U.S. Chamber Foundation Announces Winners of 18th Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards
Companies Recognized for Work to Positively Impact Their Communities
WASHINGTON, /3BL Media/ - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation last night named the winners of its annual Corporate Citizenship Awards, recognizing businesses for making a significant, positive impact on the communities and societies in which they operate.
“Businesses are a powerful force for good, working to solve challenges facing people across the globe,” said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president for the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Center. “It’s an honor to showcase the significant contributions of companies who have gone above and beyond to create real, lasting change in their communities and around the world.”
The U.S. Chamber Foundation presented awards in eight categories:
- Best Corporate Steward – Large Business: Intel Corporation
Intel empowers people through technology to contribute to the well-being of others and the planet. From its dedication to diversity and inclusion in its operations and work to address human rights in its supply chain – to its environmental programs aimed at conserving energy and aggressively decreasing greenhouse gas emissions – the company’s commitment to shared value drives all its efforts.
- Best Corporate Steward – Small and Mid-Market Business: Antis Roofing Company
Antis Roofing & Waterproofing’s guiding principle is to “err on the side of generosity’ with all its stakeholders. As a small, single-location business operating in Orange County, California, Antis’ mission is to differentiate itself through corporate citizenship. In 2016, its 90 employees donated 693 hours of labor, performed more than 100 roof leak repairs, and provided 10 large-scale roof maintenance and replacement projects.
- Best Commitment to Education Program: Cisco
The Networking Academy applies Cisco’s leading technology and products to develop the skills needed in today’s digital economy and to address human capacity development. With more than 1 million students reached each year globally, the Networking Academy has provided education and career support for 6.9 million students worldwide.
- Best Community Improvement Program: The John Deere Foundation
The John Deere Foundation partnered with PYXERA Global to develop the Joint Initiative for Village Advancement (JIVA), a program to help Smallholder farmers in three villages in Rajasthan, India. Since its launch, the average income of farmers has increased by 7.1 percent, and investments in education have increased 10th grade examination passing rates from 30 percent to over 80 percent.
- Best Disaster Response and Community Resilience Program: The Walt Disney Company
Disney partnered with the American Red Cross and Save the Children to design interactive, child-friendly tools to promote the importance of disaster risk reduction education and help build the resilience and capacity of children, schools, and communities. To date, this initiative has helped hundreds of thousands of children around the world learn how to be better prepared for disasters.
- Best Economic Empowerment Program: Nestle Nespresso
Nespresso created the AAA Sustainable Quality Program to help farmers in Ethiopia and Kenya produce better coffee, earn higher incomes, and protect the local environment. Since 2013, Nespresso employees provided 30,000 farmers with hands-on training from the AAA Academy to increase the production and quality of their crops, record keeping, and financial planning.
- Best Environmental Stewardship Program: The Renewal Workshop
Textile waste is the fastest-growing component of landfill, with 10.5 million tons of clothing sent to landfill every year. The Renewal Workshop is the first company to partner directly with brands and retailers to take discarded apparel and turn it into renewed apparel, upcycling materials, or feedstock for recycling. Renewed apparel is sold direct-to-consumer or back to brand partners.
- Best Health and Wellness Program: UPS
UPS combined its logistics and technology expertise with partners’ health knowledge to launch a medical supply delivery drone initiative for rural communities in Rwanda. To date, the drone delivery network has made more than 1,400 deliveries, meeting 100 percent of hospital demand of blood, medicine, and supplies to communities across Rwanda—reducing maternal mortality rates and improving women’s overall health.
Additionally, the U.S. Chamber Foundation recognized The Dow Chemical Company, Thor Industries, and Shinola for their efforts to bring jobs and opportunities to communities and cities across the country. The Dow Chemical Company received the Small Community recognition for their work in the Brazosport region of Texas; Thor Industries was recognized as the Mid-Size Community Honoree for their investments in Elkhart, Indiana; and Shinola received the Large Community honor for their work in Detroit, Michigan. Learn more about their work here.
The 18th annual Citizens Awards ceremony took place at the conclusion of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s 2017 Corporate Citizenship Conference in Washington, D.C. More information on this year’s winners is available on the Chamber Foundation’s website
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
