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Kimberly - Clark Donates $2.6 Million to Help Children Orphaned by AIDS; Largest-Ever Contribution to U.S. Fund for UNICEF's HIV/AIDS Programs NEW YORK, June 25 -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) today announced that the Kimberly - Clark Corporation has given $500,000, the first installment of a four-year $2.6 million grant, to UNICEF to help the more than 13 million children orphaned by AIDS worldwide. Children orphaned by AIDS are a top priority at this week's first-ever UN Special Session on HIV/AIDS.

"AIDS orphans are living symbols of the horrendous impact of the epidemic and are among the neediest, most vulnerable and overlooked children in the world," said Carolyn Mentesana, Vice President of the Kimberly - Clark Foundation. " Kimberly - Clark has a long-standing commitment to supporting children and strengthening families and we are pleased to join UNICEF in addressing the many needs of these children."

Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 13.2 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. And the numbers are expected to grow exponentially. Currently, one child is orphaned every 14 seconds due to AIDS. Studies show that children orphaned by AIDS run an abnormally high risk of being malnourished, not receiving an education and being susceptible to disease, neglect and exploitation. These children also are traumatized by their parents' deaths and by the stigma that societies often attach to AIDS. Older orphans, barely teenagers themselves, are taking on the responsibilities of caring for their younger siblings, with little or no economic support. Thousands of child-headed households are in a daily struggle for survival.

Kimberly - Clark 's donation will be used to provide these children with a wide range of support, including: health and nutritional services, community care, group homes, access to education, grief counseling and legal advice on how to keep siblings together. Most of the money will be earmarked for sub- Saharan Africa because it is home to 95 percent of the children whose parents have died from AIDS.

"Kimberly - Clark is emblematic of the corporate partners the U.S. Fund seeks out," said Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "Its long history of working with children fits perfectly with our programs to provide vitally important assistance to these children. Together we have an extraordinary opportunity to change the lives of millions of children for the better."

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF works for the survival, protection and development of children worldwide through education, advocacy and fundraising. Created in 1947, it is the oldest of 37 national committees around the world that support UNICEF's mission. For more information on the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, its partners or to donate to programs assisting children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, call 1-800-FOR-KIDS, or visit http://www.unicefusa.org.

Kimberly - Clark Corporation is a leading global manufacturer of tissue, personal care and health products. The company's global brands include Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, Depend, Kleenex, Scott, Kimberly - Clark Tecnol, Kimwipes and Wypall. Other brands well known outside the U.S. include Andrex, Scottex, Page, Popee and Kimbies. Kimberly - Clark also is a major producer of premium business, correspondence and technical papers. The company has manufacturing operations in 41 countries and sells its products in more than 150 countries.

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/NOTE TO EDITORS: The U.S. Fund for UNICEF has people available to be interviewed about the plight of children orphaned by AIDS including:

GEENA GONZALES, 27, lives in the Philippines and is the mother of a 10-year-old son, and has been HIV positive for the past six years. An active member of the global HIV/AIDS community -working in Manila with Remedios AIDS Foundation as a full time health educator targeting young people in the sex industry. She regularly speaks about the plight of the growing number of AIDS orphans.