DALLAS, July 11, 2006 - In memory of actress and humanitarian June Allyson, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today contributed $25,000 to the June Allyson Foundation to support research advances in the care and treatment of women with urinary incontinence. Allyson died on July 8, 2006.
The June Allyson Foundation was established in 1998 by the American Urogynecologic Society and was made possible by a grant from Kimberly-Clark. Through her more than 20-year partnership with Kimberly-Clark as spokesperson for the Depend brand, Allyson did more than any other public figure to encourage and persuade people with incontinence to lead fuller and more active lives.
"June's warm and loving kindness meant a lot to all of us at Kimberly-Clark, and we will miss her greatly," said Steven R. Kalmanson, Group President of North Atlantic Personal Care. "She was a role model for millions of people with her dedication, commitment and determination to help others 'Get Back into Life.'"
Allyson's passion for advocacy issues of the elderly stemmed from her role as primary caregiver for her mother. She learned firsthand the embarrassment and despair that incontinence can bring. In 1988, she was appointed by President Reagan to the Federal Council on Aging and worked continuously and tirelessly to "normalize" and raise public awareness about incontinence. An estimated 15 to 19 million people in North America are affected by incontinence.
Born Ella Geisman in New York in 1917, Allyson is best known as a movie actress in more than 60 feature films, musicals and television appearances. She starred in Little Women, The Glenn Miller Story and Good News. With her identifiable husky voice, outgoing charm and naturalness, Allyson's wholesome image held an unforgettable appeal to audiences. She was the No. 1 star among all actors and actresses in 1955, and was voted the top female box office attraction in the nation's motion picture industry for six years in a row.
About June Allyson Foundation
The June Allyson Foundation is a non-profit, public foundation which is made possible by the generosity of public, private and corporate supporters. These contributions enable the Foundation to award grants to applicants researching the causes and management of pelvic floor disorders. Qualified applicants must submit a proposed research project in the field of female incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. Priority is given to talented clinician scientists who are starting their urogynecology career. To learn more about the Foundation or to contribute, visit www.augs.org.
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 the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 134-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.