Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the U.S., announced that it exceeded its 2016 goal for social interactions regarding the company's #Duckprints campaign for childhood cancer. The year-long campaign rallied people across America to become active in the fight against pediatric cancer by asking them to create or share posts related to childhood cancer using the hashtag #Duckprints on social media. For each social media activity, Aflac pledged to contribute $2, up to $1.5 million. All told, there were more than 900,000 social media engagements across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, making this the first time that the program, which began in 2013, has reached its goal of $1.5 million in contributions.

"We are proud to have achieved and even exceeded our 2016 goal, which drew hundreds of thousands of people into this much-needed conversation about childhood cancer," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "But this is just one step on the way to achieving our highest goal of all and that's eradicating childhood cancer, because every child deserves a lifetime and every family deserves to be whole."

Aflac uses social media, traditional media, live events across the country, and word of mouth within the extended Aflac family to raise awareness of the Duckprints program and for childhood cancer, a disease that will see 16,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The company also promotes and participates in events like CureFest and the Washington Post's Chasing Cancer forum, which provides highly visible platforms to shine a bright light on challenges facing children and families affected by cancer. In addition to facilitating a national conversation, Aflac honors heroes at children's cancer hospitals coast to coast who are leaving their footprints in the fight against cancer by awarding them with special Duckprints awards. At each event, patients, nurses, advocates, families and nonprofits are recognized for their significant contributions to battling pediatric cancer.

Childhood cancer is the No. 1 cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15, according to the National Cancer Institute. Yet, less than 4 percent of federal funding for cancer research goes to pediatric cancer, according to the I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Since 1995, Aflac has raised more than $113 million for childhood cancer awareness, research and treatment. In fact, each month, more than 16,000 of Aflac's independent sales associates contribute over $500,000 from their commission checks to the Aflac Cancer Center in Atlanta, which is rated among the top-10 pediatric cancer hospitals in America by U.S. News and World Report.

Social engagements that trigger a $2 donation include:

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

Facebook - $2 for any share, like, comment or video view of specific posts related to Duckprints or by using the hashtag #Duckprints.

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

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

Aflac also has a website (aflacduckprints.com) that enables users to nominate unsung heroes in their community who make a difference in the lives of children and families facing cancer. Merchandise such as plush Aflac ducks and Duckprints-related T-shirts, slippers and other items are available for purchase at aflacduckprints.com, with all of the net proceeds going toward the treatment and research of childhood cancer.