Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
December 16, 2016
In a unified effort to improve its communities and demonstrate its commitment to “Science for a Better Life,” Bayer’s Crop Science division has engaged in charitable efforts around the nation, volunteering nearly 5,000 hours and donating approximately $1 million in charitable giving over the past year in the areas of food and nutrition, STEM & youth education initiatives and local community enhancement activities where employees live and work.
Bayer is committed to delivering solutions farmers need as they face the challenges of feeding growing population, and that is why the company is focusing a large portion of its efforts on helping feed our communities. Through national programs like Thankful4Ag and efforts driven locally through food banks, backpack programs and others, Bayer is working to support organizations who give those in need access to food (From 2014-2016, nearly 800 million people, one-ninth of the world’s population, suffered from chronic undernourishment.). Another area where Bayer concentrates its support is in STEM education, to help spark a lifelong love of science that will help fill important jobs in the future. This support is carried out through the company’s Making Science Make Sense STEM education initiative and funding to schools, museums and other educational institutions across the country. In the next five years, nearly 58,000 jobs involving agriculture will open across our nation and Bayer is helping develop the next generation of leaders. The third area of giving focuses on a wide array of community activities and support aimed at bettering our communities and helping them thrive.
Bayer’s dedication to serve its communities starts at its North American headquarters in Research Triangle Park, located in North Carolina. The headquarters invested in food and nutrition initiatives, community improvement projects, as well as STEM and agricultural education for elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and local universities. Bayer focused on collaboration with Research Triangle High School (RTHS), the Research Triangle’s premier independent public charter school seeking to foster students into independent thinkers and creators of knowledge. With Bayer support, RTHS is working to create an AgBio program that connects its students globally to apply microbiology and biotech learning to understand the agricultural needs in different regions of the world. Bayer RTP also donated $20,000 to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the largest museum of its kind in the Southeast. The NC Natural Science Museum continues to promote inclusivity, collaboration and engagement in the world of science for children and adults of all ages with the mission of illuminating the interdependence of nature and humanity. In total, Bayer’s RTP site donated over $400,000 to Central North Carolina. In addition, the company recently took action after Hurricane Matthew, gleaning 3900 lbs. of produce to donate to those affected, an employee drive which collected over 700 lbs. of items in critical need for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, as well as a $10,000 donation to the North Carolina FFA to carry out community projects in 2017.
In Sacramento, the headquarters for the biologics business focused on STEM and agricultural education within California, local universities and organizations. Bayer developed a strong relationship with the University of California, Davis, contributing $15,000 to several of the university’s programs and sites, including the UC Davis Arboretum and the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center at the Robert Mondavi Institute. The center frequently holds informative events and honey tastings to educate the community about the importance of honey and support students engaged in honey research. The arboretum, founded in 1936, spans 100 acres of land and includes 22,000 trees and plants arranged to represent plant groups, horticultural themes and geographic areas. Offering free admission year-around, the arboretum is a crucial educational resource in the area. Additionally, the Bayer Sacramento site continued its support of the Powerhouse Science Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, by donating funding toward the construction of the nonprofit’s new site in Sacramento. The Powerhouse Science Center’s Discovery Campus emphasizes STEM education and hands-on learning for children across the state. In total, the Bayer Sacramento gave $55,000 to STEM and agricultural programs in California.
This year, the Bayer Kansas City site donated to the National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame, commonly known as the Ag Center, to help create a new children’s exhibit within the Ag Center’s Children’s Agriculture Science Center. The new exhibit is set to open in 2018 and will continue the Ag Center’s goal of educating youth and adults about the value of American agriculture through educational initiatives and hands-on experiences. Spending nearly $100,000 in Kansas City education alone, Bayer Kansas City also contributed college scholarships through the American Chemical Society and internships for two students at Cristo Rey High School, a college preparatory school offering a corporate work-study program to pay for their studies. The Kansas City Symphony also received donations from Bayer Kansas City in support of its Education Department, which involves 50,000 people annually in specially programmed school concerts as well as music and scientific education programs. In total, Bayer Kansas City donated over $217,500 in 2016.
The company takes great pride in being a responsible corporate citizen and by investing in the areas of Food & Nutrition, STEM & other education initiatives and community enhancement, the company demonstrates a strong commitment to its core mission: Science For A Better Life.
Bayer is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at www.CropScience.Bayer.us.
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