CSR Event

International Corporate Philanthropy Day

WHAT: On February 23, companies around the world will participate in International Corporate Philanthropy Day with local and global programs. Building upon the tremendous success of a national celebration of corporate giving in prior years, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) - an international forum of business CEOs and chairpersons with a mission to raise the level and quality of corporate philanthropy - is proud to lead the first-ever global initiative by hosting a series of executive-level events, highlighted by the 'Board of Boards' CEO Conference at The McGraw-Hill Companies in New York City. Jeffrey Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE, and Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan, will lead a discussion, moderated by NBC's Tom Brokaw, on business leaders' commitment to corporate-community relations. In addition, CECP will release a report on the findings of real-time opinion poll questions related to corporate philanthropy in today's economic environment. CECP is expecting record attendance at this year's event, with over 65 CEOs of leading companies already confirmed, indicating that even in a recession, corporate philanthropy continues to be a business priority. The program will be followed by a lunch for attendees with remarks by President Bill Clinton.

Following the 'Board of Boards' CEO Conference, United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon will address a special program on Philanthropy and the Global Health Agenda, which will explore collaborative opportunities to advance the Millennium Development Goals for public health. This event is presented by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the UN Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with CECP and the World Health Organization.

International Corporate Philanthropy Day will begin with foundation presidents from CECP member companies including GE, General Mills, IBM, Moody's, and NetApp ringing the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of their companies' corporate philanthropy initiatives. In addition, the Empire State Building in New York will be lit in CECP's colors of blue and green that evening to mark the occasion.

WHY: Today's global economic turmoil leaves employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders questioning how the reverberations of this crisis will influence corporate philanthropy. In recent years, philanthropy has been on a strong trajectory, and CECP offers a host of opportunities for companies to advance the dialogue on strategic corporate giving, through economic prosperity and recession alike. Research shows that forward-thinking CEOs are fully invested in and understand the business value of corporate philanthropy, showing their commitment by participating in CECP's ICPD events.