Grainger celebrates 90th anniversary with volunteerism

Grainger, a broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products serving businesses and institutions, celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2017 by embracing its long-standing culture of service and giving.

During the year, Grainger team members focused on the company's core philanthropic pillars - disaster preparedness and response, and education and workforce development - dedicating time and resources to serve its local communities.

"As we honor Grainger's 90th anniversary, there's no better way to celebrate this company's culture than through volunteerism and philanthropy," said Grainger Chairman and CEO DG Macpherson.

"Our partnerships, products and team members enable us to provide vital resources to advance the lives of those around us, and we have a lot to be proud of as we look back at this year. Whether it's a customer who needs help keeping their operations running and people safe or a community organization in need of support, our team members take pride in rising to the occasion and helping wherever they are needed. It's that spirit that makes us who we are and that makes me look forward to what's yet to come."

This year, more than 2,000 team members contributed more than 8,800 volunteer hours through activities across the country, such as helping prepare a Chicago grade school for a new school year by painting classrooms; assembling more than 4,100 care packages for schoolchildren, teachers, veterans and survivors of natural disasters; and remotely mapping areas in southwest Puerto Rico as part of the Missing Maps project, to help the Red Cross and partner agencies plan and conduct disaster relief operations following Hurricane Maria.

Grainger team members also made donations through the company's Charitable Matching Gift program, where the company offers a 3:1 match of eligible employee contributions (up to $2,500 annually) to qualifying nonprofit organizations. In 2017, the program awarded company-matched funds to more than 1,000 organizations.

This year, Grainger served as a $1 million Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program member, pledging financial and in-kind donations in advance of disasters that allow the Red Cross to respond whenever and wherever disasters occur, and help families during the recovery process and prepare them for future emergencies.

In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and the wildfires in California, Grainger committed an additional $250,000 worth of product donations to the Red Cross, such as gloves, shovels, dust masks, trash bags, brooms and sheets, to support relief efforts.

Each year, Grainger offers two scholarships of $2,000 each at participating community colleges in the U.S. through its Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program. The scholarships offer financial assistance for tuition and books to students working toward an associate degree or certificate in skilled trade, supply chain management and public safety programs. In addition to the scholarship, Grainger provides tools to students after they graduate to help them launch a successful career.

In 2017, Grainger provided 154 scholarships to students at 85 participating community colleges across the country and awarded more than 100 tool kits to its 2016 scholarship recipients who completed their coursework.