Contributions will go to various organizations to help those adversely affected
Animal health and nutrition companies, including ADM and Elanco Animal Health, have pledged funds to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
ADM has committed approximately US$1 million to various organizations, the company said on its website.
The contributions include commitments to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization (powered by the United Nations Foundation), various regional and local charities focusing on COVID-19 in the areas where ADM operates, and matches to ADM employee contributions to COVID-19 relief and mitigation. ADM also has available funds for employees who have been adversely affected under its Colleague Emergency Fund, which provides grants to colleagues facing unusual and severe financial strain due to sudden crises outside of their control.
“This is a moment to step up for humanity,” said Elizabeth Cousens, president and CEO of the UN Foundation. “And I thank ADM for their generous contribution to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Their donation puts a stake in the ground for what is most important – coming together, in solidarity, against a virus that affects us all.”
“ADM is committed to doing our part not only to keep our colleagues and their families safe, but also to support the hundreds of global communities where we live and work,” said Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano. “We appreciate the hard work of the medical professionals, first responders and government and community leaders on the front line during this difficult time.
“Food is fundamental, especially in times like these. We are committed to playing our role in maintaining continuity throughout the entire agriculture supply chain. Our employees are working hard to maintain operations, enabling our customers to have the key ADM ingredients and products they need, and we have business continuity plans in place at each processing facility to manage through potential impacts associated with COVID-19. I am proud of the commitment and dedication of our workforce to provide access to nutrition to people around the world in this challenging operating environment.”
Fighting food insecurity
Meanwhile, the recently formed Elanco Foundation has pledged more than US$700,000 to fight food insecurity challenges.
Elanco said the funds will support organizations and food banks in communities across the company’s footprint, including Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, the European Food Banks Federation and food banks in Winslow, Maine; Fort Dodge, Iowa; Clinton, Indiana; the Kansas City area and Greenfield, Indiana, communities. The Elanco Foundation will continue to monitor the emerging food security issues arising from the COVID-19 crisis in other regions of the globe.
“In this time of uncertainty, the health and well-being of our employees, customers, animals and the communities where we operate are our top priority,” said Jeff Simmons, Elanco president and CEO. “Such an unprecedented time underscores the critical importance of a safe, affordable food supply, particularly meat, milk and eggs. And the needs are growing. There is no better time than during an urgent philanthropic need to launch our newly created Elanco Foundation to deliver on our promise of health by increasing access to healthy animal protein for all people. We challenge everyone to help us ‘fill the banks.’”
“The COVID-19 outbreak, both globally and in our own backyard, is making food access difficult for many families,” said Kristin Bloink, board chair of the Elanco Foundation and vice president, global research and external innovation at Elanco. “Because the Elanco Foundation is dedicated to two causes – food security and human-animal bond – we knew we needed to find a way to help the communities where we work and live during this unprecedented time.”
In Indiana, where Elanco’s global headquarters are located, the company is leading a coalition to raise US$1.6 million to feed 10,000 families with children in the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) system for the next eight weeks. Eight in 10 IPS kids struggle with food security. Through the efforts of Gleaners Food Bank, buses are delivering emergency food boxes to a variety of IPS locations. The funds from Elanco Foundation will meet food needs for about 2,500 IPS families over the next eight weeks.
“In recent weeks, Gleaners has been asked to step up and serve. Thanks to the generosity of organizations like the Elanco Foundation, we have been able to do so,” shares John Elliott, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. “We’ve more than doubled distribution at our on-site pantry. We’re adding mobile pantries in a variety of communities in our service area, and partnering with IPS to ensure that families who need help, receive it. We’re grateful to Elanco for leading this corporate challenge to ensure that no one – and particularly no child – is left hungry due to this pandemic.”
