Getting involved in our local communities is the cornerstone of who we are. Our mission is to strengthen our communities by investing in programs that matter to our employees and enrich the lives of our consumers from childhood to adulthood. Newell Rubbermaid meets community needs with investments of dollars and time through its two philanthropic platforms, Investing in Community and the Newell Rubbermaid Foundation.
Investing in Community
Investing in Community is aligned with the ideals of Growing Up, Getting Ahead and Giving Back.
Growing Up investments provide the infants and children who use our products with a positive start and the tools to succeed in adulthood. Emphasis is placed on making contributions to accredited early learning programs for children from birth to preschool and for in-classroom education for children from kindergarten through grade 12.
Getting Ahead investments support the education and advancement of the professionals who use our products. Contributions are awarded to accredited professional, technical, trade and vocational programs in support of skill development and training (e.g., culinary arts, cosmetology, carpentry, etc.) that help individuals reenter the workforce after an extended absence. These investments also award programs that place an emphasis on job training for individuals with disabilities, women and seniors.
Giving Back investments focus on enriching the lives of our employees and consumers through activism and awareness. Meaningful connections among our consumers, employees and their communities are demonstrated through volunteer activities. These contributions are made by supporting disaster relief efforts domestically and abroad and by participating in cause-marketing initiatives that support education and women's health, such as Paper Mate's Write for Hope or Goody's sponsorship of Girls on the Run.
Newell Rubbermaid Foundation
Building on the success of Investing in Community, the Newell Rubbermaid Foundation was established in May 2011 with a five-year endowment goal of $25 million. It will eventually serve as the company’s primary vehicle for charitable contributions and will focus on funding educational opportunities that prepare children and young adults for successes in adulthood.
The foundation supports and enhances the programs and relationships that Investing in Community has developed, including the Annual Week of Caring and partnerships with Junior Achievement, Quality Care for Children, Skills USA, Kids in Need Foundation and Teach for America. The company has also made strategic contributions to organizations such as United Way and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Since 2007, Newell Rubbermaid and its brands have made cash and in-kind product donations benefiting more than 175 nonprofit organizations globally.
Jackie Parker, Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy for Newell Rubbermaid, serves as President of the Foundation, which is a separate entity governed by an advisory board of the company’s executive leadership.
Organizations eligible for support from the Newell Rubbermaid Foundation include those whose programs and services meet the strategies of the Foundation and Investing in Community, maintain a current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and are recognized as a publish charity under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.