SC Johnson Supports STEM Funding, Literacy and Tomorrow's Innovators

In 2017, SC Johnson announced a $500,000 donation to support the renovation of the integrated science lab at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is near our headquarters hometown.

 

The donation was a result of a partnership between SC Johnson and the Racine Community Foundation. It supports Parkside’s Integrated Science and Applied Learning Initiative and will help the university add opportunities for students, such as research fellowships, scientific career exploration and development activities. 

 

Said our Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson when announcing the news, “We’re thrilled the new SC Johnson Integrated Science Lab will help support future science professionals who are better prepared for the workforce, and will assist with meeting future workforce demands of the region.” 

 

Building improvements will include fully redesigned science labs with the most up-to-date technology, like what’s used in research facilities and scientific workplaces. There are also plans to expand the lab to provide larger spaces for advanced and independent research. 

When it comes to learning modern technologies and engineering skills, there’s a simple truth: hands-on experience is essential. 

 

That’s why for more than 20 years, SC Johnson has partnered with Gateway Technical College, which offers more than 65 education programs for health, business, manufacturing and engineering, and services careers. 

 

Beyond providing financial support for Gateway programming that increases technical competency in the community around our largest global manufacturing facility, we contributed $1.7 million to help expand Gateway's iMET Center. It is dedicated to training the manufacturing workforce, and its programs include hands-on skill training for careers in areas such as electronics and engineering.  

 

Plus, in 2016, SC Johnson along with our Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson announced a combined donation of $700,000 to Gateway to support the Gateway Promise, which helps fill the gap between financial aid grants received by students and the cost of attending Gateway. This provides educational opportunities that might not otherwise be available to lower-income students.

While supporting education is a priority in our headquarters community, which is also home to our largest global manufacturing facility, education is a giving priority for SC Johnson worldwide. In fact, educational support was 13% of our global philanthropy in 2016/17.

 

As an example, for over 20 years, SC Johnson has supported the Teenage Environmental Education Fund in Shanghai, which teaches good environmental practices for China’s youth. In the United Kingdom, support of The Prince’s Trust has helped young people transition into work, training or education. SC Johnson Germany has supported NeanderLAB, an organization that provides lab space for children from 24 area schools, encouraging greater interest in the sciences.

 

And those are just a few examples. Wherever we operate around the world, at SC Johnson we aim to foster access and engagement in education. To us, it’s simply the right thing to do. Tomorrow’s great STEM minds will make life better for everyone – and we want to help them get there.