We strive to be a respected leader in encouraging positive change in the communities where our employees live, work, and raise their families. We do this primarily through donations to effective organizations working to improve the quality of life in their communities.
Our Approach
We make financial donations in two broad categories: Corporate Responsibility and Community Development. These include arts, education, environment, social services, emergency relief, alcohol issues, diversity & inclusion and economic development.
Actions
Brown-Forman’s role and reputation as a leading corporate citizen in our home town is well documented and demonstrated through both our financial and employee involvement. And, while playing a major role in contributing to a vibrant and attractive community for our employees to live, work, and raise their families, we also understand the importance of giving back in the many communities where Brown-Forman’s employees reside.
In Louisville, we were very pleased to see the recent opening of the Louisville Zoo’s Seal and Sea Lion Exhibit and proud that our $1 million gift will enhance the visitors experience to one of our community’s great treasures. We continue to be very supportive of Louisville’s arts and culture scene through major support to Actors Theatre, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Orchestra, Speed Art Museum and the Louisville Ballet.
While our support of the arts helps to make Louisville one of our country’s leading regional arts centers, our support of numerous social service agencies helps establish our community as a city with a heart. Whether through supporting the Family and Children’s Place, The Healing Place, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Dare to Care Food Bank and many other grassroots service organizations, we strive to make a difference in the everyday life of our fellow citizens.
We also care deeply about the environment and have been a leading supporter of Riverfields, The Nature Conservancy, Olmstead Park Conservancy, Waterfront Park Development, Bernheim Forest and the new 21st Century Parks development.
Stepping Up
Recently, Brown-Forman and our global workforces gave nearly $150,000 to the Red Cross for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Also last year, due to a series of natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region, Brown-Forman came together again to provide a sizable donation to the International Red Cross. In Mexico, our local employees have been engaged in local donations of food for the needy, toys for children during the Holiday season and several earth day related activities. Also in Mexico, Brown-Forman has given several significant donations for social service organizations that support the communities of Amatitan and Guadalajara.
While working hard to make a difference in Central America, we also play a role with our neighbors to the north by participating in the capital campaign for a new addition to the YMCA in Collingwood, Ontario where our Canadian Mist brand is produced.
We are also active in Lynchburg, Tennessee where the management of Jack Daniels has a charitable budget that reaches many vital local agencies. In addition, corporate dollars have recently been provided to make capital improvements around the central downtown square, and refurbish a community center, swimming pool, and ball fields.
We are very proud of community and industry relations outreach in northern California by our employees at our Sonoma-Cutrer facility. In particular, the Make A Wish Foundation conducts their largest fundraiser on the grounds at Sonoma-Cutrer. While we haven’t reached every country where Brown-Forman products are sold, we know that even one employee in one community can make a difference and the measure of our success can truly be found in our own backyard.
Strategy
We want to increase our direct investment in reducing the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and expand our civic engagement program outside of corporate headquarters in Louisville. As a first step, we will concentrate our corporate giving in locations where our employees live and work, near our production facilities and regional offices.
While this strategy was originally intended to begin in earnest in 2009, economic realities have caused us to make a meaningful reduction in corporate giving in Fiscal 2010, reconsider the timing, and delay its implementation. Nevertheless, we remain committed to the communities where we live and work, and when the time is right we look forward to expanding our corporate giving.
Performance
Total Cash Contributions
Charitable Contributions by Type
