Company to Launch On-line Journal to Highlight UNICEF Brazil Field Trip
DALLAS, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kimberly-Clark Corporation
(NYSE: KMB) today announced a donation totaling nearly $1 million to the
U.S. Fund for UNICEF (the United Nations Children's fund), which will focus
on reducing the rate of infant mortality and increasing and improving
access to basic sanitation, nutrition and education programs for families
and children in Brazil.
Kimberly-Clark's first installment of $325,000 is targeted to benefit
indigenous children in the Amazon region and Quilombolas children in
Brazil's Semi-arid region. UNICEF and the company have prioritized this
work for several key reasons including:
-- In 95 percent of the Semi-arid municipalities, the infant mortality
rate is higher than Brazil's national average.
-- The percentage of malnourished children younger than 2 in this region
is four times as high as in the South Region (8.3 percent vs.
2.3 percent).
-- Almost half (42 percent) of the boys and girls living in the Semi-arid
area have no access to piped water, a well or a water spring.
To determine the best use of the additional installments, K-C is
sending employees on a field trip this week to areas where UNICEF
humanitarian efforts are already underway. Following these visits, the
company, together with UNICEF officials, will identify the priorities and
programs that will be funded in 2008. Examples of projects that will be
evaluated include training and education for health care providers, early
childhood development programs for parents and caregivers, and improved
access to health care services.
"Kimberly-Clark's commitment to the Brazil region and to our
long-standing partnership is evident in their participation and dedication
to understanding the needs of the children and their families in Brazil,"
said Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "It's
this type of participation and input that allows UNICEF to more deeply
impact the survival of children in communities around the developing
world."
Every day this week, the public is invited to log into K-C's website to
follow along as our employees make their field trip visits to UNICEF
program sites throughout the country. By joining them on their journey, the
public will have the opportunity to meet firsthand the children and
families K-C and UNICEF are committed to serving through their partenrship.
Photo and journal entries by K-C employees can be accessed at
http://www.kimberly-clark.com/aboutus/stories_to_celebrate.aspx.
"Whether it's improving the health, hygiene and well-being of people
through our products and businesses or changing lives through our
charitable works, K-C has a long-standing commitment to supporting children
and strengthening families," said Carolyn Mentesana, vice president,
Kimberly-Clark Foundation. "All of us at Kimberly-Clark are delighted to
expand our work with UNICEF in addressing the most pressing needs of
children and families in Brazil."
K-C's partnership with UNICEF was established in 2001 to provide
assistance and care to orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.
The company has donated more than $6 million to provide 350,000 children in
24 countries with life-saving supplies and health care, education and
skills training. K-C's financial support also funds programs that prevent
violence and child exploitation, combat negative social stigmas and
discrimination, and encourage HIV testing.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable
part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion
people -- nearly a quarter of the world's population -- trust K-C brands
and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and
well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex
and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more
than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more
about the company's 135-year history of innovation, visit
http://www.kimberly-clark.com.
About UNICEF
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading
international children's organization, working in over 150 countries to
address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides
lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency
response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization
in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable
causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF,
with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the
global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of
survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit
http://www.unicefusa.org.
SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.kimberly-clark.com
http://www.unicefusa.org
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991117/KMBLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Media, Carolyn Mentesana, +1-972-281-1485,
cmentesa@kcc.com, or Investors, Mike Masseth, +1-972-281-1478,
mmasseth@kcc.com, both of Kimberly-Clark Corporation
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