Excellence Awards Recognize Corporate Efforts to Reduce Employee Cancer Risk

ST. LOUIS, June 18, 2014 /3BL Media/ – The American Cancer Society is recognizing several companies for their exceptional efforts to help promote healthy lifestyles and reduce cancer risk among their staff. The recognitions – Award of Excellence, Excellence in Cancer Control, Excellence in Employee Engagement, Excellence in Employee Giving and Excellence in Tobacco Control – are all part of the American Cancer Society Corporate Impact Award Series, presented annually by the Society’s Corporate Relationships and Strategic Alliances team.

“Research shows that employers have a unique opportunity to make a difference in today’s workforce through health promotion and disease prevention initiatives,” says John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. “As the Society celebrates 101 years of helping people get well and stay well, fighting back, and finding cures for cancer, we are proud to recognize companies who emphasize the importance of cancer prevention, are working to reduce cancer risk among their workforce and are helping the Society fight one of the greatest economic burdens of all leading causes of death worldwide.”

CoBiz Financial will receive the Excellence in Cancer Control award for their commitment to the mission of the Society through the promotion of employee health and wellness benefits, policies, and programs.  CoBiz Financial offers annual reimbursement to employees for participating in weight management programs and/or nutrition counseling. In an effort to help employees make healthier food choices, CoBiz developed an approved list of food vendors for company breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. In the area of tobacco control, all facilities and grounds owned, leased, or operated by CoBiz are designated as tobacco-free areas and nicotine replacement therapy  is offered at no cost to their employees.  In an effort to improve the health of their employees, CoBiz provides a paid “Day Off for Wellness” for employees participating in the company’s health plan who receive their required annual physical.  The health plan also covers cancer clinical trials at no cost to the enrolled employee or covered dependent.   In support of the overall mission of the Society, CoBiz Financial Chairman and CEO, Steve Bangert, is a champion of the Society, encouraging company participation in various Society events and has committed more than $250,000 to helping the Society finish the fight.

Delta Air Lines will receive the Excellence in Employee Engagement and Excellence in Philanthropy award.  In 2013, Delta Air Lines engaged employees at more than 70 airports world-wide in the Delta Day of Hope.  The Delta Day of Hope is a day in which participating airports hold a Relay For Life like activity inside the terminals to offer employees a chance to Relay and fight back.  The combined events raised a total of more than $600,000. Additionally, the company holds an internal auction each year to raise money for the Delta Day of Hope and in 2013 the auction raised more than $30,000. In 2013 Delta held their first corporate Relay For Life event at their headquarters in Atlanta, Ga, raising approximately $180,000. 

IBM Corporation will receive the Excellence in Employee Giving award for their outstanding employee giving contribution campaign and involvement in Society activities where their employees live and work.  For more than a decade, IBM employees have generously supported the American Cancer Society through their IBM Employee Charitable Contribution Campaign (ECCC).  The Society has been the number one recipient of IBM employee contributions through the ECCC and in 2013, 8,700 IBM employees and retirees pledged over $1.8 million to the Society.   The overall results and contributions to the American Cancer Society demonstrate the magnitude and success of this campaign.

Express Scripts will receive the Excellence in Tobacco Control award.  In 2013, Express Scripts made major improvements to their tobacco policy.  Using resources from the Society, Express Scripts created a tobacco-free policy that banned tobacco use on any company property, including company and privately owned vehicles and exterior grounds.  Express Scripts provides phone support and expert advice from trained tobacco-cessation counselors, over-the-counter products such as nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges at no cost, and prescription drug coverage for prescribed tobacco cessation medication.   Employees also received online support from other employees who are quitting via the QuitNet website. 

CoBiz Financial, Delta Air Lines, IBM, and Express Scripts will be presented with the awards during the American Cancer Society Corporate Impact Conference, held June 18-19, in St. Louis, Missouri, on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Photos will be posted on the @ACSImpact Twitter page later today and tomorrow. For more information on each company’s specific engagement, visit acsworkplacesolutions.com/impactawards.asp.  

About the American Cancer Society

About the American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We're finding cures as the nation’s  largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

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