Local West Midlands charities receive significant sum from The Cadbury Foundation

Four West Midlands charities have shared a £15,000 donation from The Cadbury Foundation, nominated by local Mondelēz International employees as part of the company’s £75,000 UK-wide charity initiative.

The Cadbury Foundation, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, recently launched the Purple Heart Awards to recognise Mondelēz International colleagues who have gone above and beyond in supporting their local communities.

As part of this peer-nominated initiative, colleagues across the UK sites have been selected to award a £5,000 donation to a charity of their choice, with a total of £75,000 awarded to charities and projects across the UK&I.

Push on Wellbeing CIC, whose activities are largely based in Solihull, received a £5,000 donation from The Cadbury Foundation, and is a community wellbeing initiative aiming to improve the lives of the communities they serve through dance, fitness, meditation and aromatherapy.

Friends of Cotteridge Park, based in Birmingham, who are responsible for the conservation of Cotteridge Park, and organise events and activities to bring the local community together, also received a £5,000 donation from The Cadbury Foundation.

In addition, a £2,500 donation was also awarded to both Cancer Research UK, a national charity aiming to save lives by curing, controlling and preventing cancer, and Breast Cancer Now, a charity dedicated to researching and providing support to breast cancer patients.

Anthony Parker, Laura Brooks, Sam Jones, and Joseph Lawless, based at the company’s Bournville and Minworth sites, were each selected for their outstanding commitment to the community and awarded the generous grant to the various local charities, with each being a cause close to their heart.

To mark 90 years of The Cadbury Foundation, UK-nominated employees and their chosen charities recently attended a special lunch at the newly refurbished Cadbury archives in Bournville, Birmingham. The lunch was a chance to connect with like-minded individuals and celebrate the meaningful difference the donations will make to local communities.

Created in memory of George and Richard Cadbury in 1935, The Cadbury Foundation embodies the brothers’ belief that community support strengthens society and business, championing health, future skills and causes close to its employees’ hearts for nine decades.

Laura Brooks, Global Capability Manager at Mondelēz International’s Bournville site, said: “It’s an honour to be selected for a Purple Heart Award, and to have the opportunity to give back to the community.

I selected Friends of Cotteridge Park for my donation, and hope that the sum can support the dedicated team of volunteers who maintain the conservation of park and organise fantastic events for the local community.”

Emma Woolf MBE, Trustee and Volunteer at Friends of Cotteridge Park, commented: “This incredibly generous donation will enable us to continue to look after our beloved park at the heart of the community, as well as offering events and activities for local people of all ages.

We would like to thank The Cadbury Foundation for its substantial contribution, which will help support our ongoing work to ensure the park and its visitors can thrive for many years to come.”

Louise Stigant, Managing Director of Mondelēz International UK and Ireland, and Chair of Trustees, added: “As we mark the milestone 90th anniversary of The Cadbury Foundation, we also celebrate 90 years of commitment to giving back to charities and communities.

“We are incredibly proud to invest in the local communities in which we operate, and as we celebrate 90 years of making a difference, we’re inspired to build on this legacy and look forward to creating lasting impact in our local communities and incredible charities across the West Midlands and beyond.”

For more information on The Cadbury Foundation, visit www.cadbury.co.uk/about/impact/cadbury-foundation/.