As corporations and citizens struggle with continuing crucial challenges in education, the economy, and the environment, Points of Light Institute is honoring four companies and a business volunteer council for their extraordinary employee volunteer efforts to solve community problems. AT&T, Campbell Soup Company, Intel Corporation, and Old National Bank will each receive the 2010 Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence for building strong and effective volunteer programs to improve the communities where they operate. In addition, the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council will receive the 2010 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year Award for its support of businesses with employee volunteer programs.

"As we continue to usher in a renewed surge of civic engagement, we are seeing an impressive number of organizations stepping up and answering the call to service," said Michelle Nunn, President and CEO of Points of Light Institute. "It is truly inspiring to see companies leading the way, leveraging their unique assets and mobilizing their employees and retirees to make a meaningful difference in their communities."

Since its inception in 1993, the Points of Light Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence has been recognized as one of the most prestigious awards programs honoring outstanding employee volunteer programs. More than 60 companies have been honored for their overall employee volunteer efforts. The awards support the mission of Points of Light Institute to inspire, equip, and mobilize people to change the world through volunteer service.

For example, AT&T Aspire (www.att.com/foundation) is an initiative to help strengthen student success and workforce readiness. Under one of its programs, the AT&T/Junior Achievement Worldwide Job Shadow initiative, students team up with AT&T employees to learn the skills they need to succeed on the job. The goal is to reach 100,000 students over five years. Campbell Soup Company's "Nourishing Our Neighbors" program partners with local food banks not only to sort and distribute food, but also uses its research chefs to teach cooking classes and nutrition education. Intel's employees gave 1.3 million hours of community outreach and services to their communities worldwide during the company's 40th anniversary. Old National Bank boasted an 85% increase in associate volunteerism in 2009 while partnering with community organizations to promote financial literacy and home ownership education during these challenging economic times.

All four companies met the award's criteria of excellence: incorporating service as part of their strategic goals, measuring and evaluating the results of the volunteer program, and tackling serious social problems within their communities.

The awards will be presented in New York City on June 29 during the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, government and corporate sectors.

The Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council will receive the 2010 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year Award for its encouragement and support of businesses with employee volunteer programs. Each year this Council creates four turnkey volunteer projects for corporate employees in partnership with local nonprofits. One of its recent projects addressed the need for low-income children to have access to quality, age-appropriate reading material at home. To that end, corporate volunteers collected and distributed books, hosted story times at childcare centers, and created book backpacks for preschoolers. The Council will also be honored on June 29 during the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

The nearly 100 Corporate Volunteer Councils (CVC) in the United States are the primary local resource for encouraging, educating and connecting businesses that support employee volunteer programs. Successful councils promote volunteerism in the workplace and provide a place for networking and exchange of ideas for those who manage employee volunteer programs.

About Points of Light Institute
Points of Light Institute inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. The Institute has a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of community problem solving. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas that help people act upon their power to make a difference. Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share our mission: HandsOn Network, MissionFish and the Civic Incubator.

Points of Light

Points of Light

Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 145 affiliates across 39 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 3.7 million volunteers in 16.7 million hours of service each year, contributing $498.7 million of value in people power into communities around the world. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. To learn more about Points of Light visit pointsoflight.org. 

Partnering with Points of Light means you’ll have the expertise and support you need to mobilize your colleagues and create community impact using all aspects of civic engagement. We've helped companies with a variety of needs including implementing large-scale employee volunteer events, tackling your larger social impact vision, expanding how you engage communities and consumers, infusing new ideas to your annual employee engagement programs, connecting with peers to bring the latest and greatest ideas on impact measurement, and getting company leadership investment and buy-in. Learn more today.

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