Community Investment

Global Community Investment

The mission of Sara Lee's community investment initiatives is to invest and strengthen the communities where Sara Lee operates. Our employees, history and industry inspire this commitment to community, which takes many forms. We provide monetary support to selected U.S. nonprofit organizations through the Sara Lee Foundation, contribute to several sustainable coffee projects through the Douwe Egberts (DE) Foundation, make product donations through Feeding America, support selected civic initiatives, lead a National United Way Campaign and provide disaster relief when appropriate. Additionally, we provide opportunities and encourage our employees to volunteer their time and talents in their neighborhoods.

History of Community Investment at Sara Lee

In 1981, Sara Lee provided structure, focus and discipline to its community investment activities with the formation of its philanthropic arm, the Sara Lee Foundation (www.saraleefoundation.org). In 2002, the DE Foundation was established in the Netherlands to manage Sara Lee’s coffee projects in countries of origin, addressing sustainability issues in the coffee sector.

Since transforming to an integrated operating company, Sara Lee’s Community Investment has:

• Developed a global strategy with local implementation;
• Aligned its program priorities to match its core business focus;
• Shifted from a headquarters’ program to a companywide program;
• Continued as a corporate leader in Sara Lee communities; and
• Supported programs that meet community needs and have an impact.

• Food-related issues such as hunger and nutrition.
• Healthy and active lifestyles that encourage a balance of nutrition education, healthy food choices and regular exercise.
• Healthy communities.
     - Healthy habits and proper hygiene.
     - Access to nutrious food.
• Self-sufficiency.
     - In developed economies, empower women to gain job and life skills to earn a living wage and reach their 
        full potential.
     - In developing economies, enable fundamental progress in economic self-sufficiency.
• Diversity through cultural initiatives.

Sara Lee’s “Promoting People’s Performance” program (PPP) celebrated its 11th anniversary in 2010. PPP is a global volunteer recognition program that encourages and recognizes Sara Lee employees worldwide who provide their knowledge, skills and time to positively impact the communities in which they live and work. In FY10, there were 41 volunteer projects, with almost 2,400 global participants, with over 50,000 hours of service, in 15 countries on five continents, all helping to make a difference in their local communities.