As part of its ongoing response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mars, Inc. has committed to donating $20 million to support people, pets and communities affected by COVID-19.

The support package includes:

• $5 million donation to support CARE for critical supplies and expertise that will be deployed in the developing world, to women, children and refugee populations. 
• $2 million donation to the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) to aid in the transport and delivery of critical supplies for all United Nations agencies as they respond to the pandemic. 
• $1 million donation to Humane Society International (HSI) to help cats and dogs that have been abandoned, left behind or surrendered to shelters due to their owners falling ill or no longer having the financial means to care for them.

The balance of $12 million will come from a combination of cash and in-kind donations from across the markets where Mars operates as well as donations from its foundations including: The Mars Wrigley Foundation, the Banfield Foundation, the Pedigree Foundation and the Tasty Bite Foundation. 

“Our approach for working through this COVID crisis has been, and will continue to be, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our associates, doing our part to prevent the spread of the virus and caring for our communities,” said Mars CEO Grant F. Reid. “This week, we’re announcing a commitment of $20 million in cash and in-kind product donations to support the hundreds of communities where we live and work, or whom we depend upon for our agricultural ingredients. We’re all in this together and we want to do our part to help those most in need.”

As part of the support package, the $5 million donation to CARE will help to further the organization address the specific needs of the world’s most vulnerable, including women, children and refugee populations in underdeveloped countries where the virus is just beginning to spike, but also where they will be the most unprepared.

The $2 million package of support will help the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) manage logistics for emergency food and lifesaving equipment to hospitals in affected areas.

The $1 million donation for the Humane Society International (HSI) will help ease the burden of overcapacity shelters. The Humane Society International (HSI) is currently focused on helping pets that have been abandoned, left behind or surrendered to shelters due to their owners falling ill or no longer having the financial means to care for them as a result of COVID-19.