How McCormick Gives Back to Communities Through Employee Volunteerism

At McCormick, employee volunteerism is one of the biggest ways in which we give back to the communities where we live, work and source. Our employees work together to identify local causes and organizations that are making real change and support them with fundraising, activity-based volunteering, skill-based support, awareness and advocacy, in-kind contributions, and so much more.

Every year, to encourage more volunteerism, we launch an internal campaign as part of our “Power of Giving” program where employees all over the world are incentivized to volunteer through various initiatives. This year the campaign had close to 8,500 employees worldwide participating in charity activities through acts of service, donations, and community engagement. Take a look at how employee volunteerism is facilitated at McCormick and glance through  a few  highlights of this year from different regions.

Where Giving Back Meets Enjoyment: Highlights from the Americas

In the Americas, employees showed that volunteering can be as fun as it is gratifying. The Global Headquarters played host to a Charity Carnival and Silent Auction/Raffle where employees had a good time and simultaneously raised $10,000 for Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). As a mark of care and comfort for the animals, our employees created blankets for them in partnership with the United Way. The Operating Committee went an extra mile and sponsored the adoption fees for employees who were taking in animals, too.

The McCormick Flavor Solutions team also organized a spice sale, leveraging in-house resources to raise funds for Fox Valley Food for Health. They showed strength in numbers, with 185 participants joining in on the efforts and raised a total of $3,200. The remaining spices were then donated to three more local organizations: Batavia Apartments Food Pantry, Shepard’s Heart Food Pantry and Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Many more events- both large and small- were held across the Americas, including a blood donation drive at the South Bend site, a pickleball tournament, and a Charity Walk for the American Diabetes Association.

Charity that Begins Within our Circles: Highlights from EMEA

The EMEA team chose volunteer programs close to their hearts and homes, specifically organizations and causes in their immediate neighborhoods and communities that they have been supporting for a long time. They brought the saying ‘charity begins at home’ to life with their volunteerism.

In South Africa, employees extended their support to a local school. In addition to contributing essentials and cash, they worked together to paint a wall in the school. Meanwhile, the Haddenham team in the UK, armed with garbage bags and cleaning tools, picked up litter and cleaned up their neighborhood.

The French team continued their partnership with the Ronald McDonald Foundation, who they have supported since 2022. This year’s initiative included gifting LEGO sets to children and organizing a warm get-together for them with food and desserts. Colleagues from the Łódź office in Poland turned their steps into support through the Szczęśliwa Trzynastka charity run. Funds raised from the run were donated to the Fundacja Dom w Łodzi, helping children receive the care and treatment they deserve.

The Joy of Collective Action: Highlights from APAC

Our colleagues from the APAC region showed up in large numbers to every volunteer program, showcasing the power and joy of collective effort in employee volunteerism. With some quick thinking and innovation, they used their in-house talent and resources to raise funds for various causes.

The China Charity Day activation comprised of several online and offline activities, such as the Charity Bazaar and Step Donation challenge, through which more than RMB 30,000 was raised. Under the coordination of the Employee Ambassador Group SAGE China, volunteers from Shanghai, Wuhan, and Guangzhou visited elderly residents in local communities. SAGE also organized a surplus food collection initiative, gathering near-expiry but safe-to-eat food and delivering them to Green Food Bank for sorting and redistribution—helping reduce food waste while supporting families in need.

McCormick  Thailand organized their employee volunteer program at Wat Ban Rai School whose students come primarily from underprivileged families in the local community. They made a day out of it, engaging students in fun and educational activities and sharing a meal with them at the end. With much joy, they also helped give the school a fresh coat of paint and also donated  fertilizer to use in their vegetable garden.

The India team, on the other hand, combined celebration with charity on Independence Day. They came together to celebrate the joy of community over a delicious potluck lunch, with an entry fee collected to raise funds for a local charity.

Finally, the McCormick Australia team in Melbourne held a blood donation drive. Several first-time donors joined forces with the McCormick Lifeblood Team - saving 30 lives throughout July and August!

Employee volunteerism is an integral part of our company culture at McCormick. It gives us immense joy to be able to support charity activities and volunteer programs around the world through our Power of Giving program and beyond. Thank you to all the employees who participated! We can’t wait for next year.