Bayer Fund Awards More than $12.1M to Nonprofit Organizations

On Feb 22, 2024

Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., has provided a total of $4.7 million in grant funding, spanning across 500 organizations, in the second half of 2023. This latest round of grants raised the organization’s total giving to more than $12.1 million for the year across 2,300 charitable and nonprofit organizations supporting Food & Nutrition, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Health & Wellness needs.

Bayer Fund’s giving support programs that help solve some of the country’s – and world’s – biggest challenges, including access to Food and Nutrition, STEM Education, and Health and Wellness, which is part of Bayer’s mission of ensuring Health for All, Hunger for None.

“Bayer Fund is proud to give back to communities by providing funding to help support impactful programs within organizations that align with our top giving priorities,” said Al Mitchell, president of Bayer Fund. “We’re excited to provide grant awards to bolster these organizations and the important work they do to help strengthen our communities across the U.S.”

Three organizations that are being recognized for their philanthropic grant work from Bayer Fund are Operation Food Search (Food & Nutrition), The Lawrence Hall of Science (STEM Education) and Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis (Health & Wellness).

Food & Nutrition

Bayer Fund supports access to healthy and nutritious foods through high-quality food and nutrition programs. These programs provide support to families in need and rural and underserved communities.

Operation Food Search was awarded $75,000 in grant funding to support its MetroMarket program. MetroMarket uses a retrofitted metro bus to travel to areas in the St. Louis community to provide fresh, affordable produce to people with limited access to healthy food. In 2023, the MetroMarket program served more than 30,000 individuals in the St. Louis community among the 226 mobile and pop-up locations.

“Bayer Fund’s support has been game-changing for our organization,” said Kristen Wild, president and CEO of Operation Food Search. “By enabling our work to increase food access through the MetroMarket program, Bayer Fund makes it possible for us to provide innovative solutions to longstanding issues of food insecurity. We are truly grateful for their belief in our mission to heal hunger.”

STEM

As part of Bayer Fund’s STEM Education pillar, Bayer Fund provides grants for high quality STEM programs that are empowering teachers and students.

The Lawrence Hall of Science, based in Berkeley, CA was the recipient of a $125,000 grant to support their Exploring Biotechnology program. One of the goals of the program is to demystify biotech and support both students and educators to identify pathways into the Bay area’s healthy bio-economy so it can reflect the region’s diversity.

“We are very excited to receive this grant from Bayer Fund to support our program, which can create both interest and hands-on learning in the area of biotechnology,” said Lee Bishop, Ph.D., biotechnology lead at The Lawrence Hall of Science. “Sixth grade is a critical time to support engagement with STEM learning and we want to expose students to more relevant options in science.”

Health & Wellness

Bayer Fund focuses on patients and their families that need assistance managing cardiovascular disease and cancer as part of their Health & Wellness component. Support services, educational programs and awareness are supported by this funding.

Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis received a $20,000 grant to support their Healthy Lifestyle Programming for cancer patients. The organization provides psychosocial support to people impacted by cancer through professionally led programs, including Healthy Lifestyle programming that includes nutrition classes, family yoga and food, gentle exercise and mindfulness meditation.

“Here at Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis, community is at the heart of what we do, and what better way to build community than through food,” said Lori Thaman, executive director of Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis. “Bayer Fund allows us to offer programs uniquely tailored to the needs of cancer patients and their families, bringing education and joy to those whose relationship with food may be complicated. From plant-based cooking demonstrations, to our nationally attended Food For Life education series, to family gingerbread houses, food brings us all together, no matter the age or where you are in your cancer journey.”

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