Sustainability
Giving Back
Our neighbors depend on us, just as we depend on them, so we are committed to improving the quality of life in the communities in which we work. At Southwire, this goes beyond providing jobs and paying taxes; it means supporting those in need with time, talent and financial resources.
Southwire’s Giving Back goal is to enable and engage our workforce in building more sustainable communities. Specifically, we are seeking to launch electronics recycling programs in 100% of the communities in which we operate by 2023.
Southwire’s Giving Back goal is to enable and engage our workforce in building more sustainable communities. Specifically, we are seeking to launch electronics recycling programs in 100% of the communities in which we operate by 2023.
Creating Shared Value
Creating shared value is at the heart of Giving Back. To create shared community value, we focus our efforts on understanding the needs of our communities and engaging them with supportive efforts that:- Educate and develop long-term skills
- Inspire and build health through volunteering
- Revive and rebuild through disaster relief
- Brighten and support lives through charitable giving
- Protect and sustain the environment
12 for Life®
In 2007, Southwire kicked off the 12 for Life® educational recruitment initiative which provides students at risk of dropping out of high school with jobs inside a modified Southwire manufacturing environment while supporting them in earning their diploma. The program increases students’ familiarity with a work environment while affording Southwire opportunities to train and develop potential employees with limited on-the-job training after graduation.In 2022, 12 for Life® hosted its annual commencement ceremonies in Carrollton, Ga., and Florence, Ala., celebrating 15 years since the program’s inception. Nearly 3,900 students have graduated from the program to date.
Project GIFT®
Southwire’s volunteer program, Project GIFT®, leads all service-related initiatives and volunteering, partnering with organizations including Feeding America, Toys for Tots, Water Mission, Keep America Beautiful, Habitat forHumanity, and the American Cancer Society. In 2021, Southwire hosted its annual Back to School supply giveaway for the 17th year, distributing more than 30,000 bags of free school supplies to children in need across all of Southwire’s Giving Back communities.
In addition to volunteerism efforts, Southwire donated to over 20 sustainability-related organizations and causes in 2021. Supported initiatives include the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance education project, four e-recycling events, and a matching donation to The Ray to support renewable energy and electrification.
Virtual Volunteering
Southwire is committed to giving back. In 2021, despite in-person activities being limited by the ongoing pandemic, our employees found creative ways to give back safely through more than 5,000 hours of combined virtual and socially-distanced volunteering.
The POWER Fund
The POWER Fund is a nonprofit organization created in 2005 under the umbrella of Southwire CARES, Inc. to provide short-term emergency assistance to Southwire employees and their immediate families who encounter unavoidable hardships. The Fund currently provides US-based employees with two types of grant relief options: catastrophic grants and employee matching grants.- Catastrophic Grants- can be applied for in cases where an employee is unable to pay for their basic living expenses as a result of a natural disaster, fire, serious or life-threatening illness, injury or death.
- Matching Grants- co-workers make one-time donations on behalf of their fellow employees facing difficult situations. The POWER Fund matches amounts donated based on a $1 per $1 match with a maximum of $5,000 (USD) distributed from the Fund.
Related Resources
Charitable Giving
DonationsShared Value Partnerships
Shared Value PartnershipsProject Gift Annual Snapshot
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Sustainability News
Southwire’s Huntersville Plant Recognized for the Seventh Year with Air Compliance Excellence (ACE) Award
October 05, 2022
Southwire’s facility in Huntersville, N.C., has again been recognized for its efforts in achieving compliance with air quality permits by receiving the annual Air Compliance Excellence (ACE) Award.
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Southwire – Investing, Diversifying and Growing
September 29, 2022
Southwire invests more than a billion dollars as a multi-year modernization effort building upon its strengths to attain sustainable, strategic growth.
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Southwire Employees Participate in Annual Summer Enrichment Series
September 13, 2022
Throughout August, Southwire hosted its annual Summer Enrichment Series to provide employees with helpful tools, research, practical skills, virtual events and learning opportunities that focused on the company’s core values.
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Southwire Launches 2021 Sustainability Report – Company’s Sustainability Commitment Reflects Ongoing Efforts to Deliver Value and Grow Responsibly
July 21, 2022
Southwire’s long-held commitment to sustainability has been evident throughout its history and was formalized with its first official sustainability report in 2007. Reflecting that commitment, the company recently launched its 2021 sustainability report.
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Southwire Receives Inaugural Energy Matters Award
July 14, 2022
On Tuesday, July 12, Southwire was presented with the inaugural Energy Matters Award for “Best Sustainability by a Large Company” by Tim Echols, vice chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission \(PSC\).
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