The Bayer Fund serves nonprofits in the communities where Bayer facilities, such as the Bayer Marana Greenhouse and Bayer Eloy, are based. According to Bayer Communications and Engagement Lead Stefanie Boe, the Bayer Fund awarded $60,000 to area nonprofits working to solve some of the biggest challenges facing Southern Arizona in 2022.
Since 2017 when the Bayer Fund awards were first distributed, a multitude of grants totaling $353,000 have supported 38 regional groups to tackle homelessness, malnutrition and food insecurity, and enhance community support services and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. The Bayer Fund serves Bayer’s global vision “Health for All, Hunger for None,” by assisting organizations that help build strong and resilient communities.
The 2022 Southern Arizona Bayer Fund recipients are:
- The University of Arizona’s Cooper Center for Environmental Learning
- Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor
- Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center
- Southern Arizona Research Science and Engineering Foundation (SARSEF)
- Laguna Elementary School Garden in the Flowing Wells School District (via the United Way of Southern Arizona)
- Youth on Their Own
A sample of past Bayer Fund recipients include:
- Marana High School Greenhouse and Pole Barn construction
- Tucson Botanical Garden’s Tortoise Habitat
- Vail School District Foundation’s Urban Backyard Agriculture-Farm to Table and First Robotics
Not only does Bayer help local communities through various grants, but the Bayer Marana Greenhouse is also a vital part of the future of agriculture. A climate-controlled facility in Southern Arizona, it works to help farmers produce sustainably grown food supplies in the U.S. and around the world. More than 150 people from diverse backgrounds and skill sets work at the state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly greenhouse, including agronomic research specialists, biologists, engineers, environmental specialists and data scientists. A valued employer, Bayer Marana received the SHRM 2022 Community Impact Award and the 2021 Northwest Explorer Award for the “Best Place to Work.”
Bayer employees are also noted for their volunteer efforts in the community, adding to the charitable contributions of the Bayer Fund. Donating their time and talent, they’ve helped in a variety of ways, from repairing a greenhouse for the Marana United School District and making face shields for Pima County front line staff, to judging SARSEF student competitions and collecting and distributing supplies through local food banks.
To learn more about Bayer’s community partnerships and innovations in agriculture visit https://www.bayer.com/en/us/marana and https://www.fund.bayer.us/.
