Expansion of EVEREN's Chicago Branch Office To Benefit
                 Brenda Edgar's Help Me Grow Advocacy Program

    CHICAGO, March 13, 1997 - At a celebration commemorating EVEREN
Securities, Inc.'s Chicago branch office expansion Wednesday, EVEREN Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer James R. Boris pledged support for Brenda Edgar's
Campaign for Children.  Boris announced that the Chicago-based securities
brokerage firm will donate $10,000 to the Help Me Grow children's advocacy
program.
    Governor Jim Edgar, who attended the event, congratulated EVEREN on its
expansion effort and commended the firm for its continued dedication to
community-based charitable causes.  "EVEREN's generous contribution to
Brenda's Help Me Grow campaign will help children and families throughout
Illinois, but it represents only the most recent example of EVEREN's
commitment to community enrichment," he said.
    "EVEREN sets a fine example for other Illinois firms as it encourages and
supports employees' efforts to get involved in worthy community projects and
make a positive difference in the lives of others.  With more than 900
employees statewide, that policy has resulted in countless successes in the
Chicago area and communities throughout Illinois."
The contribution to Help Me Grow will be made through the EVEREN Foundation,
which is responsible for allocating direct grants to charitable organizations
as well as matching EVEREN employee donations to qualified tax-exempt
organizations.  In keeping with its long-standing philosophy of community
involvement, EVEREN has raised approximately $600,000 for not-for-profit
organizations over the past three years.
    "The children who benefit from Brenda Edgar's tireless efforts to combat
neglect through her Help Me Grow program represent the future of Illinois,"
Boris said. "EVEREN is privileged to celebrate its growth though participation
in her campaign to ensure our children's health and safety."
Help Me Grow is a public awareness program aimed at gaining recognition among
the public for state-funded programs benefiting children and families.  The
campaign focuses on promoting preventive health care, parental and family
involvement, child abuse prevention and child safety measures.  Other goals of
the effort include drug and alcohol abuse prevention, intergenerational
interaction and gang and violence prevention.
    The program provides a toll-free number, 1-800-323-GROW (323-4769),  for
information about state prevention programs for children and families.  The
number is the first of its kind and gives parents a single point of contact
for information about issues from nutrition and child safety seats to gang
prevention.
    EVEREN Securities, Inc., is a full-service securities brokerage firm
serving individual, corporate, municipal and institutional clients through an
integrated network of more than 3,200 employees in 140 offices nationwide.
EVEREN investment consultants offer clients a comprehensive range of
investment products, including stocks, bonds and mutual funds.  At year-end,
the firm held $40.5 billion of client assets in more than 500,000 accounts.
EVEREN Securities is a member of the New York Stock Exchange and Securities
Investor Protection Corporation.
    For More Information: Ted McDougal, 312-574-5791.