EVANS WELCOMES CREATION OF
CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP AWARD
U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Don Evans today welcomed the creation of the
Corporate Stewardship Award. The award grew out of the Secretary’s
vision to spotlight and celebrate the accomplishments and good corporate
practices of American businesses around the world. The award will
be given by the Center for Corporate Citizenship (CCC) of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce and will be presented by Secretary Evans on
December 4, 2003 in Washington, D.C. during the Center’s Annual
Corporate Citizenship Award Ceremony.
“This
award is intended to recognize and celebrate small, medium and large
businesses that balance their responsibilities to their employees
and shareholders with their responsibilities to their communities,”
said Evans. “American businesses are the stewards of capitalism
and our economic system. This designation will celebrate those in
the private sector that understand their responsibility to our economy
and heed President Bush’s call to serve others.”
"By including volunteer service as a criterion for the Corporate
Stewardship Award, we can recognize the American companies who are
answering the President's call to service by making sustained commitments
to our communities," said John Bridgeland, Director of the
White House's USA Freedom Corps office. "It is through these
commitments that we are able to build a stronger society and foster
a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility that will last
for decades to come."
Presented
by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, this Award
seeks to recognize companies that exemplify the highest ideals of
corporate stewardship. Corporate stewardship reflects a philosophy
that emphasizes the proper use and allocation of a company’s
resources and unites its ethical values and economic mission. As
such, the Corporate Stewardship Award rewards companies for their
total performance and contribution to economic, community and social
progress. To be considered for the award, companies must demonstrate
their commitment and accomplishments in categories that include
service and volunteerism, business ethics, corporate governance
and the environment. Award candidates must submit their application
along with other relevant documentation to the CCC by October 3,
2003.
CRITERIA
FOR THE CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP AWARD
1.
Financial Results
- Above average economic performance for the most recent five year
period as compared to the rate of return for the S&P 500 Index
2. Business Ethics
- Corporate statement of values or ethical credo
3. Employees
- Jobs created over 5 year period
- Documentation of employee health and safety benefits
- Documentation of hiring diversity
- Documentation of employee moral, job satisfaction, and employee
retention
4. Customers
- Documentation of customer service policy and practices
- Strategic use of customer information systems to support decision
making
5. Corporate Governance
- Documentation of corporate governance policy and practices consistent
with President Bush’s Ten Point plan to improve corporate
responsibility and protect America’s shareholders
6. Worldwide Markets
- Documentation of corporate engagement in overseas communities
- Documentation of ethical supply chain management practices
7. Volunteer Service
- Documentation of community involvement policy practices (i.e.,
Cash Grants, Volunteer Programs)
- Senior management leadership and commitment
- Documentation of Social Return on Investment (S-ROI) (if applicable)
- System tracks employee volunteer service hours in employer-sponsored
volunteer activities
- 10% of employees should conduct at least 40 volunteer service
hours in a calendar year
8. Environment
- Documentation of corporate environmental policy and practices
9. Security
- Documentation of corporate security procedures and risk management
practices
The
Secretary will present the award to three companies: