Altria’s Good
While Altria is the holding company for various tobacco companies, should that permanently smear its image? Currently Altria has various funds and philanthropic activities that benefit its surrounding area of Richmond and Virginia. Altria contributed massively to the local economy, with the its creation of jobs, taxes paid, state settlements paid out. Altria has support not only Virginia, but the nation as a whole, so does this make up for the negative affects of it’s products?
Corporate Giving & Community Impact Leadership
Alignment-Altria’s investment addresses priorities that align with their employee’s interests and bring about a positive change in their respective communities
Financial Stewardship-Altria deploys its resources with consideration toward their partners capacity while still support their growth
Sustainability and Impact-Altria works on long-term impact with various organization through proven programs. They will also partner with emerging organizations that focus in areas with a promising impact.
Partner Purpose-Altria values their partners expertise and they prioritize their purpose over their own brand visibility. Altria will listen to their partners with humility and mutual respect.
(Altria Group Inc, n.d.)
Who Altria Supports
Altria employs about 6,200 people, with 97% of them in the United States and the Richmond Area, where Altria is headquartered. Altria has made about 548 million dollars towards pension and retirement plans for their employers.(Altria Group, Inc 2024)
56% of Altria’s employees also engage in volunteer activities with charitable organizations, with Altria itself donating up to $5,000 to those organizations through it’s volunteer fund.(Community Foundation n.d.)
Altria’s board members also serve have or have served on non-profit boards, with about 61% of executives having done so.(Altria Group, Inc 2024)
Altria has also given money to Veterans as well. Altria has been a long time partner of Paralyzed Veterans of America(PVA) and in 2017, Altria renewed a two year grant with the PVA for $400,000 for the continued operation of PAVE, Paving Access for Veterans Employment.(Paralyzed Veterans of America 2016)
Altria also supports the local arts. In 2014 Altria gave 10 million dollars to Center Stage Richmond, the performing arts company housed in the theater, for renovations. After the donation Landmark Theater was renamed the Altria theater. To this day the theater houses over 100 performances a year and is one of the highest grossing theaters worldwide.(Altria Theater n.d.)
Altria also donates to local non profits, totaling 23.6 million dollars in 2024. Throughout Virginia such as Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia in Roanoke, American Association of School Administrators in Alexandria and University of Virginia Curry School of Education Foundation – School of Education and Human Development in Charlottesville. They have also made donations throughout the country, targeting similar non profits that focus on education and childhood development. (Altria Group Inc, 2024)
Altria Philanthropy Report
Altria has various programs that seek to improve workforce and economic equity, the environment, and help to create equitable and vibrant communities.
Altria plans to improve workforce and economic equity by
- Improving economic and financial well-being for smal lbusiness owners and entrepreneurs by increasing their access to capital, promoting opportunities for supply-chain contracts, and promoting commerce with Black- and Brown-owned businesses.
- Increasing business and financial acumen to help small business owners grow and scale their businesses
- Equitably equipping students for sustainable careers by
providing them with the knowledge, skills, competencies and real-world work experiences they need to enter
the workforce.
(Wiley 2023)
Altria also plans to improve the environment through programs that “Support water conservation and quality initiatives, invest in sustainable agriculture that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support reforestation”.(Wiley 2023)
Altria also has plans to bring about more equitable and vibrant communities with the aim of support low-income and historically excluded people.(Wiley 2023)
The benefits of Altria’s philanthropic programs and initiatives can not be understated. Through these programs they help the neighborhoods around them and the communities that are marginalized in Virginia. Through their efforts to support the environment it helps not only the local area, but wherever tobacco is grown in the United States and in Virginia that allow for the limit of greenhouse gases and help with conserving water. Altria fosters an equal work place environment that allow for an increase in job opportunities and the growing of wealth in the local workforce in Richmond Virginia, where most of Altria’s workforce is located.