BOSTON - In recognition of socially responsible investment pioneer Joan Bavaria, Ceres and Trillium Asset Management Corporation ("Trillium") are inviting nominations for the second-annual Joan Bavaria Awards for Building Sustainability into the Capital Markets.

Nominations for the 2009 Bavaria Awards are being accepted via the Ceres website (www.ceres.org/bavaria_awards). The deadline for submitting nominations is February 27, 2009.

The two organizations established the awards program in 2008 to honor Bavaria, the founder of Ceres, Trillium, and the Social Investment Forum whose vision and humanity helped catalyze change in the capital markets towards social and environmental responsibility. In November 2008, Joan Bavaria passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer.

"Joan was one of my heroes, a visionary who's done an extraordinary job at both laying out a vision for changing the world, and at making that vision become reality. The Bavaria Awards celebrate those who are following her grand vision of integrating sustainability into the capital markets for the health of the planet and its people," said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres.

Ceres and Trillium annually present two awards - an Impact Award for a specific achievement resulting in lasting change, and an Innovation Award for recent work with the potential to catalyze future change. The awards were launched in 2008 to recognize investors, corporations, and NGOs that have helped move the capital markets from a system focused on short-term profits toward one that balances financial prosperity with social and environmental well being.

In 2008, the Enhanced Analytics Initiative - an international collaboration between asset owners and asset managers aimed at encouraging holistic investment research "“ won the Bavaria Award for Impact. The sustainable MBA pioneer Bainbridge Graduate Institute received the 2008 Bavaria Award for Innovation.

For more information or to submit a nomination for the awards, please visit www.ceres.org/bavaria_awards, or contact Scott Kleiman at kleiman@ceres.org or 617-247-0700 x142.

About Trillium

Now in its 27th year, Trillium is the oldest and largest independent investment advisor focused exclusively on socially responsible investing. Trillium has close to $1 billion under management with offices in Boston, Durham, San Francisco, and Boise.

About Ceres

Ceres is the leading coalition of investors, environmental groups, and other public interest organizations working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. Ceres also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a network of over 65 institutional investors with collective assets totaling nearly $7 trillion.

Ceres

Ceres

Our Mission: Ceres is transforming the economy to build a just and sustainable future for people and the planet. 

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies, and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews. 

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