Alcoa Inc. gives $50M to communities

Alcoa Inc., which operates an aluminum manufacturing facility in Blount County, said Monday its employees and other Alcoa Foundation partners have given a record $50 million back to their communities in 2008, despite the current economic downturn. Combined community giving reached $50.6 million in 2008, with close to 55 percent of Alcoa Foundation funds going to strenghten community service organizations, adapting skills for a changing workforce and improving quality and access to child health care, according to a press release. In 2008, Alcoa employees contributed more than 705,000 hours of their on time to company volunteer programs — the equivalent of 350 people working full time. Companywide, Alcoa employees built 272 shelters and community facilities, held 160 food and clothing relief drives and served more than 7,300 meals. Some highlights of the 2008 community contributions from Alcoa included $3 million donated for emergency and basic needs assistance, $5.3 million for workforce re-training to help communities adapt, $6 million to help maintain child health programs and help to Iceland during that country’s economic collapse.