In 2010, we created a Philanthropy Committee to oversee our philanthropic efforts and expand our community outreach. The committee helps ensure that FMC contributions have a measurable impact in the communities where our employees, business partners and other stakeholders live and work.
Education and Science: Support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is vitally important for technology and manufacturing-based companies such as FMC. We partner with institutions of higher learning, as well as programs that complement more broad-based educational initiatives for children in FMC communities.
One example is FMC’s support of the Science Leadership Academy (SLA), a magnet high school in Philadelphia formed by The Franklin Institute science museum and the School District of Philadelphia. Our support helps underwrite mentoring, family memberships at the Institute, and youth staff counseling. Far more valuable is our FMC scientists’ participation: For three and a half hours each Wednesday over the course of four or eight weeks, SLA students experience the wonders of science directly from FMC researchers. That kind of shared experience can leave a lifelong impression for all involved.
Health and Human Services: We support efforts to help those least able to help themselves, via the United Way, American Red Cross and Philabundance.
More than half of FMC’s business is devoted to helping meet global demand for food and better nutrition, so our partnership with Philabundance is a natural fit. The hunger-relief organization feeds roughly 65,000 people weekly in the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region. We sponsor its South Philadelphia Fresh for All farmer’s market, providing 250 families with free, fresh produce. Our employees volunteer at the site one Friday each month.
Arts and Culture: We support education in and access to the arts and culture, to enrich communities where we live and work.
Conservation and Environment: We focus on programs that protect and preserve natural resources and environmental stewardship.
Matching Time with Money: Combining participation with monetary support extends to our FMC Dollars for Doers charity program. As an incentive to devote valuable personal time to worthy causes, we offer a contribution for every hour an employee volunteers – up to $1,000 per employee yearly.
In 2011, our philanthropic contributions totaled more than $1.1 million. For additional detail on our efforts in the community, please read our 2011 Sustainability Report.