Merck employees in Pennsylvania participate in an annual stream clean-up.

At Merck, we aim to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we work and live by supporting a wide range of charitable, educational and environmental initiatives. Together with our employees, Merck, its subsidiaries and The Merck Company Foundation touch the lives of millions of people across the globe.

Merck's community-focused programs include:

• Supporting Employee Giving - Merck provides the opportunity for US and Puerto Rico-based employees and retirees to contribute directly to their communities through the Company's year-round Partnership for Giving matching funds program. Merck employees also give back to their communities directly by participating in blood drives and other local initiatives.
• Neighbor of Choice - Merck's Neighbor of Choice program aims to build trustworthy and sustainable relationships with neighbors and key individuals and groups in locations where Merck facilities are located.
• Champions for the Environment Program - Merck's Champions for the Environment grant award program supports local environmental projects in which Merck employees work alongside community volunteers.
• The Merck Pro Bono Program - The Merck Pro Bono Program is a nationally recognized program that provides pro bono legal services to residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania who could not otherwise afford legal representation.
• Disaster Relief - When appropriate, Merck's Office of Contributions provides disaster relief as part of our philanthropic outreach. Relief efforts often include donations of medicines, working through established channels and with trusted partners.
• The Children's Inn - The Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., provides a "home away from home" for seriously ill children undergoing treatment at any one of 13 NIH Institutes and their families. Merck provided funding for the initial construction of the Inn and The Merck Company Foundation provided an additional $3.7 million towards its 2004 expansion. In 2005 with financial support from The Merck Company Foundation, the NIH opened the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge on its campus in Bethesda, Md.,  to offer a temporary residence for families and loved ones of adult patients who are receiving care at the NIH Clinical Center.
• Local Initiatives - Merck offices around the world are involved in their communities in many other ways. To view examples of local activities, click here.