Backchannelmedia

Backchannelmedia

CINCINNATI, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Procter & Gamble Professional(TM), in cooperation with Homewood Suites by Hilton(R) and the National Coalition for the Homeless have combined efforts to donate freshly laundered, hotel-quality sheets to homeless shelters across the United States through their "Mission S.O.F.T." program. This program provides homeless persons with a way to "Start Out Fresh Today."

"When people donate to homeless organizations, they typically think of the obvious necessities including clothing, food and toiletries," said Michael Stoops, acting director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. "Sheets are an often overlooked necessity that many shelters need and want."

The three organizations will kick off the program during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov. 12 through Nov. 18) in an effort to educate and promote action and awareness throughout the United States about homelessness with donations in Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago and Seattle.

"There are many people out there who can benefit from the linens the hotel industry takes out of circulation," said Rebecca Wyatt, senior vice president, brand management, Homewood Suites by Hilton. "Our brand's core attributes are based on creating a home-like feel and this program offers a way to provide a home-like comfort to the 3.5 million Americans who experience homelessness throughout the year."

The process begins with area hotels donating linens. Those linens are then freshly laundered by local Homewood Suites by Hilton properties with P&G Pro Line On-Premise Laundry products including Tide(R), Downy(R) and Clorox(R). P&G and the Homewood Suites by Hilton properties then give the freshly- laundered sheets to a National Coalition for the Homeless affiliated shelter to use as it sees best.

"P&G Professional is proud to work with hotels, like Homewood Suites that are always looking for ways to give back to the community," said JF Couture, brand manager of P&G Professional. "'Mission S.O.F.T.' allows us to use our collective resources to provide a small comfort to those in need."

"Mission S.O.F.T." is currently planned for 15 cities including Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles; Philadelphia, Penn.; Washington, DC; Boston; Cleveland; Des Moines, Iowa; Detroit, Mich.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Charleston, S.C.

"The plight of those without a home can be both lonely and difficult," said Michael Stoops, acting director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. "Working in collaboration with P&G Professional and Homewood Suites is another way our organization can begin to dispel the myth that labels homelessness as someone else's problem."

About P&G (NYSE: PG)

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), and Braun(R). The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About Homewood Suites

Launched in 1989, the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand today has more than 182 hotels open with another 120 in the pipeline. Beyond its spacious suites and home-like amenities, Homewood Suites guests can find at each hotel an on- site Suite Shop(R) convenience store, exercise facility and guest laundry at most locations. Guests can also enjoy a daily complimentary Suite Start(R) hot breakfast and a Welcome Home(R) reception featuring a complimentary light meal and beverages Monday-Thursday evenings.* Additional guest services at Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels include a complimentary grocery shopping service** and a complete business center at most locations.

To make reservations at a Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel, travelers can visit the Homewood Suites Web site at http://www.homewoodsuites.com or call 1-800-CALL-HOME(R). Homewood Suites participates in the Hilton HHonors(R) guest reward program, which allows its members to Double Dip(R) by simultaneously accumulating both hotel points and airline miles with each qualifying stay.

Homewood Suites by Hilton is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE: HLT) the leading global hospitality company, with nearly 2,800 hotels and 490,000 rooms in more than 80 countries, with 150,000 team members worldwide.

The company has a portfolio of some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations(TM), Homewood Suites by Hilton(R) and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection(TM).

For more information, please visit http://www.hiltonfamily.com .

* Subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age.

** Guest pays for groceries. Other restrictions apply.

HHonors(R), Double Dip(R) and Double Dipping(R) are trademarks owned by Hilton HHonors Worldwide, L.L.C. Hilton HHonors membership, earning of Points & Miles(R), and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions.

About National Coalition for the Homeless

Founded in 1984, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) is a private, non-profit, national advocacy organization that exists to educate all levels of society in order to identify and put to an end the social and economic causes of homelessness. NCH is the nation's oldest and largest national homelessness advocacy organization, comprised of activists, service providers, and persons who are, or have been, homeless striving toward a single goal -- to end homelessness. It is the mission of NCH to create the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness, while concurrently working to increase the capacity of local supportive housing and service providers to better meet the urgent needs of those families and individuals now homeless in their communities.

NCH focuses its work on four policy areas: civil rights of those who are without homes, housing that is affordable to those with the lowest incomes, accessible/comprehensive health care and other needed support services, and livable incomes that make it possible to afford the basic necessities of life. The strategies we use to implement our mission are: litigation, lobbying, public education, policy analysis, community organizing, research and providing technical assistance.

SOURCE The Procter & Gamble Company