Gillette Adds Unique Twist to the Gillette Home Run Derby by Challenging Players to Hit #FlexBall Razor Targets and Help Achieve a Potential All-Time High Charitable Donation

First-Ever #FlexBall Targets and In-Stadium Grooming Lounge Will Debut During the Live ESPN Broadcast to Celebrate the Fusion ProGlide with New FlexBall Technology Razor Available in Stores Nationwide

BOSTON--()--Today, Gillette (NYSE: PG), the world’s leading male grooming brand announced a unique twist to this year’s Gillette Home Run Derby (Monday, July 14, live on ESPN at 8:00 pm ET, #HRDerby), which could push the final charitable donation to be the highest in the history of the event. Charitable donations have long been a staple of the Home Run Derby as each home run triggers a donation to be made by the sponsor and Major League Baseball. Charitable recipients include Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the MLB Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program.

This year, two LED “Hit It Here” targets featuring the #FlexBall razor image will be placed at Target Field; one in left-center and the second in right-center field. If either target is hit during the Gillette Home Run Derby by one of the Home Run Derby participants, there will be a one-time incremental donation of $300,000 from Gillette which could push the final donation amount to a level above the record of $615,000 set in 2012. This new element is in addition to a custom orange baseball (or #FlexBall) that will be introduced toward the end of each participant’s at-bat. For each orange #FlexBall home run hit by a participant throughout the Gillette Home Run Derby, Gillette and Major League Baseball will combine to donate $10,000 to designated charities. Gillette and MLB will combine to make an additional donation of $5,000 for every non-FlexBall home run hit throughout the 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby.

“Gillette is thrilled to celebrate 75 years as a Major League Baseball sponsor and to be the title sponsor of this year’s Home Run Derby and support two great organizations – Boys and Girls Club of America and the MLB RBI program,” said Hooman Shahidi, senior brand manager of Gillette North America. “Because our newest razor, the Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology provides maximum contact* to get virtually every hair, we’re upping the ante for the players by challenging them to achieve maximum contact with the ‘Hit it here’ #FlexBall razor targets and trigger a possible record breaking charitable donation.”

“As our longest-standing partner, Gillette is using the Home Run Derby as a platform for giving back to the community through raising funds for both RBI and Boys & Girls Clubs of America,” said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. “When the players see those targets in the outfield, we’re confident they’ll be taking aim for a chance at a record donation.”

The #FlexBall razor targets are just one of many ways Gillette is celebrating its newest razor during the MLB All-Star Week events. On Monday, July 14th Gillette will also host the first-ever #FlexBall Grooming Lounge that will sit center stage between the #FlexBall razor targets, on the centerfield concourse at Target Field. This lounge will be open to all fans that are in the ballpark during the event. All are invited to stop by and enjoy a shave with the new razor before and during the Gillette Home Run Derby. Additionally, fans visiting T-Mobile All-Star FanFest during MLB All-Star Week will have an opportunity to take a swing at an orange #FlexBall when they stop by the Gillette Home Run Derby attraction - where fans can try to achieve maximum contact with their own #FlexBall targets to win select prizes such as tickets to the Gillette Home Run Derby, Gillette product coupons, and more.

Leading-up to and during the Gillette Home Run Derby, fans can also engage with @Gillette and @MLB on Twitter using #FlexBall and #HRDerby to receive select giveaways and the latest updates. On Friday, July 11th between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Gillette and Major League Baseball will challenge fans’ baseball trivia knowledge at the @MLB Twitter handle. Prizes will randomly be given away, including tickets to the Gillette Home Run Derby, tickets to T-Mobile All-Star FanFest, MLB.tv subscriptions and Gillette prize packs.

The new reimagined FlexBall Technology handle moves, adjusts and pivots in 3D to meet the unique contours of a man’s face to get virtually every hair. This first of a kind razor uses the same Fusion ProGlide cartridges, delivering Gillette’s best shave. Manual and power versions of the Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology are available at all major retailers nationwide. Fans can subscribe to Gillette’s best shave for around $1/week** at Gillette.com.

The 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby will be held Monday, July 14 at Target Field in Minneapolis, home of the Minnesota Twins, and televised live on ESPN beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT. In addition to coverage on ESPN, it will be broadcast live on ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN and ESPN Radio in the U.S. as well as ESPN International. It also will be streamed live on MLB.com and via the MLB.com At Bat app. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

About Gillette

For over 110 years, Gillette has delivered precision technology and unrivaled product performance – improving the lives of over 800 million men around the world. From shaving and body grooming, to skin care and sweat protection, Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave prep (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash. For more information and the latest news on Gillette, visit http://www.gillette.com/. To see our full selection of products, visit http://www.gillette.com/en/us/shop-now.aspx.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves approximately 4.8 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Duracell®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About Major League Baseball Properties

The Major League Baseball Clubs formed Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) in 1966 as the Clubs’ agent for marketing and trademark licensing and protection. Major League Baseball Properties is responsible for managing consumer licensing activities, developing national advertising campaigns, cultivating sponsorship opportunities with major consumer brands and corporations, growing the game and the business of baseball outside the United States and creating national marketing programs in conjunction with Clubs, broadcast rights holders and national sponsors. MLBP also operates a full-service video and audio production unit (Major League Baseball Productions), a publishing division and stock photo licensing agency, and manages logistics for the All-Star Game and World Series as well as all other special events. For more information on Major League Baseball, log on to www.MLB.com.

* among Fusion razors over the contours.

**based on 4 shaves per week over average cartridge use and AC Nielsen FDMX pricing.

Contacts

Ketchum:
Chris Smith
O: 212-796-9814
C: 908-416-0085
Chris.smith@ketchum.com
or
Gillette:
Kurt Iverson
O: 617-463-5286
iverson.k@pg.com

Contacts

Ketchum:
Chris Smith
O: 212-796-9814
C: 908-416-0085
Chris.smith@ketchum.com
or
Gillette:
Kurt Iverson
O: 617-463-5286
iverson.k@pg.com