UN Unilever NV

Baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr., soccer gold medalist Abby Wambach and Wisk Laundry Detergent support community youth sports programs NEW YORK, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids today are not playing outdoors, getting dirty and enjoying youth sports nearly as much as they did in the past. Baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr. and soccer gold medalist Abby Wambach are joining forces with Wisk Laundry Detergent to make a difference. Their goal is to encourage kids to go outside, enjoy team sports, and not to be afraid to get dirty! (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060320/NYM005 ) The star athletes are supporting the 2006 Wisk Laundry Detergent "Win A Dream Field Makeover" contest. The community or team that collects the most points will receive the top prize, a $25,000 athletic field refurbishment, plus a hometown visit from Ripken and Wambach. Five runners-up will each receive a $10,000 field makeover and every team has a chance to win hundreds of dollars worth of sports equipment. Athletes advise kids to spend more time outside and get dirty "The poor quality of many public parks and play areas in this country today is one of the hurdles we face in trying to get our kids to be more active," said Ripken, a 21-season veteran of the Baltimore Orioles. "I'd rather see kids of any athletic ability out on a sports field hitting the dirt than just hitting the couch at home. As a parent and a player, I realize that a high quality field can be a great source of pride for a community and can motivate kids to participate in sports." Wambach, one of the leading scorers on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, learned at an early age that playing sports helps kids develop an appreciation of the benefits, both mental and physical, of an active lifestyle. She noted, "It's hard to believe, but there are even times when my team plays on sub-par fields. As I travel the country, I am often surprised to see how many town and school fields are in disrepair. The condition of the field affects the way we play and our enthusiasm and enjoyment of the experience, as I'm sure it does for kids." Ripken and Wambach are working with Wisk to offer ideas for fun, simple ways to encourage kids to get outside and be more active. The goal is to narrow the gap between all the children who should be outside enjoying the benefits of team sports and those who actually do. Parents can visit http://www.wisk.com/ for tips to inspire and motivate their kids. A 2005 Wisk survey conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. found that 35 percent of parents say their children do not participate in organized sports, even though 96 percent said they see youth sports as beneficial activities. The same group overwhelmingly (87 percent) agreed that they are happy when their children get dirty while playing because it demonstrates they are enjoying a full and active life. Field makeover program now in its third year Since it was launched in 2004, the Wisk "Win a Dream Field Makeover" contest has been hugely successful in rallying communities to get involved. Initially, the contest was developed to help improve baseball fields, but due to the overwhelming response in 2005, when 965 teams in 49 states registered, it was decided to extend the opportunity to all outdoor boys' and girls' sports teams. In an impressive display of community spirit, Fort Benning in Georgia won the top prize in 2004 and again in 2005. In an equally impressive demonstration of generosity, the base decided to donate its most recent prize to sister base Fort Stewart & Hunter Army Airfield, also in Georgia, where 26,000 troops recently returned after completing tours of duty in Iraq. "Every time we refurbish a field, hundreds of excited children get to enjoy team sports in a wonderful outdoor setting," said Helayna Minsk, Marketing Director, Wisk Laundry Detergent. "Fort Benning is a great example of how a community can rally together to support efforts to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle for children everywhere. We encourage other communities to do the same." In recognition of Cal Ripken's contribution to youth sports, and to further underscore its commitment to youth sports, Wisk Laundry Detergent has made a donation to Ripken Baseball and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. Sports teams, friends, family and fans can enter the Wisk "Win A Dream Field Makeover" contest by buying specially marked bottles of Wisk Laundry Detergent and registering points online at http://www.wiskpoints.com/ between March 1 and June 30, 2006. The site also offers suggestions for how communities and teams can improve their chances of winning. 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) have stain dissolving power and are formulated to tackle the tough grass stains that come with outside activity. 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, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of Unilever. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs more than 15,000 people in 74 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico -- generating approximately $11 billion in sales. For more information visit http://www.unilever.com/. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060320/NYM005 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Wisk Laundry Detergent CONTACT: Tori Rappold, +1-212-614-4201, , or Stacie Bright, +1-203-625-1130, , both for Wisk Laundry Detergent Web site: http://www.wisk.com/ http://www.wiskpoints.com/ http://www.unilever.com/

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