Colgate-Palmolive Awards Starlight Fun Centersâ„¢ Through Online Contest During Black History Month

( BLACK PR WIRE) New York, NY (February 3, 2009) – For children who may be anticipating surgery, enduring long outpatient treatments or fighting loneliness after visiting hours have ended, Fun Centers provide a comforting break. Colgate-Palmolive is partnering once again with the Starlight Children’s Foundation and this year will donate more than 95 Starlight Fun Centers™ throughout the country to bring smiles to children battling serious illnesses including Sickle Cell Disease.

For children with Sickle Cell Disease, there is no cure. This red blood cell mutating disease which can block blood flow is inherited by children and can lead to a life of health complications and painful medical treatments. In the United States, Sickle Cell Anemia affects about 70,000 people and mainly affects African Americans - the condition occurs in about 1 in every 600 African American births. By providing Starlight Fun Centers™, these mobile entertainment units help children take their minds off their illnesses for a moment and enjoy games and movies right at their bedside.

During February’s Black History Month, Colgate will also be hosting “Show The Love”, an online contest to award additional Fun Centers to this year’s participating hospitals. Now through Friday, February 27, residents can log onto www.colgate.com/showthelove to vote for their local hospital. All participating hospitals will receive a Fun Center and the 3 hospitals that garner the most online votes will receive a second Fun Center – doubling the fun! Starlight Fun Centers™ are designed to bring an instant entertainment with a brand-new Nintendo Wii™, DVD player, Sharp AQUOS™ LCD television and interactive games.

“Demand for our Fun Centers continues to grow, especially during this difficult economic time. It is reassuring for us, our hospital partners and most importantly, the children and families we serve, to know that Colgate-Palmolive remains steadfast in its support,” said Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “We have seen first hand the smiles and joy that our Fun Centers have brought to faces of children that are living with Sickle Cell Disease and we are proud to announce this year’s campaign to show the love.”

“Colgate is committed to acting with compassion and integrity when caring for our global community”, said Carla Kelly, General Manager of Multi-Cultural Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Starlight through this year’s ‘Show the Love’ campaign, which will be sure to provide smiles to children undergoing treatment for serious diseases such as Sickle Cell Disease.”

Participating Hospitals
Atlanta, GA Grady Health System
Baltimore, MD Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
Charlotte, NC Presbyterian Hospital
Chicago, IL John H. Stroger, Jr., Hospital of Cook County
Dallas, TX Medical City Children's Hospital
Detroit, MI St. John's Hospital and Medical Center
Houston, TX Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Los Angeles, CA Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Memphis, TN Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis
New York, NY St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
Washington, DC HSC Pediatric Center

Colgate-Palmolive and Starlight share a 19 year partnership, during which Colgate-Palmolive has donated 1,090 Fun Centers in addition to more than $7.5 million to the organization in an effort to continually improve the lives of young patients and their families. This contribution includes ongoing support of numerous programs established by Starlight and extensive outreach to encourage consumers to learn more about the non-profit organization.


About Colgate-Palmolive:

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet pet foods. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's website at http://www.colgate.com.


About Starlight Children’s Foundation:

When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. For 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation™ has been dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Starlight’s programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone. Through a network of offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children, parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally through affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org.