Good News From Great Kids Across theNation.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 10, 1999--

Celebrity Judges Announce Top Winners of

26th Annual "Youth for America" campaign

Top winners in the 26th annual search for the country's best community projects by young Americans were announced this week as part of Colgate's

Youth for America campaign. The program, established in 1972 to encourage community responsibility, and spotlight the positive side of young Americans, awards cash grants to local units of six leading youth organizations--Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, Girls Incorporated, Camp Fire and 4-H--representing some 13 million members.

In discussing the campaign, Jennifer Marcus Barbara the program's Executive Director commented, "Today, perhaps more than ever, we need to be reminded of the caring attitude of most of our children. Our thanks and admiration go to those kids with the ingenuity and ambition to meet and overcome some of the tough challenges they and their communities face.

Celebrity judges Rebecca Gayheart (Beverly Hills 90210, Earth 2, Urban Legend), Ashton Kutcher (That 70's Show), Monica Keena (Dawson's Creek), and Omar Epps (Mod Squad), announced the top winners from among thousands of entries that evidence the creativity and concern of today's kids.

The Iowa State 4-H Club of Maquoketa, IA took top honors as best of all entries for their "Intergenerational Internet" program. Students train seniors how to use the internet, set up e-mail accounts and navigate the web. The group was awarded $1,000 as best 4-H entry and an additional $1,000 as the campaign's Bonus Prize winners.

Other First Place winners of $1,000 are: The Burkburnett Boys & Girls Club of Burkburnett, TX solicited donations to purchase cooling fans, then made surprise deliveries to elderly shut-ins during the summer heat. Senior Girl Scout troop 3210 of Lake Forest, IL wrote a book about volunteering and how to get involved. The resource guide contains a quick reference with contacts and inspirational chapters from personal experiences. The E Ko La Camp Fire Club of Mustang, OK instituted two successful blood drives. Members lined up donors through businesses, schools and churches, and remained involved throughout. Explorer Post 2611 of Canyon Country, CA instituted a "Safe Rides" program. Over 100 members volunteer to recruit, train, advertise and fundraise for the service which operates from 10PM to 2AM on Friday and Saturday nights, picking up anyone who shouldn't be driving. Girls Incorporated of the Greater Capitol Region, Schenectady, NY recruited people of all ages to perform, dance and tell stories at a performance celebrating the cultural diversity of the community. The girls reached at-risk teens by including gang members and performers of many races who ranged in age from five to 100."

Some 250 additional cash grant winners were awarded to local clubs and troops across the nation. To date, Colgate-Palmolive Company has awarded more than $5.5 million to America's young people through "Youth for America." The program has been honored by The White House under five different administrations, has received a Freedoms Foundation Award and is praised each year by members of Congress and countless governors and mayors throughout the country.

Entry forms for the 1999/00 27th annual "Youth for America" campaign will be available this fall through local offices of the six national youth organizations or by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to Colgate Youth for America at P.O. Box 1058, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150-1058. At the Colgate-Palmolive web site, www.colgate.com, you can click on "In the Community" for further details, and view a complete list of winners.

EDITOR-NEWSDESK NOTE:

A complete list of winners is published at www.colgate.com

Press releases for the top 18 winners (First-through-third place for each of six organizations) are available through this office.

Telephone numbers for top winners are also available if you would like to arrange an interview with a group in your area.