Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the U.S. and longtime champion of childhood cancer, honored former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and his wife, Kim Hudson, as well as childhood cancer advocate Shelton Stevens. Each received Aflac's Duckprints Award for their significant contributions in the lives of those touched by childhood cancer. All three honorees have had a long-term impact on the community and the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, including raising money for clinical care and research. The event was hosted at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center with legendary national sportscaster Ernie Johnson Jr. serving as master of ceremonies.

Duckprints awards are part of the Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign, designed to engage Aflac employees, agents, and the public to increase awareness, promote volunteerism and honor childhood cancer champions through a variety of initiatives. This is the fifth year that Aflac has presented Duckprints Awards in Atlanta, with past recipients including actor/comedian Jeff Foxworthy, Atlanta Braves star Tom Glavine and his wife, Chris, CURE Childhood Cancer, Camp Sunshine, John Smoltz and of course, the Aflac Duck.

"The Hudsons and Shelton have given so much of their time and energy to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and to the community in general," said Kathelen Amos, president of The Aflac Foundation. "Their passion for and devotion to community has remained a priority in spite of the demands of incredible schedules and obligations. For that and for their tireless work to help families facing cancer, on behalf of the entire Aflac team, we are thrilled to honor them with our 2017 Duckprints award."

"Whether on the ball field, in the courtroom or in the sporting goods industry, Tim and Kim Hudson and Shelton Stevens have always had what it takes to compete and win at the highest levels," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "But I am sure they would all agree that the greatest victory will be putting an end to childhood cancer. I am confident that because of people like them, that day will come, so we salute them today for being more than a great athlete, a great attorney and a great businessman, but also for being good and decent people."

Over the years, the Hudsons have used their celebrity status and their passion to collaborate with the Aflac Cancer Center for events that have raised more than $1.6 million for the Aflac Cancer Center, including those hosted during the Atlanta Braves spring training, celebrity golf tournaments, events involving the wives of Atlanta Braves players and the annual WSB Care-A-Thon.

In the past 25 years, Shelton Stevens gave up his successful sporting goods business to create and direct the Children's Sports Network, where he has been part of more than $40 million in sports-related fundraising, including more than $10 million for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.

"Thanks to people like Shelton, Kim and Tim Hudson, and partners at Aflac, the Aflac Cancer Center remains a national leader and a treasure to our community when it comes to helping children and developing protocols that improve the way we treat childhood cancer and blood disorders like sickle cell disease," said Douglas K. Graham, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and chief of hematology/oncology/BMT in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University. "We are getting better at treating childhood cancers every day and cannot understate the value of people like today's honorees for their generous contributions of time and resources. They deserve this recognition, and we are pleased to celebrate with them."

While cancer remains the most prevalent cause of death by disease for children, all pediatric cancers combined receive approximately 4 percent of federal funding for cancer research, according to the National Cancer Institute. That is why Aflac has contributed more than $119 million to this cause since 1995. In fact, each month, more than 17,000 of Aflac's agents contribute approximately $500,000 from their commission checks to the Aflac Cancer Center, which is rated among the top pediatric cancer hospitals in America by U.S. News and World Report.

As part of Aflac's new Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign, Aflac is calling on people across America to become active in the cause. Each year Aflac donates $2 to children's cancer programs for each Duckprints-related social media activity on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram, up to a $1.5 million maximum. Related social actions include:

Twitter - $2 for any tweet using the hashtag #Duckprints or for retweets of Duckprints-related tweets.

Facebook - $2 for any share of specific posts related to Duckprints or using #Duckprints.

YouTube - $2 per view of the Duckprints videos on YouTube.

Instagram - $2 for every post using the hashtag #Duckprints.

Aflac also created a website (aflacduckprints.com) that enables users to nominate unsung heroes in their community who have made a difference in the lives of children and families facing cancer. People can follow the Aflac Duck on his journey to hospitals around the country honoring those who have made a difference in the fight against childhood cancer. In addition, merchandise such as a new plush Aflac duck, T-shirts, sippy cups and more are available for purchase at AflacChildhoodCancer.org, with all of the net proceeds going toward the treatment and research of childhood cancer.