STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Swedish Match North America, an affiliate of Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) today announced a $1 million donation on behalf of its U.S. affiliates to support hurricane relief efforts across six U.S. states. We Care by ZYN is a part of a multi-pronged approach for corporate and employee giving, with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the communities where PMI’s U.S. affiliates operate.
“We Care by ZYN was established in 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic, to provide financial support to communities as they respond to and recover from unforeseen disasters,” said Joe Ackerman, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Swedish Match North America. “This year, we focused on relief efforts following the devastation caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton. We recognized the widespread impact these storms had on our employees and their families, and within the communities where we do business.”
Donations will be directed to the following organizations, selected for their strong commitment to effective relief efforts:
- United Way of North Carolina (NC): $50,000
- Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GA): $50,000
- Greater Valdosta United Way (GA): $50,000
- Central Carolina Community Foundation (SC): $100,000
- Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (TN): $100,000
- Volunteer Florida Foundation (FL): $350,000
- Gulf Coast Communication Foundation (FL): $150,000
- United Way of Southwest Virginia (VA): $50,000
- 2024 Southwestern Virginia Relief Fund: $100,000
Since its inception, We Care by ZYN has given millions of dollars in donations to a variety of charitable organizations and to disaster relief efforts in various locations around the country. Each year, PMI employees can choose and support local causes that mean the most to them.
We Care by ZYN is part of PMI’s broader corporate social responsibility program supporting U.S. charitable efforts, with outreach focusing on supporting military veterans, empowering women, and funding hyperlocal solutions to create a better future for Americans.
Philip Morris International in the U.S.: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future
Philip Morris International Inc. is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., and its U.S. affiliates have more than 2,300 employees. PMI’s U.S. business is on a mission to improve public health by providing the 45 million Americans who use nicotine – approximately 30 million of which smoke cigarettes – with innovative products with the goal of transitioning them to better alternatives. PMI’s U.S. affiliates are working to deliver a smoke-free future. Since 2008, PMI affiliates have invested $12.5 billion globally to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for legal age nicotine consumers who would otherwise continue to smoke.
In 2022, a PMI affiliate acquired Swedish Match – a leader in oral nicotine delivery – creating a global smoke-free champion led by the IQOS and ZYN brands. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized versions of IQOS electronically heated tobacco devices and Swedish Match’s General snus as modified risk tobacco products. Renewal applications for these IQOS products are pending before the FDA. PMI’s U.S. affiliates operate smoke-free product manufacturing facilities including the Swedish Match North America Owensboro, Ky., plant that makes ZYN nicotine pouches, and a facility in Wilson, N.C., that produces HEETS, the consumable for the IQOS heated tobacco device. Swedish Match North America has a regional office in Richmond, Va.
References to “PMI”, “we”, “our” and “us” mean Philip Morris International Inc., including its subsidiaries.
For more information, please visit www.pmi.com/us/ and www.pmiscience.com.