Methanex, a local chemical company located in Ascension Parish, conducts a SafeDays campaign as part of their site turnarounds to raise awareness of the importance of working safely and giving back to the community. For every “safe day” of work on site, the company makes a donation to a nonprofit organization to invest in the community. Methanex invites their contractors to participate in the campaign, and during their most recent turnaround, Methanex, Turner Industries, Bengal Crane and Logistics and Performance Contractors collectively contributed $32,250! When Methanex wanted to find an organization to partner with to benefit the Ascension Parish community, they turned to Capital Area United Way (CAUW) for that partnership.
“We worked with CAUW and their network of nonprofit organizations,” said Meg Mahoney, Manager of Stakeholder Relations at Methanex. “They [CAUW] suggested the school system, and we loved the idea of doing something to support and thank the many workers who go into making our schools great.”
The 2020-2021 school year was drastically different—for teachers and students as well as custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and central office staff – yet everyone pulled together to make this year as normal as possible. The administrative and support personnel were the unsung heroes working behind the scenes to support the teachers and make sure the students never fell behind. Methanex and CAUW wanted to recognize these individuals who made a difference this past school year. During the month of May, Methanex employees participated in three United We Feed distributions, a Basic Needs initiative of CAUW, thanking those employees of Ascension Parish Schools for all they did to contribute to the success of the school year.
When asked why they wanted to partner with CAUW, Mahoney commented, “We always enjoy the opportunity to partner with CAUW. They have such a keen understanding of the needs of each parish and a great ground network through their relationship with so many nonprofits. They make it so easy to give back through the dedication and professionalism of their team members.”
Through each distribution, CAUW and Methanex provided the employees with fresh produce boxes provided by Top Box Foods Louisiana; resource cards that included information about United Way 211/CAUW; SingleCare cards for prescription discounts; and gift certificates to local Associated Grocers stores.
"We are so thankful for Methanex and their recent sponsorship and volunteerism with Capital Area United Way for the United We Feed events. This effort was a unique expression of gratitude and put a smile on the face of our non-instructional employees who work hard to support our mission of serving students by providing essential services that wrap around our daily focus on instruction. We know that every position and every role in our organization is valuable and it is always special when our business and community partners offer an expression of gratitude that rewards staff for their dedicated daily efforts," said Ascension Public Schools Superintendent David Alexander.
Through their involvement in Ascension Parish, Methanex aims to demonstrate their commitment to the community. “Methanex is committed to the ethic of Responsible Care, which sets a high standard for health and safety performance, environmental stewardship and social responsibility,” said Mahoney. “We are committed to being a good corporate citizen and strive to have a positive impact in the communities in which we operate. We enjoy the opportunity to support those in need and the non profit community through both volunteering and financial support.”
When asked what she would say if another company came to Methanex looking to partner with CAUW, Mahoney said, “I would absolutely encourage companies to partner with CAUW. CAUW has worked for decades with the nonprofit community throughout the capital area, which gives them a unique perspective of what each community needs as well as a proven network to get things done. They also know how to leverage the donations of time and treasure to the fullest extent possible so you know your efforts are doing the most good they can!”
Where There’s a Need, There’s a Way, and at Capital Area United Way, we are always here to serve our community alongside our corporate and nonprofit partners. Together, just like Methanex and Ascension Parish Schools, we can continue to LIVE UNITED and build a better community.
