Kia A Driving Force Behind SIDS And Kids

SYDNEY – June 21, 2010: The SIDS and Kids ACT, Hunter & NSW offices will benefit from a new relationship with Kia Motors Australia which will see them each receive two brand new Kia Soul vehicles to help run their programs, services and outreach.

Health Promotion Manager of SIDS and Kids NSW, Margaret McSpedden, says that research tells them that parents who have experienced the unimaginable loss of their baby or young child are best supported in a comfortable and familiar environment.

"The generous provision of these six cars from Kia will enable counsellors and education staff from SIDS and Kids ACT, Hunter & NSW to more effectively support bereaved parents in their homes," Ms McSpedden said.

"The added mobility will also allow us to provide further education to individuals, community groups and health and other professionals in their own communities."

SIDS and Kids provide bereavement support for individuals and families who experience the death of their baby or young child during pregnancy, birth or infancy. This includes miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, sudden infant death (SIDS) and the death of a child up to 6 years of age.

Over the last 14 years SIDS and Kids has been instrumental in reducing the infant mortality rate by around 85% through its Safe Sleeping Program.

More recently it has broadened its programs to support families and the community following stillbirth and the sudden and unexpected death of infants and young children regardless of the cause.

SIDS and Kids will receive six Kia Soul2 with a 1.6 litre petrol engine matched to a 4-speed automatic gear box. All of the vehicles are equipped with a raft of features including front, side and curtain airbags, ABS and an MP3 compatible CD player with iPod compatible USB audio input.

Kia Motors Australia President and CEO Mr MK Kim said that as a parent he can not imagine a more distressing situation than that faced by parents who suffer the trauma of losing a child to sudden infant death syndrome.

"There is some comfort in knowing that such a dedicated group of people as those from SIDS and Kids are working to find a key to this terrible event and at the same time offering comfort and support to those affected by it," Mr Kim said.

"Kia is proud and privileged to be able to offer some small measure of support to the wonderful work being done by SIDS and Kids."

Mr Kim said that the decision to assist SIDS and Kids with six new Kia Souls to be used for transport and counselling work was an easy one to make under the company's Social Responsibility Charter through which Kia, as a corporation, reaches out to the community through various social contribution activities.

"We hope that this small gesture will be the beginning of an ongoing relationship that will allow us to continue to contribute and support this worthy organisation."

The relationship between Kia and SIDS and Kids ACT, Hunter & NSW was the result of a new community ambassador program adopted by Kia Motors in Australia designed to help important not for profit groups continue their work.