Direct grants from the John Deere Foundation focus on rising
rates of hunger and food insecurity globally
MOLINE,
Ill., Dec. 20, 2022 /CNW/ -- John Deere (NYSE:
DE) announced community investments totaling $55.5 million in 2022, a 30 percent increase over
the prior year. This represents 1.4 percent of the company's
average net income over the previous three years and exceeds
Deere's commitment of investing at least 1 percent of these
earnings every year in civic initiatives.
The John Deere Foundation contributed $22.1 million in charitable giving to this total
in 2022, the highest it has ever reported. For nearly 75 years, the
foundation has been a powerful source of philanthropy for nonprofit
organizations serving Deere home communities and farm communities
around the world. In 2021, the foundation built on this legacy by
committing at least $200 million over
the next decade to ensure that marginalized families and youth in
Deere hometowns and smallholder farm households across the globe
have equitable access to the resources and opportunities essential
to their prosperity and dignity. In 2022, the foundation made
notable investments in its pursuit of ending hunger:
- Over $3 million to food banks and
for emergency hunger assistance, representing the equivalent of
more than 13 million meals.
- Nearly $5 million to serve 3.8
million farmers globally to increase their food security, incomes,
and resilience to conflict and climate change.
The John Deere Foundation's mission has always been strengthened
by Deere employees through their volunteerism and giving. In 2022,
Deere employees logged 174,518 hours of volunteerism and personally
donated $5 million. The foundation
honored these generous gifts by donating more than $6.2 million to inspire, match, and otherwise
reward this employee giving.
"At John Deere, we have always believed that our growing success
as a business creates an even greater responsibility to contribute
meaningfully and sustainably to lives of others," said John May, chairman and CEO of Deere &
Company and chairman of the John Deere Foundation.
"While the company contributes to global food security through
products and services that promote the profitable, productive, and
sustainable production of food, we can do even more," May said.
"Through the John Deere Foundation we can help ensure that all of
the food grown reaches those experiencing hunger, and we can
support the world's most vulnerable farmers in feeding themselves
and those around them."
About John Deere
Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a global
leader in the delivery of agricultural, construction, and forestry
equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what's
possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help
life leap forward. Our technology-enabled products including John
Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor, See & Spray™, and E-Power Backhoe
are just some of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need
for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also
provides financial services through John Deere Financial. For more
information on Deere & Company, visit us at
www.deere.com/en/news/.
About the John Deere
Foundation
The John Deere Foundation helps bring to life
John Deere's higher purpose – "We run so life
can leap forward" – through investments that allow the
people we serve to overcome the challenges they face today and
create for themselves paths to a more prosperous tomorrow. The
foundation has committed at least $200
million from 2021-2030 to unlock economic, social, and
environmental value for smallholder and resource-constrained
farmers, marginalized families and youth in John Deere home
communities, and our workforce. Learn more at
https://www.deere.com/en/our-company/sustainability/citizenship/.
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SOURCE Deere & Company