A multi-million-dollar grant including funds
and in-kind products will expand the reach of Baby2Baby's Program
with The Department of Health & Human Services
LOS
ANGELES and DALLAS,
March 6,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit
organization, and Huggies diapers are joining forces to provide
crucial support to new mothers and babies with a program that will
launch timed to Mother's Day 2024. In an effort to address rising
diaper need in America and combat the tragically rising maternal
mortality rate, Huggies, through the Kimberly-Clark Foundation, has
committed to tripling the reach and impact of Baby2Baby's
initiative with The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Through a multi-million-dollar grant including funds and an in-kind
product donation of its diapers, wipes and postpartum pads the
program will support maternal and infant health, particularly among
vulnerable communities.
Originally announced by Vice President Kamala Harris at Baby2Baby's Headquarters in
Los Angeles, Baby2Baby funded a
pilot program and distributed 3,000 Maternal Health and Newborn
Supply kits through hospitals and community-based partner
organizations across Arkansas,
Louisiana and New Mexico – three states experiencing deep
levels of family poverty and high maternal mortality rates. Now
with the critical support of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation and
Huggies, an additional 10,000 kits will be distributed across ten
states this year, including the three pilot states and seven new
states.
The kits contain items that are vital for the health and comfort
of both mother and child including diapers, wipes, hygiene
products, breastfeeding supplies, postpartum care and educational
resources. These critical items also provide mental health support
by alleviating the stress of meeting their baby's most basic
needs.
"Nearly half of all families in this country who need diapers
cannot afford them," said Baby2Baby Co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof. "Not being able to afford
the items their babies need takes a profound toll on a mother's
mental health. We've listened to moms across the country and
understand their unique challenges after giving birth, and are
proud to partner with Huggies to provide 10,000 new mothers with
basic essentials for themselves and their newborns."
"The partnership with Baby2Baby provides much-needed supplies
and educational information to mothers and their newborns.
Expanding the program allows us to help more families in more
states and close gaps in maternal health care that exist across the
country," said HHS Secretary Xavier
Becerra. "Every mother should have access to the support
they need for their family to be healthy. The Biden-Harris
Administration will continue to use every lever available to
support these women and their families until they do."
"Kimberly-Clark believes in supporting changemakers like
Baby2Baby to uplift communities and address grassroots needs. With
this new partnership, Huggies will continue its mission to provide
a healthy start for many more babies in America, building on our
more-than-a-decade long history of providing over 300 million
diapers to those who need them most. We are delighted to have this
opportunity to strengthen and support the work being done by the
U.S. Department of Human and Health Services and Baby2Baby to
support mothers and children," said Russ
Torres, president of Kimberly-Clark
North America.
U.S. maternal mortality rates more than doubled in the last 20
years, with mental health being cited as a leading cause of
maternal mortality. The partnership between Baby2Baby and Huggies
underscores a shared commitment to reducing this shocking statistic
while supporting maternal and infant health in communities in
need.
While Baby2Baby has distributed 170 million diapers in the past
12 years, that is still just a fraction of the need. This year, the
organization received requests for more than 1.5 billion diapers.
This donation from Huggies will enable Baby2Baby to extend its
reach, ensuring that more mothers and babies receive the support
they need immediately after giving birth.
About Baby2Baby:
Baby2Baby is a $80 million
national non-profit organization that provides children living in
poverty with diapers, formula, clothing, and the basic necessities
that every child deserves, serving more than one million children
across all 50 states. Led by Co-CEOs Kelly
Sawyer Patricof and Norah
Weinstein, the organization has distributed over 375 million
items over the past 12 years – more than any organization of its
kind – to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence
programs, foster care, hospitals and school districts as well as
children who have lost everything in the wake of disaster. The
organization's success has been propelled forward by its
industry-leading model that is redefining what it means to operate
a non-profit with a seamless integration of impact, innovation, and
influence, which earned them recognition as the #1 non-profit on
Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies List and praise
from TIME Magazine as one of 2023's most influential companies. To
learn more about Baby2Baby please visit
www.baby2baby.org.
About Kimberly-Clark:
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an
indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries.
Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's
most essential needs, we create products that help individuals
experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of
brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle,
Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud,
Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share
positions in approximately 70 countries. We use sustainable
practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities,
and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud
to be recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies(R)
by Ethisphere for the fifth year in a row. To keep up with the
latest news and to learn more about the company's 150-year history
of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com.
[KMB-B]
Logo
- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648588/Kimberly_Clark_Logo.jpg
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baby2baby-launches-partnership-with-huggies-maker-kimberly-clark-to-provide-millions-of-diapers-and-wipes-to-mothers-in-need-and-triple-their-maternal-health--newborn-supply-kit-initiative-302080797.html
SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation