U.S. Chamber Announces 2006 Corporate Citizenship Award Finalists

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Business Civic Leadership Center, a 501(c)3 affiliate of the United States Chamber of Commerce, today announced the finalists for the 2006 Corporate Citizenship Awards.

"We received an unprecedented number of submissions this year," said Stephen Jordan, BCLC vice president and executive director. "Just to be named as a finalist is a huge honor, and we salute all of the companies that made it to this level."

The awards showcase businesses and chambers of commerce that have demonstrated ethical leadership and corporate stewardship, made a difference in their communities, and contributed to the advancement of important economic and social goals. This year's categories and finalists are:

Corporate Stewardship Large Business Award — Intel, Nike, PNC Financial, Safeway and Verizon

Corporate Stewardship Small-/Mid-sized Business Award — Alpine Banks of Colorado, Fairmount Minerals, Miller & Long Concrete Construction, and PAETEC Communications

International Community Service Award — American International Group, GlaxoSmithKline, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Marathon Oil, Microsoft and Western Union

U.S. Community Service Award — ArvinMeritor, Independence (Missouri) Chamber of Commerce, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Morgan Stanley and Union Pacific

Partnership Award — Boeing Company and New Leaders for New Schools, Capital One and Junior Achievement Worldwide, Coca-Cola Company and the UN Foundation, Home Depot and KaBOOM! and Weyerhaeuser Company and CARE.

The Partnership Award winner will be determined by public vote. Votes can be cast until September 15 at www.uschamber.com/bclc. Other winners are selected by a panel of distinguished leaders in the field of corporate citizenship, including Harvard University business professor Michael Porter, past winners and BCLC's board of directors.

The Awards Dinner will be on Nov. 8 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Award presenters include U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez. BCLC is the U.S. Chamber's resource and voice for businesses' social and philanthropic interests. Its mission is to advance the positive role of business in society. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

www.uschamber.com

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