Emerson Pledges $200 Million in Charitable Giving Over 10 Years Focused on Education Equity in St. Louis and Other Communities
March 10 2022 - 12:45PM
Business Wire
Emerson (NYSE: EMR) today announced a new chapter in its
philanthropic commitment to U.S. communities where it operates with
a pledge to devote $200 million of its charitable contributions
over the next decade to help address the vital issue of education
inequity.
“We see a critical need to focus our corporate philanthropy on
education inequities in our hometown of St. Louis and the other
communities where Emerson operates,” said Lal Karsanbhai, Emerson’s
president and chief executive officer. “Inequities in the
educational experience of children lead to inequities in life.
Access to a quality educational experience is a crucial component
for building a better future for all.”
With this announcement, Emerson is launching into its next phase
of giving, building from its strong philanthropic foundation of the
past 50 years. Emerson’s commitment to education equity will focus
on programs or initiatives targeting children from infancy through
12th grade, with an emphasis on early childhood and student
services in under-resourced communities.
“Empowering every student with access to quality early education
and academic resources, regardless of his or her race, gender or
zip code, will build incremental opportunities and progressive
change,” said Karsanbhai. “Our vision is to make our communities a
better place to live, work and thrive for all residents by focusing
on the education inequities that prevent all youth from achieving
their full potential.”
Plans for this 10-year commitment include partnerships with
established organizations that are working to address education
inequities in the St. Louis area. Two initial partners that Emerson
will support are the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis and
The Opportunity Trust.
Emerson and the Urban League, which have a long-standing
partnership, are in discussions to identify priority needs for the
nonprofit’s Head Start & Early Head Start program which
promotes the school readiness of infants, toddlers and
preschool-aged children from low-income families.
“Providing access to quality education is one of the Urban
League’s core strategies,” said Michael P. McMillan, the president
and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis, Inc. “With
Emerson’s focus on early education and commitment to our Head Start
program, we are closer to ensuring more children in our community
are kindergarten ready, and thereby closer to progress and growth
in St. Louis and beyond. We can’t see the change we need in our
communities until every child has access to opportunities beyond
the scope of his or her zip code.”
With The Opportunity Trust, Emerson’s funding is focused on
increasing the number of St. Louis third graders reading on grade
level, with an aggressive goal of doubling the number students
reading on grade level by 2027.
“Just 15 percent of third graders in St. Louis city are reading
at a proficiency level, an alarming indicator that the majority of
these students are at significant risk of not graduating from high
school, and therefore are unlikely to be prepared for a career or
college,” noted Eric Scroggins, CEO and founder of The Opportunity
Trust. “We are excited to have Emerson’s support and investment in
research-based strategies that aim to increase the number of third
graders reading at grade level, setting these students up for
significantly higher likelihoods of secondary and postsecondary
success.”
Akberet Boykin Farr, vice president of diversity and social
responsibility at Emerson, manages the Emerson Charitable Trust and
is overseeing its transition to a focus on education equity.
Emerson will fulfill all current pledges and provide a gradual
step-down for organizations currently receiving Emerson funding but
whose missions fall outside the company’s new giving focus.
In fiscal 2021, Emerson and the Emerson Charitable Trust made
contributions totaling $24 million to nonprofit organizations and
educational institutions across the United States and for the
company’s scholarships and teacher recognition programs. Over the
past 50 years, Emerson has made nearly $750 million in charitable
donations nationwide.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA),
is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative
solutions for customers in industrial, commercial and residential
markets. Our Automation Solutions business helps process, hybrid
and discrete manufacturers maximize production, protect personnel
and the environment while optimizing their energy and operating
costs. Our Commercial & Residential Solutions business helps
ensure human comfort and health, protect food quality and safety,
advance energy efficiency and create sustainable infrastructure.
For more information visit Emerson.com.
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Media contact: Joe Dugan, FleishmanHillard (for Emerson)
Tel: 1-314-982-1788 Email: joe.dugan@fleishman.com
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