81 The Hershey Company | 2021 ESG Report The Big Picture Our Company Cocoa Responsible Sourcing and Human Rights Environment Our People Youth Community About This Report Youth The Heartwarming Project Young people today are more likely to report feeling 1 lonelier than any other generation, and teens today report high levels of stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges. 2 Research has shown that increasing social and In 2021, we also kicked off the Hershey emotional skills, such as practicing empathy and Heartwarming Project Youth Advisory Board, inclusion, and fostering meaningful connections a group of 15 talented teens from across with peers, adults and the community, can make the U.S. who collaborate with Hershey on all the difference for improving youth outcomes HWP and other children and youth-focused and well-being. The pandemic has also been initiatives. Our programs are strongest when having a profound impact on the mental health they incorporate the voices and ideas of those 3 of adolescents. In 2018, Hershey created The we are aiming to serve. These young people, Heartwarming Project (HWP) to help kids and who are active on the InnerView™ service teens build these skills and celebrate the power learning app, have distinguished themselves of connection for youth well-being. through their school and community involvement activities and their passion for How We Do It creating more inclusive communities. Their insights have been critical in shaping HWP’s Through HWP, Hershey supports programs strategy and programs. for children and teens with social-emotional learning-based approaches that improve youth For a summary of our goals and well-being and prepare them for success in KPIs on HWP, see page 85. the workplace and over the course of their lives. We also work with nonprofit partners to inspire, encourage and highlight young people who take action to create more inclusive, empathetic communities. Since 2019, Hershey has partnered with WE to award $250 microgrants to up to 500 teens annually across the U.S. leading projects focused on building inclusion, empathy and connection in their communities. During 2021, we continued our Heartwarming Project Action Grants Program and received more than 1,000 applications. 1 Loneliness is at epidemic levels in America | Cigna 2 Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality | Perspectives on Psychological Science 3 The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth | UNICEF