International Paper Foundation Awards $90,000 to Riegelwood, N.C. Area Schools and Non-Profit Groups in 2020

Riegelwood, N.C., January 11, 2021 /3BL Media/ – The International Paper Riegelwood Mill awarded $90,000 in International Paper Foundation grants to 32 area educational and non-profit groups in 2020, demonstrating the company’s commitment to education, hunger, health & wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet.

“Thank you to these organizations and to our employees who volunteer,” said Kevin Driscoll, mill manager. “The work you do helps our communities thrive and addresses critical needs in our area.” International Paper also supports a number of organizations where employees actively volunteer and other critical community needs. Recipients of the 2020 International Paper Foundation grants are as follows.

Health & Wellness, Including Nutrition and Hunger – $36,200 Awarded

• Accessible Coastal Carolina Events Sports and Services received funding to help purchase a Terrain Hopper.
• Bladen Smart Start – A Partnership for Children received a grant to help purchase educational kits for the Growing Healthy Kids program.
• Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina received a grant to help purchase food for the campus.
• The Carousel Center received funding to purchase educational and outreach materials and supplies for the child abuse prevention and healing programs.
• Cedar Grove Improvement Association received funding to help purchase playground equipment for the community center.
• Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina received a grant to purchase food and other program supplies for children and families in the Cape Fear area.
• Good Shepherd Ministries of Wilmington received funds to purchase food, pantry items and outreach materials for its Soup Kitchen.
• Hope Abounds received a grant to purchase materials and supplies for Chemo Care Kits.
• Lower Cape Fear LifeCare received funds to help purchase materials and supplies for the Children’s Grief Care program.
• United Way of the Cape Fear Area received a grant for the Backpack Program in Columbus County.
• Williams Township Elementary School received funding to purchase flexible seating for students.

Education including STEM, Tutoring + Literacy Programs – $19,800 Awarded

• Acme Delco Elementary School received funds to purchase books for the school.
• Brigade Boys & Girls Club received funds to purchase program supplies for the Project Learn after school program, and nutritional meals and snacks for students.
• Brunswick County Literacy Council, Inc. received funds to purchase books and materials for the English as a Second Language literacy program.
• Communities in Schools of Brunswick County received a grant to purchase books and supplies for the Rebuilding Readers program.
• Island Montessori Charter School was awarded a grant to help purchase equipment for students.
• Men and Women United for Youth and Families received a grant to purchase equipment for the Community Job Center.
• Phoenix Employment Services of Wilmington received funding to help purchase materials and supplies for the Future Leaders Program.
• Smart Start of Brunswick County received funding to purchase equipment and supplies for outdoor learning environments/Turn Around program.
• Team First Book received a grant to purchase books for the Team First Book Program.
• YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear received a grant to purchase materials for the Reach Empowerment Program.

Environmental Programs – $17,000 Awarded

• Forest Education and Conservation Foundation received a grant to help produce an episode of the Goods from the Woods video series.
• Friends of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville, Inc. received a grant to purchase materials, supplies and equipment for the Nature Neighborhood.
• Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, Inc. received funds for the museum’s Sea to Tree program.
• The Nature Conservancy received funding to purchase materials and supplies for the Fire in the Pines Education Days.
• Winyah Rivers Foundation, Inc. received funding to purchase materials and supplies for the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program, a community stewardship project in North Carolina’s Waccamaw watershed.

Disaster Relief and Employee Involvement – $7,000 Awarded

• Columbus Baptist Association received a grant for the holiday toy store.
• Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM) received funds to help assist with its Hurricane Recovery Rebuilds program.

Critical Community Needs – $10,000 Awarded

• Brunswick Search and Rescue received funding to help purchase equipment for underwater searches.
• Cerro Gordo Volunteer Fires and Rescue Department received a grant to help equip the first responder truck.
• Columbus County Sheriff’s Office received a grant to help purchase tracking supplies.
• Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department received a grant to help purchase equipment for emergency response trucks.

International Paper’s Riegelwood Mill has been a part of the community since 1951. The mill produces softwood market and fluff pulp, which is converted into a variety of products used every day such as diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products.

About the International Paper Foundation

The International Paper Foundation is one of the ways International Paper strives to reach our vision to be among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world. Started in 1952, the foundation annually provides millions in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where our employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to our signature causes: education, hunger, health & wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet. For more information, visit ipgiving.com.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue, and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ more than 50,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2019 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.

Media Contact: Kim Clewis - 910-362-4887, 910-512-0086 (cell) or Kimberly.Clewis@ipaper.com

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