Sonoco donates approximately $3 million in 2016
At Sonoco, we believe People Build Businesses by Doing the Right Thing, and we view our philanthropic and business endeavors as investments to improve the quality of life in communities where the Company has operations. In 2016, Sonoco invested approximately $3 million in our communities, giving back to 49 nonprofit agencies and programs. More than 70% of the funds went to education initiatives. The Sonoco Foundation’s grant program focuses on primarily on education, health and wellness, arts and culture and the environment.
“We know that strong communities and thriving businesses are intrinsically linked,” said Jack Sanders, president and CEO of Sonoco. “That’s why we believe it’s our responsibility to address critical social and economic issues in the towns and cities where we operate.”
2016 marked the final year of the Sonoco Foundation’s five-year, $5 million commitment to PULSE (Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence) in Hartsville public schools. Over the past five years, PULSE has successfully implemented the Comer School Development Program and served more than 6,500 elementary students, who over time increased their reading scores by 12 points and math scores by 14 points on Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing. In addition, Accelerated Learning Opportunities (ALO) were provided to more than 840 high school students. Students participating in ALO published scientific papers, earned prestigious scholarships and have been selected for competitive internships, including at NASA. PULSE also provided the Scoutreach program, teaching leadership skills to more than 350 students in grades K-5. PULSE’s summer reading program exceeded its goal of increasing reading proficiency to six months of reading growth. And, in its final year, the PULSE initiative was selected as a finalist for the Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award for Excellence by The Riley Institute at Furman University.
“We believe it is our responsibility to build the community as we build our business. Our desire is to help schools impart academic excellence on our students as they become the workforce of the future. It is absolutely critical to the success of this country and our company that every child, regardless of economic status, leaves the public school system with the skills needed to succeed in the workplace,” said Harris DeLoach, executive chairman of the board, Sonoco, and chairman of the board, TEACH Foundation.
The Sonoco Foundation also gave $1.15 million to area colleges and the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics and contributed $80,000 in college scholarships for dependents of Sonoco employees.
Last year, Sonoco responded after Hurricane Matthew devastated many areas, donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in relief efforts in the Southeast. Sonoco’s Hartsville headquarters and manufacturing operations were impacted by the storm, as were locations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, and many Sonoco employees, their families and their friends faced hardships after the historic hurricane. The Sonoco Foundation later contributed an additional $25,000 to OneSC to continue to aid in natural disaster response, such as flood relief.
Sonoco Cares, a team created by Sonoco employees, continues to grow its work. The team, which has expanded to other Sonoco locations outside of Hartsville, mentors young minds and volunteers with various organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, the Harvest Hope Food Bank, the Humane Society, the Hartsville Soup Kitchen, the Boys and Girls Club and more!
Sonoco is honored to help in the communities we live and work and will continue to do so. For more information about the Sonoco Foundation, visit www.sonocofoundation.com.