The Hartford Pledges Support To Hartford For Fire Safety

• Insurer brings Junior Fire Marshal® program to the city and donates
  a total of $20,000 to the school district and fire department; also
  distributes educational materials to more than 5,500 students
• Sept. 14 proclaimed Junior Fire Marshal Day in Connecticut; The
  Hartford’s CEO Christopher Swift to deputize more than 200 students as
  junior fire marshals

HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A home fire is reported in the U.S. every 86 seconds and 33 percent of
home fires are started by children 6-9 years old¹. As part of
the 70th anniversary of The
Hartford’s Junior Fire Marshal program, The Hartford is donating a
total of $20,000 to the Hartford Public School District and the Hartford
Fire Department to educate children about fire safety.

“We are proud of the legacy of The Hartford’s Junior Fire Marshal
program and the life-saving lessons it has taught to millions of
children around the country, however, there is still more we can do to
help build safer communities,” said The Hartford’s Chairman and CEO
Christopher Swift. “By bringing the Junior Fire Marshal program to
Hartford, our goal is to empower the everyday kids in our own community
to become everyday heroes by providing them with the tools and training
to help reduce the risk of home fires.”

In addition, to the monetary donation, The Hartford will also distribute
Junior Fire Marshal educational materials to all children in
kindergarten through third grade in the Hartford Public School District.
The Hartford Junior Fire Marshal classroom kit comes with company’s
signature red fire helmets, an educator and parent guide and coloring
posters designed to introduce fire safety concepts to children.

“The Hartford Fire Department witnesses first-hand the dangers of home
fires and unfortunately, in many cases, children are involved,” said
Chief Reginald Freeman, Hartford Fire Department. “We are proud to
partner with The Hartford to teach children valuable fire safety lessons
at an early age. This program will undoubtedly save lives.”

Earlier this year, The Hartford announced that it has made a three-year
commitment to educate 1.5 million children on fire prevention and
safety, and donate $2 million to the 100 cities with the highest home
fire risk as identified in The
Hartford’s Home Fire Index.²

West Middle School Students Deputized as Junior Fire Marshals

September 14 is officially proclaimed Junior Fire Marshal Day in the
state of Connecticut. To commemorate the day and kick-off the Junior
Fire Marshal program in Hartford, Swift will join Hartford Fire Chief
Reginald Freeman and Hartford Fire Department to host a hands-on fire
safety day at West Middle School. More than 200 students in kindergarten
through third grade will be deputized as junior fire marshals. The fire
safety day includes a simulated fire and smoke demonstration in The
Hartford Fire Safety House, an opportunity to meet local firefighters
from the Hartford fire department, tour their fire truck and try on
gear. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT.

“Ensuring that our students can grow in a safe and nurturing environment
is one of our most important missions at Hartford Public Schools,” said
Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, superintendent of schools. “We thank The
Hartford and Fire Chief Freeman for partnering with us in this hands-on
education program for our young students.”

The History of the Junior Fire Marshal Program

The Junior Fire Marshal program was started in 1947 by an employee of
The Hartford, making it one of the country’s oldest corporate-sponsored
public education programs. Since the program’s inception, The Hartford
has deputized more than 110 million Junior Fire Marshals.

The company’s signature red fire helmets have been displayed proudly by
generations of children who have learned the basics of fire safety
through this innovative and educational program. The program teaches
lifesaving lessons such as Stop, Drop and Roll, Go Low in Smoke and Draw
a Home Fire Escape Plan. These lessons, along with other fun, engaging
and educational activities, help parents and teachers have meaningful
and vital fire safety conversations with children and students.

Over the years, celebrities such as Ron Howard, Dick Van Dyke, Jack
Benny, Jimmy Dean, Mr. Green Jeans and Captain Kangaroo, Carol Channing,
Red Skelton, Johnny Carson, Robert Young, Henry “the Fonz” Winkler and
Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan have helped The Hartford
recognize children who participated in the Junior Fire Marshal program.

For more information about The Hartford’s Home Fire Index and Junior
Fire Marshal Program, visit www.thehartford.com/jfm.

¹According to the National Fire Protection Association

²The Hartford Home Fire Index is based on an
analysis of the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident
Reporting System (NFIRS) and a survey conducted by The Hartford on fire
safety and prevention behaviors among the general population.

About The Hartford Home Fire Index

The Hartford Home Fire Index is based on a study of the largest U.S.
cities with a minimum of 80,000 housing units as reported by the 2010
U.S. Census. The Hartford calculated a rate of residential fires using
the number of residential structure fires from the 2014 National Fire
Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data, dividing by 2010 U.S. Census
housing units. The Hartford also conducted a survey on fire safety and
prevention behaviors among the general population in late 2016 and in
early 2017. Survey respondents (approximately 100 per city) were given a
score based on adoption of fire safety best practices. Standardized fire
rates and survey scores were averaged to produce a composite score for
each city.

About The Hartford

The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group
benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The
Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability
practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its
financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com.
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheHartford_PR.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates
through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is
headquartered in Hartford, Conn. For additional details, please read The
Hartford’s legal notice.

HIG-C

Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking
statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ
materially. Investors should consider the important risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important
risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our 2016 Annual
Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, and the
other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We
assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date
issued.

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material company information. Financial and other important information
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website at https://ir.thehartford.com.
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Contacts

The Hartford
Debora Raymond, 860-547-4611
debora.raymond@thehartford.com
or
Leon
Davis, 860-547-8668
leon.davis@thehartford.com