Newell Rubbermaid Launches $2 Million 'Investing in Community' Program

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Newell Rubbermaid Launches $2 Million 'Investing in Community' Program
 Program to include cash and in-kind contributions, employee and executive
        involvement; builds on $1.5 million in cause-related giving

    ATLANTA, Oct. 29, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newell Rubbermaid
(NYSE: NWL)today announced the launch of Investing in Community, a new
strategic, company-wide community investment program, with an initial
planned spend of $2 million annually beginning in 2008. Investing in
Community is designed to maximize the company's impact in communities
through cash and in- kind contributions and employee and executive
involvement.
    Newell Rubbermaid will kick off the program with a Week of Caring, Oct.
29 - Nov. 2, by inviting employees to donate a book or school supplies for
children at local Boys & Girls Clubs and schools.
    Investing in Community was developed to address community needs while
aligning with Newell Rubbermaid's core consumers and overall business
objectives. During the company's more than 100-year history, Newell
Rubbermaid's businesses have made significant contributions to worthy
social causes in their local communities. Now, Newell Rubbermaid is
elevating its giving to a corporate-wide level to provide greater focus and
impact.
    "For the first time, through Investing in Community, we are able to
harness the philanthropic efforts of all of our employees and brands to
yield a greater, more visible impact in the communities where we operate,"
said Mark Ketchum, president and chief executive officer of Newell
Rubbermaid. "We recognize the importance of giving back to our core
consumers, and we are committed to building a best-in-class community
involvement program that makes a difference in the lives of our consumers
and our employees."
    Investing in Community will focus on three key areas of particular
interest to core consumers of Newell Rubbermaid's brands and is aligned
with relevant life stages:
    -- Growing Up:  Investments in providing the infants and children who use
       Newell Rubbermaid products with a positive start and the tools to
       succeed in adulthood (including child development programs and in-
       classroom programs such as Junior Achievement and Students In Free
       Enterprise).

    -- Getting Ahead:  Investments in the education and advancement of the
       many professionals who use Newell Rubbermaid products (including
       professional, trade and technical schools).

    -- Giving Back:  Investments in enriching the lives of Newell Rubbermaid
       employees and all consumers through activism and awareness (such as
       cause marketing programs, volunteer activities, national walks/runs
       such as Living Beyond Breast Cancer).
    Many Newell Rubbermaid brands will continue to make significant cause-
related investments on their own with organizations that are aligned with
their unique markets and consumers. Last year, this activity amounted to
approximately $1.5 million in cash and in-kind donations, including
Rubbermaid(R) and Goody(R) affiliations with Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a
Sharpie(R) "Autographs For Action" program that benefits schools and
charities around the country and Goody's "Girls On The Run" sponsorship to
help preteen girls build self-esteem through running.
    Organizations whose programs and services meet the strategies of
Investing in Community, maintain a current tax-exempt status under Section
501(c)(3) of the IRS Code and are recognized as a public charity under
Section 509(a) of the IRS Code are eligible for support. They may learn
more about how to apply for a grant beginning on Oct. 29 by visiting the
Investing in Community section of the Newell Rubbermaid Web site,
http://www.newellco.com/socialresponsibility.
    About the Company
    Newell Rubbermaid Inc. is a global marketer of consumer and commercial
products with sales of approximately $6 billion and a strong portfolio of
brands, including Sharpie(R), Paper Mate(R), DYMO(R), EXPO(R), Waterman(R),
Parker(R), Rolodex(R), IRWIN(R), LENOX(R), BernzOmatic(R), Rubbermaid(R),
Graco(R), Calphalon(R) and Goody(R). The company is headquartered in
Atlanta, Ga., and has approximately 22,500 employees worldwide.
    This press release and additional information about the company are
available on the company's Web site, http://www.newellrubbermaid.com.
    NWL-EX
SOURCE Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
http://www.newellco.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/138728.html/
CONTACT:
Ron Hardnock, Vice President, Investor
Relations, or Connie Bryant, Manager, Public Relations of Newell
Rubbermaid Inc., +1-770-407-3671, Fax: +1-770-407-3983