Celanese Corp. NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, announces The Celanese Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has made its first donations totaling $573,000 to Dallas area charitable and community organizations. In addition to these donations, the foundation announces the completion of multiple community volunteer events in 2013, including the Celanese International Impact Program to Brazil, and the Celanese Global Impact Week at 29 Celanese sites worldwide.

Established in 2013, The Celanese Foundation focuses on initiatives to improve the fundamental living conditions of people, with an emphasis on families and children. Organizations that receive funding must align to The Celanese Foundation’s focus areas which include hunger relief, shelter, fundamental education, health and water.

Celanese Foundation’s first Dallas-area donations
The foundation is led by employees with investments going directly to the charities Celanese employees believe in and support. The foundation’s first-year donations have been distributed to the following Dallas area community and charitable organizations:

Upon receiving their donation, Daniel Leal, executive director at the Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County, said: “These kinds of unexpected gifts just don’t happen every day. We are extremely excited and are so grateful to The Celanese Foundation and to their amazing, kind-hearted employees.”

Mark Rohr, Celanese chairman and CEO, stated: “I am very proud of the spirit and service our employees demonstrate to the communities where we live and work. It is my hope that The Celanese Foundation is a positive force and honorably reflects our employees’ passion and purpose.”

Celanese International Impact Program goes to Brazil
In September of 2013, Celanese sent 10 employees to Uberlândia, Brazil, in support of the Celanese International Impact Program (CIIP). Hailing from China, Singapore, Germany, the Netherlands, Budapest and the United States, these 10 individuals volunteered their skills for three organizations as part of the CIIP. The Celanese Foundation worked with PYXERA Global as its operational partner for this year’s international volunteer program.

Celanese released a video recently of its International Impact Program efforts in Brazil, which can be viewed and shared here. The video features the increasing social impact of skills-based volunteer programs in which professionals donate their skills for organizations in need.

“Celanese employees have a great spirit of volunteerism and community support,” said Gretchen Rosswurm, vice president of global communications and corporate social responsibility. “Through these partnerships in our global communities, our employees guide our decision-making processes and are involved in all aspects of our community support. We’re definitely making a difference in our global communities and having a great time in the process.”

Celanese Global Impact Week completes third year
The 2013 campaign of the Celanese Global Impact Week encouraged employees to work on service projects they identified within their own communities, all in the same week of October. Projects spanned a range of activities according to local need, from painting at a local school to food drives. Participation in 2013, the third year of the program, was double that of the first year’s campaign, with 29 of Celanese’s 35 sites taking part totaling 86 projects with 2,200 employee volunteers.

“Global events such as the annual Celanese Foundation fundraising campaign, Global Impact Week, and the Celanese International Impact Program—combined with efforts in support of Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army, just to name a few—are embraced by employees in support of our community and those in need,” said Dana Smith, manager of The Celanese Foundation. “In 2013 alone, we estimate Celanese employees, suppliers and the corporation provided approximately $1.6 million in charitable aid and more than 13,000 hours in community support around the world. This effort is improving the world and providing growth opportunities for our employees.”