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Fort Benning Wins National Contest and Visit from Baseball Legend Cal Ripken, Jr. U.S. Army Post Wins National Wisk Laundry Detergent "Win A Dream Field" Contest NEW YORK, April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- After demonstrating enthusiasm and skill at being creative and supporting youth baseball, the Fort Benning Army Post won a national contest and will have its historic Gowdy Field renovated and visited by baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. As the grand prize winner of the national Wisk Laundry Detergent "Win a Dream Field" contest, the youth baseball teams, parents and officials on the installation will be recognized in a special ceremony featuring Ripken later this spring. "We're excited to have won this fantastic and special prize," said Colonel Rick Riera, Fort Benning's Garrison Commander. "It was a team effort with officers, soldiers, dependents and civilians actively involved. We are looking forward to meeting one of our sports idols who epitomizes what it means to go for it and not hold back. The field celebrates its 80th Anniversary this year and the upgrades will offer generations of sliding and diving sons and daughters of soldiers, their fathers and mothers, civilians and the community the opportunity to play our national pastime in an even better setting." Throughout the six months of the contest, shoppers at one of the military's busiest commissaries turned in their proof of purchases for points and the drive to win the top prize became a Fort Benning community event. Out of more than 1600 communities nationwide, Fort Benning amassed 64,360 points (or 6436 bottles of Wisk) on its way to the ultimate home run, the grand prize worth $10,000. Fort Benning, home to more than 50,000 soldiers, reservists and civilians plus about 10,000 soldier family members, many with parents serving overseas, will consider additional work to improve the quality of play such as more grass sod in foul areas and soft padding by dugouts along with maintaining the new infield and pitcher's mound with its prize. It is the site of approximately 100 youth, community level and intramural baseball and softball games per year. The field is named after Hank Gowdy, who was the first Major League Baseball player to enlist in World War I, played in two World Series in a 17-year pro career and served in WWII while in his 50's. He rose to the rank of Major and was also Chief Athletic Officer at Fort Benning before retiring. The first game held on Gowdy Field was between the New York Giants and the Washington Senators in 1925. The contest is part of a larger effort by Wisk called "America Needs Dirt", (http://www.americaneedsdirt.com/), a national program which encourages youngsters to play hard, get dirty and have fun, so they develop healthy behaviors that last a lifetime. The public awareness campaign reminds parents to get dirty and play with their children and warns of a dramatic decrease in the time children spend active and outdoors (research shows children have lost 12 hours per week in playtime since the 1970's and Americans spend 90 percent of their lives indoors). Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. partnered with Wisk Laundry Detergent to get the word out about the contest, the importance of embracing outdoor sports and the benefits of hitting the dirt versus the couch. "I am proud to team up with Wisk Laundry Detergent as this program provides opportunities for children nationwide to have a better place to play ball and I am looking forward to visiting Fort Benning to meet some of the young players," said Cal Ripken, Jr. "Throughout my career, getting dirty was a source of pride; it meant I played hard. As a parent, I recognize how important it is for children to be active. Playing baseball, and having a community that supports team sports like Fort Benning, encourages children to embrace outdoor activity and teaches them healthy life lessons." In addition to the grand prize, the Wisk "Win A Dream Field" program offered youth baseball teams nationwide a chance to win five first place and 50 second place prizes, worth $5,000 and $1,000 in baseball and sports apparel and equipment, respectively. Teams accrued points by purchasing bottles of Wisk Laundry Detergent and registering their community's purchases online. Wisk also made a donation to the Ripken Baseball organization and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation to further help promote youth sports. "Fort Benning showed what can be accomplished when individuals, teams and a community come together," said Helayna Minsk, marketing director, Unilever Laundry. "We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown for this contest by communities around the country and are thrilled to help refurbish Gowdy Field and bring Cal Ripken, Jr. to inspire the children and families on the base. This program allows us to show parents nationwide what Wisk stands for, which is encouraging them and their children to go ahead and get dirty and fully embrace life." Youth baseball teams and organizations nationwide can compete again for prizes in the 2005 Wisk "Win a Ball Field Makeover" national contest from now through the end of July by checking http://www.wiskpoints.com/. About Wisk The Wisk family of liquid detergents (Wisk with Stain Dissolving Power, Wisk Dazzling Whites and Colors, Wisk High Efficiency (HE), Wisk Free Clear and Wisk Morning Breeze with a Splash of Softness) has recently been improved with a formulation that enhances the products' stain dissolving power. Wisk liquid detergents are packaged in pearlized, translucent blue bottles that allow consumers to view how much detergent remains. About Ripken Baseball Ripken Baseball was established in 2001 by former major leaguers Cal and Bill Ripken. Its goal is to grow the game of baseball worldwide. Ripken Baseball's focus includes youth baseball, the Aberdeen Project, Ripken Management & Design, Youth Camps and Clinics, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the Aberdeen IronBirds. About Unilever Unilever (NYSE:ULNYSE:UN), one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life. In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Eternity by Calvin Klein, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave and Vaseline. DATASOURCE: Unilever CONTACT: MEDIA: Randy Kambic, +1-212-614-4805, , for Unilever; or Stacie Bright of Unilever, +1-203-625-1130, Web site: http://www.americaneedsdirt.com/ http://www.wiskpoints.com/

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