NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation for Financial Service Professionals announced Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) as the large company recipient of the 2011 American Business Ethics Award (ABEA).  Kimberly-Clark was recognized at a special award ceremony on November 15 at its headquarters in Dallas, TX.

In making the announcement, Foundation Chairman R. Clifford Berg, Jr., CLU, ChFC, AEP, stated that "we are heartened by the many examples of strong business ethics we have had the privilege of seeing through the ABEA program.  And we hope that in honoring companies, such as Kimberly-Clark, that adhere to the highest ethical standards in their dealings with employees, customers and stakeholders, the ABEA provides a beacon that guides others to choose the high road in all their business practices."

Kimberly-Clark, a true American success story, provides essentials for a better life for 1.3 billion consumers around the world every day.  These products include household brands such as Kleenex, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Scott, and Depend.  Chairman and CEO Thomas J. Falk attributes Kimberly-Clark's success to a nearly 140-year culture of treating employees, customers,  and others with fairness, honesty and integrity.  

"We are honored to be recognized for our ethical business practices," Falk said. "Creating a culture where our employees are committed to driving business results ethically and doing the right thing for our communities and environment contributes directly to the success of our company."

Kimberly-Clark's ethical way of life is rooted in core values that require authenticity, accountability, innovation, and caring as the driving influence in all its business decisions, transactions and initiatives.  Conducting business in accordance with these core values starts at the top and carries through to each of the 57,000 Kimberly-Clark employees whether those employees are based in the U.S., China, Australia, South Africa, Brazil or any other of the 36 corporate locations the company maintains worldwide.  

Kimberly-Clark's robust Code of Conduct, which is available in 27 languages, focuses on the higher standard of doing the right thing, not just that which is legally required.  To stress the importance of living by the Code, Kimberly-Clark requires formal training, team leader coaching, and publishes "Ethical Moments" – a series of articles which focus solely on the ethical dilemmas the company's employees may encounter in the workplace.  

Evidence of Kimberly-Clark's high ethical standards can be found in its everyday business practices and its numerous awards.  For example, Kimberly-Clark:    

• Ranked No. 9 on the 2011 list of "World's 25 Best Multinational Workplaces" by the Great Place to Work Institute.
• Ranked among the top 100 greenest U.S. companies by Newsweek magazine.  
• Joined a number of leading global companies in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to foster high ethical standards and sustainability.
• Participates as an active member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
• Applies "design for environment" principles when developing and manufacturing products.
• Identifies a safe work environment as a core value and has created extensive training and measurement tools to ensure the protection of life, limb, and property.
• Adopted a "human rights in employment" policy to ensure universal human rights are protected for its employees on a global basis.
• Created "Open Opportunities" to help employees grow professionally with the company.
• Donated, along with its employees, nearly $25 million in cash and products to charitable causes worldwide and contributed 78,000 volunteer hours in 2010.
• Recognized, for the past three years, as one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility magazine.

Kimberly-Clark was also the recipient of the 2011 Greater Dallas Business Ethics Award.

Other recipients of the 2011 American Business Ethics Award were Corgan Associates (midsized company) and The Eye & Laser Center (small company).

Established in 1994, the American Business Ethics Award recognizes companies that exemplify high standards of ethical behavior in their everyday business conduct and in response to specific crises or challenges.  Customers, employees, shareholders, or other members of the local community may nominate companies for the American Business Ethics Award.  Each nominated company fully documents its answers to the ABEA Ethics Questionnaire and provides comprehensive supporting material to aid the judges in making their selection.  ABEA judging guidelines are stringent and carefully applied by an expert panel drawn from the business, academia, public service, media, consulting and ethics communities.  

About The Foundation for Financial Service Professionals

A charitable organization created to foster research, education and ethical practices amongst financial service professionals to benefit the public, the Foundation was established by the leadership of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (www.financialpro.org) in 1982.  

In fulfillment of this mission, the Foundation has created several programs, including the Paul S. Mills Scholarship to encourage ongoing professional development among financial service practitioners; the Journal of Financial Service Professionals Author Award to advance scholarly research and writing in financial services; the American Business Ethics Award to recognize ethical practices in the American business marketplace; and Financial Education Partners ( FEP ), to provide pro bono financial guidance to individuals in need.  More information is available at www.FinancialProFoundation.org.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people – nearly a quarter of the world's population – trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, HUGGIES, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 139-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation