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Plant Spartanburg

Social Responsibility.

BMW Manufacturing is proud to reside in South Carolina and to support non-profit organizations in the communities where our associates live and work. Over the last two decades, BMW Manufacturing has donated more than $40 million to educational, cultural and civic programs across the Upstate, as well as a number of local and statewide organizations.

BMW is also proud to serve as title sponsor of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX Corporation. The annual golf tournament, which is operated by South Carolina Charities, Inc., is the only tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Korn Ferry Tour professionals in a four-day better-ball competition, while also raising funds for and awareness of local charities. Since 2001, the tournament has distributed $15 million to numerous Upstate SC non-profit organizations, part of the PGA TOUR's $3 billion raised for charity.

At BMW, we believe every partnership is an instrument of change. Each contribution is a reflection of our principles and commitment to responsible action. For this reason, we like to support programs that have a long-term, sustainable impact on our community. Programs typically align with one of the following four categories:

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education.

BMW is working with schools to develop and expand STEM learning programs, especially among females and minorities, to help develop and train the manufacturing workforce of tomorrow. STEM education is critical to meeting this need because the workforce of tomorrow must possess a high level of expertise and critical thinking skills, as well as an ability to innovate and adapt to changing technologies.

Sustainability.

Sustainability is firmly embedded in our culture and corporate strategy. Preservation of natural green space and protection of the natural environment are areas of focus for us. Additionally, BMW is committed to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact and has systematically implemented its Ten Principles at BMW locations worldwide, including Plant Spartanburg. BMW’s sustainability strategy also supports the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015.  

Road Safety.

Road safety is a top concern at BMW. Our goal is to inspire and ensure safe and sustainable mobility journeys both now and in the future.

Cultural Engagement.

The freedom to be creative is of the utmost importance. Creative expression is equally important for the field of art as it is for ground-breaking innovations within a business. BMW is pleased to support local arts councils, museums, theaters, festivals and more.    

 

OUR CONTRIBUTORS.

In 2017, BMW Manufacturing committed to give $300,000 to fund the Project Lead the Way programs for a three-year period at John E. Ewing, Gaffney, Blacksburg, and Granard middle schools in Cherokee County, South Carolina. Project Lead the Way is a nonprofit organization that provides science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) education to students in schools nationwide. BMW realized there was a gap to be filled, Project Lead the way was already available at middle schools in Spartanburg and Greenville Counties, but not in Cherokee County. Primary, secondary and higher education are essential in creating the next generation of innovators and to move South Carolina communities forward through future advances in technology and automation.

Since 1999, BMW Manufacturing has been a sponsor of the annual South Carolina Teacher of the Year gala. The event is a testament to the daily dedication and commitment of South Carolina’s educators. Congratulations to 2025 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, Braden Wilson, a Social Studies teacher at Palmetto Middle School in Anderson School Distric One. 

As part of the celebration, BMW Manufacturing, the program’s premier sponsor, handed Wilson the keys to a 2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i. The Manhattan Green Metallic BMW X5 presented to Braden Wilson has Black Sensafin Upholstery with the 22-inch M double-spoke bi-color wheels. It includes the M Sport Package, panaromic Sky Lounge LED roof, and the BMW Curved Display with configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 14.9-inch central information display. This year is the 25th anniversary of the BMW X5. Wilson will drive the X5 during her year-long sabbatical from the classroom as South Carolina’s public education ambassador. 

Along with the use of a BMW X5  for one year, Wilson receives a $25,000 cash award, a set of Micheln tires, a Bojangles $2,000 award, an exclusive Jostens Teacher of the Year ring, and complimentary admission to participate in Leadership South Carolina. She will officially serve as the state spokeperson for over 50,000 educators.

BMW is one of the founding partners of the Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program, a national initiative to increase the pool of available teachers from diverse cultures. The opportunity to partner with Clemson University to address the critical need to build the talent pool of outstanding teachers supports BMW’s ongoing commitment to extensive community involvement, specifically in the area of education and diversity. For more information, visit the Call Me MISTER program.

Arts and other cultural activities are engines for economic growth, and BMW is actively involved in arts and cultural partnerships throughout South Carolina. One of the many cultural initiatives that BMW supports is the South Carolina’s Children’s Theater Bullying Prevention program. The program assists in bullying prevention efforts for elementary and middle school aged children.

In 2018, BMW invested $1 million in the International African American Museum (IAAM) located in Charleston, South Carolina. BMW focuses on diversity not only locally, but globally. The historical education that the IAAM will provide has significance beyond the state border. The investment will be recognized in the Orientation Theater, where guests will begin their exploration of the IAAM. Here, visitors will watch videos that provide essential historical context to the museum’s location at the former site of Gadsen’s Wharf.

BMW Associates and families volunteer at Trees Upstate tree planting event.

BMW’s environmental concern extends well beyond the plant. By partnering with local organizations we proactively support environmental initiatives in the state of South Carolina. BMW is an annual corporate partner with the Nature Conservancy, who is dedicated to preserving the plants, animals and eco-systems of the Upstate. Together with the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, the BMW Conservation Award was created. This award is given annually to individuals who have made lifetime contributions to protecting South Carolina’s natural, historic and cultural resources. In addition, BMW has teamed with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) in a variety of ways. Ongoing corporate sponsorship of the SCWF helps develop and preserve natural habitats throughout the state. As a member of the Wildlife And Industry Together (W.A.I.T.) program, the BMW facility is serving as a model for on-site conservation.

Another aspect of corporate sustainably is associate engagement. Our associates volunteer annually for the BMW tree planting organized by TreesUpstate. Since the first event in 2014, over 100 trees have been planted at Skyland Elementary and Century Park in Greer, South Carolina. BMW takes on the responsibility for the purchasing, planting and watering of the trees through the first watering season. The trees benefit the local community by the reduction of greenhouse gases and the energy needed for cooling, meanwhile providing an increase in oxygen and habitat for wildlife.

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