Dec 20, 2017

BASF donation helps ag employees impacted by wildfires

BASF donated $10,000 to the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation’s Ag Employee Wildfire Relief Fund The donation will be used to help ag employees working in Sonoma County California vineyards that have lost or experienced devastating damage to their homes because of the ongoing wildfires.

“The emotional and financial toll these wildfires are having on those living and working in their path is unfathomable,” said Dennis Devitt, BASF Value Chain Specialist. “While BASF is a global company, we recognize the importance of helping locally during times of great need. Our employees in and around Sonoma County were eager to partner with the Foundation to help with relief efforts. We want to do our part to support the hardworking employees and their families in California wine country.”

Since the wildfires began in Sonoma County, more than 100,000 residents county-wide were displaced from their homes, with many permanently losing their homes. At present count, 5,100 homes across Sonoma County were destroyed. The Ag Employee Wildfire Relief Fund provides ag employees displaced by the fire with housing and financial support.

“Our ag employees are the heart and soul of Sonoma County agriculture and the wine community,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers and the executive director of the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation. “We appreciate the support of community leaders and organizations such as BASF whose donation will provide much needed support to these employees and their families as they work to re-establish their homes and communities.”

To learn more about the Foundation and its wildfire relief efforts, visit here.