Foundation supporters at ArcelorMittal include (from left) Edward Frey, general manager of the company's Eastern Plate Division; Sheldon Gregg, president of USW Local 1165; and Albert Fuller, manager of human resources/labor relations

A Corporation at the Heart of Our Community

Businesses value results. That’s why we’re so proud when they choose to support the Brandywine Health Foundation. In this regard, one of our most loyal corporate sponsors is ArcelorMittal.

Continuing the steel mill’s long tradition of supporting the Coatesville community, the company has provided the foundation with significant, direct financial support as well as volunteers and committee members for programs including the Brandywine Center and the Coatesville Youth Initiative. ArcelorMittal also has partnered with the Brandywine Health Foundation to help address community issues and facilitate local collaboration, such as the building of the new Brandywine Center, and the purchase and distribution of 5,000 smoke alarms for residents during the 2009 arsons.

For example, in addition to being a member of the South Coatesville Borough Council, ArcelorMittal employee John Washington serves on the board of the Coatesville Youth Initiative. ArcelorMittal employees Al Fuller and Jeanette Farnum also sit on the Strawberry Festival Committee. The company also strongly encourages new employees and summer interns to volunteer with Brandywine in general.

“We try to start some of our new employees early on this community service path,” says Ed Frey, general manager of ArcelorMittal USA’s Eastern Plate Division, which includes the Coatesville facility. “That accomplishes a number of things: You’re getting them to buy into the community, you’re getting them engaged in projects that benefit the community and you’re supporting an important cause.”

In supporting the Brandywine Health Foundation, says Frey, “We support organizations that are working to make a difference in this community in the areas of the environment, education, and health and safety. Brandywine Health Foundation fits well within our health and safety focus, which in turn creates a synergy in which our interests and the foundation’s impact on the community are very well aligned.”

As one example, he points to ArcelorMittal’s support of the smoke alarm distribution. “We had faith and trust that our support of the purchase and distribution of smoke alarms through the foundation and local safety forces would make a difference,” he says. Indeed, one of the households that received a detector was struck by arson but, thanks to the smoke alarm, its residents safely escaped.

“It’s often hard to know the actual impact of your charitable activities,” says Frey. “But that was one of those moments where lives were saved because of the difference-making relationship between the Brandywine Health Foundation and ArcelorMittal.”

View a short video featuring Ed Frey, General Manager of ArcelorMittal's Eastern Plate Division.

By The Numbers

200 plus
Number of corporate sponsors
 
325
Number of corporate volunteers