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Philanthropy

Philanthropy is a part of the company’s legacy, with over 65 years of giving back to the communities where our associates live and work.

R.T. Crane emphasized and focused on the importance of corporate citizenship and giving -- not just monetarily, but through volunteerism in support of local communities. He strongly believed that “the possession of great wealth brought with it a great obligation,” and that organizations should focus on improving the lives of others while also making a positive impact on the world.

At no time in Crane’s life was this his belief in corporate responsibility more apparent than during the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Tragically, the fire took a devastating toll on the city that R.T. Crane and the company called home. Though Crane’s facilities were spared given their location on the west side of the Chicago River, the fire was ultimately responsible for taking 300 lives, destroying nearly 18,000 buildings and leaving approximately 100,000 homeless. It also completely destroyed the city’s water works, leaving Chicago and its inhabitants without a water source. Driven by his keen social conscience and sense of civic duty, Crane decided it was time to begin repaying a debt to the city that gave him an extraordinary opportunity when he was penniless and young. To that end, Crane utilized a number of his large steam pumps, which he placed at the foot of Madison Avenue on the Chicago River. Relying on steam produced from a locomotive, Crane continuously ran the steam pumps day and night until the city’s water works were back up and running again. While our efforts today are not supporting full cities, the company continues with these values in mind.

Volunteerism

Crane associates have a continued commitment to volunteerism, supporting the communities in which they live and work. The volunteer hours are paid time off during the normal workday, taking time away from the office or manufacturing floor to serve our communities. Volunteer efforts span a wide variety of categories and event types, but some frequent events include distributing food at local food banks, spending time with orphans or the elderly, and running waste cleanup events throughout our communities.

2021 Volunteerism Statistics

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15,700

More than 15,700 associate volunteer hours

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760

More than 760 global volunteer events

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19

Countries participated in volunteer events

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290

More than 290 organizations served through volunteerism

Up 109% compared to 2019

Volunteerism Highlight – 2022 Earth Day

In 2022, our global associates celebrated Earth Day in their local communities. While the events are fully organic and not advertised or promoted by the Corporate office, many sites chose to help the environment on this special day. Over 800 hours were donated across 5 countries with events focused on litter pick-up and planting trees.

a volunteer picking up trash on the sidewalk
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The day after the litter picking I took a walk to the area and it felt so great to know that I was a part of a team that made a difference for everyone to enjoy and feel free to have a walk around a clean park. Also, it was a really fun experience; I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in volunteering.

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— Marios Bailos, Design Engineer, Crane Payment Innovations, Chippenham, UK

Monetary Support

In 1904, R.T. Crane said “a loyal employee gives something besides his labor and the employer should recognize that fact,” and toward the end of his life he set aside one million dollars as a fund for “the purpose of taking care of my men”. Two years after R.T. Crane’s death, members of his family honored his wish by establishing The Crane Fund to “provide a means for giving support to deserving and needy employees after they have, by reason of age or disability, become unable to engage in active work”. The Crane Fund, along with two other company-administered charitable entities, lives on as a lesson in the power of individual leadership and responsibility.

2021 Statistics

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590

More than 590 charitable organizations received donations from the Funds

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$18.1M

More than $18.1 million donated to charitable organizations and financially burdened former employees

The Crane Fund

Established in 1914 as a private charitable trust, The Crane Fund grants aid to former employees of Crane and their dependents who are unable to be self-supporting because of age or physical disability. The Crane Fund is administered by a Board of Trustees and a Pension Committee, both appointed by Crane’s Board of Directors. For more information, please contact The Crane Fund.

Tel: +1 201 585 0888

2021 Statistics

~1,200

recipients supported

Associates across 10 countries

Thank You Quotes from Recipients

“I just wanted to say again how grateful I am to The Crane Fund for this wonderful gift. I simply do not know how I would manage without it. It gives me such a better and happier way of life and I need you to know that I appreciate it so very much.”

— VIOLET

“Payments from the Crane Fund have been the difference between keeping up with extra medical expenses, and barely scraping by.”

— DIANE

“Crane Fund, there are no words to let you know how much your support means to me and my family. Thank y’all so much. What a great bunch you are!”

— JOEY

The Crane Fund for Widows and Children

The Crane Fund for Widows and Children (CFWC) makes contributions to non-profit charitable organizations that provide direct assistance to the underserved populations in the communities where Crane Co. operates or where our associates have a direct connection. This fund touches the lives of many through its efforts to support issues around food insecurity, affordable housing, education, health, environmental protection, animal welfare, and many other worthy causes. The CFWC donates over $2 Million annually.

Highlighted Charity: FOCOS

FOCOS Mission

To provide comprehensive, affordable orthopaedic care to those who would not otherwise have access to such treatment. In particular, FOCOS seeks to enhance access to optimal surgical and non-surgical care for patients with disabling musculoskeletal disorders including complex spine deformities and pediatric orthopaedic problems in underserved regions.

