Ecolab Contributes Nearly $17 Million to Communities in 2018

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecolab Inc. continued its long-standing commitment to supporting communities in 2018 through several initiatives, including corporate giving, grants to nonprofit organizations, in-kind product donations and employee volunteerism, with a total impact of nearly $17 million.

"Ecolab is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate," said Kris Taylor, vice president of Community Relations. "In 2018, we worked with our colleagues and nonprofit partners to help make a difference in the lives of many people throughout the U.S. and the world." 

Ecolab and Ecolab Foundation Grants
For more than 30 years, the Ecolab Foundation has supported local communities with grants to nonprofit organizations in support of their work to educate youth, assist vulnerable citizens, cultivate artistic communities and help protect the environment. In 2018, grants totaling $14 million were provided by Ecolab and the Ecolab Foundation to 910 organizations that align with the foundation's four focus areas: 

• Youth and education: $7 million supported organizations and schools providing in- and out-of-school programs for early childhood education as well as college access programs, including $5 million to the University of Minnesota to fund environmental sustainability research and education through academic leadership, scholarships and research at the university's Institute on the Environment.
• Civic and community development: $4 million funding supported organizations that provide basic needs to vulnerable citizens, including access to food and housing, and job training.
• Arts and culture: $735,000 supported performing arts and arts education organizations and their involvement in schools.
• Environment and conservation: more than $650,000 of 2018 grand funding supported organizations that help protect our lands and waters as well as those who educate our youth about nature and conservationism.

Across all four focus areas, $940,000 was designated to grants focused on youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. In addition, grants exceeding $1 million were also made to 26 United Way chapters in the U.S., matching employee donations in these communities.

Solutions for Life Program
In 2018, Ecolab also continued support for its global philanthropic partners, The Nature Conservancy and Project WET, through the company's Solutions for Life program, which enhances Ecolab's mission to conserve water and improve hygiene throughout the world.

Through Project WET, more than 7 million people in 88 countries have been reached through the Clean and Conserve Education Program, a free curriculum co-created by Ecolab and Project WET to educate youth about water conservation and healthy hygiene practices. In 2018, Ecolab also committed to a three-year sponsorship of Project WET's DiscoverWater.org to help students in upper elementary and middle school learn about the water cycle, water conservation, healthy hydration and soap and water science.

The continued partnership with The Nature Conservancy resulted in water conservation work in Minnesota to help protect the headwaters of the Mississippi River and support the development of water funds in China to help protect the Dongjiang River Basin and Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang Province. The partnership also helped fund a tree nursery in Mexico that will provide 500,000 pine tree saplings annually for reforestation in and near the Cumbres de Monterrey National Forest.

In-Kind Product Donations
In partnership with World Emergency Relief and Good360, Ecolab donated $1.5 million of cleaning, sanitizing and public health products to support disaster relief.

"We are grateful for our partnership with Ecolab," said Good360 CEO Howard Sherman. "Cleaning and sanitizing supplies are often among the first requested items in the wake of a disaster, and our collaboration has been critical in a number of impacted regions. Ecolab also is a founding member of the Good360 Disaster Recovery Council, supporting initiatives and best practices centered on thoughtful giving during disasters."

Ecolab products were distributed in support of disaster relief and other initiatives to 10 states in the U.S. and to those in need in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Moldova and Puerto Rico.

Employee Volunteerism
Volunteerism is a core component of Ecolab's culture, and in 2018, employees volunteered more than 66,000 hours, providing a value of nearly $2 million* to their local communities (*average calculation from the Independent Sector).

About Ecolab
A trusted partner at nearly three million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With annual sales of $15 billion and 49,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.

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SOURCE Ecolab Inc.