Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
1401 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005

For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kim Alton
(202) 662-8600
May 17, 2007

Aetna and Colgate-Palmolive Honored for their Leadership and Commitment to Diversity

(New York, NY) - On Monday, May 21st, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (“Lawyers' Committee”) will honor Aetna, Inc. and the Colgate-Palmolive Company for their commitment to diversity with the prestigious A. Leon Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Award.

Aetna and Colgate-Palmolive will be recognized for their exemplary corporate leadership in advancing equal opportunity - particularly leadership in recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce. The Chairmen and CEOs of both corporations, Ronald A. Williams of Aetna and Reuben Mark of Colgate-Palmolive, will accept the awards, named in memory of the late Judge A. Leon Higginbotham.

Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, a renowned photographer, activist, and widow of tennis great Arthur Ashe, will present the award to Williams. Mark will receive the award from Jeffrey Bewkes, President and COO of Time Warner.

WHO:
Aetna and Colgate-Palmolive Honored for Corporate Diversity

WHAT:
A. Leon Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Award Dinner

WHEN:
Monday, May 21, 2007
6:30 p.m. - Reception
7:30 p.m. - Dinner

WHERE:
Grand Hyatt New York
Park Avenue at Grand Central
New York, New York

“Both Aetna and Colgate-Palmolive provide vital leadership for the corporate community by fostering work environments that promote social consciousness and embrace diversity,” said Barbara R. Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee.

As a leading diversified health care benefits company, Aetna is leading the charge on addressing racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health status through both financial investments and through programs to promote better health care. Aetna's commitment to diversity was highlighted last year when Black Enterprise Magazine included the company on its list of “best companies for diversity.” In 2005, Fortune Magazine named Aetna as a “Top 50 Employer for Minorities.”

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, reaching people in more than 200 countries around the world. Its extensive community outreach includes “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures,” which helps meet the basic oral health needs of 50 million children each year in more than 80 countries. Colgate's commitment to the communities it serves and to strengthening the diversity of its employees and suppliers has been recognized by more than 20 publications and organizations in the U.S.

This year's Higginbotham dinner has raised over $2 million. Profits from the dinner will support the Lawyers' Committee's mission to serve as an advocate for underrepresented communities.

The Lawyers' Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights legal organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to provide legal services to address racial discrimination.

For more information on the Lawyers' Committee, visit us at www.lawyerscommittee.org



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