about two years now. In my former job, I was executive vice president in charge of lots of different things. I was in charge of the legal department, government affairs, sustainability, environmental compliance, communications and the foundation … The foundation has three primary pil-
lars right now. One of them is educating the children and grandchildren of our employ- ees. We have a relationship with more than 10 colleges around the country where our employees’ children and grandchildren get to go to school, many of them for free because it is a needs-based program. After students go through the financial aid [process], our foundation comes in behind it with funding, which usually makes up for the entire cost of an education. The second pillar is feeding hungry
people. We’re a food company. One of the things you see in any food bank in the nation is a real lack of protein. It is very difficult to handle and to get. Smithfield has given away pork products and protein [across the country]. The third pillar is relatively new for us,
which is supporting veterans’ causes. Our CEO [Kenneth M. Sullivan] is passion- ate about supporting veterans and their families. About a month ago, we gave a donation to the [Virginia Veterans Services Foundation]. They are in the process of working with the governor to try to wipe out [homelessness among veterans]. It’s a moving target. It constantly needs support. We gave a fairly significant donation which was to give furniture and things like that to veterans who have found housing. Once you get in a room, you need a bed to sleep in, a couch to sit on, you need food to eat, you need lots of things. We’re working with the state of Virginia to make that happen. It is very, very satisfying to our team to be a part of that.
VB: Environmental issues have become a flashpoint in many recent elections. Virginiaforever has prided itself in being able to find a consensus. As we see, even in Virginia politics, more partisanship and a drift from the center, is that going to be harder to do? Treacy: I don’t know. I will tell you that Virginiaforever is not a partisan group. There is great power in what we do. We have only identified two things that we lobby for, and that is money for water
quality improvements and land preserva- tion. We have agreed on those two things for more than 10 years … Sometimes we don’t get all of the money we’re asking for. Last year was a tough year for us, but they know we’ll be back … Is the environment a Democratic or
Republican issue? I would say neither. I think most of our elected officials and politicians view it that way. Environmental protection is vital to Virginia as a whole. The Chamber of Commerce has endorsed environmental principles and the work of
Virginiaforever along with the work of the Businesses for the Bay program run by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The first [Blueprint Virginia] had a significant sec- tion on environmental improvement. This new one will as well. The chamber has met with members of the environmental community to get their input of what that blueprint should look like. We are unique in that regard. As I look at other parts of the country, those kinds of interactions may not be possible. But here in Virginia, they are.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
OAKENCROFT - Exceptionally rare 253+ acre estate parcel with breath- taking Blue Ridge Mountain views five minutes west of Charlottesville and Tomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia. Nestled amid the rolling hills of Virginia’s Piedmont, Oakencroft offers stunning building sites enhanced by towering trees, extraordinary views of its vineyards, lush meadows, and uncom- mon privacy. Barns, streams, and a 4-acre pond. Tis is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase an extraordinarily unique property. MLS#566613
Contact: Steve McLean
cell: 434.981.1863 | email:
smclean@mcleanfaulconer.com 503 Faulconer Drive | Charlottesville | VA | 22903 office: 434.295.1131 | fax: 434.293.7377
www.VirginiaBusiness.com
WWW.MCLEANFAULCONER.COM VIRGINIA BUSINESS
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