Altria's Employees Provide Community Support

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 09/27/2011

The Altria Companies Employee Community Fund (ACECF) has awarded nearly $2.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations based in communities where Altria's companies have manufacturing facilities. Having received nearly 250 proposals, Altria employees determined that 113 organizations should receive grants. This year, the ACECF marked its eleventh year in Richmond, Virginia, and expanded to include employees located at U.S. Smokeless Tobacco's facilities at Franklin Park, Illinois, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, and at John Middleton's King of Prussia and Limerick, Pennsylvania, facilities. "In the past 10 years, the ACECF has awarded 1,193 grants totaling $32.3 million to non-profit organizations in communities where Altria companies' employees live and work," according to a note posted on Altria's website. "Employees from all levels of the company manage and support the ACECF, which is one of only five workplace-giving programs that are publicly reported among U.S. companies according to the Changing Our World organization. Since Altria makes a contribution to cover ACECF's administrative costs, every employee dollar raised goes directly to supporting local non-profit organizations." "Altria's employees are committed to making a difference in their communities," said Jennifer Hunter, chairperson, ACECF board of directors. "This year, the ACECF has expanded its reach to Altria companies' plant communities along with continued support for Altria's headquarters home of Richmond." "In each community, employees of Altria's companies select the ACECF grants categories. The focus areas for grant requests were: domestic violence, emergency services, homelessness, hunger relief, school readiness for children (pre-k), senior services (including adults with disabilities) and youth services (including youth with disabilities)," the note continued. "An employee committee in each community reviewed the grant requests and selected the non-profit organizations for funding." "The Fund was founded in 2000 because employees wanted to be more actively involved in helping local communities." Enditem