Henkel Smile: Three core elements for society
To further align Henkel Smile to our company strategy and corporate objectives, as well as to improve transparency and clarity in communications, we have restructured our worldwide corporate citizenship activities. Since late 2007, Henkel Smile is structured around three core elements:
- Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT) – Employee engagement
- Social Partnerships – Corporate and brand engagement
- Henkel Friendship Initiative (HFI) – Emergency fund
As part of its social engagement activities, Henkel supported a total of 2,155 projects worldwide in 2009. Of these, the 1,143 MIT projects of our employees and retirees accounted for the largest share. Henkel provided money and in-kind aid for seven emergency relief measures in disaster areas. The company and its brands were also engaged in 1,005 projects. Worldwide, the projects helped to improve the living conditions of about 500,000 people. In 2009, the total sum provided to support all Henkel Smile activities was over 7.6 million euros.
Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT) Initiative – Employee Volunteering
Through MIT, we support the volunteer work of our employees and retirees with in-kind, product and financial donations, paid time off from work, and specialist advice from Henkel. The main emphasis is on the extent of the volunteer engagement and the influence of the employee. The greater the involvement of the employee or retiree in the project, the greater the possible support by Henkel.
Henkel Friendship Initiative
The Henkel Friendship Initiative, established in 2003, is a non-profit organization whose objective is to provide aid to people in need throughout the world in a fast and non-bureaucratic manner. Particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters, the Initiative helps victims directly with financial and other aid and supports longer-term reconstruction measures.
Social Partnerships – Corporate and brand engagement
In social partnerships, Henkel and its brands support training and continuing education and facilitate access to knowledge. Through social partnerships, we mainly support social initiatives in the communities where our sites are located throughout the world. Social partnerships strengthen the link between the steadily expanding social aspects of our sponsoring activities and our social engagement, while always maintaining a strict distinction between donations and sponsoring. We have been able to inspire numerous partners to join us in assuming responsibility and providing support for social projects.
Through Corporate Donations, we support social initiatives and public institutions around the world. One of the main aims of our donations initiative is to invest in training and continuing education, and to make knowledge accessible. Political parties are not supported.
