McCormick At-a-Glance

Our charitable commitment has its roots in our founding. Today, 116 years later, it remains a vibrant part of who we are, from the plant floor to the executive suite, from Baltimore to Beijing.

McCormick's formal program of charitable giving helps fund worthwhile causes. Projects that are civic, health, welfare, education and the arts receive the most attention. These grants are made in communities around the world where we have facilities. Programs like the McCormick Unsung Heroes Awards, student scholarships and Charity Day, which fosters employee giving to a wide range of causes, have existed for more than 60 years. Additionally, many of our global employees devote their time and talents to numerous community endeavors. Their involvement ranges from serving on boards to grassroots-level volunteering.

In 2004, we added another chapter to our history of benevolence by creating the McCormick Community Service Award. The program recognizes those employees who best exemplify McCormick's commitment to improve our communities. A grand prize winner receives $25,000 for his or her charity of choice. Several finalists receive $5,000 each for their charities.

The winner of the award presented in 2005 was Rogelio Pineda, an Information Technology Manager at McCormick de Centro America in El Salvador. Rogelio volunteers with an organization called Club Activo 20-30 San Salvador. It assists children, particularly those who are disabled or orphaned. Recently, the club has helped fund a school building for 700 underprivileged children, helped obtain wheelchairs for others, funded difficult to obtain medical treatments, brought entertainment to thousands of children and raised money to support public schools with essential supplies.

"The club is constantly involved in projects to raise funds for our programs," Rogelio said. "So winning the McCormick Community Service Award was truly a blessing. I have liked to help people all of my life, and the club gives me that chance. The best prize we can get is to see a smile on the face of a child who has little reason to smile. Our club slogan says it all: 'A person never stands so tall as when kneeling to help a child.'"