WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced the recipients of its 23rd Annual Citizens Awards – eight companies that have shown exceptional leadership in harnessing innovation and creativity to solve our most pressing issues. From developing a STEM program to support the future aerospace workforce, to reducing waste and emissions across the supply chain, to delivering critical relief items to Ukrainian refugees, these companies illustrate how strong businesses are the foundation of strong communities.
“This year’s winners are a shining example of why business continues to be ranked as the most trusted institution,” said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Every day these companies are working to create jobs and grow our economy, while also powering good in communities to build a more resilient, prosperous future for all.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation presented the Citizens Awards to the following eight recipients:
- Best Corporate Steward – Large Business: SAP
SAP is working to create positive impact with a special focus on climate action, the circular economy, and social responsibility. Through strategic investments, the company supports social entrepreneurs who serve the world’s most vulnerable people and ecosystems. In 2021, programs and partnerships reached more than 1 billion beneficiaries across 94 countries.
- Best Corporate Steward – Small and Middle-Market Business: Lendmark Financial Services, LLC
Lendmark focuses its social responsibility efforts on two main initiatives: Climb to Cure and Veterans Integration Program. Through a partnership with nonprofit CURE Childhood Cancer, Lendmark has raised $3.5 million for pediatric cancer research and financial support for families with children battling cancer. The company’s Veterans Integration Program recognizes its military workforce and ensures that veterans and their spouses and caretakers feel they belong in the workplace.
- Best Community Improvement Program: Sempra
As millions across North America still lack access to reliable energy, Sempra aims to advance social and economic well-being through expanding energy access. In addition to serving 40 million consumers with reliable and increasingly cleaner energy, Sempra invests in clean cookstoves and solar projects to uplift under-resourced communities. These energy access projects have helped more than 20,000 families, generating economic savings of nearly $1 million and avoiding over 280,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
- Best Community Resilience and Disaster Response Program: Amazon
Following the recent refugee crisis in Ukraine, Amazon leveraged its global logistics and delivery expertise to build two humanitarian hubs in Slovakia and Poland, distributing more than 2 million critical relief items to Ukrainian refugees and using data to determine the most urgently needed relief items to pre-position at the hubs. Amazon also donated more than 30,000 medical supplies to hospitals in Ukraine from its Atlanta Disaster Relief Hub.
- Best Economic Opportunity and Empowerment Program: Citi
Citi and the Citi Foundation are investing in initiatives to provide greater access to banking and credit in communities of color, increase investment in Black-owned businesses, expand affordable housing and homeownership among Black Americans, and advance inclusive practices within the company and the financial services industry. Through these efforts, Citi is using its talent, capabilities, and influence to help improve economic equality and mobility in the U.S. - Best Commitment to Education Program: The Boeing Company
The Boeing DreamLearners educational program is a STEM program that offers students of all backgrounds an opportunity to learn about aviation and advanced manufacturing, participate in hands-on activities, and explore high-demand careers. Through DreamLearners programming, Boeing continues to lead the way in preparing the future aerospace workforce and ensuring equality of opportunity. Since 2012, the program has reached more than 1 million students and community partners. - Best Health and Wellness Program: Summit BHC
Due to limited addiction and mental health treatment programs qualified to meet veterans’ unique needs, Summit BHC established the Tactical Recovery program with PsychArmor in 22 locations across the country. Tactical Recovery specializes in serving military personnel, veterans, and first responders to provide tailored care using evidence-based practices that improve long-term health and wellness outcomes. - Best Sustainability Program: Microsoft
Microsoft Circular Centers enable the company and its suppliers to reduce waste and emissions across the supply chain by processing decommissioned cloud servers and hardware, and sorting and intelligently channeling the components and equipment to optimize, reuse, or repurpose. The program aims to reuse 90% of Microsoft’s cloud computing hardware assets by 2025.
“We know when businesses thrive, communities thrive,” said Carolyn Cawley, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “This year's Citizens Awards winners have met our toughest problems with innovative solutions and we’re proud to shine a spotlight on their outstanding work.”
The 23rd Annual Citizens Awards took place in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Conference: Business Solves. More information on this year’s winners is available on the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s website. You can watch the award program and the acceptance speeches in the coming days at this link.
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future.
