Giving back to the communities where we live and work is part of our DNA at Campbell. The Community Impact Grant program connects our employees to their communities by inviting them to nominate local organizations for grant funds each year. Then an employee-led review committee helps select the final recipients in collaboration with the Campbell Foundation.
The Foundation’s latest round of 42 Community Impact Grants, totaling nearly $1 million, provide support to nonprofit organizations operating in our communities. Employees chose organizations whose work supports one or more of the focus areas of the Foundation: increasing food access, encouraging healthy living, and nurturing neighborhoods.
Meet a few of the organizations and learn how they’re making a difference:
Boys and Girls Club of Benton County (BGCBC) plays a vital role in the community by creating access to a safe, affordable afterschool program–filling a critical need for children between school and home where they can grow, learn, and be placed on a path to achieve great futures. Previously, BGCBC was only able to provide meals to children at three of their four locations. Our foundation’s funding will now enable BGCBC to provide healthy, nutritious meals to children at all their locations.
“Our team in Bentonville, Arkansas nominated the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County because they help equip youth with lifelong tools for success.” – Desiree Stamps, Office Manager
“Our team in Bentonville, Arkansas nominated the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County because they help equip youth with lifelong tools for success.”
Girls on the Run (GOTR) promotes the health and well-being of 3rd-8th grade girls. GOTR integrates social-emotional learning and positive youth development programs at the same time as physical activity.
Funds from the Community Impact Grant are providing scholarships to girls in economic need across seven communities, as well as support resources and tools necessary for council program execution.
To provide healthier food to the at-risk communities they serve, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina is using funds from the Foundation to provide produce boxes at school mobile pantries. Fresh fruits and vegetables are distributed along with boxes of staple food pantry items including dairy, meat, and whole-grain breads to provide about a week’s worth of groceries to families participating in the program.
“Our nomination team wanted to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina because their emergency pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters continue to report significant increases in requests for assistance over the last year.” – Kay Strong, Manufacturing Administrative Assistant
“Our nomination team wanted to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina because their emergency pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters continue to report significant increases in requests for assistance over the last year.”
Grant funding from the Foundation is being used to incorporate healthy eating, physical activity, and well-being programming into after school and summer programs at UrbanPromise Ministries. This includes fun and engaging programs like outdoor exploration and real-world applications of classroom learning, summer camps, and after school programs. Plus, it includes their “RiverGuides” program where students guide people on the Cooper River on canoes hand-built by students in the UrbanPromise Boatworks shop—which we recently had the opportunity to join!
Canoe believe it? Employees in Camden, New Jersey recently went on a paddling trip with RiverGuides, a program run by @UrbanPromise that employs local youth as tour guides who educate about the ecology and history of Camden while canoeing on the Cooper River. #LifeAtCampbell pic.twitter.com/C6239MpIrx— Campbell Soup Co (@CampbellSoupCo) July 22, 2022
Canoe believe it? Employees in Camden, New Jersey recently went on a paddling trip with RiverGuides, a program run by @UrbanPromise that employs local youth as tour guides who educate about the ecology and history of Camden while canoeing on the Cooper River. #LifeAtCampbell pic.twitter.com/C6239MpIrx
“We nominated UrbanPromise Ministries because they’re a strong community partner with a holistic approach to youth development.” – Courtney Quisenberry, Supply Planning Manager
“We nominated UrbanPromise Ministries because they’re a strong community partner with a holistic approach to youth development.”
Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) is a community-based, volunteer-driven nonprofit located in Lakeland, Florida working to enable elderly persons to remain safe and independent in their own homes. Funding from the Foundation is supporting VISTE’s Hot Meals program.
“We nominated Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) because they help provide hot meals to the elderly so they can stay in their homes independently.” – Carrie Hess, Operations Team Leader
“We nominated Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) because they help provide hot meals to the elderly so they can stay in their homes independently.”
