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K-C, YMCA to Provide Online Parenting Resource









DALLAS, December 18, 2002 – With a recent, national study confirming what many have long suspected – that parents are experiencing challenges and stress that is often “overwhelming” – Kimberly-Clark Corporation and the YMCA of the USA have teamed up to ensure parents have unprecedented access to tools and information that will help them raise healthy and happy families. Parenting advice, ideas and support are now just a mouse-click away at the YMCA Strong Families Zone(TM), located on the YMCA Web site (www.ymca.net). 



YMCA Strong Families Zone, underwritten by Kimberly-Clark, is a one-stop information source for childcare, exercise, nutrition, youth development and more. From there, families can click over to Kimberly-Clark’s www.parentstages.com, a Web site containing a consolidation of the best parenting content and tools the Web has to offer for every parenting stage. Parentstages partners and contributors include some of the most well known and respected sources of parenting information nationwide. 



The creation of the YMCA Strong Families Zone and Parentstages comes at a time when parents report feeling alone in raising children and teenagers. According to “Building Strong Families,” a recently released research project by Search Institute and YMCA of the USA, 53 percent of parents surveyed said they felt they had no one to turn to for parenting advice or support. Just 4 percent reported accepting help from a combination of friends, family and community organizations. 



The poll of 1,005 parents with children under 18 was conducted this spring by Search Institute on behalf of the YMCA of the USA.



“Kimberly-Clark is committed to helping strengthen today’s families. It is only fitting that we cultivate a strong partnership with an outstanding family-focused organization like the YMCA,” said Tom Falk, Kimberly-Clark president and CEO. “We want to help ensure that all families have access to sound tips and expert advice on subjects that matter to parents and their children.” 



“We greatly appreciate Kimberly-Clark’s ongoing involvement in supporting parents and families. It is our hope that the YMCA Strong Families Zone becomes a valuable resource tool for today’s hard-pressed parents,” said Kenneth L. Gladish, national executive director, YMCA of the USA. 



As part of its four-year, $8.6 million alliance with the YMCAs, Kimberly-Clark is a national sponsor of YMCA family programming, including the creation of a television advertising campaign that will underscore the YMCAs’ commitment to supporting families. The campaign will launch in early 2003. 



About Kimberly-Clark 



Kimberly-Clark Corp. is a leading consumer products company. Its tissue, personal care and health care products are manufactured in 42 countries and sold in more than 150 countries. Kimberly-Clark is home to some of the world’s most trusted and recognized brands, including Kleenex, Kotex, Scott, Depend, Huggies and Pull-Ups. 



Nearly one-quarter of the world’s population, or 1.3 billion people, use Kimberly-Clark products each year. Kimberly-Clark has been on Fortune magazine’s list of “Most Admired” corporations since 1983 and was recently named to its list of “100 Best Companies to Work for in America.” For more information about Kimberly-Clark and its well-known brands, visit the Kimberly-Clark Web site at www.kimberly-clark.com



About The YMCA of the USA 



YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation’s 2,493 YMCAs, collectively the nation’s largest not-for-profit community service organization, serving 18.3 million people of all faiths, races, ages and incomes, including nine million children. The YMCAs have been chosen this year as one of the nation’s five most deserving charities by Newsweek Magazine. They offer a broad range of programs including youth leadership and volunteerism and are collectively the nation’s largest providers of childcare. Visit www.ymca.net.