Grace Receives Community Award

W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE: GRA) has received the Corporate Citizen Award from the American Red Cross. The award recognizes a corporation that has made a significant improvement in the life of the community through volunteerism and leadership.

Grace was recognized for its outreach in Central Maryland. Employees in the state volunteered more than 1,500 hours, raised in excess of $185,000 and donated 191 units of blood in 2009. During the year, employees also organized donation drives to create “comfort kits” containing toiletries for families displaced to shelters, and collected books, movies and games to help entertain soldiers recovering from injuries.

More recently, Grace made a donation of $108,123 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund to support earthquake victims in Haiti. This total includes employee contributions from 23 countries, a company match and $25,000 from the Grace Foundation, the company’s philanthropic affiliate. The company is currently conducting a similar campaign for earthquake relief efforts in Chile.

In addition, a group of employees are members of the American Red Cross “Ready When the Time Comes” program that activates pre-trained volunteers when natural disasters or community needs overwhelm local responders.

“Grace has been a member of the Maryland community for more than 50 years,” said W. Brian McGowan, Senior Vice President, W. R. Grace & Co. and Chairman of the Grace Foundation. “This longevity has helped us develop close ties. We are pleased to be able to have a positive impact on our neighborhoods and thank the Red Cross for this special recognition.”

The award was officially presented at the 12th Annual Hometown Heroes Awards Breakfast held on March 19, 2010. Also accepting the award on behalf of Grace were long-time employees, Charlotte Clive and Loretta Warfield.

Ms. Clive is a registered occupational nurse and works at Grace’s medical office in Columbia, Maryland. Since 1998, she has spent two weeks in Central America every year helping people receive medical treatment and healthcare education through the non-profit groups, Cure International and Medical Ministry International.

Mrs. Warfield is based at the company’s manufacturing facility in Baltimore (Curtis Bay), Maryland. For more than a decade, she has organized holiday outreach for low-income families and seniors that is regularly supported by Grace colleagues. The outreach has collectively helped more than 2,000 people receive food, winter clothing and gifts.

This award adds to earlier community distinctions for the company’s Maryland operations. In 2009, Grace received the Business Philanthropy Award in the Large company category (defined as 500 or more employees) from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and Baltimore Business Journal, and the P&B Exceptional 53 Award from The Gazette of Politics and Business based in part on Grace’s community outreach.

Around 1,000 people are employed by Grace at research and technical service centers, manufacturing facilities, warehouse operations and global headquarters in Baltimore, Elkridge and Columbia, Maryland.

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at www.grace.com.