MOLINE, Ill., Jan. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Deere & Company
(NYSE: DE) today announced that U.S. employees recorded more
than 82,000 hours of volunteer support to community organizations.
This work is part of Deere's citizenship efforts that focus on
three key areas - long-term solutions for world hunger, education,
and community development.
"We believe it is important for the company and its employees to
support the efforts of the many organizations that are helping
enhance communities in the U.S. and around the world," said
Sam Allen, chairman and chief
executive officer of Deere & Company.
An example of the volunteer effort by Deere employees is the
packaging of 975,000 meals for local food banks in the U.S., an
initiative that included 3,500 employee volunteers in recognition
of World Food Day.
In addition, approximately 1,800 Deere employees volunteered for
the United Way's Day of Caring in the Quad City area of
Iowa and Illinois, where the company's world
headquarters is located.
"We are committed to making an impact by supporting our
employees' philanthropic actions and investing in efforts to
address world hunger, educate youth and address critical needs in
our communities," said Allen. "In doing so, we can help achieve
higher living standards for people everywhere."
Deere's citizenship efforts include a robust employee volunteer
effort as well as grants from the John Deere Foundation, its
philanthropic organization, and through corporate contributions
made mostly in communities where John Deere employees work and
live.
According to Mara Sovey, director
of citizenship and president of the John Deere Foundation, grants
totaling nearly $32 million were made
by the John Deere Foundation and the corporate contributions in
fiscal year 2014.
"In total, we estimate that our investments in citizenship
activities helped improve the lives of 9.4 million people around
the world," Sovey said.
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deere-employees-volunteer-82000-hours-to-community-organizations-300021890.html
SOURCE Deere & Company