Whirlpool Foundation
Making real, positive difference in our communities by building strong foundations and unlocking potential.
We believe that the four walls around us have the power to unlock immense opportunity for the people who dwell within. It starts with decent and affordable housing: the foundation of a stable life and bright future. Having the courage to be inclusive, removing bias and focusing on leveling the playing field for everyone. That’s why Whirlpool gives purposefully of our time, funds, and products to the communities where we live and work. Because everyone deserves a comfortable home to nurture dreams.
Boys & Girls Club
To empower underserved youth in our community, Whirlpool Corporation provided the majority of funding to construct the $8 million Boys and Girls Club and Teen center in the community and provided over $20 million in the Boys and Girls Club operations in the past 12 years.
Our Racial Equality Pledge
In 2020 Whirlpool announced a Racial Equality Pledge – a multi-year commitment to improve Black representation by 50% at all levels within our company and take specific actions both within our company and in our community. The work on the pledge requires efforts from dozens of company volunteers. These volunteers are supporting 16 different work streams focused on Inclusion and Diversity, Education, Housing, and Business and Community Support.
Key Foundational Organizations
United Way
Whirlpool and its employees generate over $3.4 million annually for the United Way of Southwest Michigan or approximately 66% of its budget.
Health & Wellness
Spectrum Lakeland Regional Health Systems
Whirlpool is in its third year of a $1 million contribution to Spectrum Lakeland Regional Health Systems.
Affordable Housing
Habitat for Humanity
Whirlpool provides $100,000 per year to the local Habitat for Humanity chapter for operations and home building. We also provide $50,000 per annum to the state Habitat Chapter to assist all local Habitat Chapters in the state on capacity building and fundraising.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor
Whirlpool, its annual charity golf outing, and its employees provided the majority of the $9 million for 43,000 sq. ft of new facilities, and also annually contributed over $1,300,000 or over 65% of the private funds for the Club’s operations.
Three Public School Foundations
Whirlpool, its annual charity golf outing and its employees annually generate between $300- $450,000 for Benton Harbor, Lakeshore and St. Joseph Public School 501(c)3 entities.
First Tee of Benton Harbor
Over $225,000 is provided annually to support the education and programming for over 3,800 diverse youth annually.
Coordinated Programs
Over $150,000 annually for STEM/First Robotics Teams and Equipment, STEM Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement school athletic programs (weight room, new uniforms, training for the Benton Harbor Sports programs) and Young Life programs.
Employee-Directed Programs
Disaster Relief Program
When natural disasters occur, our people are among the first to respond. During emergencies, Whirlpool Corporation collaborates with disaster relief agencies such as the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, and supports employee/retiree giving by matching donations through the Whirlpool Foundation.
United Way Campaigns
Whirlpool Corporation’s global and U.S. headquarter locations, manufacturing divisions and facilities across the United States participate every year in raising funds for local United Way campaigns. The total employee and retiree giving along with Whirlpool Foundation funding totaled over $4.5 million in donations in 2018.
Sons & Daughters Scholarships
Whirlpool Foundation annually recognizes and rewards children of employees for academic and personal achievements, leadership and community involvement. Since the first two scholarships in January of 1952, Whirlpool Foundation has provided more than 2,100 scholarships and honor awards worth over $17 million dollars to children of employees. Currently, over 100 Whirlpool Foundation scholarship and award recipients are pursuing degrees across the nation.