The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today named 24 business finalists for its 15th Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards. The awards program honors businesses for their significant positive impacts in communities around the world.

“On a daily basis, businesses are working to help improve communities across the country and around the world,” said Marc DeCourcey, executive director of the U.S. Chamber Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center. “This year’s finalists show not only the multitude of ways businesses care about their communities, but also their significant positive impacts in them.”

Awards will be presented in eight categories:

• Two Best Corporate Steward categories honor companies with overall values, operational practices, and stakeholder strategies that exemplify shared value. The Large Business category finalists are IBM Corporation, Pentair, and UnitedHealth Group, and the Small and Middle-Market Business category finalists are Blackbaud, Inc., CETRA Language Solutions, and Constant Contact.
• Best Commitment to Education Program recognizes initiatives to improve educational outcomes for students. Finalists this year are Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft Corporation, and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
• Best Community Improvement Program recognizes strategic work to improve local communities. This year’s finalists are Amway, Capital One Financial Corporation, and Toyota.
• Best Disaster Response & Community Resilience Program recognizes companies for responding to disasters and creating more resilient communities. This year’s finalists are Citi Foundation, Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc., and Farmers Group.
• Best Economic Empowerment Program recognizes work to empower individuals through financial inclusion and business empowerment initiatives. This year’s finalists are The Dow Chemical Company, Entergy Corporation, and Qualcomm Wireless Reach.
• Best Environmental Stewardship Program recognizes accomplishments in addressing environmental issues. This year’s finalists are Apollo Education Group, Inc. (University of Phoenix), Siemens Foundation, and the UPS Foundation.
• Best Health and Wellness Program recognizes efforts to improve the health and wellness of employees or communities. This year’s finalists are Novartis International AG, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and WellPoint Inc.

Winners in each category will be selected by a panel of corporate citizenship experts, and will be named during a ceremony on November 20 in Washington, D.C.

More information about the awards and finalists is available on the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s website.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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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