P&G's Downy Fabric Softener Creates the Downy 'Touch of Comfort' Program to Help Provide Quilts to Hospitalized Children

P&G's Downy Fabric Softener Creates the Downy 'Touch of Comfort' Program to Help Provide Quilts to Hospitalized Children

'Grey's Anatomy' Star Chandra Wilson Joins Downy and Quilts for Kids, Inc. to Help Deliver Quilts to Children in Children's Miracle Network Hospitals throughout the United States

CINCINNATI, May 19, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- More than six million children are hospitalized each year in the United States, forced to confront the challenges of overcoming illness while being away from home in an unfamiliar environment. In order to bring a little comfort and security back to some of these children, Downy fabric softener, in partnership with Quilts for Kids, Inc., has launched the Downy Touch of Comfort program. This program will deliver personalized, hand-made quilts to children staying in Children's Miracle Network hospitals throughout the country, helping to give them a moment to smile during their tough times. Chandra Wilson, a mother of three and star of "Grey's Anatomy," has joined Downy's efforts to try and comfort as many children as possible.

"The Downy Touch of Comfort program delivers to children exactly what it says -- comfort when kids need it most," said program spokeswoman Chandra Wilson. "As a mom, most of my life focuses on caring for my children and making sure they are safe and secure wherever they may be. It brings me a great deal of joy to be a part of this program and know that Downy is partnering with these wonderful organizations to help children feel more comforted and at ease in an unfamiliar and sometimes intimidating place."

People across the United States can add a "touch of comfort" in their communities in numerous ways by visiting DownyTouchofComfort.com to help make a difference in a child's life. At the site, people can make donations to benefit the program, volunteer to deliver quilts or even learn how to become a local ambassador. In addition, the quilting community can visit the site to request a quilt kit or they can design their own quilt and send it to their local Quilts for Kids chapter or headquarters for distribution.

"The Downy brand's vision is to remind people that it's the small and simple things they do in life that mean the most," said Mary Pochobradsky, Downy Marketing Director. "Downy has comforted families for almost 50 years, and this is a small and simple thing we can do to give back and bring comfort to those who need it most -- hospitalized children."

Downy partnered with Quilts for Kids, Inc. because of the organization's dedication to delivering quilts that comfort hospitalized children with cancer, AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses. So far, Quilts for Kids has distributed over 50,000 quilts worldwide, saving millions of pounds of fabric from going into landfills. Since 2000, Quilts for Kids has spread to over 50 sister chapters in North America and plans to form a chapter of Quilts for Kids in every region that has a fabric source or Design Center.

"The partnership between Downy and Quilts for Kids is such a perfect fit," said Linda Arye, president of Quilts for Kids, Inc. "Together, Downy and Quilts for Kids are working to provide these children moments of joy and security, making them feel more comforted in an unfamiliar place."

The relationship with the Children's Miracle Network allows Downy to tap into a system of 170 children's hospitals across the country.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Downy on such an important cause geared at helping children through the power of comfort," said LaMar Williams, Director of Business Development, Children's Miracle Network. "Our network of hospitals will ensure a successful campaign by reaching thousands of hospitalized children across the country."

To learn more about Downy Touch of Comfort, please visit DownyTouchofComfort.com.

About Procter & Gamble

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), and Braun(R). The P&G community consists of 138,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com/ for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About Quilts for Kids, Inc.

Quilts for Kids, Inc. is a non-profit organization that transforms discontinued designer fabrics into quilts that comfort hospitalized children suffering from life-threatening illnesses as well children of abuse.

Headquartered in Yardley, PA, Quilts for Kids, Inc. was founded in August 2000 by Linda Arye. The organization was established with hopes of comforting children hospitalized with life threatening illnesses by providing a hand made patchwork quilt. These quilts are created by caring volunteer quilters nationwide who wish to make a difference in the lives of these hospitalized children. Since then, the charity has distributed over 50,000 quilts worldwide and saved millions of pounds of fabric from landfills. Quilts for Kids, Inc. is associated with children's hospitals throughout the United States and has 50 chapters throughout North America.

Because of allergens, children often cannot bring their stuffed animals to the hospital. However, most hospitals and treatment centers welcome the Quilts for Kids, Inc. washable, all-cotton quilts, which kids can hold onto for security and comfort.

   To learn more about Quilts for Kids, Inc., visit www.quiltsforkids.org.    About the Children's Miracle Network  

Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.

Through its year-round efforts to help kids, Children's Miracle Network has raised more than $3.4 billion to date, most of which is donated a dollar or two at a time by caring individuals across North America.

For more information about Children's Miracle Network, please visit www.childrensmiraclenetwork.com.

About Chandra Wilson

Chandra Wilson currently appears as Dr. Miranda Bailey on ABC's hit series "Grey's Anatomy." Her numerous television credits include a series regular on the ABC series "Bob Patterson," and guest starring roles on "The Sopranos," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Sex and the City," "Third Watch," "100 Centre Street," "Cosby" and "The Cosby Show." She has had recurring roles on "One Life to Live" and "Queens Supreme," and a principle role in the CBS Schoolbreak Special, "Sexual Considerations." She has also appeared in national commercials for Blockbuster Video, Burger King, Scope and the United Negro College Fund, as well as numerous radio commercials.

   For more information, please contact:   Alyson Mazzarelli, DeVries Public Relations   212-891-0470/ amazzarelli@devries-pr.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: kmerlino@devries-pr.com

Source: Procter & Gamble

CONTACT: Kash Shaikh of Procter & Gamble, +1-513-983-5820,
shaikh.k@pg.com; or Alyson Mazzarelli of DeVries Public Relations for Procter
& Gamble, +1-212-891-0470, amazzarelli@devries-pr.com

Web Site: http://www.pg.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment