DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Dec. 23 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) celebrates the 10th anniversary of its community investment program: Promoting People's Performance (PPP), the successful internal program based on employee volunteerism. This year, PPP became truly global by integrating the North American John H. Bryan program. The PPP was started in 1998 in international facilities to encourage employees to invest their knowledge, skills and time in the communities where they live and work.
"PPP gives us all a terrific opportunity to demonstrate our company values: act with integrity, use our imagination, be inclusive, work as a team and have passion to excel," said Brenda Barnes, chairman and CEO. "Promoting People's Performance has become a diamond within Sara Lee."
Since the start of the initiative in 1998, the program has focused on helping people in times of distress and developing sustainable aid programs. Each program involves the community and empowers the people who live and work there. Each year projects are submitted to the PPP Jury Board, to become eligible for a PPP award, which includes prize money to invest in continuation of the project.
Full company endorsement
The Sara Lee PPP Jury Board reflects the global scope of the program and consists of members of the company's top management. Vincent Janssen, chief executive officer, International Household & Body Care and chairman of the PPP Jury Board said "A PPP project is heart-warming, rewarding and a great way to put our unique skills to good use in the communities we operate in."
During the 10th anniversary, more than 1,000 Sara Lee employees invested more than 7,000 hours to support the programs in 14 countries worldwide. In many cases the programs cooperate with local charities, as they understand the needs of the local people. For example, in the Philippines, 265 employees participated in a program to bring back self-sufficiency and fight poverty in two small villages by setting up a cooperative. Under the umbrella of this cooperative about 200 families have been able to develop more financial and economical stability in their lives. A Sara Lee Philippines employee says: "The experience of sharing with our less fortunate brothers and sisters is such a great feeling, it's fulfilling and enjoyable to help those in need. Especially if it leads them towards their ability to attain their own happiness."
Sara Lee's legal department in the USA developed an initiative in which they offered pro bono legal services. Not only did they apply their skills and knowledge to teach 7th and 8th grade classes about the US constitution, they also helped individuals with past arrests or convictions who demonstrated positive life changes.
About Sara Lee Corporation
Each and every day, Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) delights millions of consumers and customers around the world. The company has one of the world's best-loved and leading portfolios with its innovative and trusted food, beverage, household and body care brands, including Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Sara Lee and Senseo. Collectively, these brands generate more than $13 billion in annual net sales covering approximately 200 countries. The Sara Lee community consists of 44,000 employees worldwide. Please visit http://www.saralee.com for the latest news and in-depth information about Sara Lee and its brands.
