These gifts include the Foundation’s previous philanthropic grants spanning Asia, Europe, Australia, Latin America and North America to increase food bank capacity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and supplement the $20 million in cash given by General Mills and its Foundation last year and more than $40 million worth of food product donations provided by General Mills to food bank partners to help ensure food security across global communities.
“As a company, we have the values, insights and partners to positively impact the lives of millions of people worldwide during this unprecedented time as the world navigates the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Mary Jane Melendez, president of the General Mills Foundation. “These grants will help expand food access and lend added support for many of our communities around the world.”
Employee engagement
General Mills employees who participate in the company’s charitable gift matching program have an additional $500 in matching foundation funds, for a total of $1,500 this year.
In addition, employees created an internal movement to inspire the company’s 35,000 employees around the globe to take small, local, safe actions to help others during the pandemic.
The company has also launched an internal group, “We’re In This Together” as a space to support and serve one another while adhering to social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines.