More on Kraft
May. 27th, 2005 05:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pecuniumA few weeks ago I told people to tell Kraft what they thought about their support for the 2006 Gay Games, in Chicago.
Kraft, as I found out today, has made a semi-public statement (it was an in house memo, certain to be leaked, as more than two people knew the secret).
From: Marc Firestone, Executive Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Kraft Foods Inc.
Subject: Kraft's Contribution to 2006 Gay Games
The true test of any commitment is how you respond when challenged. Kraft is experiencing this to a degree right now, as a result of our decision to be one of several contributors to the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. The games will bring together thousands of athletes in a competition that will take place in our corporate hometown.
In recent days, the company has received many e-mails, the majority of them generated through the America Family Association, which objects to our sponsorship. We also have received calls and e-mails - - not as many, but equally passionate - - thanking us for supporting this event. A member of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's team said, "We applaud the businesses that are sponsors of the Gay Games, including Kraft Foods."
You may have questions or might have had questions from friends and family about our contribution to this event. While Kraft certainly doesn't go looking for controversy, we have long been dedicated to support the concept and the reality of diversity. It's the right thing to do and it's good for our business and our work environment.
Diversity makes us a stronger company and connects us with the diversity that exists among the consumers who buy our products.
Diversity is more than a word many people like to say. At Kraft we truly respect all kinds of differences. And diversity is not a selective concept. By definition, it's nothing if not inclusive. We respect diversity of ethnicity, gender, experience, background, personal style and yes, sexual orientation and gender identity. Recognizing, respecting and valuing these differences helps us be a more successful business and a workplace where all employees can realize their full potential.
For more than a decade, we have had employee councils that promote our awareness of diversity. The newest of our nine diversity councils is the Rainbow Council, which strives to provide a forum for support and networking among gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender employees; raise awareness within Kraft and promote involvement in the community. Each council has an executive sponsor and I have been the Rainbow Council's sponsor since last year.
Through all of our councils, we support various initiatives that demonstrate how strongly we believe in diversity, through involvement in the community. Our sponsorship of the 2006 Gay Games is one of almost 1,700 cash and in-kind grants we make annually.
It can be difficult when we are criticized. It's easy to say you support a concept or a principle when nobody objects. The real test of commitment is how one reacts when there are those who disagree. I hope you share my view that our company has taken the right stand on diversity, including its contribution to the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago.
It's nice to see something as impersonal as a corporation the size of Kraft Foods having the courage of their convictions.
They could have quietly (I was going to say merely, but even if it was quiet, it would not have been mere) maintained their support.
They didn't. When push came to shove they stood up to be counted.
Looking at the list of donation Kraft makes, they do a lot of other good work. The wealth is spread around, from the Lyric Opera of Chicago, to hunger relief in Wisconsin, to Young Audiences (all across the country) to Second Harvests in California and a food bank in Florida (who must have been tickled pink at twelve-and-a-half grand, in a lump).
Go buy some cheese.
Kraft, as I found out today, has made a semi-public statement (it was an in house memo, certain to be leaked, as more than two people knew the secret).
From: Marc Firestone, Executive Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Kraft Foods Inc.
Subject: Kraft's Contribution to 2006 Gay Games
The true test of any commitment is how you respond when challenged. Kraft is experiencing this to a degree right now, as a result of our decision to be one of several contributors to the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. The games will bring together thousands of athletes in a competition that will take place in our corporate hometown.
In recent days, the company has received many e-mails, the majority of them generated through the America Family Association, which objects to our sponsorship. We also have received calls and e-mails - - not as many, but equally passionate - - thanking us for supporting this event. A member of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's team said, "We applaud the businesses that are sponsors of the Gay Games, including Kraft Foods."
You may have questions or might have had questions from friends and family about our contribution to this event. While Kraft certainly doesn't go looking for controversy, we have long been dedicated to support the concept and the reality of diversity. It's the right thing to do and it's good for our business and our work environment.
Diversity makes us a stronger company and connects us with the diversity that exists among the consumers who buy our products.
Diversity is more than a word many people like to say. At Kraft we truly respect all kinds of differences. And diversity is not a selective concept. By definition, it's nothing if not inclusive. We respect diversity of ethnicity, gender, experience, background, personal style and yes, sexual orientation and gender identity. Recognizing, respecting and valuing these differences helps us be a more successful business and a workplace where all employees can realize their full potential.
For more than a decade, we have had employee councils that promote our awareness of diversity. The newest of our nine diversity councils is the Rainbow Council, which strives to provide a forum for support and networking among gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender employees; raise awareness within Kraft and promote involvement in the community. Each council has an executive sponsor and I have been the Rainbow Council's sponsor since last year.
Through all of our councils, we support various initiatives that demonstrate how strongly we believe in diversity, through involvement in the community. Our sponsorship of the 2006 Gay Games is one of almost 1,700 cash and in-kind grants we make annually.
It can be difficult when we are criticized. It's easy to say you support a concept or a principle when nobody objects. The real test of commitment is how one reacts when there are those who disagree. I hope you share my view that our company has taken the right stand on diversity, including its contribution to the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago.
It's nice to see something as impersonal as a corporation the size of Kraft Foods having the courage of their convictions.
They could have quietly (I was going to say merely, but even if it was quiet, it would not have been mere) maintained their support.
They didn't. When push came to shove they stood up to be counted.
Looking at the list of donation Kraft makes, they do a lot of other good work. The wealth is spread around, from the Lyric Opera of Chicago, to hunger relief in Wisconsin, to Young Audiences (all across the country) to Second Harvests in California and a food bank in Florida (who must have been tickled pink at twelve-and-a-half grand, in a lump).
Go buy some cheese.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 01:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 01:59 am (UTC)Go buy some cheese.
Absolutely. All too often, hate ideologies are about the hate, and the specific targets are only excuses. When one gets caught up in enjoying mob hatred, it is always tempting to find more excuses to hate more people so that hate can be enjoyed even more. None of us is safe from hate ideologies. Even those of us who aren't the targets of their hate today could become new targets tomorrow.
Kraft appears to be an island of sanity in the sea of insanity that is washing through our country. I definitely need more cheese.
Adrian
no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 04:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 04:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 06:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 01:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 05:49 pm (UTC)The important thing, in my political opinion, is to buy something that says "Kraft" right on it.
Not just something they own, but something they flat out claim.
If you want to make the money do double duty, get together with people, buy a lot of stuff and take it to a food-bank. This time of year they see donations drop because people think about helping the homeless and the down during winter months.
TK
no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-28 04:41 pm (UTC)Yay!!
Date: 2005-05-28 10:34 pm (UTC)And I bought some finely shredded sharp cheddar from Kraft yesterday. Go me.