To help strengthen and rebuild communities affected by Hurricane Matthew, the Crop Science division of Bayer donated $10,000 to the North Carolina FFA Association, initiating an ongoing series of community projects that began in December 2016.
The program, "Respond & Rebuild", provided a grant to the FFA, which the FFA is allocating to local chapters in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew. The grant will help fund up to 20 community enhancement projects to be implemented over the next several months.
Ashley Feldhaus, who directs Bayer's local giving efforts said, "Bayer and the FFA share a vision of community support and I'm excited to see these young leaders present ideas that will soon come to life in communities that still need help."
FFA chapters in Eastern NC communities submitted project applications containing outside-of-the-box service project ideas and introduced challenging but attainable goals for their respective communities. With the help of the grant donations from Bayer, these student-led chapters are putting revitalization projects into action, involving not just the chapter, but their schools' student body and the community. Director of Development for the North Carolina FFA Foundation Alycia Thornton says, "These communities have been faced with destruction and hardships. The FFA is proud to respond and help rebuild by utilizing this donation support from Bayer."
"Respond and Rebuild" projects will continue into the spring; stay tuned and watch as these projects come to life. Pre-approved community projects that will begin in the coming months include the replacement of picnic tables and park benches that were swept away in Lenoir County; active community support for the local animal shelter in Robeson County; and the donation of food and clothing for citizens affected in Columbus County.
Bayer and the FFA know that every effort counts and both organizations are looking forward to watching these projects make a positive impact in North Carolina communities. Be sure to follow the progress of these projects by searching the hashtag, #RespondAndRebuild.
As a company rooted in agriculture, Bayer's Crop Science division has a long-standing history of collaboration with the FFA including financial support of FFA's educational and developmental initiatives; an annual presence at the National FFA Convention; donating to various chapters throughout the U.S.; and board memberships. The announcement of the Respond and Rebuild project coincides with National FFA Week, a week-long celebration and opportunity to advocate for agricultural education and FFA chapters nationwide. The partnership between Bayer and the FFA helps pave the way for a future generation of leaders within the agriculture community.
Bayer is committed to strengthening communities through financial contributions and hands-on volunteering efforts. In the United States in 2016, Crop Science donated approximately $1 million in charitable giving and employees spent nearly 5,000 hours volunteering in communities nationwide. These efforts are largely focused in three areas of impact: food and nutrition programs to help feed neighbors in need; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and agricultural education initiatives that spark interest in science and agriculture to help fill critical jobs in the future; and community enhancement programs that help communities thrive and grow.
Bayer is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at www.cropscience.bayer.us.
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Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.
