Matson increased community support to $4.2 million in 2021

April 8, 2022 — Matson contributed a total of $4.2 million in cash and in-kind donations to 564 charitable organizations and non-profit programs in the communities it serves during 2021, up from $3.5 million in 2020.
“During the second year of the pandemic, Matson increased community support with continued focus on our communities’ most pressing needs,” said Matt Cox, Chairman and CEO.

Cash contributions, including funds directed by employees through the company’s Matching Gift program, added up to $2.3 million in 2021, while the value of donated services and equipment totaled $1.9 million.

The biggest categories of giving for the year were Environmental programs, at $926,000 in cash and in-kind support; Food Security programs, at $814,000 in cash and in-kind support; and Social Equity programs at $273,000 in cash support. In 2020, Matson made a multi-year commitment of $5 million in cash and in-kind services to support food bank networks in Hawaii, Alaska and Guam, which will be fulfilled through 2023.

In 2021, Matson contributed $1.5 million in cash, services and equipment support to Hawaii organizations; $1.6 million to Alaska organizations; more than $142,000 to organizations in Guam, Micronesia and South Pacific islands served by Matson; and $919,000 to organizations on the U.S. mainland.

Substantial contributions of donated or discounted shipping supported food banks and food security programs in Hawaii and Alaska as well as environmental and recycling programs in Alaska.

In Hawaii, Matson continued its annual support for public schools statewide as the sole corporate sponsor of the State Department of Education’s Beginning Teacher Summer Academies with a contribution of $25,000.

Cash contributions supporting social equity programs in all of Matson’s communities totaled $273,000.

In 2021, Matson introduced Caring for Alaska, a program funding local community organizations that conduct environmental clean-up activities, supporting 10 organizations in its first year. In its 20th year, Matson’s community environmental program in Hawaii, called Ka Ipu ‘Aina (container for the land), and Adahi I Tano’ (caring for the land), its program in Guam and Micronesia, were suspended for the year due to local COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on gatherings.

Matson focuses its community support on local programs providing vital health care and human services; youth development / recreation; disaster preparedness and recovery; education; cultural and environmental preservation; the arts; agriculture and nutrition; and maritime safety.

Additional information on Matson’s community support activities is available in the company’s Sustainability Reports posted online at: https://www.matson.com/sustainability/sustainability-reports.html