ANDREW SELKER

“I think we helped show the kids that hard work pays off.”

Bayer is committed to its community. In fact, they have a strong partnership with United Way and allow employees to take two days off a year to participate in community service.

Andrew Selker, Assistant Analyst II, Bayer, was inspired by United Way’s Companies in the Classroom program, where local organizations go into schools to help with projects, work with kids, and organize fun and educational activities. The program allows professionals to do meaningful work in the community and connects local students with positive role models through engaging opportunities.

“Bayer was looking for someone to lead and organize a garden project through United Way’s Companies in the Classroom at Sto-Rox Elementary School. I decided to step up and take the lead on that last fall,” Andrew explained.

Every year, a Sto-Rox teacher, Michael Gupp (winner of a United Way’s Be There Award https://test.uwswpa.org/be-there-awardee-goes-above-and-beyond-for-sto-rox-kids/), engages students in gardening and landscaping at the school. With kids of all grade levels helping out and a lot of manual labor to be done, the volunteers from Bayer stepped up to help the school complete the project.

“While we were there, the kids took a nature hike, they learned about gardening, and it got them outside being active with their teachers, friends and the volunteers from Bayer,” Andrew said. “This is something they’ll see every day as they walk into school. We all worked hard together, and now our school looks so much better.”

Bayer teams up with Sto-Rox Elementary in other ways throughout the year with help from United Way. Students have taken field trips to Bayer’s offices and employees have talked to students about different STEM careers and opportunities.

If your organization would like to get involved with United Way’s Adopt-a-School or Companies in the Classroom, visit https://test.uwswpa.org/be-a-volunteer/#corporationsection.