New 'Spread the Sharing' Campaign Celebrates the Power of Sharing

New 'Spread the Sharing' Campaign Celebrates the Power of Sharing

Challenges Americans to Share One Million Stories to Trigger Meal Donations to Feed the Hungry

Stories of Sharing to be Featured on New Streaming Newscast

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To celebrate the power of sharing, Shedd's Country Crock(R) today announced a partnership with America's Second Harvest to launch "Spread the Sharing," a nationwide campaign challenging Americans to tell one million stories of sharing by Thanksgiving 2007.

Whether lending a hand at a local soup kitchen, baking cookies for a new neighbor or serving a meal to a friend, people all across America are finding ways to better their communities. Everyone can share their stories - no matter how big or small - at www.SpreadTheSharing.com.

Each time a story is told a meal will be donated to feed a family in need through America's Second Harvest. Shedd's Country Crock has already made an initial donation of one million meals through America's Second Harvest and is looking to match that donation with every story shared.

In addition, the website will feature its own streaming newscast, The Sharing News Network (SNN), which will report weekly on stories of sharing. SNN reporters will travel the nation searching for stories, some of which will used in the weekly newscast and posted as video diaries on the site.

To help kick-off the Spread the Sharing" campaign, Country Crock has enlisted Grammy Award-winning singer Amy Grant as campaign spokesperson and host of the Sharing News Network.

"This campaign is about the power of sharing and the power of communities," said Grammy Award-winning singer Amy Grant, spokesperson for the campaign who hosted a network program dedicated to making wishes come true. "When people notice the difference sharing makes in their community, they are motivated to share even more."

The campaign is an easy way for us all to share with the larger community. Hunger is on the rise with 38.2 million Americans living in food-insecure households(1). Last year alone, America's Second Harvest, the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the country, provided food assistance to more than 25 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including nearly nine million children.

"Hunger is a real concern in America and our partnership with Country Crock will help feed more families," said Vicki Escarra, President & CEO of America's Second Harvest. "Everyone can tell a story that will help feed a hungry family."

About Unilever

Unilever [NYSE: UL, 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 the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 15,000 people in 66 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico- generating more than $9 billion in sales in 2005. For more information visit www.unileverusa.com.

About America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network

America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with a Network of more than 200 Member food banks and food-rescue organizations serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually; and supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 90,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 25 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including nearly 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. For more on the America's Second Harvest Network, please visit www.secondharvest.org.

(1) USDA Household Food Security in the United States, 2004.

Lina Allocca
M Booth & Associates
212-481-7000 ext 3436
Cell: 973-271-2818

Cody Adams
M Booth & Associates
212-481-7000 ext 3215
Cell: 917-349-9909

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: CodyA@mbooth.com

Source: Unilever

CONTACT: Lina Allocca, ext. 3436, Cell, +1-973-271-2818; or Cody Adams,
ext. 3215, Cell, +1-917-349-9909, both of M Booth & Associates for Unilever,
+1-212-481-7000

Web site:

http://www.unileverusa.com/
http://www.secondharvest.org/

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