The cigarette industry is under siege — the subject of federal and private lawsuits and a spectrum of proposed regulations to curb its advertising and promotion. And now, more than ever, the industry is turning to charitable giving as a means of gaining respectability while it continues to manufacture and market the leading cause of preventable death in America and the world: cigarettes.
In a new and comprehensive report entitled “Tobacco Industry Sponsorship in the United States, l995-l999,” Dr. Michael Siegel of the Boston University School of Public Health documents — in a systematic and comprehensive way — corporate sponsorship by tobacco companies during that five-year period. Specifically, Siegel identified 304 tobacco company sponsorships of events, programs or organizations in the following areas:
AIDS. Tobacco companies provided funding to at least 42 different AIDS service organizations. The centerpiece of tobacco industry support for AIDS patients is Philip Morris with its sponsorship of the Positive Helpings program — support which provides money to aid the nutritional needs of people living with HIV.
Charities/Causes. Tobacco companies have supported a wide variety of general charities including: humanitarian organizations (Christian Relief Services), health and human services (including the American Red Cross of Louisville and Hospice groups) and disaster relief (Hurricane Floyd) — as well as legal services (Association of the Bar of the City of New York Fund).
Domestic Violence. Through the Doors of Hope initiative, Philip Morris provided grants totaling $2 million to 180 organizations across the country to support food and meals, emergency shelter, counseling and other aid to victims of domestic violence.
Education. The industry supported programs at colleges and universities across the country, including the Universities of Central Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, Rochester and Virginia, as well as Duke, MIT and North Carolina State University among others. The largest contribution identified was $3 million to the University of Louisville in 1996 for completion of a football stadium.
Environment. The industry supported organizations that promote the protection and restoration of water and land resources — and supported many environmental conferences, including the Drinking Water/Pollution Prevention Forum and the Keep America Beautiful national conference.
Festivals. The industry supported a multitude of festivals including the Kentucky Derby Festival and the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial.
Hunger. Tobacco companies made contributions to the efforts to fight hunger in the United States with donations to more than l00 local organizations, including the Helping the Helpers program, which provides donations under emergency circumstances to food pantry programs, soup kitchens and the elderly.
Minorities. The industry is a major giver to minority groups, particularly African-American groups, including the National Convention of the National Black Chamber of Commerce and art exhibits featuring African-American artists.
Performing Arts. Tobacco donations went to the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and the New York City Opera among many others.
Politics and Government. Dr. Siegel identified 12 events or organizations in this category, including sponsorship of trips to conferences and seminars paid for by tobacco companies. The tobacco companies also sponsored the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates in 1996 and the annual meetings of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in l998 and 1999.
Sports. Tobacco companies sponsored a variety of sports events, including the Senior PGA Tour Vantage Championship.
Visual Arts. Among the most notable sponsorships here were the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum.
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