DALLAS, Aug. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the over
500,000 premature babies born in the U.S. each year, human touch
can have a powerful impact on healthy growth and development. To
ensure that all babies—including those who are most vulnerable —
get the hugs they need to thrive, the Huggies No Baby
Unhugged program is awarding seven $10,000 grants to hospitals across the country to
help support or establish volunteer hugging programs. These
programs provide much needed physical human interaction for
newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) that can help make
their transition from the hospital to the home quicker.
"Huggies believes deeply in the power of hugs. They provide much
more than just a heartwarming cuddle – a hug can stabilize heart
rates, increase oxygen levels and strengthen baby's immune system,"
said Giusy Buonfantino, president of Kimberly-Clark Baby and Child Care North
America. "Huggies' No Baby Unhugged grant program is proud
to help hospitals across the U.S. give premature babies the care
they need while in the NICU."
Hospitals may use the grants in a variety of ways, such as
investing in volunteer training and recruitment, hugger chairs and
educational materials for volunteers. The seven hospitals receiving
grants so far in 2017 include:
- Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Lebanon,
New Hampshire
- Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, Valhalla, New York
- Chester County Hospital, West
Chester, Pennsylvania
- Southern Illinois Healthcare Memorial Hospital, Carbondale, Illinois
- Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento,
California
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, Oakland, California
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San
Francisco, California
"Caregivers at our Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are
thrilled to receive Huggies' No Baby Unhugged grant, which
will help us enhance and expand our current Cuddlers Program," said
Edmund LaGamma, MD, Chief of Newborn
Medicine at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, a member of the
Westchester Medical Center Health Network. "Neonatal Cuddling
Programs like ours offer a treatment like no other in medicine: the
human touch. It is clear that premature or seriously ill newborns
who are held and enjoy moments of personal interaction and
compassion have a much better chance of recovery. They have
improved sound recognition, visual fixation, and calming skills
that assist the developing brain in achieving normal milestones.
Touch is an irreplaceable force of human kindness and this grant
emphasizes its importance."
"Huggies deeply respects all that hospitals and NICU nurses do
for babies across the country," said Aric
Melzl, General Manager, Huggies Healthcare at
Kimberly-Clark. "Our strong partnership with NICU nurses has helped
Huggies become the fastest-growing diaper in hospitals and create a
distinct portfolio of specially-designed diapers and wipes to meet
the unique needs of premature infants who need extra love and
care."
Huggies will distribute more No Baby Unhugged grants
throughout the year, with the next announcement anticipated in
October. Hospitals interested in applying for the No Baby
Unhugged grant can fill out an application on the Huggies
website. For those interested in supporting the program, visit
Huggies.com/NoBabyUnhugged to become a Huggies Member and in turn,
Huggies will donate $5 to support
volunteer hugging program grants for hospitals.
About the Huggies Brand
Huggies believes deeply in the
Power of Hugs. That's why every Huggies diaper and wipe is inspired
by parents' hugs. For nearly 40 years, Huggies has been helping
parents provide love, care and reassurance to help babies
thrive. No Baby Unhugged is Huggies promise to
ensure babies get the care they need to thrive – from innovative
everyday products, growing hospital hugger programs and
specially-designed products for the tiniest of babies, to diapers
and wipes donations. Huggies is the fastest growing diaper brand in
hospitals and partners with NICU nurses to develop diapers and
wipes that meet the specific needs of pre-term infants. For more
information on the Huggies No Baby Unhugged program
visit the "Why Huggies?" page at Huggies.com.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and
its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for
people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of
the world's population trust Kimberly-Clark 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
positions in 80 countries. To keep up with the latest news and to
learn more about the Company's 145-year history of innovation,
visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook and
Twitter.
Contact: Elizabeth Lewis
312-240-1349
Elizabeth.Lewis@edelman.com
Contact: Andrea Hopkins
972-281-1481
Media.relations@kcc.com
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SOURCE Huggies