National Starch Photo Galleries

National Starch Campaign Team Thank you Event March 7, 2008

National Starch Poker Event November 16, 2007

National Starch Campaign Ice Cream Kick Off September, 2007

National Starch Campaign Picnic September, 2007

United Way, a National Starch Tradition

Somerset County United Way would like to thank National Starch and Chemical Company for all their support over the last 15 years.

Working toward fulfilling our mission to transform lives in Somerset County would not be possible without the steadfast support of National Starch and Chemical Company and its employees. Their generosity, dedication, and hard work have improved countless lives in our community. Martin Torbert, Chairman of the National Starch and Chemical Foundation and Somerset County United Way Board Member, explained, “It has been our privilege to work with Somerset County United Way. Their work is vital to this community, and we are extremely pleased to have been a part of their efforts. We look forward to continuing the relationship under the banners of our new owners.”

Collectively, National Starch and Chemical Company and its employees have contributed more than $13,000,000 to United Way since 1994. This tremendous outpouring of generosity, sustained over so many years, is a truly impressive accomplishment. And more than 75% of that total has gone straight into the Somerset County United Way Community Solutions Fund, helping improve lives across Somerset County.

In addition to the financial support, Somerset County has sustained an incredibly positive effect from the tireless efforts of National Starch and Chemical Company volunteers. The volunteers have donated, sorted, and organized thousands upon thousands of items for their neighbors in need. Few corporations are so committed as to drive collected food items to the local food bank and then sort them on the shelves. They have also cleaned, painted, landscaped, and done anything else necessary to help make this county a better place to live and work for everyone in the community. National Starch and Chemical Company holds several Day of Caring events every year, providing numerous opportunities for employees to volunteer out in the community.

Pat Piazza, recently retired Campaign Director of Somerset County United Way, who worked extensively with National Starch and Chemical, shared that, “It has truly been an honor to be involved with this company for 14 years. National Starch was the first account I worked on as a Somerset County United Way staff person, and I’ve been amazed at how far we’ve come together. It’s really about the people. The campaign chairs, United Way Board members, volunteers, retirees… the people at National Starch are amazing. We’ve enjoyed incredible support from every level, up to the CEO. They’ve always gone above and beyond the call of duty to help our United Way and our community.”

National Starch and Chemical Company is unique in the breadth and depth of their involvement with Somerset County United Way. Their campaign kicks off with huge, company-wide picnic, the most recent of which included softball and horseshoe tournaments, lunch, and a soak-an-executive ball toss game. For two years, the National Starch and Chemical Company campaign has ended with a bang at the Annual National Starch Texas Hold’em Charity Poker event, which in 2008 alone raised $4,600.

But it’s not all fun and games. In the wake of several flooding events in Manville and Bound Brook, the most severe being Hurricane Floyd in 1999, National Starch and Chemical Company has reached even deeper in financial and volunteer support and came to the aid of the community even as their own site was flooded.

Even in this time of transition, as new parent companies obtain the rich history of National Starch and Chemical Company, the extraordinary employees plan on continuing and extending National Starch and Chemical Company’s tradition of involvement with the community.

Again, Somerset County United Way extends the deepest gratitude to National Starch and Chemical Company and its employees for their longstanding and ongoing support.