>> The Gift of Learning – March 2012

Driven by a strong belief that every special child deserves a chance to live, learn and thrive, Procter & Gamble (P&G) once again collaborates with caring partners; Giant and Guardian to launch "The Gift of Learning", a nationwide fundraising campaign.

The two-month initiative aims to raise RM 150,000 for eight special children centres around Malaysia to provide free therapy and training. Consumers who wish to lend a helping hand can purchase participating P&G products at Giant and Guardian stores nationwide, including everyday brands such as Pantene, Olay, Rejoice, Head & Shoulders, Clairol Herbal Essences, Whisper, Downy, Gillette, Oral-B, Ambi-Pur, Febreze, Dynamo and Fab.

An exciting hypermarket sweep was held to mark the launch, not only giving the opportunity for caregivers and special children to walk home with products worth RM 500, but also a chance for the beneficiaries and the employees of P&G, Giant and Guardian to get to know each other better.

Open Minds' Honours Pledge to Special Children - April 2011
It is "mission accomplished" for Procter & Gamble Malaysia (P&G) as it honoured its pledge to contribute multi-sensory therapy facilities at Community Rehabilitation Centres (Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti) nationwide. A simple ceremony to mark handover of the 50th multi sensory therapy facilities was held at the PDK in Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur in the presence of Y.B Senator Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.

The Minister lauded P&G's continued commitment to special children through the Open Minds initiative and noted that accessibility to educational facilities is a basic right for all children. The therapy rooms provide multi-sensory stimulation for children with learning disabilities in a soothing environment. The rooms are also specially designed to deliver stimuli like lighting effects, colour and sounds to the various senses.

"The Gift of Learning" campaign - April 2011
In a bid to generate awareness on the importance of early intervention in dyslexia, Procter & Gamble Malaysia (P&G), Giant Hypermarkets and Guardian collaborate on "The Gift of Learning" campaign to enable caring consumers to contribute towards the educational needs of dyslexic children. The campaign will run until the 19th May 2011, and aims to raise RM100, 000 to provide free remedial education for dyslexic children at Dyslexia Association of Malaysia (DAM) centers nationwide. (insert pictures attached)

In a bright and cheerful mock-classroom setting, Saturday shoppers and curious onlookers were treated to an entertaining musical performance by the DAM students ranging from seven to 12 years old. A special appearance by the bubbly TV personality Baki Zainal sent waves of excitement through the gathered audience, who listened attentively to Baki's presentation on his own struggle of living with dyslexia.

JKM Cheque Presentation - November 2010
Open Minds presented the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) with a cheque for RM300, 000, honouring the total pledge of RM1 million made in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of our Open Minds CSR programme in 2010. The funds have been used to build 50 multi-sensory therapy rooms at community rehabilitation centres (Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti, PDK) all over Malaysia. The contribution was handed over to Cik Norani Hj. Mohd Hashim, Director of Jabatan Pembangunan Orang Kurang Upaya (JPOKU) by En. Zulhaimi Abdul Hamid, P&G's External Affairs Leader.

7th Annual International Business Awards – July 2010
Procter & Gamble's Open Minds campaign won the Corporate Social Responsibility Programme of the Year in Asia (Subcontinent, Australia and New Zealand) category and was named a Stevie Distinguished Honoree in the Corporate Social Responsibility Programme of the Year in Asia (China, Japan and Korea) category at the 2010 International Business AwardsSM for our Live, Learn and ThriveTM (LLT) corporate cause programme.

50 P&G Employees visit National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) for World Autism Awareness Day – June 2010
Open Minds organised a visit to the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) headquarters in Titiwangsa, in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day. More than 50 employees took time off their busy schedules to learn more about the disorder that affects millions of children and their families world-wide, and to also spread a little cheer amongst the children as well as their dedicated teachers and care givers. The P&G employees were warmly greeted at the NASOM building entrance by teachers and children alike and welcomed into the building that provides special education services for 87 children between the ages of three and 14.

