Caring for our neighbors and the communities where our employees live and work is an important element of our charitable work.

In addition to our planned community activities, when disaster strikes the communities where we operate turn to us for help. Manmade and natural disasters can be devastating for our employees, neighbors, customers and consumers. We are committed to helping communities return to normal as soon as possible.

Disaster victims need essential items and assistance right away. The best way to help relief organizations help others is to ensure that emergency staff and volunteers are equipped and well prepared in advance of a crisis.

Kimberly-Clark has pledged $1 million over the five-year period beginning in 2007 to the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). The ADGP was created to provide immediate relief to victims of natural and man-made disasters. It also helps the Red Cross engage Americans to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. As an ADGP member, K-C is committed to helping the Red Cross and their volunteers prepare communities for disaster and keep families safe. In 2008, the American Red Cross responded to more than 70,000 disasters across the U.S. The largest included the Southern Californian wildfires, central U.S. floods and tornadoes, and the floods in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Sichuan Earthquake Disaster

In May 2008, Wenchuan in Sichuan Province suffered a huge earthquake. In the week after the earthquake, K-C China’s management team visited employees there to provide support. To help victims of the earthquake, K-C China:

• Joined the Special Relief Fund for Wenchuan Earthquake Orphans, managed by the China Children and Teenager's Fund.
• Made an immediate donation of healthcare products worth $146,000 and $58,000 in cash through China's poverty alleviation fund.
• Donated more than $800,000 in cash and emergency supplies in total.

Practicatatum, Brazil

K-C Brazil donated $65,000 during 2008 to the Praticatatum project in São Paulo, which uses music to inspire and help children and teenagers who are at risk. Around 300 children between the ages of five and 14 are learning to play instruments including the piano and violin after school. In addition to the sponsorship, K-C Brazil has taken more than 100 children to watch performances of Symphonic Orchestras in the famous Sala São Paulo concert hall. The children have also performed at K-C corporate events.

MedShare

In October 2008, K-C announced the extension of its commitment to MedShare International, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization that collects surplus U.S. medical supplies and equipment for distribution to medical facilities in the developing world. K-C has delivered 47 shipments of medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in Latin America over the past ten years valued at more than US$6.2 million to more than 25 different hospitals in nine countries, including Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. We have committed an additional 36 shipments over the next four years.

Argentina

K-C Argentina’s community program is based on three essential elements:

• Health promotion and education in communities near our sites.
• Providing educational tools and skills to children in need.
• Improving quality of life through sports, culture and entertainment.

In 2008, K-C Argentina offered free products to non-governmental organizations , including 2.2 million diapers. Around 110,000 children and teenagers benefited from community programs such as workshops, movie showings and theatre visits. We also implemented a community health plan and set up a first aid post.

Colombia

K-C Colombia is encouraging the local community to recycle, to reduce the amount of waste burned and minimize heavy air pollution in the area. The municipality of Puerto Tejada, where the mill operates, has 44,000 inhabitants. The monthly garbage volume is approximately 800 metric tons, and only 70 percent of this waste is collected. The rest is burned. The mill has allocated $200,000 to work with the municipality and help provide landfill and recycling facilities. They have also allocated an additional $79,000 to environmental education programs for local students to encourage recycling.

South Africa

Last year in South Africa an estimated 327,000 patients developed hospital acquired infections (HAIs). Thorough hand washing is one of the most effective ways to combat the problem. K-C Professional in South Africa has joined forces with the Gauteng Department of Health and an independent association to encourage hospital staff to wash their hands properly.

The campaign encourages hospitals to allocate funds to hand hygiene education, generate a sustained focus on proper hand hygiene among all staff and avoid negative publicity about hospital acquired infections so patients feel safe when admitted. More than 170 representatives from Gauteng hospitals and clinics attended our two-day event, and a series of hand-washing competitions continued throughout 2008.

United Kingdom

Kimberly-Clark employees in the U.K. are helping the Teenage Cancer Trust through product promotions featuring the Andrex puppy and sporting activities. The Andrex puppy promotion hopes to raise £150,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

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