There's more to this than writing a check

The creation of good chemistry extends beyond the workplace into our communities. That's why we have a proactive, outcome-driven, corporate contributions program that partners with select organizations to help us achieve our larger commitments to education and the environment.

Education
More than one-third of our annual contributions target outstanding institutions of higher learning. We also support accredited post-secondary establishments, as well as education-related activities, including childhood and adult mentoring, literacy and diversity-related programs.

Environment
We take our role as an environmental steward seriously. In addition to protecting the environment where we operate through responsible manufacturing practices, we also believe it's our responsibility to protect the environment where our families, friends and co-workers live and work. In keeping with this belief, we support environmental groups operating at local, state and national levels.

Community organizations
Our annual contributions support civic organizations and emergency services that perform a valuable function by helping stabilize, improve or protect neighborhoods surrounding our facilities. 

Health and human services 
Our health and human services contributions are made through a 50-percent match of employees' contributions during our annual giving campaign. Organizations included in the campaign are the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association. American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Community Health Charities, Earth Share, Feeding America, Global Impact, Habitat for Humanity and United Way. More than $244,000 was raised in 2011 and since 2000 more than $6.2 million has been given to these and other organizations. 

Disaster relief
Our Employee Disaster Relief Assistance program, administered by the Blue Grass Community Foundation , lets our team members help each other. When either 20 or more employees in one location, or more than 50 percent of the employees in one geographic location, suffer property damage from a natural disaster, Ashland will match donations. We are also responsive to disasters that do not directly affect our employees or areas of operation, such as the tsunami that struck Japan. We match employees' gifts to organizations such as American Red Cross and Global Impact.

Ashland contributions do not support individuals; fraternal, religious, veteran, labor, athletic or sectarian organizations serving a limited group; political or lobbying organizations, or those supporting a particular individual's candidacy; travel funds; film, videotape or audio productions; sponsorships, tickets or goodwill fundraiser advertising, or organizations that might in any way pose a conflict with the goals, programs, products or employees of Ashland Inc. and its operations.