Cummins Inc. took the opportunity on Thursday, which was International Women’s Day, to announce Cummins Powers Women. Company officials say the program is a “landmark community initiative to advance its long-term commitment to the empowerment of women and girls around the world.” As part of this program, Cummins says it has partnered with a network of trusted nonprofits to make a larger, more sustainable and long-lasting impact in the communities in which it operates.
“Cummins’ mission is to make people’s lives better by powering a more prosperous world and Cummins Powers Women epitomizes this purpose,” said Tom Linebarger, Cummins Inc. Chairman and CEO. “One way we seek to better communities is by investing in programs that improve the lives of women and girls. We’ve seen firsthand the positive transformation that happens when we ensure diversity and inclusion within our organization, bringing more women into our business at every level.”
Cummins officials say this is the company’s most ambitious community initiative ever, representing a multi-million dollar investment in proven programs designed to create large-scale impact in the lives of women and girls globally. They say the programs will focus on areas where significant barriers exist to the advancement of girls and women.
Through Cummins Powers Women, the company will partner with a network of non-profit organizations in the following regions that have existing, outcome-based programs to accelerate gender equality:
• Girls Inc. – North America
• Rosa Fund – UK
• Save the Children – Germany
• China Women’s Development Foundation – China
• Rise Up – Africa, Latin America and India
• Camfed, the Campaign for Female Education – Ghana
• CARE Australia – Cambodia
• Girls Academy – Australia
“We were rigorous in our evaluation, and we are pleased to partner with nonprofits around the world that have research-based programs, metrics in place and a really strong track record of success empowering women and girls,” said Mary Titsworth Chandler, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Chief Executive Officer of the Cummins Foundation. “We have invested in a wide range of programs from on-the-ground mentoring and teaching of women and girls, to financial empowerment through entrepreneurship to leadership development and advocacy at the regional level.”
Additionally, as a major proponent of leadership training and development programs, Cummins is funding leadership training and strategic skills development for non-profit leaders.
“The growth and improvements we have seen in our own Company through an inclusive environment for women are the catalyst for us to dream about a future for all women that includes abundant opportunity for global leadership, invention, skill and creativity – a world powered by women in which progress accelerates, invention amplifies and solutions become easier to find,” said Chandler.