PVH Corp. is expanding its philanthropic investments to developing countries.
The New York-based company, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, among others, announced plans Tuesday to allocate $1 million of its 2014 commitment to Save the Children to support programs in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years.
The funding followed PVH’s recent work in Ethiopia, where the company is building a woven shirt factory in an industrial park in Hawassa, as well as sourcing in Kenya and branded product sales through various partners in the region.
“Our philanthropic mission is to support the needs of women and children around the world. We are working to drive positive impacts through our efforts to create a ‘best-in-class’ apparel manufacturing industry in Ethiopia, improve access to high quality early childhood education and provide essential employment training,” said Emanuel Chirico, PVH chairman and chief executive officer. “Today’s children will be our future CEOs, employees and customers, and this investment allows us to better support Save the Children’s efforts to create lasting changes in the lives of children in need.”
Save the Children focuses on vulnerable young people ages 15 to 24 and PVH’s investment will support programs on youth employment training as well as early childhood care and development for children ages 4 to 6.
“PVH has been a committed partner to Save the Children for more than a decade,” said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children “We are so grateful for their support of children from preschoolers to young adults.”
Last month, PVH released its 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report, noting that its long-term vision for Ethiopia includes a truly integrated vertical supply chain comprising all stages of apparel production, from growing cotton to dyeing fabrics to sewing the final garments. To that end, the company and its partners are approaching investment in the local communities around Hawassa Industrial Park by addressing potential challenges from the start, instead of retrofitting solutions.