Air Products Employees and Retirees Contribute $2.8 Million to Help Neighbors in Need

Allentown, PA - Air Products employees and retirees donated $2.8 million dollars to support students, families and seniors in honor of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s 100th Anniversary.
 
“Through the United Way, our employees and our retirees can become champions of social causes that really ignite their passions and we are so honored to support that,” remarked Laurie Hackett, Community Relations for Air Products.
 
Gifts from Air Products employees and retirees helped to lead United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to raise a record-breaking $15,050,500 in its 2017 campaign. The total represented a $3 million increase from the 2016 campaign and the largest single-year increase in the organization’s 100-year history.
 
“We could never achieve these results without support from dedicated partners like Air Products,” reflected David Lewis, President of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.  “Air Products is truly one of the cornerstones of our community. The extraordinary support from their employees and retirees will impact the lives of thousands of people through the community.”


Air Products' leadership was recognized with the LIVE UNITED Award for the outstanding commitment and dedication of its employees and retirees.  This award is presented to a company that shows leadership and results that will significantly and positively affect the community.

“Air Products is honored to be the recipient of the 2017 LIVE UNITED Award, and we accept it on behalf of our employees and retirees,” said Corning Painter, Executive Vice President, Air Products.  “In each of our host communities around the world, we take seriously the responsibility we have to make a difference and to help people in need.”

Air Products matches contributions of its employees dollar for dollar, and Air Products Foundation expanded the matching gift to retiree contributions for the 2017 campaign. Additionally, Air Products joined several Lehigh Valley-based companies and individuals to support the Lehigh Valley Century Challenge, which provided a matching gift for all new and increased contributions to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
 
“We’re excited about the difference we’re able to make. We know that United Way’s job every day is to solve problems in our community. By involving employees and our retirees, we can help to solve those problems,” said Hackett.
 
United Way’s program investments impact the lives of 60,000 people each year and create opportunities to improve the health, education and safety of everyone in our community.
 
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley raises money and invests in programs to achieve three bold goals: increase the number of third-graders reading on grade level, decrease the number of food insecure residents and increase the number of seniors whose basic needs are met at home.