Milwaukee, Wis.—In
celebration of 60 years of community service, the A. O. Smith Foundation is
marking 2015 as the diamond jubilee. The foundation has provided over $37
million in financial support to worthwhile community organizations,
institutions, and programs since 1955.
The A. O.
Smith Foundation was founded by Lloyd B. (Ted) Smith after re-establishing what
was then known as the Glenellen Foundation.
The foundation is governed by a five-member Board of Directors and its
operations are administered by the Foundation’s secretary, who is a member of
the board.
“It’s so
rewarding to see how, through the Foundation, so many outstanding organizations
over the years have thrived, and we continue to support many of the same
organizations to this day. The foundation has supported the Boys and Girls Club
of Milwaukee for more than 70 years, before the foundation was even established,”
says Roger Smith, director of community affairs.
In honor of
the diamond anniversary, the Foundation Board of Directors met on Dec. 6, 2014,
and approved a new logo and mission statement.
The mission statement states:
The A. O. Smith Foundation
is committed to make our communities a better place to live and to work. We achieve this by partnering with and
supporting higher education, cultural and social welfare, medical research, and
improved health services in the communities in which we operate. At the same time, the foundation encourages
A. O. Smith employees around the world to live the company’s values through
volunteerism and community involvement.
In 1985, the foundation
established a Matching Gift Program to encourage employees of the corporation
to financially support education. The foundation believes education to be one
of the most important investments individuals can make in the future. Under the
terms of the program, the foundation matches dollar for dollar, up to a maximum
of $3,000 per year, all employee contributions to qualified colleges,
universities, and high schools.
The foundation
also supports a worldwide scholarship program to assist employees’ children who
plan to continue education in college or vocational-technical school. Renewable
scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited
institution of the student’s choice.
The company
has awarded 273 scholarships to employees’ children in the U. S., Canada,
China, Mexico, and the Netherlands since the program began in 2000.
“Thanks to
the scholarship my daughter received from the A. O. Smith Foundation, she was
able to attend Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, her first choice
college,” notes A. O. Smith employee Sarah Vento, benefits coordinator.
Stay tuned to
www.aosmith.com for feature stories on our foundation
partners throughout the anniversary year.