CECP Announces Winners of the 2014 Excellence Awards
Cargill and PG&E Recognized for Effective Community Engagement that Aligns with Business
New York, NY, February 24, 2014 /3BL Media/ - CECP, a coalition of 150 CEOs who believe that societal improvement is an essential measure of business performance, announced today that Cargill and PG&E Corporation are the recipients of the 14th annual Excellence Awards. These companies were chosen by an independent jury as global leaders in corporate societal investment, exemplifying the Award’s four rigorous Standards of Excellence: CEO leadership, partnership, dedication to measurement, and innovation.
The Awards were presented at the 2014 Board of Boards CEO Roundtable at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City by Douglas Conant, Chairman, Avon Products; Founder and CEO, ConantLeadership; and former CEO, Campbell Soup Company. Accepting on behalf of their companies were Gregory Page, Executive Chairman, Cargill and Anthony F. Earley Jr, Chairman, CEO, and President, PG&E Corporation.
The Chairman’s Award, for companies with revenues of $20B and more, was presented to Cargill for its work with CARE on the Rural Development Initiative, which harnesses the company’s passion for improving livelihoods by empowering smallholder farmers, strengthening agricultural supply chains, and alleviating poverty. Launched in October 2008, this partnership leverages their respective skills and experience – working with business units and local employees within important supply chains. The program has benefited more than 100,000 people in India, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The Excellence Awards Selection Committee was struck by Cargill’s focus on society’s great challenge—poverty—and their desire to strengthen the communities where they have a presence through the skills that are the fabric of the company.
“CARE is a terrific partner and we are honored to be recognized for our collective work to increase incomes, improve nutrition and education, and help farmers become more successful,” said Greg Page, Executive Chairman, Cargill. “Our work with them isn’t ending, either. Last fall we renewed and expanded our partnership for another three years with an increased focus on food security.”
The President’s Award, for companies with revenues less than $20 billion, was presented to PG&E Corporation, for its work with Habitat for Humanity to provide renewable energy to hardworking families to keep home ownership affordable. The program’s goals include supporting the environment and fostering economic and community vitality. Over the last nine years, with the support of thousands of PG&E employee volunteers, the program has brought solar power to more than 500 Habitat homes in Northern and Central California, saving each of those families $500 annually on their energy costs. The Excellence Awards Selection Committee was impressed by the immediate impact on low-income families, as well as the scalability of the program and clear ties to PG&E’s business goals.
“Solar Habitat has been such a success because it draws on our core skills and expertise in renewable power generation to create long-lasting benefits—not only for the Habitat homeowners but for the environment and the larger community’s economic health,” said Tony Earley, Chairman, CEO, and President, PG&E Corporation.
Two additional Excellence Awards--the Directors’ Award, recognizing a partnership between a corporation and a nonprofit and the Charles H. Moore Award for Leadership in Corporate Community Engagement, celebrating a corporate community engagement professional who demonstrates perseverance in the pursuit of societal advancement--will be presented on May 20, 2014 at the CECP Summit.
“Cargill and PG&E exemplify companies that are a force for good in society,” stated Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP. “These companies leverage their scope, scale, resources, and capabilities to improve the lives of the people in their communities, whether they are down the street or around the globe. The innovations and core business strategies at the heart of these companies are put to work as they invest in society.”
Additional information on this year’s winners can be found on the Excellence Awards section of the CECP website. Applications for the 2015 award applications will be available this spring at http://cecp.co/EAApplication.
New this year, the Force for Good Awards, which recognize CEOs and Chairmen for their work in corporate societal engagement, were presented February 23, 2014 to:
- Michael T. Duke, former CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
- Jack Larsen, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
- John Replogle, CEO, Seventh Generation
- Barry Salzberg, Global CEO, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
- John Whitehead, Former Co-Chair, Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Former Deputy Secretary of State
For more information on the Force for Good Awards, please visit http://cecp.co/BoB.
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About CECP: The CEO Force for Good
CECP is a coalition of CEOs united in the belief that societal improvement is an essential measure of business performance. Founded in 1999, CECP has grown to a movement of more than 150 CEOs of the world’s largest companies across all industries. Revenues of engaged companies sum to $7 trillion annually. A nonprofit organization, CECP offers participating companies one-on-one consultation, networking events, comparative data, media support, and case studies on corporate engagement. For more information, visit http://.cecp.co.
About Cargill
Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and nearly 150 years of experience. We have 142,000 employees in 67 countries that are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), and the PG&E Corporation Foundation strive to power strong communities throughout Northern and Central California. In 2013, PG&E contributed more than $23 million to more than 1,500 charitable organizations, including matching the generosity of employees who donated more than $6.5 million and volunteered more than 48,000 hours to company-supported events. Community investments are funded entirely by the company’s shareholders. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.
