CINCINNATI, July 26 -- The Western and Southern Financial Group, a life insurance company, issued the following news release:

As part of a multi-year commitment to fund the building of eight homes with Habitat for Humanity for Greater Cincinnati (HFHGC), Western & Southern Financial Group (Western & Southern) is kicking off the building of its fourth home on August 12 at 11 a.m. at 910 Voss Street, Cincinnati, OH 45205.

"Through our business and philanthropic endeavors, Western & Southern has formed partnerships to help secure individual self-reliance through programs that promote financial stability," said John F. Barrett, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Western & Southern. "Habitat is one of those partnerships, and we couldn't be more pleased to help this deserving family achieve their dream of homeownership."

The family includes parents Luis and Gabrielle Munoz and their seven sons. Two of the sons currently live separately from their parents because their current rental home is too small. Five of the boys suffer from Fabry's disease and struggle with medical problems as a result. Luis Munoz is employed through Ironworker Local 44 while Gabrielle Munoz is home raising their children. "We are always there for each other, and our motto is 'We are Team Munoz!'" said Luis Munoz.

In attendance at the kick-off celebration will be the Munoz family, Kim Chiodi, Western & Southern senior vice president of public relations and corporate communications, and Western & Southern associates who will be volunteering to help build the home.

"Habitat's vision to ensure that everyone has a decent, affordable place to live would not be possible without partners like Western & Southern," said Ed Lee, HFHGC president and chief executive officer. "We're grateful for a partnership that has provided critical volunteer and financial resources to build homes for eight Tristate families."

About Western & Southern Financial Group

Founded in Cincinnati in 1888 as The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. (Western & Southern), a Fortune 500 company, is now the parent company of a group of diversified financial services businesses. Its assets owned ($45.5 billion) and managed ($22.3 billion) total $67.8 billion as of March 31, 2017. Western & Southern is one of the strongest life insurance groups in the world. Its six life insurance subsidiaries (The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company and National Integrity Life Insurance Company) maintain very strong financial ratings and a Comdex Ranking of 96. Other member companies include Eagle Realty Group, LLC; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.s; IFS Financial Services, Inc.; Peppertree Partners LLCs; Touchstone Advisors, Inc.s; Touchstone Securities, Inc.²; W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.²; and W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc. For more information on the Western & Southern family of companies, visit www.westernsouthern.com. Western & Southern is the title sponsor of the Western & Southern Open (www.wsopen.com), a premier event in the U.S. Open Series played each August by the world's top-ranked professional male and female tennis players.

s A registered investment advisor.

² A registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.

For current ratings, please visit http://www.westernsouthern.com/industry.asp.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati (http://habitatcincinnati.org/) is a non-profit Christian housing ministry that seeks to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Since 1986, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati has built, renovated, or repaired more than 595 homes throughout a nine-county region including Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn and Ohio counties in Indiana. It has also contributed to building 862 homes globally in Armenia, Cambodia, El Salvador, and Kenya. Habitat is dedicated both locally and globally to construct, rehabilitate and preserve homes; advocate for fair and just housing policies; and provide training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.

The late Mack Hannah Jr. was an enterprising individual with many successful business ventures that led to him becoming a millionaire and likely the wealthiest black in the state of Texas at one time, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Born in Brenham, his family moved to Port Arthur and he graduated from Lincoln High School and Bishop College and became the school's first All-American football player.

The Museum of the Gulf Coast has an exhibit recognizing Hannah's many accomplishments.

He worked as a physical education teacher at Lincoln High School and later joined the Orange Casket Company, becoming their first black salesman, according to his bio at the Museum.

During World War II, Hannah was employed by the nation's first synthetic rubber plant in Port Neches. He ran the housing and food concession, taking care of over 6,000 workers. He then moved to Houston, where he became the president of the Mack H. Hannah Life Insurance Company, founded the Gulf Western Mortgage Company, and the Standard Savings and Loan Association, and became director of the Homestead Bank. He served for over thirty-one years as a trustee of Bishop College and held the office of Regent of Texas Southern University and the University of Houston.

In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Hannah as Consul to the Republic of Liberia, a post he held for over 42 years. In 1966, he attended the Subregional Meeting on Economic Cooperation in Niamey, Nigeria, as the personal representative of President Johnson. Texas Southern University conferred the honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree on him in 1974. In 1968, he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Bishop College. Hannah was also appointed to serve as a member of the White House Conference on Youth and Children.