Chemtura is holding ts ninth annual Chemtura for Kids picnic today to benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC).

The company, located on a sprawling campus in Middlebury, is “a global specialty chemicals company…with leading positions in diversified markets,” according to its website.

 “Most of our chemicals are used to enhance other products' production and performance,” communications specialist Tom Cibua said. “We also have a division that focuses on pool and spa products and a segment that produces chemicals for the agricultural/farming industry.”

The company employs approximately 4,500 people at 30 locations around the world, Ciuba said. The Middlebury office houses several non-chemical departments, including legal, human resources, and environmental health and safety.

Employees say what sets Chemtura apart is its commitment to the communities surrounding it, and to the global community.

“As a company with an international footprint, the Chemtura culture is to actively participate to improve the communities we work in,”  Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller Kevin Mahoney said.

Lynn Zdonis, a human resources employee who has worked at Chemtura and its predecessor since 1972, said “I’ve been here a very long time, for very many changes, but the basic environment of the employees has always been very giving,” she said.

Chemtura for Kids is organized by Tom Palomba, Chemtura’s corporate wellness director. Palomba is a member of the Fun Team, a committee made up of employees who organize bus trips, bring in vendors, and organize many of the community service projects that employees participate in.

“[The picnic] is one of our biggest company-wide events that involves everyone and has some fun attached to it,” Palomba said.

While there is no admission charge, employees make donations by purchasing  raffle tickets, participating in Bingo, or paying for games such as the Dunk Tank, which usually contains an executive.

“I volunteer to serve food and for the dunk tank, because no one’s ever happy with IT,” Vice President and Chief Information Officer Doug Debrecht said.

“I get Bingo; that’s always a big hit,” administrative assistant Charlene Hollo said.

Through the years, Chemtura has donated between $1,800 and $2,500 to CCMC.

The picnic is just one of many charitable causes that the people of Chemtura come together to support.

Debrecht is the head of the company’s United Way campaign, which Controller of Intercompany Accounting and International Projects Jenni Sullivan says is the company’s only official charity project.

“I hesitate to call it that, but it is the only one that is sponsored from the top down,” Debrecht said.

“Chemtura Corporation has been one of our top 3 annual campaign contributors since 2005,” said Janet Collins, director of major gifts at United Way Greater Waterbury.

Each November, the United Way organizer, who is selected annually by the chairman, facilitates several activities, such as raffles and silent auctions over the course of several weeks to raise money for United Way. He or she also solicits pledges from employees, which the company matches.

John Gustavsen, manager of corporate communications, said “We continue to support United Way's focus on the building blocks for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and ensuring our most basic needs are met.”

This year, the Middlebury office donated over $133,00 to United Way in 2010: $83,176 from employees and a $50,000 corporate donation. The company was awarded the Spirit of Excellence Award for their campaign.

“This award is presented annually to a company that completes a well-organized, effective campaign that yields a positive, enduring legacy for years to come,” Collins said. “It is a sincere pleasure to both experience and work with this highly motivated campaign team as they come together to advance the common good.”

For the past year and a half, focus has shifted within the company to getting out of bankruptcy, which it declared in 2009, Debrecht said. The company has since recovered.

“Community service didn’t drop off the radar [during the bankruptcy period], but community events were more sponsored by individuals,” he said. “…a lot of them have a great passion for it.”

Palomba said that while the picnic is “my baby,” he is involved in many other charitable events, including spring, fall, and Christmas plant sales for various cancer charities, the Chemtura team for the Connecticut Challenge bike ride for cancer survivors, and a stationary bike ride for Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in honor of a late employee of Chemtura.

“A lot of this takes people,” Palomba said. “We get a good group of people. Unfortunately, it’s the same old people, but we are always trying to get more people involved. It demands a lot on people’s time.”

Hollo found out how much her coworkers were willing to give when she started a Relay for Life team in 2010.

The company had several in-house fundraisers, including selling bracelets, bake sales, and “Spin for a Cure” events. The team raised enough to win the trophy for 2010 Relay for Life of Waterbury Top Rookie Team.

This year, they added several additional fundraisers, such as a cook book containing recipes compiled from all of Chemtura’s US branches. The team raised close to $8,000 and once again won a trophy.

Palomba said organizing Relay, which is an all-night event at Crosby High School in Waterbury, is “tough. That’s even harder than the picnic because it’s hard to get people to commit.”

Despite this, Hollo said it was nice to have a few new people show up this year.

“Unless you’ve done Relay, you really don’t know what it’s about,” she said.

Hollo is a cancer survivor and finds that the project “hits home” for a lot of Chemtura employees.

“I wanted to do this and I did it and it’s been pretty amazing,” Hollo said. “Everybody—not just HR—is supportive. [Chemtura is] your family; that’s how I look at it.”

Zdonis said her coworkers understand that “no matter race or religion, everyone needs help. It’s a lesson you don’t learn in college, or anywhere else but in the street.”

In 2009, Zdonis partnered with the Courtyard in Waterbury to organize a Trick or Treat Food Drive at Chemtura to collect non perishable food items for Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries (GWIM).

“Chemtura's support of GWIM during this charitable food drive has gone unmatched,” said Peter Marinelli, the former Corporate Sales Manager at Courtyard in Waterbury who approached Chemtura about the project. “In both 2009 and 2010, their generous contributions have filled an entire van with food for Waterbury's less fortunate. Chemtura is the perfect example of a corporate partner that recognizes the importance of community involvement and charitable giving.”

Nicole Langford, a donor services representative from Soles 4 Souls, agreed.

“Chemtura seemed to be a very giving organization, who just wants to help out, no matter who it’s for!” she said.

Nancy Cuoco, executive assistant to the CEO of Chemtura, worked with Langford to bring a Soles 4 Souls shoe drive. Originally a fundraiser for Haiti, Cuoco expanded the reach of the program this year.

“I remember speaking with Nancy and her telling me there was no specific area they wanted their shoes sent, just as long as they went to those in need,” Langford said. “She was a piece of cake to work with, and [I] truly hope to work with them again soon.”

Chemtura employees donated 1179 pairs of shoes this year. The majority of the shoes came from Middlebury employees, but some were donated by suppliers to the company such as Xerox and Chemtura’s Philadephia office. The company paid for the cost of shipping.

To approve any community project, Cuoco said employees must run it by the executive committee, but that they are “always supportive.”

Despite the already full schedule, Sullivan said the finance department will soon be adding more activities to its options for community service, including allowing employees to take the morning or afternoon off to sort food at the Connecticut Food Bank.

“The company supports community projects and that enhances employee engagement and morale,” Mahoney said.

Ciuba agreed.

“I’ve only been here a month and just the number of things upcoming I’ve gotten wind of is incredible,” Ciuba said. “It’s a model that is followed at all of our locations.”