Standing with Black Communities: McCormick Partners with Social Justice Organizations

McCormick & Company Support for Black Lives; Diversity and Inclusion; D&I; corporate giving

As McCormick & Company CEO, Lawrence Kurzius pledged in his June 16th communication, “McCormick’s Commitment to Standing up for Black Lives”, (read it here) McCormick is dedicated to helping uplift its workforce and communities through dialogue, education, and engagement. The Company’s senior leaders have vowed to act by leading transformational changes that further strengthen the organization’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

In fulfilling that promise, McCormick is donating $500,000 across organizations that combat social injustice or provide critical food, healthcare, or other essential services to Black Communities impacted by police brutality. The organizations were nominated by McCormick employees, and reviewed and approved by McCormick’s Black Advisory Group and Charitable Donations Committee. Additionally, the company has carefully selected the following charities to build ongoing partnerships:

Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), advocates for and represents victims of racial and economic injustice in the US criminal justice system. EJI is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the U.S., challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. They work with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and are discouraged by unequal treatment and are committed to changing the narrative about race in America. EJI earned the top ranking from Charity Navigator and won a Skoll Award for their impact on social justice reform.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, they defend the gains and protections won over the past 80 years of civil rights struggle and work to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments. Their focus areas include education (affirmative action, desegregation), political participation (voting rights, felony disenfranchisement), economic access (employment discrimination, environmental justice, fair housing), and criminal justice (opposition to the death penalty, Fourth Amendment, Sixth Amendment).
The National Urban League (NUL) is a historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization with 90 affiliates serving 300 communities, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than two million people nationwide. It works to provide economic empowerment, educational opportunities, and the guarantee of civil rights for the underserved in America. They fight for a world with zero equality gaps, through five initiatives: education, jobs, housing, health, and justice.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and better jobs.

McCormick is also donating to the organizations listed below. These donations represent just one of the steps McCormick is taking to help break down the structural barriers that stand in the way of a more just and equal society. McCormick will continue to support Black communities, affirm our commitment to the Power of People, and continue our commitment to fighting racial inequality. Please join us in donating to these organizations and in supporting Black communities in need – together we can make a difference.

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