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photo shoot with a focos recipient
group photo of focos receipients

Dr. Boachie-Adjei came to the US from Ghana as an immigrant with limited means who put himself through medical school and became a world class spine surgeon, taking on the most difficult of cases. Dr. Boachie-Adjei’s non-profit charity in Ghana, Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS), supplies free spine surgeries to the needy in the region. The organization has grown over the years with its own small hospital and Dr. Boachie has trained other surgeons in these complex surgeries. The team has treated over 75,000 cases from all over the world (across 55 countries and 6 continents) and operates based on private donations since the healthcare industry in Ghana is significantly underdeveloped.

One of the children the Funds supported was six year old Eucine, from the Ashanti region of Ghana. Her deformity was noted at eleven months old and she was unable to walk or crawl until the age of three. Despite the family’s attempts at four other hospitals, they were unsuccessful at finding a diagnosis or cure for Eucine’s spinal deformity. Upon reciving a recommendation to try FOCOS, the family found the answers and treatment plan they were looking for, but didn’t have the funds to cover it – that’s where the Crane Funds came in, to cover the cost of her surgery and treatment. According to the family, Eucine’s levels of confidence and independence have drastically increased upon recovering from the surgery which would not be possible without the help of the Crane Funds.

Eucine's photo

The Crane Foundation

Created in 1951, the Crane Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that focuses its donations on aiding underserved communities, natural disaster relief, and education. Donations are made to 501(c)(3)s and equivalent foreign organizations, working with partners such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. The Foundation supports Crane associates through a matching gifts program as well; providing a 1:1 match for any donation made by an associate to an accredited US educational institution.

Partnerships Honoring Our Founder

R.T. Crane Medical Prep High School
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We are incredibly grateful to The Crane Foundation for its support of our students who are passionate about science and medicine but may not otherwise have the resources to pursue their career goals. We are equally thrilled to launch this program to develop important, real-world career skills as students earn certifications in Revenue Cycle Management, one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare today.

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– Fareeda Shabazz, former Principal of Richard T. Crane
Medical Prep High School.

In 1891, Crane introduced manual training to Chicago’s grade schools, eventually establishing five such schools during his lifetime, and donating liberally for scholarships to help train public school teachers in mechanical instruction. In 1903, the English High and Manual Training School was renamed Crane Technical Prep School in honor of R.T. Crane; the school is now known as the Richard T. Crane Medical Preparatory School (RTC). RTC is a magnet high school that offers a full and articulated college preparatory curriculum and rigorous career coursework focused on the health sciences to students across the city. This curriculum includes a comprehensive science and mathematics sequence and competitive dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses which arm students with an essential academic foundation.

In 2021, Crane Co. discovered this school and the connected history and decided to form a partnership to support the school’s students by sponsoring a summer program for valuable experience-based learning opportunities and applicable certifications. The donation made covered all costs for the administration of and equipment for a Revenue Cycle Management certification training program. The program consisted of a six-week internship, including shadowing sessions with medical professionals, workforce development sessions, a lecture series on a variety of healthcare professions, and clinical workshops. This program is hosted by the Chicago-Based Rush University Medical Center and Lurie Children’s Hospital. Throughout the program, students receive training, support, and professional experience to help them develop employable skills in the healthcare industry, and upon receiving their certifications in Revenue Cycle Management, students are well positioned for strong career opportunities. All course materials and equipment are provided to participants free of charge.

While the inaugural program took place in 2021 with 16 students participating, the Crane Foundation renewed the funding to sponsor the program again in 2022. In addition, the Foundation has expanded its 2022 contributions to include sponsorship for additional certifications, tutoring, and new STEM lab equipment for the school’s students.

You can read more about the start of this relationship and the school in the press release issued in March of 2021.

Project H.O.O.D.

The Crane Foundation, Inc. made a donation to Chicago-based Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny) located in the O-block, a notoriously dangerous neighborhood on the South Side of the city. This organization has the goal to end the cycle of poverty, violence, and incarceration through programing focused on mentorship, training, and community.

They are currently running a campaign to build a “Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center” to serve as a central and safe gathering place for the community. In addition to a general place of safe congregation, the facility will also house services including: sports, educational classes, counseling, and programming on evenings and weekends. The Crane Foundation is proud to be able to contribute $100,000 to their $35 M goal to make this dream a reality. This donation also ties into R.T. Crane’s legacy in terms of his views on education; Project H.O.O.D. has a large focus on entrepreneurial programs and conducts training and certification programs for their participants to gain practical and employable job skills without a need for sometimes unobtainable higher education. Learn more about Project H.O.O.D. here.

two people holding a project HOOD cheque

You can find out more about this donation and Crane’s history in Chicago within this press release from March of 2022.