testament to this community and its spirit of giving."

Pelotonia Executive Director Tom Lennox agrees: "Team Huntington's broad support of Pelotonia's fight against cancer has been extraordinary. The Bank's 1,000 riders have already generated over $1 million dollars with two months left to fundraise. One hundred percent of these rider raised donations will go directly to life saving cancer research thanks to Huntington's position as a primary funding partner."

To learn more about Pelotonia, visit www.Pelotonia.org.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Please join us on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 1:30 pm for a rally in front of the Ohio Statehouse. Several hundred members of the Huntington Pelotonia team will gather in their team jerseys to celebrate their fundraising victory and to rally in advance of the ride, which begins on Saturday, Aug. 21. Speaking will be Huntington CEO Steve Steinour, Pelotonia Executive Director Tom Lennox, and Dr. Michael Caliguiri, director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and CEO of the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. For more information, contact LuJean Smith at 614.480.3961 or lujean.smith@huntington.com.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $52 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its affiliated companies, Huntington has been providing a full range of financial services including checking, loans, savings, insurance and investment services to customers for 144 years. Huntington has more than 600 branches. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its telephone bank; and through its network of more than 1,300 ATMs.

SOURCE Huntington