Western South Carolina Companies Love Their Communities
When a large company uses its resources to give back to local communities, it’s admirable. When it does it consistently, it demonstrates its longstanding values. Western South Carolina companies play a crucial role in fundraising and providing support for their local communities.
Whether it’s donating to United Way’s national initiatives or educating students at schools just down the street, these companies model the belief that when you make community a priority, everyone wins.
Supporting Local Communities
From Kleenex to Huggies to Cottonelle, Kimberly-Clark manufactures essential products that make up the fabric of everyday lives. But the company touches lives in other ways, too, including reaching out to the community and providing financial and educational support.
The Beech Island manufacturing facility’s largesse has earned it numerous accolades, particularly from United Way of Aiken County, which it has assisted for over 30 years.
“We’ve contributed more than $6 million over 30-plus years to support the local community,” says Jeff Hutter, Beech Island manufacturing facility manager at Kimberly-Clark.
“We’ve been honored with awards like Highest Corporate Achievement, Employee Achievement, Community Spirit Award, and Community Pillar Award – all a testament to our team’s excitement and willingness to give back to the community. Overall engagement from the manufacturing facility comes easy; we’re always willing to lend a hand.”
“Our community engagement tells a story about what is important to us – taking care of our employees and our community and doing what is right.”
Jeff Hutter, Beech Island manufacturing facility
That excitement extends to students. Kimberly-Clark has participated for over 34 years in the annual Science Education Enrichment Day (SEED) STEM Festival hosted by the University of South Carolina Aiken. The company teaches kids about paper manufacturing – from components to processes – and the importance of being stewards of the Earth’s resources, specifically trees, water and thermal energy.
“We support the event with hundreds of employee volunteers that teach several hundred children about Kimberly-Clark and papermaking,” Hutter says. “We also extend this work outside of the festival and visit four to five local schools each year, allowing us to reach a larger number of people.”
The company also holds the It’s Spooky To Be Hungry food drive that provides families over 10,000 meals, the School Tools drive for school supplies and the Be A Bunny program that collects personal hygiene products for senior citizens in care homes.
“Seeing our local community flourish and knowing we had a hand in that is the greatest reward,” Hutter says. “Kimberly-Clark’s purpose is better care for a better world. Our community engagement tells a story about what is important to us – taking care of our employees and our community and doing what is right.”
Beyond the Road
Bridgestone may be known for its tires, but its vision encompasses so much more.
“Bridgestone’s E8 Commitment, specifically our Emotion, Ease and Empowerment values, ensures we bring comfort and peace of mind to mobility life and that we provide accessibility and dignity for all,” says Monica Key, senior manager of human resources at the Aiken PSR/LTR plant.
The company, which has been in Aiken County since 1998, has spent the last 25 years contributing to and supporting educational, environmental, and child and adult welfare programs. Its 17-year relationship with the Special Olympics includes coordinating and overseeing the Aiken County and Edgefield County games each year. It’s garnered awards, but Bridgestone focuses instead on the impact it’s making on the community.
“Seeing the pride and joy that these games bring to the athletes is inspiring,” Key says. “Bridgestone is proud to be a partner in helping the Special Olympics create a powerful new generation that celebrates all differences and abilities.”
Since the plant’s inception, Bridgestone has also supported United Way by fundraising and participating in community events. The company contributed more than $6 million to United Way of Aiken County, built countless wheelchair ramps, participated in annual Project Vision days and sat with fellow community members on service and nonprofit boards.
“There is a true satisfaction in seeing people in our community thrive and succeed because of the support we are able to provide to those in our community,” Key says.
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