Partnerships and major sponsorships
We take a unique approach when engaging communities. We emphasize the formation of active relationships that enhance our sustainable development work, and we partner with organizations that will benefit from their association with us. We seek partnerships with organizations that have similar sustainable development philosophies and are looking for a true partner, not just funding.
With this partnership philosophy, we are able to contribute technical and business management skills, and participate in the planning and implementation of each project. This is as important as providing funding.
Natural History Museum of Utah
Kennecott has supported the Natural History Museum of Utah for decades. Through a $15 million partnership between Rio Tinto, Kennecott and the Natural History Museum of Utah, a world-class educational opportunity has been created for the citizens of Utah and its many visitors worldwide. This partnership created the Rio Tinto Center, which houses the new Museum located along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in upper Research Park. The Rio Tinto Center was constructed to LEED-certified building standards and adorned with approximately 42,000 square feet of copper from the Bingham Canyon Mine on the building's exterior.
As the museum’s founding sustainability partner, Rio Tinto and Kennecott have collaborated with the Museum to create a “sustainability trail,” one of several internal road maps that guides visitors through the Museum’s galleries. This trail features exhibits and activities on how to create a more sustainable environment. It also addresses topics on geologic resources, water use and climate change.
Rio Tinto Stadium
In September 2008, Rio Tinto made the decision to purchase naming rights for a new soccer stadium that hosts ReAL Salt Lake, a Major League Soccer club. The stadium is now called Rio Tinto Stadium. In addition to naming rights, this investment provides the opportunity for Rio Tinto to be involved in education and youth sport programs in the Salt Lake area. Through this sponsorship, we have a unique opportunity to educate the larger community about mining and to partner on community events. Soccer transcends cultural and economic boundaries, as it did when Rio Tinto employees introduced soccer to Spain in the late 1800s. This was done to create recreational opportunities for those living in the village and bring people together.
Within the Stadium, Utahns and visitors from around the world will learn about our operation. The stadium provides unobstructed and breathtaking views of Kennecott Utah Copper’s Bingham Canyon Mine from the stadium’s northwest plaza, which is now called Kennecott Plaza. You can also see the Daybreak community as it grows in the foreground of the mine. Visitors can see the mine from the Plaza through several magnifying viewers while learning about Kennecott’s place in Utah's rich mining and natural history and Rio Tinto’s commitment to sustainable development. Our place in history will live on for many decades to come.
Rio Tinto Earthquake Information Center
In 2007, Rio Tinto and Kennecott Utah Copper donated $600,000 to support the construction of the Rio Tinto Earthquake Information Center, which opened in 2009. The donation demonstrates a dedication to education - specifically in the earth sciences and continues Kennecott Utah Copper and Rio Tinto's longstanding relationship with the University of Utah.
The Rio Tinto Earthquake Information Center has a well-deserved regional reputation for its expertise in seismic study and earthquake tracking, and Rio Tinto and Kennecott Utah Copper felt it was important to provide support to further the tradition of excellence in this important area of scientific endeavor.
Rio Tinto Earthquake Information Center donation questions and answers
