FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION CONTRIBUTES $420,000 TO YMCA PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN AMERICAN FAMILIES NATIONWIDE

Chicago, Jan. 23, 2004 - Kimberly-Clark Corporation has awarded $420,000 to YMCAs nationwide, in an effort to address family needs through innovative YMCA programs, in communities where Kimberly-Clark employees and their families live.

Forty-two YMCAs each received "Family Grants" of $10,000 to strengthen existing initiatives or launch new programs that allow families to spend quality time together; encourage multigenerational family experiences; strengthen YMCAs' commitment to senior family members; and support nontraditional families. The family grant project is part of an $8.6 million, four-year alliance between YMCA of the USA and Kimberly-Clark, now in its final year.

"Kimberly-Clark's generous support will enable these YMCAs to provide innovative programming designed to serve and strengthen the cornerstone of every community -- families," said Ken Gladish, Ph.D., national executive director, YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for America's 2,540 YMCAs.

YMCAs are using the funds from the Kimberly-Clark "Family Grants" in a variety of ways. A complete list of all grant winners is attached, but examples of how the funds will be used include:

The Southeast Family Branch YMCA in Everett, Wash. . . . will use the grant to purchase supplies, and promotional materials, and host special events connected with the YMCA Adventure Guides. This program fosters understanding and companionship between children who are 5 to 9 years old and their parents. It features parent-and-child activities like camping, service-learning projects, arts and crafts, music, and storytelling and emphasizes the role of parents as guides in their child's life. Additionally, the Y will provide scholarships for family camp and parent-child play classes.

The Eastside YMCA in Ft. Worth, Tex. . . . plans to use the funds to provide program supplies, nutritional assessments and scholarships for creating a healthy lifestyle family program. It will assist in the positive spiritual, mental and physical development of youth as it relates to childhood obesity, and parents of participants will help plan and implement the curriculum.

"We are pleased to partner with a company that is passionate about finding ways to improve the lives of families every day,' said Gladish. "America's YMCAs have committed themselves to strengthening kids, families and communities nationwide for 152 years and we respect Kimberly-Clark's support of families."

In addition to sponsoring the family grant initiative, the alliance also sponsored the creation of the YMCA Strong Families Zone^tm, a feature on YMCA of the USA's Web site that provides tips and articles on family and parenting issues. The YMCA Strong Families Zone and information on local family programs can be accessed at www.ymca.net.

"Our alliance with America's YMCAs is rooted in a corporate decision to focus our philanthropic efforts on one important cause -- supporting and strengthening today's families worldwide, one community at a time," said Carolyn Mentesana, vice president, Kimberly-Clark Foundation.

"Kimberly-Clark has found a partner whose mission meshes perfectly with ours, and we are proud to support the efforts of our hometown YMCAs to help strengthen family ties nationwide," added Mentesana.

YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for America's 2,540 YMCAs. Collectively, YMCAs are the nation's largest not-for-profit community service organization and largest provider of child care, serving 18.9 million people of all faiths, races, ages and incomes, including 9.3 million children. YMCAs offer a broad range of programs including youth leadership and volunteerism, and financial assistance is available. To learn more visit www.ymca.net.

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, one in four people around the world trust K-C's brands to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being -- brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 131-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

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For more information contact:

Media Relations Manager
YMCA of the USA
312-419-8418

2004 Recipients of Kimberly Clark Corporation "YMCA Family Grants"

Lohse Family Branch YMCA
Tucson, AZ

Mulcahy/City YMCA
Long Beach, CA

Fairfield Family Branch YMCA
Los Angeles, CA

Stuart M. Ketchum-Downtown YMCA
Los Angeles, CA

East County YMCA
La Mesa, CA

YMCA Youth & Family Services
San Diego, CA

Downtown Youth Center Branch YMCA
New Haven, CT

Northern Middlesex County
YMCA Middletown, CT

Camden City Branch YMCA
Camden, NJ

Camp Ockanickon YMCA
Medford, NJ

Port Chester/Rye Brook Family Center
Port Chester, NY

White Plains Family Center
White Plains, NY

Tom A. Finch Community YMCA
Thomasville, NC

Brandywine YMCA
Coatesville, PA

Ambler Area Branch YMCA
Ambler, PA

Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County
Lansdowne, PA

Upper Main Line Branch YMCA
Berwyn, PA

Kennett Area YMCA
Kennett Square, PA

East Side Family Center
Knoxville, TN

YMCA at White Rock
Dallas, TX

Lakewest Family YMCA
Dallas, TX

Richardson Branch YMCA
Richardson, TX

Town North Branch YMCA
Dallas, TX

Community Services Branch YMCA
Dallas, TX

Rockwall County Branch YMCA
Rockwall, TX

Plano Branch YMCA
Plano, TX

Airport Area YMCA
Bedford, TX

Clark Nowlin YMCA
Fort Worth, TX

Amon Carter Jr. Downtown YMCA
Fort Worth, TX

Eastside YMCA
Fort Worth, TX

E.R. Van Zandt Southwest Family YMCA
Fort Worth, TX

Westside YMCA
Fort Worth, TX

YMCA of Greater Salt Lake Area
Salt Lake City, UT

Mukilteo Family Branch YMCA
Mukilteo, WA

Monroe/East County Family Branch YMCA
Monroe, WA

Marysville/North County Family Branch YMCA
Marysville, WA

Southeast Family Branch YMCA
Everett, WA

Federal Way Norman Center YMCA
Federal Way, WA

YMCA of the Fox Cities Inc.
Appleton, WI

YMCA Camp Nan A Bo Sho
Lakewood, WI

Neenah-Menasha
YMCA Community Center