Chamber Calls for Corporate Citizenship Nominations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce announced that October 3 would be the deadline for nominations for its 2003 Corporate Citizenship awards, including a newly-created corporate stewardship award that will be presented by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans during the annual awards ceremony.

"Open a newspaper or magazine and you'll probably see bad news. These awards spotlight the good news – companies that have gone beyond the bottom line," said Suzanne Clark, Chamber chief operating officer and president of the Center for Corporate Citizenship. "It is a showcase for corporate and chamber leadership at its finest."

This is the fourth annual awards program from the Center for Corporate Citizenship – the humanitarian arm of the U.S. Chamber – that recognizes companies and chambers for public-spirited leadership and economic and social contributions to their communities. This year's winners will be announced on December 4, in the following categories: the Citizenship in Action award; the International American Chamber Community Service award; the U.S. Chamber Community Service award; and the Corporate Stewardship award.

The new Corporate Stewardship award is designed to recognize companies for their total performance and contribution to economic, community, and social progress, and will be presented to one small, one mid-sized, and one large company.

The Chamber awards will honor a company, a U.S. local chamber of commerce and an American chamber abroad that have effectively mobilized to address a civic challenge. Last year's award winners included ConAgra Foods, Pfizer, the American Chamber of Commerce of Sao-Paulo, Brazil, and the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region.

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