Fighting Poverty

Whirlpool Corporation employees in Ohio collected enough money to purchase and donate dozens of bikes for children in need this holiday season.

The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, today announced a $500,000 grant to United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The grant will help United Way implement two primary strategies to ensure that more children have access to and participate in child nutrition programs throughout the school year and during the summer.

On a brisk Saturday morning in November, volunteers and area organizations in Austin, Minnesota, were busy getting everything ready for an event to help others in the community. Tables were being set up, groceries were being placed into bags and barber chairs were being brought in for haircuts.

Richard Lemons, co-chair of the Austin Poverty Taskforce, the organization that coordinated the event, said he was humbled and overwhelmed as he entered the high school gym where Austin’s first Community Connect event would be taking place. “I was moved by how many people cared and were giving their time to help out,” he said.

Boots On The Ground at Sanofi Pasteur – As the first of a two-part program focused on helping local Head Start families in need, hundreds of Sanofi Pasteur employees donated snow boots, hats, gloves, and other wintertime essentials to approximately 225 Monroe county Head Start children.

Whirlpool Corporation employees in Greenville, OH donated more than $21,000 to local food pantries.

Whirlpool Corporation volunteers pitched in to help complete construction of a Habitat for Humanity home for a woman and her daughter, who is handicapped, in Ottawa.

Albertsons employees and customers worked together to raise funds this month to help solve hunger in Idaho, and on Thursday, Albertsons came to The Idaho Foodbank with a truck filled with 2,616 full turkey dinners for the families who need them most.

For the second year in a row, Epsilon and Conversant made investments in the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Greater Chicago Food Depository and Off the Street Club. With more than $800,000 invested in these Chicago-area nonprofits, Epsilon and Conversant continue their commitment to their Chicago community.

For the 18th consecutive year, Safeway and Events DC today are celebrating the season of giving by providing a festive holiday meal for thousands at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Serving District residents from all eight of the city's wards, this beloved annual event will also feature a community services expo to include free flu shots, diabetes and HIV testing, and a clothing giveaway.