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Social conscience alive, 
well at Pfizer

Fears funds would be cut prove unfounded
Monday, July 2, 2001

By Tim O’Reiley
Daily RecordLike many of her colleagues running private social service groups, Betsy Hall shuddered a little when Pfizer took over Warner-Lambert Co. one year ago.

Warner-Lambert had supported the Morristown shelter that she heads, Homeless Solutions, for a number of years. Even though Pfizer had a well-established corporate donation program in place, Hall was well aware that local groups often lose when a headquarters disappears.

"The whole community was nervous," she said. "Pfizer has a broader audience to respond to."




Rosemary Gilmartin, left, executive director of the Interfaith Food Pantry, and Wendy Lazarus, director of community relations at Pfizer, discuss sorting food for the needy. Photo by John Bell / Daily Record

However, the company kept the promises that Warner-Lambert had made and added $25,000 this year for a campaign to raise money for low-income housing.

"Pfizer has turned out to be a good supporter," Hall said.

Other agencies have reported much the same outcome, in line with the policy that Pfizer has followed since arriving. It has maintained the same level of New Jersey philanthropy as Warner-Lambert — $1.5 million to $2 million a year, director of community relations Wendy M. Lazarus said — and will honor all of Warner-Lambert’s multiyear commitments.

Even when it comes to year-to-year funding recipients, "there is no one we’ve said no to at this point," Lazarus said.

"People thought of Pfizer as making a hostile takeover of Warner-Lambert," she said. "My job is not only to tell about the good things, but also that Pfizer is a leader in the community."

Already, however, one style difference has emerged. Pfizer targets its checks more toward specific projects with high visibility. For example, both companies gave the same amount to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra — in the $50,000 to $100,000 range, spokesman Brian Skwirut said — although the orchestra does not disclose the exact amount.

However, Warner-Lambert aimed its money at a program to bring classical music to inner-city youth, while Pfizer chose to co-sponsor a series of four free outdoor concerts that started Wednesday.

For its money, Pfizer not only gets an onstage banner, but also a table at the exhibitors’ village. "It is great exposure," Skwirut said.

James F. Quinn, executive vice president of the Morristown Memorial Health Foundation, the fundraising wing of Morristown Memorial Hospital, said, "This is not unlike where many companies are going.

"Companies want to be more able to see the outcome. And corporate philanthropy tends to be tied a lot to marketing now."

It is too early to say whether this will affect the hospital, Quinn said. Pfizer is completing the final two years of a seven-year pact to give $70,000 a year but has not looked beyond that.

Other specific grants include:

n $25,000 to Hope House in Dover, a part of the Catholic Diocese of Paterson, to fund architectural and engineering studies to renovate its building.

n $100,000 to the United Way to back child-care programs, in addition to regular annual donations. United Way of Morris County’s chief professional officer, Nancy McDaniel, said the need arose in the wake of mergers that have swept away several other corporate headquarters in the area, reducing contributions in recent years.

n Contracting with Employment Horizons in the Cedar Knolls section of Hanover to package promotional products for handouts at events, such as fundraising walks and races. The agency, which gives job training to the disabled, did not disclose the amount.

n Backing or looking at ways to help science classes in Parsippany, Morris Township and Morris Plains.

"It’s nice to feel attached to a program and nice for colleagues to feel attached," Lazarus said.

Dennis O’Brien of Chester, who retired in September as vice president of finance for consumer health care after a 35-year career at Warner-Lambert, has solicited Pfizer on behalf of Fairleigh Dickinson University, his alma mater.

"Pfizer appears to be picking up where Warner-Lambert left off" regarding community service, O’Brien said.

Lazarus said the company will continue to give general grants to groups, such as the Mental Health Association of New Jersey, that work particularly in the health or science education fields.

Money also will be sent to more general community service and arts groups.

Members of social service groups say they have seen Pfizer employees showing up as volunteers, spurred in part by programs that pay $1,000 grants to the groups if an employee volunteers eight hours a month for an entire year. Matching grants for volunteers that give money also are available.

Lazarus views such tasks as building a fence in the Jockey Hollow part of the Morristown National Historic Park or helping distribute food at the Interfaith Food Pantry as team-building exercises, trying to instill continuity to Pfizer’s Morris Plains campus after hundreds of former Warner-Lambert employees departed and were replaced by new hires or people transferred from New York.

Lazarus, who formerly worked in finance out of Pfizer’s headquarters on East 42nd Street in Manhattan, has lent a hand personally to several agencies as she becomes familiar with Warner-Lambert’s contribution list.

"She came out to see our facility," said Rosemary Gilmartin, director of the food pantry. "That’s unusual, because people in her position are usually buried in paper."

Tim O’Reiley can be reached at (973) 428-6651 or toreiley@morristo.gannett.com