Racine-based SC Johnson has announced it will donate at least $15 million worth of its pest control products over the next year to help needy families protect themselves against the Zika virus.
The company, which manufactures products including OFF!, Raid, Autan and Baygon, will donate the supplies to international non-governmental organizations working to prevent the spread of Zika in several countries, which is primarily transmitted by mosquito bite and has been linked to birth defects among pregnant women.
“The people who work at SCJ and I feel a strong commitment to helping ensure pest control products are provided to help protect needy families from the mosquitoes that may carry these diseases,” said Fisk Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of SC Johnson. “Since the Zika outbreak began in Brazil and has spread to other countries, we have ramped up our global production to help ensure an adequate supply of our products is available in stores, and more importantly, for a donation such as this. We are proud that this donation will help those who are especially vulnerable to the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases.”
SC Johnson last week announced it has donated 54,000 cans of OFF! to the County of Hawaii Civil Defense Agency to fight a dengue fever outbreak there.
SC Johnson also manufactures household cleanings, storage, air care and shoe care products. It has more than 13,000 employees around the world and sells products in almost every country. It has about $10 billion in annual sales. The company is in the midst of relocating 175 employees to Chicago and renovating its global headquarters campus in Racine in a $50 million to $80 million project.
