Driving Dignity: How Kia’s Corporate Donation is Helping Fight Hygiene Poverty

Partner Spotlight: Kia America and the Accelerate the Good Program

At Giving the Basics, we fight hygiene poverty—the lack of access to essential hygiene products like soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. These basic items may seem small, but for the children, families, and individuals we serve, they are life-changing.

Through the support of corporate donations, we’re able to reach more people, distribute more products, and expand our impact through Kansas, Missouri, and numerous other states across the country. One of the companies helping us do just that is Kia America.

Kia’s Corporate Giving is Fueling Change

As part of their national Accelerate the Good initiative, Kia America provides regional grants to nonprofit organizations that are making a real difference. When their Central Region team looked for partners to support, Giving the Basics was a natural fit.

“Giving the Basics helps people with basic, but critical, needs,” Russell Wager, vice president of marketing at Kia America shared. “Our goal was to find an organization aligned with our mission to deliver real community impact through corporate donations.”

Their generous support has allowed us to expand hygiene access to thousands of individuals struggling to meet their most fundamental needs—especially children in schools who are often too embarrassed to participate because they lack hygiene products.

A Shared Mission: Ending Hygiene Poverty

Hygiene poverty affects millions in the U.S., yet it often goes unseen. Children miss school, adults miss work, and families face shame over something as simple as not having soap or period products.

Kia America’s corporate giving strategy focuses on measurable social impact, and their investment in Giving the Basics aligns perfectly.

“Through Giving the Basics’ work to bring improved health, hope, and dignity to struggling children and adults, we knew they would be a great partner for us,” Wager said.

By supporting our mission, Kia is helping us to consistently meet the customized needs of more than 1,200 schools, shelters, police stations and pantries every single month. Their generosity has a ripple effect that is providing hygiene access to more than 3 million people.

Why Corporate Donations Matter—For Communities and Companies

At Giving the Basics, we see firsthand how corporate donations create lasting change for families in need—but we also know how powerful that support can be for the businesses who give.

Wager encourages other companies to get involved in the fight against hygiene poverty, emphasizing that the rewards go far beyond philanthropy:

“Supporting nonprofits like Giving the Basics is incredibly important. Providing hygiene products might seem simple, but many families are in crisis—and it’s comforting to know there’s a nonprofit actively helping during hard times.”

But the benefits aren’t just felt by the people receiving hygiene products. Corporate giving also creates real value for the companies doing the donating:

• ✅ Boosts Brand Reputation:
  Consumers and clients are increasingly loyal to brands that prioritize social impact. Partnering with a nonprofit like Giving the Basics demonstrates authentic commitment to addressing urgent community needs—like hygiene poverty—while strengthening public trust.
• ✅ Enhances Employee Engagement:
  Corporate donations often go hand-in-hand with volunteer opportunities and community involvement, which are proven to improve morale, retention, and team cohesion. When employees see their company making a tangible difference, they feel more connected to their work—and to each other.
• ✅ Creates Meaningful Community Partnerships:
  By supporting a mission-driven nonprofit, companies become part of a broader network of organizations working toward shared goals. These relationships can open doors for future collaborations, cross-sector partnerships, and new opportunities to make a difference locally.
• ✅ Drives Purpose-Driven Growth:
  Today’s customers—and employees—want to align with businesses that stand for something. Supporting nonprofits like Giving the Basics allows companies to live out their core values in visible, measurable ways, making social responsibility a foundational part of business strategy.

Gratitude for a Lasting Partnership

“Seeing the impact of our donation in the communities supported by Giving the Basics has been awesome,” Wager shared. “We’re proud to support their mission.”

We’re equally proud to call Kia a partner. Their belief in ending hygiene poverty through consistent, strategic giving is making a measurable difference.

To learn more about Kia’s Accelerate the Good initiative, visit
kia.com/acceleratethegood.

Be Part of the Solution

Your company can join Kia and others in the fight against hygiene poverty.

Whether through corporate donations of dollars or products, employee volunteerism, or product drives, your business can help restore dignity and change lives.