Working at Mars
Associates in Our Communities
Mars Associates have the freedom to make a difference in the communities where we operate and are encouraged to take ownership of their efforts, improve lives and build lasting and meaningful relationships that make our company stronger.
Our two hallmark programs, the Mars Volunteer Program and Mars Ambassador Program, provide us all with opportunities to use our expertise and demonstrate our personal commitments.
Mars Volunteer Program (MVP)
The Mars Volunteer Program (MVP) offers Mars Associates opportunities to put the Five Principles into action in the communities where we live. During the year, Associates can take one paid day off to volunteer at local organizations selected by the teams at their sites.
What began in the U.S. in 2007 has become a global program. In 2010, as part of MVP, Associates from Thailand to Turkey and the United States to Uruguay, spent more than 30,000 hours improving their local communities. Some cleaned parks, planted trees or created vegetable gardens. Others refurbished animal shelters or found homes for abandoned pets. Still more Associates helped teach at-risk children, gathered food and educational materials for needy families, or served hot meals at homeless shelters.
In addition to MVP, Associates participate in ongoing volunteer projects throughout the year. For example, Mars Food South Africa has been a major partner of a mobile soup kitchen initiative since 2007. This project delivers a cup of soup and bread to vulnerable members of the community, including schoolchildren, victims of disaster and disabled people around the country. Since 2007, five million cups of soup have been served.
Highlights from 2010 Mars Volunteer Program
Innovation in Mexico
In Mexico, Mars Information Services (IS) developed a special tool to help Associates locate and connect with each other to share rides to and from work. Special parking spaces were reserved for Associates participating in the program. So far, 50 Associates have signed up, conserving resources for both people and the planet.
Seeing the Future in Thailand
Mars Thailand hosted a "Young Scientist Camp" for children and teachers from local schools. Forty Associates volunteered to run the camp for 72 children and 18 teachers. Students participated in six different "Science Stations" in physics, biology and chemistry, worked on an "Invention Project" and watched the night sky in astronomy class.
Mars Spain Unites to Help Pets
Associates in Spain joined forces to make the world a better place for pets. They partnered with The National Association of Friends of Animals to host a discussion on the situation of animal welfare in Spain. They also cleaned and refurbished shelters and care facilities.
Spotlight: Mars Food Associates Help Feed Hungry Kids
Mars Food Associates in Greenville, Mississippi, U.S., support the "Blessings in a Backpack" program to feed elementary school children whose families cannot always afford to adequately feed them on weekends. During the school week, the children can take advantage of a federally funded school breakfast and lunch program but frequently have little or no food on weekends.
About 40,000 backpacks are distributed in 32 states and Mars Food provides UNCLE BEN'S® to two schools in Greenville, and our Associates help stuff the backpacks that students receive every Friday to take home. With their stomachs filled and minds ready to learn, students return the backpacks on Monday. Significantly improved reading, math and science scores as well as improved behavior, have all been attributed to the program.
Spotlight: Mars Petcare U.S. Associates Make "A Better World for Pets™"
Led by Community Affairs Manager Angel May, the turnout for Mars Volunteer Program Month 2010 by Mars Petcare volunteers in the United States was astounding. With the collective vision to make A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™, Associates from 14 sites across the U.S. took part in 170 projects, to support these three areas of focus: Caring For Pets, Feeding Hungry Families (including pets) and Sustaining the Environment. In the end, more than 5,250 volunteer hours were logged during the month. As a result of these efforts:
- 62 pets found new homes
- 31 animal shelters received assistance
- 125,734 pounds of food went to families in need, including food for their pets
- 12 parks got facelifts
- 206 trees were planted
In 2010, Mars Petcare U.S. gave more than $6 million through monetary and in-kind pet food donations, PEDIGREE Foundation grants and thousands of volunteer hours to nonprofit organizations across the U.S.
Mars Ambassador Program
The Mars Ambassador Program (MAP) launched in 2008 with four Associates from the Mars Chocolate business deployed to Ghana, Ecuador and the Philippines to work with the communities where we source ingredients, like cocoa. They worked on projects ranging from planting gardens and promoting health and nutrition, to teaching farmers business skills. Enthusiasm among Associates for participating in MAP led to tremendous growth in the program. Associates can now apply to spend four to six weeks sharing personal expertise on specific projects run by partners, including the Rainforest Alliance and WWF. Alternatively, group assignments are available where teams can travel and work together to boost knowledge on a particular subject, such as best practices in coffee or cocoa farming.
In 2010, 70 Associates, representing every business segment and every Mars region, took on MAP assignments and worked with 16 partner organizations to make a tangible difference in people’s lives and Mars’ communities.
When Wrigley Germany manager Christine Schreier heard about the MAP assignment to India, she felt compelled to apply.
Case Study
Highlights from 2010 Mars Ambassador Program
Click here to read the full case study
In addition to these flagship companywide initiatives, our business segments also run special programs that target important local issues and communities.
Wrigley Company Foundation
Since its founding in 1987, the Wrigley Company Foundation has donated more than $50 million to charitable organizations around the world. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the health of people and our planet through initiatives focused on oral health, environmental stewardship, and local needs that ensure a healthy community.
The Foundation aims to achieve its mission by establishing global partnerships as well as supporting local initiatives – with primary consideration given to initiatives where Associates live and work, and can actively contribute to program outcomes through their expertise, energy and enthusiasm.
In 2008, the Wrigley Foundation made a $5 million multi-year pledge to Conservation International (CI) and the International Youth Foundation in recognition of the company reaching $5 billion in sales. We are now supporting CI's management and conservation of nearly 460,000 hectares of freshwater ecosystems in and around the Haizishan National Nature Reserve in China. The Haizishan wetlands are part of the Tibetan plateau – a critical "water bank" which is the source of fresh water for nearly 2 billion people.
In addition, with the International Youth Foundation, the Foundation formed Y.E.S. (Youth Empowerment Success) – a program that implements life skills and educational training through youth-focused organizations worldwide. To date, Y.E.S. has benefitted 12,000 young people in India, Poland, the Philippines, Russia and Spain.
In Russia, for example, more than 2,000 young people in orphanages and technical schools have received supplementary training to increase their opportunities for a successful future. Through the Y.E.S. program, students receive employment and educational training, and the trainers learn new skills and methodologies to build a collaborative educational experience. By increasing their skills, trainers can build a positive learning experience for students now and in years to come. Associates in St. Petersburg and Moscow have attended training sessions and awarded completion certificates to participants.
In China, the Wrigley Foundation has partnered with Give2Asia, a nonprofit working with local charitable groups across Asia, in support of the Hope School Project. To date, we've supported the construction of nine Hope Schools and we'll build 10 more in the next three years. Associates in China personally donated more than $13,000 to provide 362 new desks and chair sets, as well as teacher podiums, for one Wrigley Hope School. Associates also met with the students to encourage their educational aspirations, and helped plant Hope Trees on the school grounds.
At Mars Petcare, we believe it is our role to represent pets. We do this in our daily work, providing healthy food to pets around the world.
Case Study
The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive Evolves into Full-Fledged Foundation
Click here to read the full case study
