The Altria Companies Employee Community Fund (ACECF)—an employee-funded
charitable giving program managed and supported by Altria companies’
employees—has awarded more than $2.9 million in grants to 140 nonprofits
based in some of its operating communities. The ACECF is one of the only
employee-driven workplace-giving programs publicly reported among U.S.
companies, according to the Changing Our World organization.
This year, the ACECF has existed since 2000 in Richmond, Va., and has
operated in Franklin Park, Ill., Hopkinsville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn.,
and King of Prussia and Limerick, Penn. for the past two years.
Throughout its history, the ACECF has awarded 1,452 grants totaling $40
million to non-profit organizations in some communities where Altria
companies’ employees live and work.
“Given these difficult economic times, many nonprofits are in more need
than ever to continue their missions to address acute needs in their
communities. With this unique opportunity, Altria companies’ employees
are able to help make a difference in the places they call home through
their commitments of money and time,” said Jennifer Hunter, chairperson,
ACECF Board of Directors.
Since Altria makes a contribution to cover ACECF’s administrative costs
and also makes a contribution to the fund, every employee dollar raised
goes directly to supporting local non-profit organizations. In addition
to paying ACECF’s administrative costs, Altria makes an annual donation
to the fund to support ACECF. Employee committees in each community
reviewed the grant requests and selected the non-profit organizations
for funding.
In each community, employees of Altria’s companies select the ACECF
grants categories. The focus areas for grant requests were: domestic
violence, emergency services, hunger relief, homelessness, and youth and
adult services.
The ACECF was founded in 2000 by employees because they wanted a way to
be more actively involved in helping their local communities. The first
ACECF grants were distributed in 2001. To learn more about the ACECF,
please visit altria.com.
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Copyright Business Wire 2013