Matson community giving tops $3.7M in 2017

GUAM—Matson contributed a total of more than $3.7 million in cash and in-kind donations to charitable organizations and community efforts in the communities it serves in 2017, with more than $310,000 in cash, services and equipment going to support Guam, Micronesia and South Pacific island organizations.

“One of our core values at Matson is contributing positively to the communities in which we work and live. It’s not a slogan; we try to live our values and last year, I’m proud to say on behalf of all Matson employees, we contributed more than ever,” said Matt Cox, chairman and CEO.

Last year, Matson supported 88 Guam and Micronesia organizations and 21 South Pacific organizations providing community resources in human services; youth development/recreation; community improvement/disaster preparedness; education; cultural and the arts; environmental preservation; agriculture and nutrition; and maritime safety.

Matson continues to fulfill a five-year $50,000 scholarship program supporting post-secondary scholarships in Guam and Micronesia.

“The Matson Guam team is very proud to be a part of a company that believes in enhancing the lives of our employees, customers and the people in the communities we serve,” said Bernie Valencia, vice president and general manager, Guam and Micronesia. “We would also like to thank the charitable organizations we’ve worked with this past year for their good work, especially in the areas of education and environmental and cultural preservation. We will continue to be good stewards of the environment and to make Micronesia a better place for all of us who call it home.”

Matson also supported public safety efforts in American Samoa, women’s leadership programs in FSM and RMI as well as local sports, including rugby and outrigger canoe paddling.

In addition to Matson’s cash donations, major in-kind support included donated or discounted shipping of medical equipment and supplies to Palau, Pohnpei and Majuro.

Matson’s environmental program, Adahi I Tano’ (caring for the land), marked its fifth year by partnering with 24 Guam organizations—generally sports and student groups—each earning $500 for weekend clean-ups, removing trash and debris from public areas. Since the program began, Adahi I Tano’ has benefited 78 different charities.

Detailed information on Matson’s 2017 giving is available in its annual giving report, Manifest, posted on the company’s website at https://www.matson.com/foundation/index.html.

Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the economies of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Micronesia and select South Pacific islands, and operates a premium, expedited service from China to Southern California.

The company’s fleet of 22 owned vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson’s transportation network throughout the continental U.S. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, and less-than-container load freight consolidation and forwarding to Alaska.

Additional information about Matson, Inc. is available at www.matson.com. (PR)