Company: Monsanto Company
Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri
Industry: Agriculture
Company Size: Large (annual revenues of more than $250 million)

"By combining the energies of our employees with those of the Metro Theater Company we are able to enrich the educational experiences of children and their families living in rural communities who have limited opportunities to experience the magic of theater."

- Hugh Grant, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Monsanto Company

Objectives
The company supports the arts as part of its mission "to improve the quality of life of the communities in which its employees live and work." It believes the arts are essential to create a rich, vibrant community with a special emphasis on rural areas throughout the Midwest known as "seed sites," where it conducts research and produces seeds.

Process

• In 1999 Monsanto collaborated with Metro Theater Company, St. Louis, MO, to create a touring theater program - Rural Residency Program. It offers children and parents living in 20 rural communities in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska with opportunities to experience live theater performances - often for the first time.
• Metro Theater Company established a one-week residency in each community that included an array of activities tailored to the community's needs, such as in-school and public performances presented in community venues, classroom workshops with members of Metro Theater Company and opportunities for high school students to develop leadership skills and self-expression through theater arts.
• Special workshops for teachers were also offered to help them develop ways to incorporate the arts into the curriculum and to develop public programs featuring the arts in community centers and auditoriums.
• Monsanto regional managers and local seed site plant managers were encouraged to become involved with the project by suggesting locations, conducting advanced visits, hosting events and serving as a liaison among the schools, community agencies and Metro Theater Company to help tailor the program to each community's needs.

Results
By creating a multi-faceted partnership with Metro Theater Company, Monsanto Company has enriched the educational experiences of children and their families, as well as the quality of life in rural communities. This partnership has also helped Metro Theater Company develop an interest in theater among children who might not otherwise have the experience of meeting artists and/or seeing a live performance. (2004)

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