Nationwide Grant to American Red Cross to Support Hurricane Ike Relief

Houston, TX, Sept. 20, 2008 - Nationwide Insurance, title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the country’s sixth-largest property and casualty insurance company, announced today a $275,000 grant from the Nationwide Foundation to the national Red Cross for the 2008 Hurricane Fund. The announcement brings the Nationwide Foundation’s disaster relief donations for 2008 to a total of $1 million.

“The Nationwide Foundation continues their generous support of American Red Cross disaster relief efforts with their gift of $275,000 for the Hurricanes of 2008,” said Jeff Towers, chief development officer for the American Red Cross. “This gift has brought their total giving to $1 million in 2008 for disaster relief, including a gift of $250,000 to the Central U.S. Floods and Tornadoes, and an annual gift to support national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts. The Foundation’s support of our disaster responses as well as their leadership on a number of our chapter boards is outstanding.”

“These tragedies hit very close to home,” said John Raybuck, Nationwide regional vice president. “Ike has had a profound impact on the lives of thousands of our own associates and many customers of Nationwide. We’re hopeful that other corporate citizens with the means will choose to support the American Red Cross in helping people in our region rebuild their lives.”

Nationwide has received more than 14,000 claims in Texas and has claim representatives and agents actively assisting customers in response to the damages caused by Hurricane Ike. To assist with the claims process, Nationwide has set up three mobile units staffed with Nationwide professionals.

Nationwide also provided humanitarian relief to Ike victims in Houston. Teams brought in truckloads of much-needed ice, bottled water, diapers, baby formula, crackers, granola bars, soap, toilet paper, and bug spray.

Through mid-September, the United States has faced more than 30 catastrophes, so named when an event – usually weather related - leads to insured property losses of at least $25 million and affects a significant number of policyholders and insurers. These catastrophes involved hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, snow and hail.

At Nationwide, the claims team has responded to nearly 150,000 claims in 2008, nearly one-third more than in all of 2007. The hot spots were Texas, Georgia, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio.

Nationwide strongly encourages customers to listen to the advice of local authorities and avoid flooded or treacherous areas. Policyholders with storm damage should call the Nationwide claims hotline at 1-800-421-3535 or contact their local agent.