Too small for tobacco money?
Agencies outside of the nation's biggest metro
markets receive tobacco money
Altria, parent company of Philip Morris (brands include Marlboro, Merit, Virginia Slims, B&H) contributes primarily to agencies working in domestic violence, hunger, and environmental support.
In New York State, Altria contributed to over 250 different organizations in 2005, the vast majority in NYC and Long Island. Following is a listing of Upstate agencies that Altria contributed to in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
| Altria grants to tax-exempt, nonprofit [501(c)(3)] organizations | |||||
| Organization | City | Amt: 2003 | Amt: 2004 | Amt: 2005 | Category |
| Albany Law School | Albany, NY | $ 45,000 | $ 20,000 | $ 20,000 | Domestic Violence |
| Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY, Inc. | Albany, NY | $ 30,000 | $ 30,000 | Domestic Violence | |
| National Audubon Society | Albany, NY | $ 25,000 | |||
| Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza/The Egg | Albany, NY | $ 15,000 | Arts | ||
| New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Inc. | Albany, NY | $ 50,000 | $ 26,500 | $ 55,000 | Domestic Violence |
| New York State Coalition for the Aging, Inc. | Albany, NY | $ 40,000 | |||
| Senior Service Center of the Albany Area, Inc. | Albany, NY | $ 50,000 | |||
| The Albany Damien Center, Inc. | Albany, NY | $ 15,000 | AIDS | ||
| The Albany Damien Center, Inc. | Albany, NY | $ 15,000 | Hunger | ||
| National Center for Disability Services | Albertson, NY | $ 25,000 | Arts | ||
| American Museum of the Moving Image | Astoria, NY | $ 10,000 | Arts | ||
| Cornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County | Auburn, NY | $23,400 | $ 23,400 | Environmental | |
| Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. | Buffalo, NY | $ 30,000 | $ 30,000 | Domestic Violence | |
| Katonah Museum of Art | Katonah, NY | $ 2,500 | Arts | ||
| Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations | Mattituck, NY | $ 15,000 | $ 15,000 | Arts | |
| Food-People Allied to Combat Hunger Inc. | Millwood, NY | $ 547 | Hunger | ||
| Island Harvest | Mineola, NY | $ 750 | Hunger | ||
| Meals on Wheels, Programs & Services of Rockland, Inc. | Nanuet, NY | $ 14,000 | Hunger | ||
| Hope Community Services, Inc. | New Rochelle, NY | $ 20,000 | Hunger | ||
| Dutchess Outreach, Inc. | Poughkeepsie, NY | $ 10,000 | AIDS | ||
| Dutchess Outreach, Inc. | Poughkeepsie, NY | $ 10,000 | Hunger | ||
| Dance Continuum, Inc. / Susan Marshall & Company | Putnam Valley, NY | $ 5,000 | Arts | ||
| The Rensselaerville Institute | Rensselaerville (Albany County,) NY | $ 29,095 | |||
| Garth Fagan Dance, Inc. | Rochester, NY | $ 15,000 | $ 15,000 | $ 15,000 | Arts |
| Rye Arts Center, Inc. | Rye, NY | $ 1,000 | Arts | ||
| Cattaraugus Community Action, Inc. | Salamanca, NY | $ 25,000 | |||
| Meals on Wheels of Syracuse New York, Inc. | Syracuse, NY | $25,000 | $ 88,500 | $ 92,000 | Hunger |
| Onondaga Elders, Inc. | Syracuse, NY | $ 98,000 | $ 2,000 | ||
| Syracuse University - Office of Sponsored Programs | Syracuse, NY | $ 5,993 | $ 5,993 | Environmental | |
| Vera House Inc. | Syracuse, NY | $ 30,000 | $ 30,000 | Domestic Violence | |
| Hillside Food Outreach, Inc. | Thornwood, NY | $ 60,000 | Hunger | ||
| Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County | Webster, NY | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 | Hunger | |
| Legal Services of the Hudson Valley | White Plains, NY | $ 45,000 | Domestic Violence | ||
| The Lord's Pantry | White Plains, NY | $ 22,000 | Hunger | ||
See Also: Philip Morris Investing in Our Communities
Big Players in the Arts...
Looking for other familiar names? Each of these NYC-based arts organizations
received $100,000 or more from Altria in 2004:
- Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Apollo Theater Foundation, Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Romare Bearden Foundation, Inc., Whitney Museum of American Art, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Inc., Aaron Davis Hall, Museum of Modern Art, Dance Theater Workshop, The Studio Museum in Harlem
Political campaign contributions
Tobacco interests' contributions to political campaigns totals almost $31 million since 1997, according to the Center for Tobacco Free Kids (TFK) and Common Cause. Included in this tally are federal candidates, national parties and non-party political action committees (527's.)
Contributions for the current 2005–06 election cycle already top $1 million. Go to TFK press release (10/3/05.)
To learn more and access TFK reports on who got how much, Click Here for the TFK web site "contributions" page.
RJR in Higher Education
Reynolds America press release, Nov 02
05:
R.J. Reynolds Foundation Funds $1.25 Million
Reynolds American Endowments at WSSU
“In accepting the contribution, WSSU Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr. said, 'For more than a century, WSSU has counted R.J. Reynolds as a good friend and as a partner. This Foundation’s gift is generous not only in its size, but also in its timeliness. Gifts such as this, early in the campaign, demonstrate confidence, and we are very grateful.'” Read entire release »
Reynolds America press release, Dec 16
05:
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company donates property
to Piedmont Triad Research Park
“R.J. Reynolds has long been committed to local economic development,” said Susan Ivey, chairman and chief executive officer of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and chief executive officer of Reynolds American Inc. “This donation will allow PTRP to move closer to realizing its vision of creating a vibrant life-sciences research and product development complex in downtown Winston-Salem, providing additional job opportunities and increasing our local economic base.”
R.J.
Reynolds Foundation
“ The R.J. Reynolds Foundation is a non-profit corporation, established
as a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt private foundation, which administers certain
charitable and educational giving programs on behalf of Reynolds American
Inc. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and their respective employees.”
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (UST) Philosophy of Giving
- U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has provided more than 200 deserving sons and daughters of dark tobacco producers with scholarships to attend five colleges and universities in Kentucky and Tennessee.
- USSTC's manufacturing facility in Nashville, TN, provided significant funding to help the city create a one-mile landscaped "greenway" along the Cumberland River near the plant's downtown location.
- UST has contributed several vehicles, including this ambulance, to the Emergency Medical Services unit in Greenwich, CT.
- As part of their participation in the Agricultural Leadership Development Program that USSTC coordinates with Murray State University, dark tobacco farmers visit the Kentucky state capital to meet with legislators about agribusiness issues.
- Employees at UST's headquarters participate annually in a walkathon for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (left) and have volunteered to help build homes through the Habitat for Humanity organization.
- UST employees regularly serve as marshals at the New York City Veterans Day parade to recognize our nation's military personnel.
- In late 2004, UST's Project Call Home began distributing to U.S. military troops deployed overseas 15,000 phone cards acquired through corporate and employee donations.
- Over the past 30 years, USSTC's Scholarship Awards Program has contributed $4.8 million in financial aid to adult student-athletes who compete in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
- Polaris Ranger® Donation Program