McLEAN, Va., U.S. — As part of its ongoing response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, family-owned Mars, Incorporated has today shared an update on actions to better support the communities in which it operates, and the most vulnerable in its extended supply chains.
The new commitment includes an initial cash and in-kind donation of $20 million to support the people, pets and communities most affected by COVID-19. The support package includes:
- $5 million donation to support CARE for critical supplies and expertise that will be deployed in the developing world, to women, children and refugee populations.
- $2 million donation to the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) to aid in the transport and delivery of critical supplies for all United Nations agencies as they respond to the pandemic.
- $1 million donation to Humane Society International (HSI) to help cats and dogs that have been abandoned, left behind or surrendered to shelters due to their owners falling ill or no longer having the financial means to care for them.
The balance of $12 million will come from a combination of cash and in-kind donations from across the markets where Mars operates as well as donations from its Foundations including: The Mars Wrigley Foundation, the Banfield Foundation, the Pedigree Foundation and the Tasty Bite Foundation.
Grant F. Reid, Chief Executive Officer, Mars said:
“Our approach for working through this COVID crisis has been, and will continue to be, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our Associates, doing our part to prevent the spread of the virus and caring for our communities. This week, we’re announcing a commitment of $20 million in cash and in-kind product donations to support the hundreds of communities where we live and work, or whom we depend upon for our agricultural ingredients. We’re all in this together and we want to do our part to help those most in need.”
Frank Mars, Chair of the Board of Directors for Mars, said:
“All our lives, our family has believed that our Five Principles are fundamental to the culture and success of Mars. However, it’s during times of crisis that purpose and key guiding principles are both most important and really tested. We will only get through this pandemic by thinking mutually — by supporting one another, and that’s what this commitment to our communities is all about.”
More on the Community Giving
As part of the support package, the $5 million donation to CARE will help to further the organization address the specific needs of the world’s most vulnerable, including women, children and refugee populations in underdeveloped countries where the virus is just beginning to spike, but also where they will be the most unprepared. More on CARE here: https://www.care.org
The $2 million package of support will help the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) manage logistics for emergency food and lifesaving equipment to hospitals in affected areas. More on WFP here: https://www.wfp.org
