Corporate Relations & Engagement

While corporations cut back their charitable giving in 2009, non-cash contributions by U.S.-based companies rose by 5 percent, USA Today reports. A recent survey of the nation's largest companies conducted by the Chronicle of Philanthropy and USA Today found that the dollar amount of cash grants awarded by U.S.-based corporations declined some 7.5 percent, to $3.9 billion, in 2009. The survey also found that non-cash contributions of items such as computer equipment, software, drugs, and employees' time accounted for more than 50 percent of the total charitable contributions at nineteen of the companies surveyed. For example, employees at Bank

In a new fundraising tactic, the Florida Marlins are pitching a behind-the-scenes tour of their new ballpark to help raise money for new housing in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The baseball franchise and Food for the Poor, an international nonprofit agency, have teamed up for a month-long fundraising campaign called Homes for Haiti. On Monday, they announced a new incentive in the campaign. The first 10 donors -- individuals or companies -- who give $1,000 or more will receive a tour for two of the Marlins' stadium currently under construction. The donors also will be treated to a cocktail party at

The Applebee’s restaurant at 71 Plaza Parkway, Lexington, will host the Carolina Cancer Services Flapjack Fundraiser starting at 7 a.m. Tickets for the Flapjack Fundraiser are $7 and include a short stack of pancakes, sausage, milk, juice and coffee. Cancer Services is a nonprofit organization that assists patients with treatment costs and provides wigs, breast prosthetics and nutritional products to clients. Proceeds will benefit the club’s assistance program for patients battling cancer. “Applebee’s is proud to assist with fundraising for local nonprofits and help raise awareness for their organization,” said Michael Olander, president and CEO of the Apple Gold

On Tuesday night, the Brewers’ game against Arizona was televised without commercials. Instead, the breaks were filled with messages about the team’s foundation and on-air fundraising auctions. Mark Attanasio recently gave $1 million to the foundation.

He said he was fairly certain that no team had gone commercial-free in a game, which could not have been done without a Fox Sports Wisconsin donation of the ad time.

Kristin Mugford Elected to Gift Fund Board of Trustees BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund ('Gift Fund'), the nation’s largest donor-advised fund program and third largest public charity1, today reported that its donors made more than 152,000 grants totaling $531 million to nonprofits nationwide during the first six months of 2010, up 27 percent and 16 percent, respectively, from the same period last year. Both of these totals represent the strongest first half for outgoing grants in the Gift Fund’s 19-year history2. 'Our donors continue to give at record levels, reflecting their ongoing commitment to supporting the causes

Even though the recession hurt corporate charitable giving last year, some areas of giving increased, including health and education, said the presidents of the Walmart Foundation and the GE Foundation. Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation, and Bob Corcoran, president of the GE Foundation, answered readers' questions in an online chat Tuesday sponsored by USA TODAY and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. "In the current economic downturn, we have focused on basic needs. For instance, hunger relief has become our main priority," said McKenna. In May, Wal-Mart announced a $2 billion initiative aimed at hunger relief. "This includes $250

Corporate profits are on the rebound, but most big businesses say it will be some time before they can give as much cash as they did before the recession, according to a Chronicle survey of 162 of the country’s largest corporations.

"Would your family be interested in taking a break from cancer?" Aileen Schissel couldn't believe what her oncologist just asked. After years of battling breast cancer, a break from cancer seemed like an impossible dream. "I was so sick of being sick. The whole family desperately needed a vacation," says Schissel, of Glendora, Calif. "But with no money to go far, we never would have dreamed of taking this kind of trip." The Schissels left Friday on a Continental Airlines jet for Hawaii, where they will be staying at the five-star Four Seasons Resort Maui for four nights and

PLANO, TEXAS, Aug. 09 /CSRwire/ - Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) today announced the launch of a new corporate philanthropy program, ACTION Nation. The program will focus giving and volunteer efforts in support of DPS's mission to foster physically active, engaged and sustainable communities. "At DPS, ACTION is at the heart of everything we do. Every DPS employee contributes to our success by taking action to meet the needs of our customers and consumers," said Tina Barry, senior vice president – corporate affairs. "ACTION is also about giving back to our communities. All across North America, DPS

Corporate profits are on the rebound, but most big businesses say it will be some time before they can give as much cash to charities as they did before the recession, according to a survey of the nation's largest companies by the Chronicle of Philanthropy and USA TODAY. More than 100 answered the survey, and the Chronicle analyzed tax data for a total of 162 companies. A majority of companies said they expect their charitable donations in 2010 to be about the same as in 2009 � a year in which cash giving fell by 7.5%. Of the 102