SALISBURY – Innospec Performance Chemicals has presented nearly $7,000 in donations to three area nonprofits as part of the company’s goal of expanding its community impact.

The company made charitable gifts last week to Rowan Helping Ministries and Footprints in the Community, both located in Salisbury, and to the Forsyth Backpack Program in Winston-Salem.

The three nonprofits were chosen to receive donations based on employees’ recommendations, said John Struzick, manufacturing financial manager for Innospec’s Salisbury and High Point facilities.

This year, the Innospec Cares initiative is supporting employees’ charitable work by making $150,000 available worldwide through matching funds and direct donations to nonprofits. This funding is available in addition to donations already being made by operating units throughout the world.

“Innospec cares.  It’s not just a slogan or a program, but a fact,” Struzick said. “Our Salisbury and High Point employees are thrilled to have Rowan Helping Ministries, Footprints In The Community and Forsyth Backpack chosen to receive donations from Innospec Cares.”

Kyna Grubb, executive director of Rowan Helping Ministries, said that the local plant and its employees have been involved in her agency for several years through their financial donations and canned food drives. Rowan Helping Ministries provides a homeless shelter, Jeannie’s Kitchen, food pantry, clothing center and financial assistance for Rowan County residents who are homeless or experiencing financial crises.

“Innospec’s local facility and its individual employees have been loyal and generous supporters of Rowan Helping Ministries,” Grubb said. “We value them as community partners in serving the needs of low-income individuals and families in Rowan County.”

The Forsyth Backpack Program provides food in backpacks to chronically hungry school kids on weekends and over long school breaks. Footprints in the Community is a nonprofit agency committed to improving community access for children with disabilities.

“The generosity of Innospec and its employees will allow us to reach more children with special needs and their families to offer more opportunities for them to access their community,” said Ashley Morgan Deaton of Footprints in the Community.

Innospec Inc. is an international specialty chemicals company with approximately 1,300 employees in 20 countries. Innospec manufactures and supplies a wide range of specialty chemicals to markets in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. In North Carolina, Innospec manufactures ingredients for personal care products – body washes, sunscreens, deodorants and many others.