The Hershey Co. has donated $100,000 to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and is participating in the “Believe in Heroes” campaign. The donation will help support Wounded Warrior Project’s numerous programs, which are addressing the urgent needs of this generation’s injured service members.
To promote the Believe in Heroes campaign and raise awareness of WWP, Hershey is tying its support of the campaign to the fall baking season and its No. 1 baking chip, Hershey’s Semi-Sweet Baking Chips.
This baking season, when consumers pick up a bag of Hershey’s Semi-Sweet Baking Chips they will see a “Help Us Honor Heroes” burst with a QR code that takes consumers to the Wounded Warrior Project website where they can make a donation to support U.S. veterans. This will be enhanced by in-store merchandising and a coupon for a Hershey’s baking product.
“For many, the fall baking season is a time to show affection and appreciation to loved ones. One of the ways we’re saying thank you to the military and veterans this year is through the Believe in Heroes campaign and Wounded Warriors Project,” said Bobby Agarwal, director of the snacks food and beverage portfolio at Hershey. “There is such a natural emotional connection between Hershey’s baking chips, the love a homemade baked good can convey and the feelings of appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
Commitment to military and veterans
Recent estimates indicate that approximately one million veterans will be entering civilian life and seeking work over the next four years. The urgent need for veteran employment combined with Hershey’s aggressive growth and need for highly skilled employees has led Hershey to expand its veterans hiring initiatives. Through public-private partnerships and a focus on veteran recruiting, Hershey now has more than 500 veteran employees, and more than 300 members of its Veterans Business Resource Group. The Veterans Business Resource Group supports transitioning veterans, educates Hershey’s workforce on the skills and experiences of veterans and builds a strong network for veterans within Hershey and the community.
Recently, Hershey expanded its commitment to hiring veterans and has joined other leading U.S. companies in the 100,000 Jobs Mission. Together, these companies have committed to hiring 100,000 transitioning service members and military veterans by 2020.
“We’re proud that our long-standing commitment to veterans extends back to World War I and II and continues today through our expanded veterans hiring initiatives,” said Terry O’Day, SVP and chief supply chain officer at Hershey. “With a growing population of veteran employees and programs in place to help them be successful in their new workplace, it is an exciting time for veterans to be part of Hershey.”
Hershey’s support of the U.S. military dates back to WWI and WWII, when Hershey provided milk chocolate bars and “Field Ration D” bars to troops. Hershey continues to support U.S. service men and women serving both domestically and in overseas conflicts, including through the company’s product donation program, in which Hershey sends products to men and women serving in the military. During the past 10 years, Hershey has sent care packages to the troops consisting of more than 4,500 cases of product, with a value of nearly $500,000.
Care for the community
Hershey’s ongoing veteran and military outreach is consistent with its commitment to “doing well by doing good,” a phrase Milton Hershey, The Hershey Co. founder, often said and embraced in his own life as well as instilled in the company.
Earlier this year, a team of 23 Hershey employees joined together with a group from the WWP to participate in a West Virginia Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder participants have raised millions of dollars for WWP.
This Veterans Day, members of the Hershey’s Veterans Business Resource Group will be volunteering at veterans and military organizations in four communities across the country.
“It’s an important time of the year to recognize those who have served and sacrificed for our country,” said O’Day. “We also want to do our part in helping those organizations that do so much to support our veterans across the country.”
