2.12.2008 - 01:28pm ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK, NY - February 12, 2008 - Six companies and nonprofits will receive Pro Bono Awards from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation tonight for their leadership in engaging business professionals in pro bono service to meet community needs.

The Ad Council, General Electric, Harvard Business School Community Partners, McKinsey & Company, Monitor Group, and Pentagram Design will be recognized at an awards ceremony this evening featuring Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy and White House officials at the Harvard Club.

The awards ceremony is the kick-off to tomorrow's Summit on Corporate Volunteerism, which will bring together 150 top corporate, government, and nonprofit leaders - including U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao and Fortune 500 executives - to launch a multi-year campaign to boost the amount of skilled volunteering and pro bono service professional employees give to nonprofits and communities. Leaders will set goals and map strategies for making “pro bono” as common in marketing, finance, technology, and management consulting as it is in the legal field.

"These awardees are setting a powerful example of corporate citizenship that we hope others will follow," said Jean Case, Chair of the President's Council. "Embracing a pro bono approach is good for employees, the community, and the bottom line. America's businesses have an extraordinary pool of skilled talent, and engaging corporate volunteers on a large scale could make a profound difference in the well-being of our communities and our country."

The award recipients are:

The Ad Council is receiving the "Catalyst" award for engaging the country's top ad agencies and media companies in pro bono service which has resulted in thousands of PSA campaigns that have raised awareness, inspired action, and saved lives for more than six decades. Through the pro bono talent of ad agencies and the generosity of the media, the Ad Council manages and distributes campaigns to 33,000 media outlets. Last year the Ad Council garnered $2 billion in donated media on behalf of its campaigns.

General Electric is receiving the "Pioneer" award for its visionary approach of incorporating pro bono service into its broader employee volunteer program. GE was one of the first companies to create an in-house pro bono legal program, and ten years ago GE created the Pro Bono Partnership to stimulate and encourage pro bono service to nonprofit organizations by corporate counsel. GE Volunteers serve in 38 countries, primarily in the areas of education, the environment, and community development.

Harvard Business School Community Partners is receiving the "Ethos" award for its ability to leverage one of the largest and most powerful MBA alumni associations in the world for strategic pro bono service. Through alumni-led community consulting programs, HBS alumni nationwide contribute more than $4 million in pro bono services each year through alumni club-based programs.

McKinsey & Company is receiving the "Innovator" award for its decentralized approach to pro bono service which allows McKinsey leaders to select the projects that will have the greatest impact on their communities. McKinsey has a long tradition of pro bono service to local communities, and through its global Social Sector Office is working with leading nonprofit and public sector institutions to address challenges in economic development, education, and global public health.

Monitor Group is receiving the "Strategic" award for its visionary approach of incorporating pro bono service into its business operating plan. Through its 10-year partnership with New Profit Inc., Monitor has donated tens of millions of dollars worth of strategic resources and support involving more than 250 Monitor consultants. Monitor also sponsors the Monitor Institute, which pioneers new approaches to social and environmental challenges through consulting, initiatives, research, and long-term partnerships.

Pentagram Design is receiving the "DNA" award for its exceptional incorporation of pro bono service into its business culture. Pentagram has leveraged its company skills to make meaningful and strategic investments in communities for decades. Offering their services in designing print and screen graphics, products, environments and buildings, Pentagram has greatly enhanced the design programs of cultural institutions and nonprofit organizations across New York City.

The Summit is being convened by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in collaboration with the Corporation for National and Community Service, Points of Light & Hands On Network, Taproot Foundation, UPS, and USA Freedom Corps, and with support from Citi, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, and Target. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

The Pro Bono Awards are an initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. Created by President Bush in 2003 and administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation brings together leaders from the worlds of business, entertainment, sports, education, government, nonprofits, and the media to recognize and inspire service and volunteering in America.

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