One of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions recognized for its largest philanthropic initiative
Malvern, Pa., Dec. 11, 2017 – Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, was awarded Chief Executive Magazine’s Corporate Citizenship Award for the company’s largest philanthropic initiative, a national partnership with YouthBuild USA. The award honors corporate social responsibility programs that extend beyond writing a check and work to improve communities while remaining true to the company’s mission and goals. Saint-Gobain was selected from a competitive pool of applicants and joins past winners including Dell, IBM and Warby Parker, Inc.
“The Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation is committed to putting the power of our people and our products into the communities where our employees live and work,” said Tom Kinisky, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain Corporation. “We believe we can do well by doing good – and supporting nonprofits that share a commitment to community development, energy conservation and environmental stewardship is central to that belief. Through our partnership with YouthBuild USA, we’ve created a virtuous cycle whereby giving back to the communities where we operate, we’re also helping to fill the talent pipeline for manufacturing companies like ourselves, as well as our customers in the construction industries.”
Now in its seventh year, Saint-Gobain’s national partnership with YouthBuild USA, referred to as the Building Our Future Together program, enables young adults to transform their lives by earning their high school equivalencies and industry-recognized credentials while learning in-demand construction skills. Since the partnership’s formation in December 2010, Saint-Gobain has provided $1.35 million in grants from the Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation, sustainable building materials, building science expertise and thousands of hours of employee volunteerism. Through this partnership, Saint-Gobain has completed nearly a dozen sustainable renovation projects in areas where the company has business concentrations and has positively impacted thousands of YouthBuild students’ and employees’ lives.
“Our partnership with Saint-Gobain is the first of its kind because of our shared values as well as the breadth and depth of resources Saint-Gobain provides, including sustainable building material donations, building science expertise and hands-on involvement,” said John Valverde, CEO of YouthBuild USA. “As a committed partner, Saint-Gobain advocates for our students by breaking down barriers and creating opportunities so our students are able transform their lives while making a positive impact in their local communities.”
Due to the success of the partnership in North America, the program has expanded overseas to South Africa, the United Kingdom and Romania. To learn more about the program, please visit: http://buildingourfuturetogether.com/
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About Saint-Gobain in North America
Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, helps create great living spaces by combining comfort and sustainability. For more than three-and-a-half centuries, Saint-Gobain has been enhancing the wellbeing of people everywhere, whether it’s by addressing climate change, delivering true sustainable development, advancing the information revolution, participating in medical breakthroughs or playing a vital role in space exploration.
In North America, Saint-Gobain has approximately 150 locations and more than 14,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $5.8 billion in 2016. Learn more about Saint-Gobain North America by visiting www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com and connect with Saint-Gobain North America on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About the Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation
The Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation is committed to putting the power of its people and its products into the communities in which its employees live and work. The Foundation believes Saint-Gobain can do well by doing good – and supporting non-profits that share a commitment to community development, energy conservation and environmental stewardship is central to that belief. Programs such as YouthBuild that engage youth and communities in green building and renovation align closely with Saint-Gobain’s mission to help professionals and communities around the world build and renovate comfortable, healthy, cost-efficient and durable buildings. Through the Foundation’s support, Saint-Gobain is helping to educate future generations about sustainable building and environmental preservation through its own example. For more information about Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation’s partnership with YouthBuild USA, please visit: http://www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com/people/YouthBuild.asp
About YouthBuild USA
YouthBuild USA leads an international network of 360 local YouthBuild programs in the USA and 21 countries that help youth transform their own lives while transforming their communities. YouthBuild programs address critical issues facing low-income communities – housing, education, employment, civic involvement and leadership development.