Huhtamaki to support youth project "Myrsky" and the Finnish universities
HUHTAMÄKI OYJ PRESS RELEASE 25.3.2010 AT 12:30
Huhtamaki celebrates its 90th anniversary year in 2010. The company, which has its humble beginning as a small candy factory, is today one of the world's most significant manufacturers of consumer packaging.
CEO Jukka Moisio:
"Over the years our company has reinvented itself and the focus of our business has shifted. During the anniversary year we wish to celebrate our Finnish roots by donating EUR 700,000 to the youth project "Myrsky" (Finnish for Storm) and EUR 500,000 to support activities of Finnish universities. With these donations we wish to contribute to advancing both the Finnish culture and competitiveness.
Huhtamäki Oyj's Annual General Meeting resolved, as proposed by the Board of Directors, upon authorizing the Board of Directors in connection with the Company's 90 years anniversary to grant donations of no more than EUR 1,2 million.
Two youth initiatives already nominated
Huhtamaki's donation to the youth project Storm will be channeled to various initiatives with the assistance of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, initiator of the project. The first two initiatives to receive grants from Huhtamaki are "Taikamuste" (Finnish for Magic Inc), which is to receive EUR 20,000 for arranging literature workshops for young people with chronic diseases, and the multiartistic "Eläköön Esihistoria" (Finnish for Hurray Prehistory) which will receive EUR 40,000 to support the continuation of youth manuscript, animation, and music workshops introduced already in 2008.
Storm Project Manager Raisa Kiesi from the Finnish Cultural Foundation:
"The Storm project has been a huge success. In two years we have supported more than 60 projects with over 10,000 young people participating from throughout Finland. Huhtamaki's donation helps us to ensure that these valuable initiatives can be continued."
Storm is the Finnish Cultural Foundation's nation wide youth project targeted especially at young people aged 13-17 who are unable to experience the arts because they live in remote localities, because they lack support from their families or for other reasons.
Top know-how and competitiveness also supported
Finnish universities activities will be supported by up to EUR 1,2 million. The decision on which universities will receive donations will be made by the Board of Directors and further information will be published by the end of the first half of the year.
Building the future
In 2010, Huhtamaki's operations stretch from Brazil to New Zealand. Huhtamaki keeps up with the times and concentrates on environmentally friendly packaging technologies and raw materials such as carton, fibers and lightweight films. In North America, Huhtamaki is the leading supplier of fiber-based disposable plates, in Europe one of the largest manufacturers of paper cups and in Asia a flexible packaging pioneer. Huhtamaki is one of the most significant producers of release films and fiber based egg packaging in the world.
When entering the 90th anniversary milestone, Huhtamaki especially wishes to thank its broad customer base. Our products have probably been used by each and every Finn born in or after the 1940s as well as by many Americans, Europeans and Asians.
For more information see the 90th jubilee year website www.huhtamaki.com/90.
For further information:
Huhtamäki Oyj, Head of Group Communications, Minna Kylänpää, tel. +358 (0)10 686 7863
Finnish Cultural Foundation's Storm project, Project Manager Raisa Kiesi, tel. +358 (0)50 569 9332
HUHTAMÄKI OYJ
Group Communications
Huhtamaki Group is a leading manufacturer of consumer and specialty packaging with 2009 net sales totaling EUR 2 billion. Foodservice and consumer goods markets are served by approximately 13,000 people in 54 manufacturing units and several sales offices in 33 countries. The parent company, Huhtamäki Oyj, has its head office in Espoo, Finland and its share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. Additional information is available at www.huhtamaki.com.