Smithfield Foods Inc. published the fourth and final installment of its 2016 Sustainability Report with the release of its Helping Communities and People sections. The sections demonstrate Smithfield’s ongoing commitment to charitable giving endeavors that support communities where employees live and work as well as the company’s expansion of employee resource groups, which engage employees and further develop their talents.

In 2016, Smithfield continued its charitable giving efforts related to its social purpose and focus on hunger, veterans and education. A few of these include:

• Donating more than 17.6 million servings of protein through Helping Hungry Homes^®, a Smithfield Foods initiative that works to alleviate hunger and raise awareness of food insecurity.
• Partnering with Operation Homefront to give cash and grocery donations to military families.
• Supporting education in its hometown of Smithfield, Virginia, through a $3 million donation to Isle of Wight County Schools.

“We’re passionate about helping and supporting the many communities we call home,” said Keira Lombardo, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Smithfield Foods. “Together, we’re strengthening neighborhoods across the country, an effort that would not be possible without support from our entire Smithfield family.”

The People section of the report showcases an increase in employee safety engagement, an initiative to further support military veterans and employee resource groups for women, millennials, veterans. These programs foster engagement, improve company culture and create professional opportunities for employees.

“At Smithfield, we understand that our success is directly related to the engagement and well-being of our people,” said Mark Garrett, chief people officer for Smithfield Foods. “We’ve launched and revamped employee resource groups and created new employee engagement opportunities to proactively address our employees’ needs and prepare them for fulfilling careers.”

Today’s release marks the final installation of the 2016 report, which was prepared in accordance with the core option of the G4 Guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative. Additional sections now available include Governance & Management, International Operations and Value Creation, along with key metrics measuring the company's sustainability performance. Together, the newly issued sections demonstrate how Smithfield’s sustainability programs create value for the company and its stakeholders.

To view an introductory video to Smithfield’s commitment to Helping Communities and People, click here and here. This release follows the Animal Care, Environment and Food Safety & Quality report sections published earlier this month. The complete report is now available online at smithfieldfoods.com/2016report.

Source: Smithfield Foods Inc.