ALCOA SMELTER CELEBRATES 70 YEARS OF LEGACY

This year, the Alcoa Foundation celebrates its 70th anniversary. To that end, he prepared a legacy of donations that has benefited Alcoa nonprofits and communities for seven decades. Specifically, the Foundation will award 13 special grants and volunteer events around the world.

The Alcoa Foundation was founded in 1952 with a $16.9 million endowment by the Aluminum Company of America (renamed Alcoa Inc. in 1999). After the legal separation from Alcoa, both companies moved on. The original Alcoa Foundation was split and a new Alcoa Foundation was launched in association with Alcoa Corporation. Contributions totaled more than $35 million since 2017.

On the occasion of its 70th anniversary, Alcoa will provide an additional $200,000 for its annual charitable giving. In addition, the anniversary grants will benefit nonprofit organizations around the world and are intended to recognize the foundation’s long-term partners and their impact on the communities where Alcoa operates.

Grant recipients include Anglicare Western Australia, Greater Pittsburgh Community Foodbank, Comptoir Alimentaire l’Escale in Canada and Termik Vefsn in Norway, among others. The funds will support food insecurity, counseling and advocacy for people struggling with poverty, homelessness or mental wellness, and environmental restoration.

“We are very proud of the impact the Foundation has had throughout its history in our host communities and are grateful to be able to continue its work in partnership with our fantastic nonprofit partners and employee volunteers.”said Rosa García Piñeiro, president of the Alcoa Foundation and vice president of Sustainability at Alcoa.

In 2021, the Foundation contributed more than $7.2 million to partner programs that protect and preserve the environment, promote equitable access to education and skills development opportunities, address local community needs, and provide humanitarian aid. Recent projects include training for indigenous businesses and job seekers, microcredit to support local entrepreneurs and income-generating activities, and research on restoration techniques to preserve critical ecosystems.

The Alcoa Foundation also oversees Alcoa’s corporate volunteer program called ‘Alcoans Coming Together In Our Neighborhoods’ or ACTION. Founded in 2001, each year the program engages thousands of employee volunteers and awards hundreds of $3,000 grants provided by Alcoa to benefit nonprofit organizations in the communities where the company operates.

In collaboration with beneficiary organizations, employee volunteer events celebrating the 70-year history of the Alcoa Foundation will be held at dozens of Alcoa locations through the end of the year.

“These events are a simple but meaningful recognition of the community partners and employee volunteers who are the cornerstone of our work to make the world a better place,” concluded García Piñeiro. García Piñeiro concluded.