CHICAGO, Feb. 4, 2008 – The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation today announced that it will give a total of $5 million to two organizations in recognition of crossing the $5 billion threshold in global sales. These special grants build on the Wrigley Company’s longstanding history of philanthropy and community involvement and will help to nurture two resources that are crucial to the world’s future – today’s youth and the natural environment.
The International Youth Foundation – which prepares young people to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens – and Conservation International – which applies innovation in a wide range of disciplines to conserve the environment – will each receive a $2.5 million grant. Both organizations are working with the Wrigley Company Foundation to implement signature programs that will positively impact the global community, including a number of geographies where Wrigley has a strong business presence.
"In recognition of exceeding our $5 billion sales aspiration, we are working with two outstanding organizations and continuing their important efforts to make a positive and sustainable impact in our communities around the world," said Bill Wrigley, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board for the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. "This donation not only reinforces Wrigley's longstanding commitment to social responsibility, but also thanks Wrigley's consumers and communities for their support of the Company and our brands."
Duke Petrovich, Wrigley’s Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer who also serves as President of the Company Foundation added: “Through these important programs, we will also create opportunities for our associates to get even more involved in local outreach efforts. “With more than 16,000 associates building Wrigley brands in more than 180 countries, including factory and office locations in three dozen countries spread across five continents, we have an opportunity to touch a lot of young lives and help protect our natural environment.”
Working with the International Youth Foundation, the Wrigley Company Foundation will implement Wrigley’s Youth. Empowerment. Success. (Y.E.S.). The initiative will prepare disadvantaged youth in several areas around the world for success in school and at work by cultivating critical thinking, creativity, organization, social communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. By adapting such competencies, the Y.E.S. program will empower young people to lead productive and independent lives and to contribute positively to society.
The Wrigley Company Foundation will also work with Conservation International (CI) to implement the organization’s first initiative to weave conservation practices into the everyday lives of people around the world. Together, Wrigley and CI will identify and target specific, fragile or threatened environments and work to inform the public about practical solutions to global and local conservation problems, such as ensuring responsible and effective use of natural resources, combating climate change, ensuring access to freshwater and proper trash disposal.
In addition, the organizations will create a web-based program to get individuals around the globe to adopt behaviors that will impact the preservation of our natural resources. Wrigley will also create an internal campaign to encourage environmental awareness and conservation behaviors among its worldwide associates.
About the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation
The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation was established in 1987 to formalize the Wrigley Company’s long history of charitable giving. Since its inception, the Foundation has contributed more than $40 million to philanthropic causes worldwide, principally to non-profit organizations that support the development of today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders, with an emphasis on educational initiatives and those that encourage wellness, diversity, and environmental sustainability.
About International Youth Foundation
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is a global non-profit organization that collaborates with businesses, governments, and civil society organizations to build effective and sustainable programs that positively impact the lives of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF’s worldwide network of partner organizations has grown to 70 countries, helping young people to shape their futures through proven programs that tie education to work, improve employability, and enable and inspire them to play a positive role in their communities. For more information, please visit: www.iyfnet.org.
About Conservation International
Conservation International applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity in the biodiversity hotspots, high-biodiversity wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems. With headquarters in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, CI works in more than 40 countries on four continents. For more information about CI, visit www.conservation.org.