Kyiv, Ukraine, June 24, 2022 – Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Kimberly-Clark has been partnering with several leading international and local humanitarian organizations to meet the needs of local communities, internally displaced persons, and Ukrainian refugees abroad, both through financial support and in-kind donations of essential personal care and hygiene products totaling over $1 million globally.
According to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as of May 2022, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine exceeds 8 million due to the war, while the number of Ukrainian refugees abroad exceeds 6 million. They are in need of necessities, including personal care and hygiene products.
After receiving donation requests from leading international and Ukrainian humanitarian organizations in the first days of the war, Kimberly-Clark instantaneously and proactively partnered with several organizations to donate essential personal care and hygiene products and boost efforts aimed at helping Ukrainians – including People in Need, Remar, Kharkiv Youth Council, National Children's Specialized Hospital Okhmatdyt, Center for Social Leadership and many others. Globally, Kimberly-Clark managed to allocate USD 1 million to international and local non-governmental organizations supporting humanitarian relief efforts, internally displaced persons, and Ukrainian refugees abroad. This includes both financial aid of USD 500,000 to a leading global non-governmental organization, and in-kind product donations of the same amount.
“In parallel with ensuring personal safety and the safety of families, both the representatives of humanitarian organizations and our team were able to mobilize and promptly provide assistance to people who needed it. During those days, we not only donated all the products and samples available in our office, but even our own office first aid kits and leftover tea and coffee. When people can’t access even the most basic things, any assistance matters. We believed in this then and are even more sure of this now,” said Oleksandr Garbarenko, GM of Kimberly-Clark Ukraine.
Kimberly-Clark employees around the world also donated funds through a global employee giving program led by the Kimberly-Clark Foundation. The program is still open and employees have contributed over 50,000 USD to date. Kimberly-Clark will double this amount and donate it to a leading international organization to support the people of Ukraine. In addition, Kimberly-Clark volunteers in other countries have been helping their colleagues who have left Ukraine with accommodation, transportation, medical examinations, legal support, and other needs.
We continue to monitor Ukrainians' requests for assistance and are staying in touch with humanitarian organizations to be of the utmost help in this difficult time.
