Leaving New Orleans a Little

Sweeter:

Hershey’s Day of Service

In town for a National Sales Meeting during the week of April 16th, approximately 600 employees from the Hershey Company dedicated a day during their stay to partner with Rebuilding Together New Orleans and help revitalize 5 New Orleans neighborhoods.

“One of Hershey’s values is making a difference for those in need in our communities,” said Jim George, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, The Hershey Company. “More than 600 employees from our sales organization are helping to make a difference in the community and support homeowners as they continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina.”

The Hershey’s Company is marked by a legacy of charitable giving. Throughout his life, Milton Hershey, founder of the Hershey’s Company, pledged a large bulk of his personal wealth to the

Milton Hershey School and Hershey School Trust, which to this day owns a controlling interest in the Company. Established in 1909, the Milton Hershey School continues to provide free

education, housing, and other services to children in financial and social need.

Today, Hershey’s continued dedication to good works extends beyond the Milton Hershey School and Hershey School Trust, and is embodied by service projects like this one in New Orleans and, as the day showed, the commitment of its hundreds of employees to the ethic

of giving back.

Before leaving for their respective projects, the Hershey’s volunteer gathered for a morning conference, where they heard from a variety of voices about the experience of Hurricane

Katrina and the endeavor to rebuild and recover.

Among those who addressed the audience, Ms. Sarah, a New Orleans homeowner and Katrina survivor, movingly shared her personal story of resilience and recovery.

Receiving a standing ovation from the over 600 member audience…

Informed and motivated by the speakers, the Hershey’s volunteers fanned out across their 20+ projects, where they were met and oriented on the day’s work scope and safety

procedures by RTNO House Captains.

Some groups were even greeted by their project’s homeowners.

They then set out upon dedicating themselves to the tasks of . . .

•Tiling•Framing•Wheelchair rampconstruction

•Landscaping•Tree planting•Fencing

•Community clean-up and revitalization •Window installation

•Insulating•Door installation

•Baseboard installation•Exterior painting

•Flooring •Siding

“To come out and do it. To have this many people and to have the awareness of what’s going on. What it looks like. It’s pretty

amazing.”Jeff, Northeast

Sales,

Even with such large numbers, the quantity of work completed by the Hershey’s volunteers and the quality of their work ethic impressed homeowners and RTNO staff and service

members.

“I’ve been trying for 5 years to clean that wall. I didn’t think I was worth it.” (referring to the Hershey’s team and RTNO’s support)

Mr. Robert, homeowner

“It goes back to our mission statement of bringing sweet moments of Hershey’s happiness to the world everyday, and I feel

we brought sweetness to New Orleans.”Brianne, Hershey’s

Sales

“That’s what we always strive for with Hershey’s. We have a strong commitment to excellence no matter what we do.”

Rina, Hershey’sSales

Bt the end of the project, RTNO and Hershey’s were able to achieve more than was originally anticipated for one day of service.

Larger than what was physically accomplished that day, though, was the hopeful sense that there are organizations and companies committed to social change, and together,

we can make a huge impact on the lives of our communities.