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Studies show that in the United States a woman is battered every nine seconds.
And, during the course of their lifetime, one-third of all American women will
experience at least one physical assault by a partner. In fact, battering is the
leading cause of injury to women ages 15 to 44 in this country. 

Domestic violence is often a silent and misunderstood problem whose victims
include family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. We know many of them and
have been deeply touched by their stories. It is their painful experiences that have
compelled us to action. But, women who have survived violent and abusive
relationships know that beyond the pain there is hope.

The Philip Morris family of companies is committed to providing safety, healing
and hope to domestic violence survivors. To do this, we contribute millions of
dollars annually to hundreds of domestic violence organizations in all 50 states.
Today, Philip Morris is a national leader in helping victims of domestic violence
and in raising awareness of the issue and its devastating impact.

In addition to our grantmaking, Philip Morris has hosted 20 conferences and
workshops in cities across America to educate thousands of employers about
the impact of domestic violence in the workplace. We’ve partnered with other
companies, nonprofit groups and local government to form coalitions to help
educate other employers. We've sponsored public service announcements and
advertising campaigns to help raise awareness among the general population.
And, we've instituted internal programs to inform and support our nearly 60,000
employees in the United States.

The mission of the Philip Morris contributions program has always been aimed at
meeting undeniable human needs. Few issues present a more urgent call for
such assistance than the problem of domestic abuse.

All of us face the reality that our families, friends and co-workers may be affected
by this terrible tragedy. Often, the workplace is the only place where battered
women feel safe, and employers are beginning to recognize their role in
addressing this once unspoken-of crime. As is true of all corporations, our
employees include survivors of domestic abuse and others affected by it. The
Philip Morris family of companies is taking the lead in addressing the problem
and setting an example for other companies to follow.

Late in the summer of 1998, a terrible fire destroyed the interior of CHOICES of
Page County — Virginia's first and only domestic violence shelter in the county.
After assessing the damage at the shelter, the executive director of CHOICES
determined that the agency's only option was to renovate what was left of the
structure and reopen the shelter to serve the community. However, the cost of the
renovation was expected to reach $250,000, most of which would not be covered
by insurance. CHOICES simply could not afford this. It was then that the
executive director of CHOICES turned to Philip Morris for help.

With the aid of an emergency grant from Philip Morris, CHOICES was able to
install two full kitchens, central air conditioning, a handicapped-accessible bath
and bedroom, tile floors, secure windows, a new sprinkler system, a
library/meeting room and an internal staircase. The new five-room facility
accommodates even more clients and is handicapped-accessible. Now that the
job is completed, CHOICES is equipped to help more people, more efficiently,
than ever before.

Philip Morris is committed to supporting organizations that respond directly to the
needs of victims and their children. Our contributions will continue to include
funding for similar emergency response grants. It is just one way we are able to
help ease the pain for survivors of domestic violence. Through contributions such
as this, we can continue our long tradition of supporting programs that address
critical issues facing communities where we live and work.

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Because of a shared commitment to combating the complex and pervasive
problem of domestic violence, Philip Morris partnered with the National Network to
End Domestic Violence Fund in 1998 to launch Doors of Hope, a multi million
dollar, national grantmaking initiative. Doors of Hope is designed to administer to
the pressing needs of survivors through direct service programs and a range of
community-based outreach, training and awareness efforts to help battered
women and their families.

In its first year alone, the program funded hundreds organizations in all 50 states.
Today, Doors of Hope is believed to be the nation's largest public-private
partnership addressing domestic violence. The program has three main goals: 

To establish local and regional collaborations that address the needs of
victims nationwide,
To help develop innovative policies and procedures
To enhance the quantity and quality of domestic violence services
throughout the country.

Direct service grants help provide food to shelters, pantries and grocery programs.
They also assist survivors with emergency shelter, clothing, transportation,
counseling, and permanent, transitional and alternative housing. Other grants fund
community outreach efforts and education programs for police, clergy, emergency
room personnel, legal counselors and judges, along with job training to help
battered women reenter the workforce and become self-sufficient. A limited
number of large, high-impact grants are awarded to organizations that are
undertaking projects such as the opening or expansion of a new facility or that
have developed collaborative model programs providing innovative services
previously unavailable. 

In 1996, Philip Morris organized and hosted the first corporate conference in the
United States on domestic violence. Since then, Philip Morris, Kraft Foods and
Miller Brewing Company have hosted 16 conferences and four workshops in cities
across the country.

The conferences and workshops heighten awareness of the issue in the business
community. They have educated thousands of employers, helped countless
employees and garnered the support of elected leaders who have served as
honorary chairpersons and are working with local businesses to create
long-lasting solutions. 

We feel strongly about providing our employees with support, help and information
about domestic violence. We have instituted policies on workplace violence,
published articles in our many company publications, and have distributed
educational brochures to nearly 60,000 Philip Morris, Kraft Foods and Miller
Brewing Company employees in the United States. Inspired by our success in
this area, we are instituting similar educational programs for our employees
overseas. 

There is a strong spirit of volunteerism among Philip Morris employees all over the
world. From senior management to the newest hires, our employees have been so
moved by this issue that they have given their own time to help refurbish battered
women's shelters and donated their own money to support domestic violence
service agencies through the Philip Morris and Kraft Employee Funds. 

To increase awareness of this issue, we have run public service advertisements in
major newspapers and magazines across the country. We have also sponsored
the Ad Council's radio and television awareness campaigns on domestic violence,
and are a leading underwriter of the First Annual New York Walks to End
Domestic Violence.