Alcoa Foundation celebrates 70-year legacy

This year Alcoa Foundation celebrates its 70^th anniversary, heralding a legacy of giving that has benefitted non-profit organizations and Alcoa communities for seven decades. The Foundation will recognize its anniversary with 13 special grants and volunteer events around the world.

Alcoa Foundation was founded in 1952 with a $16.9 million endowment by the Aluminum Company of America (renamed Alcoa Inc. in 1999). Following the legal separation of Alcoa into two standalone companies in 2016, the original Alcoa Foundation was divided, and a new Alcoa Foundation associated with Alcoa Corporation was launched. Total contributions since 2017 exceed $35 million.

In honor of its 70-year history, Alcoa Foundation will award an additional $200,000 on top of the $6.5M allocated for its annual charitable giving. The anniversary grants will benefit non-profit organizations around the world. The purpose of these donations is to recognize the Foundation's long-term partners and their impact in the communities where Alcoa operates.

Grant recipients include Anglicare Western Australia, Greater Pittsburgh Community Foodbank, Comptoir Alimentaire l'Escale in Canada, and Termik Vefsn in Norway, among others. The funds will support food insecurity, counseling and advocacy for people struggling with poverty, homelessness or mental wellness, and environmental restoration.

"We are very proud of the impact the Foundation has made throughout its history in our hosting communities and are thankful to be able to carry on its work in partnership with our fantastic non-profit partners and employee volunteers," said Rosa García Pineiro, Alcoa Foundation President and Alcoa Vice President of Sustainability.

In 2021, the Foundation contributed more than $7.2 million for partner programs that protect and preserve the environment, promote equitable access to education and skills-building opportunities, address local community needs, and provide humanitarian relief. Recent projects include training for indigenous businesses and jobseekers, microloans to support local entrepreneurs and income-generation activities, and research on restoration techniques to preserve critical ecosystems.

Alcoa Foundation also oversees Alcoa's corporate volunteer program called "Alcoans Coming Together In Our Neighborhoods" or ACTION. Founded in 2001, each year the program engages thousands of employee volunteers and awards hundreds of $3,000 grants provided by Alcoa to benefit non-profits in communities where the company operates.

In collaboration with the recipient organizations, employee volunteer events celebrating Alcoa Foundation's 70-year history are taking place at dozens of Alcoa locations through year's end.

"These events are simple yet meaningful recognition of community partners and employee volunteers, who are the cornerstone of our work to make the world a better place," said García Pineiro.

About Alcoa Foundation

Alcoa Foundation invests in communities where Alcoa Corporation operates, assisting organizations that improve environmental sustainability and support educational access and workforce development. Learn more about Alcoa Foundation at Alcoa ? Foundation and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Facebook and Twitter.