Month: July 2023

More than 10,000 employees and pensioners worldwide have already made a social commitment with the support of Henkel.Program includes financial and in-kind donations as well as paid time off for social projects in various areas.Over 17,300 social projects in more than 100 countries have been supported.

DÜSSELDORF, Germany, July 7, 2023 /3BL/ – Henkel’s volunteering initiative “Make an Impact on Tomorrow” (MIT) celebrates its 25th anniversary. The aim of the initiative is to promote the voluntary engagement of employees and retirees in social projects. Over 17,300 projects in more than 100 countries around the world have already been supported.

The MIT-initiative was launched in 1998. This made Henkel one of the first German companies to make voluntary social engagement a key element of its sustainability activities. “MIT is at the heart of our social activities. We are convinced that we can make a difference in society if we get personally involved. That’s why we offer our employees and retirees a variety of opportunities to get engaged, both individually and in teams,” says Karol-Monique Westhoff, Global Head of Corporate Citizenship at Henkel.

Henkel’s support includes financial and in-kind donations as well as the opportunity to take paid time off to dedicate to a social project. Employees can support their own projects and also participate in projects that have already been funded. “The response to our MIT program has always been very good and the interest is growing: over 10,000 employees and pensioners worldwide have already become socially involved with the help of the program.”

One project focus in 2022 was on activities for Ukraine. This includes, for example, Henkel’s cooperation with the non-governmental organization (NGO) “Habitat for Humanity”. Four Henkel employees supported the organization for a month in Warsaw, Poland, with refugee aid thanks to paid time off. The volunteers helped both with setting up emergency shelters and with administrative activities. In addition, two Henkel teams were again involved in building shelters for families in need in Romania. Henkel has been supporting this project for over 8 years, during which more than 250 Henkel employees have built and renovated houses. 

Another example is the global employee initiative “Trashfighter”, which is part of Henkel’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable circular economy and the prevention of plastic waste in the environment. Lastly, Henkel again supported the inclusive Special Olympics World Games sports event in Berlin this year and was on site with 60 volunteers.

United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) released its 2022 Impact Report (PDF), detailing the Credit Union’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. UNFCU’s positive impact advanced 14 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key achievements in support of the UN SDGs:

100% climate neutral since 2016Updated investment policies to prohibit investments in tobacco, firearms, and fossil fuel industriesExpansion of United in Sustainability (UIS) Network to 100 credit unions132% increase in the number of accounts across all green products12 years’ active membership in the UN Global Compact5 strategic initiatives completed by Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) programsUNFCU Foundation empowered more than 13,300 women and youth in marginalized communities

“At this midway point for collective global action on achieving the UN SDGs, we are committed to prioritizing positive change in the communities we serve,” said Yma Gordon, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact at UNFCU, and Executive Director of the UNFCU Foundation. “Our CSR is guided by the UN SDGs and is a reflection of and commitment to our members’ work globally.”

Last year, for example, UNFCU expanded the UIS Network it founded for credit unions and their associations beyond North America. UNFCU’s staff also conducted more than 6,000 volunteer hours working on internal and external sustainability initiatives.

“From shaping allyship and supplier diversity programs to regularly convening our industry on environmental, social, and governance (ESG), 2022 was a year of action,” said Prasad Surapaneni, Co-Executive Sponsor of UNFCU’s CSR Program. “With this momentum, we aim to contribute even more to advancing the UN SDGs.”

Philanthropy is one of three focus areas for UNFCU’s CSR. The UNFCU Foundation, an accredited New York-based nonprofit corporation, invested $1 million in poverty alleviation for women and youth, and humanitarian relief efforts. Against the backdrop of socio-economic and geopolitical uncertainty, UNFCU Foundation supported critical access to education, health care, and jobs training.

UNFCU developed its 2022 Impact Report with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). In close collaboration with Greenhouse Gas Accounting specialists, the Credit Union tracked emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard.

About United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU)

UNFCU is the member-owned credit union of the United Nations community, dedicated to providing financial peace of mind. UNFCU was founded in 1947 and serves more than 200,000 members across the globe. In 2015, it established the UNFCU Foundation, which has a mission to sustain the path out of poverty through healthcare and education for women and youth. You can learn more in the UNFCU 2022 Impact Report (PDF).

For media questions, contact: Elisabeth Philippe, UNFCU, +1 347‑686‑6776, mobile: +1 347-510-4036, or ephilippe@unfcu.com