COLGATE-NDA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
AWARDS $5,000 TO MOREHOUSE COLLEGE DURING
ATLANTA TOM JOYNER SKY SHOW

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(AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSWIRE)ATLANTA, GA, November, 2003 - Colgate-Palmolive Company and the National Dental Association Foundation (NDAF) presented a $5,000 pre-dental scholarship award to Morehouse College during the recent Atlanta Tom Joyner Sky Show.

The award was made in partnership with the Tom Joyner Foundation, and extends Colgate's support to the youth and families of the Atlanta region, the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and global commitment to oral health education.

Dr. Walter H. Massey, Morehouse College President, accepted the award Nov. 14 at the Georgia International Convention Center. Since 1990, the NDAF/Colgate- Palmolive Scholarship Fund has awarded $1.8 million to 1,100 underrepresented minorities pursuing careers as dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants, thus increasing the pipeline of African American students in the field.

Over the years, at-risk communities received national attention via "Oral Health in America," issued in 2000 by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher. The report outlined oral disease as a "silent epidemic" and encouraged citizens and professionals to understand that oral health is integral to general health - meaning that you cannot be healthy without oral health.

Colgate has a 40-year history of delivering oral health education to children and families throughout the world. Today, that commitment continues through Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, a multicultural initiative to promote the importance of oral health through education and prevention. Each year, BSBF serves more than 8 million American youth and their families. Since 1991, Colgate BSBF has reached nearly 50 million children in 80 countries with informative videos, storybooks, sing-along-songs, computer CD-ROMs, interactive activities and an on-line curriculum. By 2010, Colgate has an aggressive goal to reach 100 million children, extending its impact through the "100 Million Smiles" campaign.

In underserved U.S. cities like Atlanta, the program establishes partnerships with dental professionals, governments, community leaders, schools and education professionals, providing free dental screenings and educational materials for educators to use in the classroom and for parents to use at home. Colgate BSBF and community-based partners from organizations like the North Georgia Dental Society, have brought smiles to the faces of thousands of children in the Atlanta area.

"Our program couldn't exist without the dedication and support of volunteers," said Dr. Marsha Butler, Colgate Vice President, Global Professional Marketing and External Relations. "Many of our volunteer dental professionals were trained at leading HBCU's like Morehouse, Howard and Meharry. Colgate is proud to help dental students continue their studies. In the long run, patients receive vital oral health education and preventive treatment, resulting in a healthier community, something we can all smile about!," she added.

In October, Colgate and the NDA Foundation presented a $5,000 pre-dental scholarship to Albany State University, in tandem with the Tom Joyner Foundation / Albany (GA) Sky Show festivities.

The Colgate-NDA Foundation-Tom Joyner Foundation scholarships resulted from the shared vision of two dynamic Colgate executives who are graduates of HBCU's. Dr. Butler, a Howard University School of Dentistry alum, joined forces with Phyllis Woolley-Roy, Colgate's Director of African-American Marketing and a graduate of Lincoln (PA) University to create the Sky Show / Pre-Dent Scholarship Award Program.

"This partnership extends Colgate's commitment to education and the importance of HBCU's in training dental professionals and the African-American community as a whole," said Woolley-Roy. Colgate was a proud sponsor of Colgate's Atlanta's Mother-Daughter Day and other local/regional programs.

The Colgate-NDA Foundation-Tom Joyner Foundation pre-dent scholarships will be awarded through the respective HBCU's financial aid departments' based on financial need and academic achievement.

Tom Joyner, Jr., President, Tom Joyner Foundation, praised the consortium's support of HBCUs. "We are so pleased to have Colgate and the NDA Foundation as our partners and look forward to healthier communities as a result," he said.

Background

The Tom Joyner Foundation does only one thing … it helps students continue their education at Black colleges. All too often a student will get into college, then encounter financial difficulties that will force them to drop out. The Foundation provides money directly to the HBCUs for the purpose of helping these students complete their education.

The National Dental Association Foundation was formed in 1976 as a nonprofit entity and adjunct to the National Dental Association, the premier dental organization for ethnic minorities. It represents a family of 10,000 dentists, students, hygienists, assistants, spouses, and the communities they serve. It is the parent organization of the Student National Dental Association, and umbrella to the National Dental Hygienists Association, the National Dental Assistants Association and the Auxiliary to the NDA (spouses).

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a leading global consumer product company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Household Surface Care, Fabric Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and U.S. territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Suavitel and Fab, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet pet foods. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's website at www.colgate.com. To learn more about the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, visit www.colgatebsbf.com.

COLGATE-ATLANTA SKY SHOW PHOTO CAPTION

$1.8 Million Awarded to 1,100 Dental Professionals

COLGATE-NDA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
AWARDS $5,000 TO MOREHOUSE COLLEGE DURING
ATLANTA TOM JOYNER SKY SHOW

ATLANTA, GA, November, 2003 - Colgate-Palmolive Company and the National Dental Association Foundation (NDAF) presented a $5,000 pre-dental scholarship award to Morehouse College during the Atlanta Tom Joyner Sky Show. Colgate Vice President Dr. Marsha Butler (far left), discusses the need for more African Americans in dentistry with NDAF Executives, Dr. Kim Turner (middle) and Dr. David LaMothe (far right); philanthropist Joyner is holding microphone. The award was presented Nov. 14 at the Georgia International Convention Center. Since 1990, the NDAF/Colgate- Palmolive Scholarship Fund has awarded $1.8 million to 1,100 underrepresented minorities pursuing careers as dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants. The award was made in partnership with the Tom Joyner Foundation and extends Colgate's support to the youth and families of the Atlanta region, the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and the company's global commitment to oral health education.

Photo by Tiffany Woolard.

Contact: Lynne Scott Jackson, Milllynneum, Inc.
212.560.9300; millynneum@aol.com

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