Caterpillar Invests $11.5 Million in United Way
Funds will improve the lives of children, families and seniors in communities across the United States
PEORIA, Ill., December 6, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) employees and retirees together with the Caterpillar Foundation have pledged more than $11.5 million to United Way agencies across the United States as part of its 2016-2017 campaign. This amount includes a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the Caterpillar Foundation. The United Way has been Caterpillar’s only annual solicitation for funds to its employees and retirees for more than 60 years.
“Our employees and retirees are committed to making a positive impact in the communities where they live and work,” said Caterpillar Foundation President Michele Sullivan. “That’s why they continue to donate every year to the United Way even during these challenging economic times to support their communities, neighbors and sometimes even their families and friends. More than half the money raised will go to the Heart of Illinois United Way in Peoria, Illinois, which is home to our corporate headquarters. Outside of Peoria, our employees and retirees give just as generously and their contributions are from Nashville, Tennessee, to Corinth, Mississippi, to San Diego, California, and more.”
Since the Caterpillar Foundation began investing in the United Way, employees and retirees have been able to designate their contributions to the United Way of their choice.
“The United Way assesses the community needs, finds efficient programs that deliver measurable outcomes and works to eliminate those needs in the future by identifying the causes and creating long-term solutions,” said Sullivan. “That’s done through the Boys & Girls Clubs,
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children, The Salvation Army and the hundreds of other United Way-funded agencies.”
Employees and retirees pledged more than $5.7 million, and Caterpillar’s overall employee participation in 2016 reached 47 percent.
“On behalf of more than 500 local United Ways and our member agencies, I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the unwavering support and volunteer leadership of Caterpillar employees,” said Michael Stephan, President of the Heart of Illinois United Way. “Caterpillar’s steadfast commitment in partnering with United Way to ensure vital programs are available that positively impact the education, income and health of our communities is truly humbling. United Ways, and the communities we serve, tremendously benefit from the generous investments of the Caterpillar Foundation and all the employees and retirees who graciously give back to communities where they live and work.”
Caterpillar also has two international United Way campaigns. One is in Panama, and the other is in Mexico.
About Caterpillar Foundation
Founded in 1952, Caterpillar's philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $650 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to education and basic human needs. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, visit www.togetherstronger.com.
About Caterpillar
For 91 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2015 sales and revenues of $47.011 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.