Watsons 'The Best of Beauty & Grooming by P&G' Cheque Presentation to NASOM – April 2010
Open Minds collaborated with Watsons stores nationwide in the "The Best of Beauty and Grooming by P&G" consumer campaign all through April 2010, which raised funds through the sale of selected P&G products. The campaign raised a total of RM33, 307.20 for NASOM, who accepted the contribution from Watsons Merchandise Director, Ms. Caryn Loh and P&G's Group Manager, Customer Business Development, Ms. Loo Lee Lee.

Open Minds 10th Anniversary Celebration – March 2010
The 10th Anniversary of our Open Minds programme was celebrated with a pledge to contribute a total of RM1 million to benefit the education needs of special children in Malaysia by building 50 multi-sensory therapy rooms at community rehabilitation centres (Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti, PDK) nationwide. The 3 beneficiaries were the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), Persatuan Dyslexia Malaysia and Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN).

SK Putrajaya Presint 9 (2) Snoezelen Room Installation – November 2008
In November 2008, Open Minds presented the country's largest Open Minds Snoezelen Therapy Room for special children to the Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 9 (2). We handed over the keys to the facilities to Director of Special Education Division, Ministry of Education, Bong Muk Shin, who received it on behalf of the ministry. The Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 9 (2) was chosen by us as it has in addition to its regular primary school teaching, nine special education classes catering to 54 special children cared for by 14 teachers and eight teaching assistants. The special children at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 9 (2) are either autistic, dyslexic or intellectually-challenged and some students have a combination of these conditions.

The Open Minds Snoezelen Room is a therapeutic and recreational facility which has benefited special children with sensory, cognitive and physical disabilities by providing a safe and comfortable environment, where primary senses are stimulated by music, lighting effects and gentle vibrations. The event was attended by parents, families, special children, teachers, care takers, senior education ministry officials and members of the media.

Aquaria KLCC Visit – February 2009
In the first quarter of 2009, we hosted a special outing to KLCC Aquaria for a group of 60 special children and also their caregivers. The children are from a centre that works with children with various learning disabilities like Down's syndrome, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy. A group of 50 our employees played host to these special guests amidst the scene of an underwater world and its inhabitants, which fascinated all the special children. The highlight of the event was a series of exciting fish feeding episodes by professional divers that was specially arranged for the entourage. Over the last decade, averages of 10% - 20% of our employees have participated in our Open Minds program.

PDK Tun Hussein Onn Launch – July 2009
Open Minds first contribution to the multi-sensory therapy room project was in July 2009. A donation of RM280,000 was presented to Y.B Senator Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (on behalf of the Social Welfare Department) in the presence of more than 350 special children. Since then the donations have been utilized towards the building of the first 14 multi-sensory therapy rooms in 14 states in Malaysia.

Buy A Pack, Support Education Campaign – Oct 2009
To mark the 10th anniversary of our Open Minds CSR programme, for over two months we raised funds to benefit the educational needs of special children. Our ASEAN-wide 'Buy A Pack, Support Education' campaign was executed at retailers nationwide and monies raised from the sale of all P&G products was channeled towards educational assistance for special children. Throughout our programme, we have worked closely with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to channel the funds towards identified special children with disabilities such as autism, dyslexia and cerebral palsy.

Open Minds-Yayasan Nur Campaign – December 2005
In December 2005, Open Minds in cooperation with the ministry raised RM1.1mil for the Open Minds-Yayasan Nur Child Aid fund raising campaign. The campaign was established to assist the autistic, intellectually disabled and the dyslexic children and part of the contributions came through various activities and campaigns held that year. Among the most memorable and impactful activities witnessed P&G's Country Manager, Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, climbing Mount Kinabalu on October 2 2005 to raise funds for mentally challenged children. Dubbed the 'Climbathon', it was part of our corporate social responsibility programme and since its launch in 1999, Open Minds has donated more than RM2 million to 57 schools for various purposes, including building maintenance and hosting teacher training clinics.