United Way Recognizes Corporate Leaders

United Way Worldwide gave kudos today to four global corporate leaders who exemplify innovation in engaging employees and consumers, and leveraging corporate social responsibility, to help improve communities across the world.

United Way recognized UPS, John Deere, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Wells Fargo at its Community Leaders Conference in Dallas, before 1,300 people.

"Innovation fuels progress, and these companies are innovators in more than their lines of business," said Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide. "Whether they're involving employees and consumers, or targeting CSR efforts, they're accelerating community change.  People across the world are benefiting from the passion these companies exhibit daily. We're fortunate to be their partners."

Some 85 companies were invited to apply for the recognition. Nearly 21,000 people cast votes online.

UPS and John Deere were recognized for employee engagement, for their strategies for encouraging employees to volunteer, promote or donate to United Way-led community solutions. 

·         UPS UPS, +0.85% was recognized for its employee engagement among companies with more than 50,000 U.S. employees. UPS encourages community service on the part of its employees, who log nearly 2 million service hours annually.  Employees have pledged to give 20 million hours of volunteer service by 2020. The company's partnership with United Way goes back 33 years, and was the first to collectively generate more than $1.3 billion to help United Way improve education, financial stability and health.  Last year, employees pledged a record of $63.7 million.

·         John Deere DE, +0.96% was recognized for its employee engagement among companies with less than 50,000 U.S. employees. Some 2,500 John Deere employees spent a day volunteering as part of United Way's Day of Caring last year. The company also introduced a "dollar for doers" program recently, which lets employees earn a $1,000 grant for an approved charity at which they've volunteered 40 or more hours in a year. All told, John Deere employees and their Foundation gave $7 million to support United Way community change work last year. 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Wells Fargo were recognized for consumer engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility engagement.

·         Kimberly-Clark KMB, +1.23% was recognized for its consumer engagement in leveraging cause marketing efforts with two of their brands to engage consumers and raise awareness about critical issues. The U by Kotex® brand sponsored a week-long United Way Alternative Spring Break for 25 young college students, supported by a $150,000 contribution through its awareness displays at Walmart. And as part of Underwareness, a three-year effort by the Depend® brand to remove the stigma of bladder leakage, Kimberly-Clark is donating up to $1.5 million to United Way's efforts to promote lifelong active independent living for senior citizens. 

·         Wells Fargo WFC, +0.16% was recognized for corporate social responsibility engagement, or the way its goals intersect with United Way's and how its support impacts United Way projects and practices.  Wells Fargo invested $5 million to create a Financial Capability Network with United Way, providing financial education, 1-on-1 coaching and more to nearly 9,000 people and helping some 20,000 people strengthen their financial stability. Wells Fargo employees are deeply engaged in United Way's work, with more than 2,500 team members donating 18,000+ volunteer hours and pledging $70.5 million to United Way last year.

About United Way Worldwide With 2.6 million volunteers and 9.6 million donors worldwide, and more than $5 billion raised every year, United Way is the world's largest privately-funded nonprofit. We're engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create community solutions that improve life for everyone. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit www.UnitedWay.org. Follow us on social media: @UnitedWay and #uwclc.

By: Anne Marie Borrego