Kimberly-Clark Takes the Lead in Supplier Phase of Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas' Capital Campaign

Rogers, AR (November 3, 2005) - Kimberly-Clark has made a $100,000 pledge to Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas' capital campaign to help transform healthcare. With their pledge, the global consumer product company becomes the first member of the local supplier community to contribute to the supplier phase of the capital campaign at the visionary lead donor level.

"Kimberly-Clark stands behind those programs that strengthen families," said Tony Dunning, Vice President of Global Business Development for Kimberly-Clark's Wal-Mart team, "and we believe that Mercy Health System is committed to the well-being of families throughout Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding region. That is why we chose to give to this worthwhile cause."

"We support a wide variety of causes, including hospitals and health-related organizations," added Dunning. "Mercy has initiated a project that has the potential to transform the way healthcare facilities operate in the future. The opportunity to contribute to that transformation was one that we could not pass up."

The new Mercy medical campus represents an extraordinary effort to transform the way healthcare institutions function. On one hand, it involves core issues such as patient safety and workplace simplification as well as the application of information technology to fundamental processes such as medication management and supply chain management; on the other, it entails replacing a 50-year old building with a new facility that will enable Mercy to continue its mission.

"We are extremely grateful to Kimberly-Clark for helping us transform the way we provide healthcare," said Susan Barrett, President and CEO of Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas. "Globally, they have been extremely generous in their philanthropic activities. This pledge reinforces their generosity as well as their commitment to helping people care for themselves and their families."

Patti Burcham (Patti B.), Donor Relations Coordinator for Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, expressed gratitude for the gift and hope that it will spur momentum for the supplier phase of the campaign. "Tony and the entire Kimberly-Clark organization have been very supportive as leaders within the supplier phase," said Burcham, "and we are honored with this most generous contribution and their continued commitment to our cause."

With the Kimberly-Clark gift, the capital campaign still has just over $16 million to raise to reach its goal of $40 million. The supplier phase is one of seven phases of the capital campaign; fundraising efforts are planned to continue through December 2006. With a Fall 2007 anticipated opening, Mercy's 21st century medical campus will be funded by operational gains, investments and reinvestments totaling $105 million as well as money raised through the capital campaign. To learn more about giving opportunities, contact Clark Ellison at (479) 936-2932.

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people—nearly a quarter of the world's population—trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 133-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, a not-for-profit faith-based health system, provides healthcare services to residents in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. The System includes St. Mary’s Hospital, The Gardens at Osage Terrace Assisted Living Facility and Mercy Medical Clinics in 22 locations throughout northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. Mercy is currently constructing a state-of-the-art medical campus just east of Interstate 540 off of New Hope Road in southwest Rogers. When completed in 2007, the campus will include a 350,000-square-foot medical center with 200 beds and a medical office building to accommodate 90 physicians.