Underscoring corporate citizenship's essential role in the fabric of American life, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will, beginning this November, present winners of its prestigious annual award with "The Citizen."

The new honorific, which best communicates the recipients' significant social and community achievements, was announced by the Chamber's Business Civic Leadership Center, which for the past decade has given recognition to deserving companies and chambers under the legacy name of the "Corporate Citizenship Awards."

Nominations for The Citizen close Friday, June 24.

"More than ever, there is a hunger around the country for solutions to the many challenges that we face," says BCLC founder and executive director Stephen Jordan. "We are encouraging the most innovative companies in the country to apply for the Citizens Awards, so that we can raise visibility about these new ideas, methods, and strategies."

BCLC's has also renamed the four categories in which The Citizen will be presented:

• Best Business Neighbor (formerly the U.S. Community Service Award)
  
• Best International Ambassador (formerly the International Community Service Award)
  
• Best Partnership (formerly the Partnership Award)
  
• Best Corporate Steward (formerly the Corporate Stewardship Award)

Other changes for 2011: a retooled online site (http://bclc.uschamber.com/Awards/2011-award) that makes applications easier to send; and new prizes announced soon for members of the public who participate in the "People's Choice" voting in September and October.

The changes represent the U.S. Chamber's and BCLC's commitment to reflecting the vitality of corporate social responsibility in 2011 and beyond. Recent winners of the Chambers annual award, which include Best Buy, Cargill, PwC, and Navistar Diesel of Alabama, salute the Citizen's role in celebrating the best of social investment by the business community.

Academy Award-nominated actor Don Cheadle, a founder and spokesperson for the nonprofit College Summit (with Deloitte, winner of the 2010 Best Partnership Award), says, "Spending time with Deloitte executives gave me a deeper appreciation for their innovative collaboration with College Summit. It is gratifying to see Deloitte win the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's prestigious Partnership Award, and I hope it serves as a model for other corporate-nonprofit relationships."

The BCLC is currently accepting nominations for the 2011 Citizens. Corporations, non-profits, associations, and state and local chambers who are U.S. Chamber members may nominate candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. Nomination season closes June 24.

The list of five finalists in each category will be announced September 13. The Citizens will be presented to winners at a gala dinner in Washington D.C. on November 17.

The Best Partnership category represents America's only true People's Choice Award in the CSR field. In 2010 thousands of people across the United States and abroad participated in the online voting to select the winner from the five finalists. In 2011, between September 13 and October 21, anyone will be able to voice their choice for the Best Partnership award winner at the BCLC website.

The BCLC is currently seeking a media partner for the Best Partnership voting to heighten the public's awareness of the important community work this category honors.

BCLC is a 501(c)(3) affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the U.S. Chamber's resource and voice for the U.S. business sector's social and community interests. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region."¨

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center

U.S. community development. Emerging-market development. Disaster response. Social and environmental innovation – businesses play an important role in all of these issue areas.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center is recognized in the corporate citizenship field as a source for fresh thinking, exceptional networking and practical lessons learned.

The Foundation works to strengthen collaboration and understanding among companies, corporate foundations, chambers of commerce, NGOs, and governmental offices. As a partnership facilitator, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center helps businesses find highly effective ways to invest in local communities, be responsive in times of disasters, and improve lives and livelihoods across the globe.

The Foundations mission is to work with businesses to make the world a better place. Email ccc@uschamber.com to learn more.

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