Whether on an economic, social, or political level – Fritz Henkel was involved in different ways, both locally and beyond the region. He joined the local municipal council, was a co-founder of the Brand Protection Association, and set up support funds for his employees and a foundation for employees’ children in need of convalescence.
Keeping this tradition, Henkel today is committed to social engagement based on three pillars: through the voluntary participation of Henkel employees and retirees worldwide, partnerships with non-profit organizations, and emergency aid in the event of crises, conflicts or natural disasters. In 1998, Henkel was one of the first companies in Germany to initiate a program that encourages and supports employees in their social commitment and personal volunteering initiatives. To date, Henkel has supported more than 17,300 charitable projects in over 100 countries through the "Make an Impact on Tomorrow" (MIT) program – with donations in kind and money, but also with paid leave and time off of work in which employees make a difference on site.
Last fall, two groups of Henkel employees went on "construction trips" to Romania and Poland in cooperation with the organization Habitat for Humanity. The activities of Habitat for Humanity are multifaceted: On the Romanian Black Sea coast, the volunteers spent a week helping to make the dream of a family home come true for people living in poverty. In Poland, Henkel employees contributed their individual skills in the areas of marketing, purchasing, communications and HR to drive forward the construction of houses that now offer shelter to refugees from Ukraine.