John Middleton Company’s (Middleton’s) employees have donated $220,000 in grants to 16 nonprofits based in the greater Philadelphia area through the Altria Companies Employee Community Fund (ACECF). This marks the fourth year that Middleton’s employees, part of the Altria family of companies, have made donations to support those most in need.
“We are proud to come together and help address important needs in our communities,” said Cathy Kelly-Alba, Middleton employee and ACECF volunteer. “It is a rewarding feeling to be able to help make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.”
ACECF is an employee-funded charitable giving program managed and supported by Altria companies’ employees. The fund represents the power of giving together, rather than individually. By giving through the fund, employee donations have a greater impact in helping to address the most pressing community needs where Altria’s companies have operations.
Every dollar employees give to ACECF goes directly to non-profit groups working to address the challenges our communities face including domestic violence, emergency services, hunger relief, homelessness, and youth and senior services. Employees at Middleton’s two manufacturing facilities, located in Limerick, Pa., and King of Prussia, Pa., donated $220,000 this year, up from $180,000 last year.
ACECF provided grants to the following greater Philadelphia area organizations for 2014:
* Camp Rainbow Inc * Chester County Futures Inc.
* Childrens Home Of Easton Pa * Clinton County Womens Center Inc.
* Domestic Violence Center Of Chester County
* Greater Berks Food Bank * Limerick Fire Company
* Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance
* Olivet Boys And Girls Club Of Reading And Berks County Inc
* Opportunity House * Pathway school
* Preservation Pottstown Inc * Senior Adult Activity Center Of The Phoenixville Area
* Support Center For Child Advocates
* The Pottstown Cluster Of Religious Communities
* York County Food BankThis year marks ACECF’s fourth year in Altria’s operating communities of Limerick and King of Prussia, Pa.; Franklin Park, Ill.; Hopkinsville, Ky.; and Nashville, Tenn.; and its 14th year in its Richmond, Va. headquarters community.
ACECF is the only employee-giving program of its type that is publicly reported among all U.S. companies, according to the Changing Our World organization. Altria Group makes an annual contribution to the fund and pays for its administrative costs. This ensures that every employee dollar raised goes directly to support non-profit organizations in our local communities.
ACECF was founded in 2000 by employees because they wanted to be more involved in their communities. Formerly the Philip Morris Employee Community Fund, the program expanded after Altria’s headquarters moved to Richmond, Va. This year, the fund awarded 142 grants totaling $3.1 million to nonprofits in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Throughout the past 14 years, ACECF has awarded 1,594 grants totaling more than $43 million to non-profit organizations.
To learn more about the ACECF, please visit altria.com.