Celebrating community partnerships at 2012 Philanthropy Awards
As a farmer-owned cooperative, our local communities are very important to us. We work hard to be a responsible community member, supporting numerous local programs that help build our communities. In many ways, we’re a modest bunch at Tillamook, so we don’t always toot our own horn about all of our community giving. It’s the right thing to do, so we just do it. Simple as that.
But, today, we were honored to be recognized by the Portland Business Journal at their annual Corporate Philanthropy Awards with one of only three “Innovation in Philanthropy” Awards. This award recognizes Oregon-based companies that create unique partnerships with non-profit organizations to make a difference in their community. The program that we were recognized for was our third annual partnership with the Tillamook County 4-H Leaders Association at the Tillamook County Fair.
For the past three years, Tillamook employees have been scooping up delicious Tillamook ice cream together with 4-H youth and parent volunteers for all of the hungry fair-goers that visit our Tillamook Ice Cream booth. At the end of a very busy four days and with involvement by more than 150 volunteers, we donated all of the proceeds from our ice cream sales to the 4-H Leaders Association to help support local youth development programs in our hometown community. Over the past three years, we’ve been able to donate more than $34,000 to the local 4-H program as part of this partnership.
Supporting organizations like 4-H is part of our company’s DNA. Through our company’s overall giving program, we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year giving back to many very worthwhile organizations and causes in key focus areas – including youth development, hunger relief, and agriculture community building – so that we can make the most positive impact in areas that align with our company values.
Huge thanks to the Portland Business Journal for recognizing our efforts with this Philanthropy Award, and kudos to the 4-H Leaders Association, in Tillamook County and across the country, for all of the excellent work they do to foster leadership and enrichment opportunities for our next generation!
Read more about our partnership with 4-H in today’s Portland Business Journal.
