We don’t usually publish press releases but this is one is informative and OK!

 

CECP Leads International Corporate Philanthropy Day

With new impacts measurement research and a convening of over 50 leading global CEOs

 

New York, NY: February 22, 2010 – Today, leading companies and organizations around the world celebrate International Corporate Philanthropy Day (ICPD), a day designated to highlight milestones and achievements in corporate philanthropy and encourage further corporate community investment. The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) - an international forum of business CEOs and chairpersons with a mission to raise the level and quality of corporate philanthropy - leads the global initiative by hosting a series of executive-level events, highlighted by the fifth annual Board of Boards CEO Conference at The McGraw-Hill Companies in New York City. This is the first of three global CEO events in 2010, with additional CEO Conferences to be held in London on May 7 and in Abu Dhabi on November 11.

 

President Barack Obama has sent a letter of support to business leaders in recognition of ICPD. “Today’s challenges,” he writes, “demand solutions that come not only from government, but also from entrepreneurs and business leaders around the world. Through their skills, ingenuity, financial support, and dedication, corporate philanthropists and their employees have answered the call to serve, giving back in meaningful ways that help those in need and improve our communities.”

 

Charles Moore, executive director of CECP says, “The Board of Boards CEO Conference provides a unique opportunity for CEOs to engage in meaningful dialogue about business’ role in society. Today’s business leaders are integrating the social strategies of their companies with their business strategies for the purpose of reinforcing their competitive advantage.”

 

Board of Boards CEO Conference

The conference, which is consistently ranked among the world’s top CEO events by Weber Shandwick, will convene up to 50 leading global CEOs to discuss the theme “Solving Social Problems through Business Strategy,” focusing on what corporate leaders can do now to stay ahead of increasingly complex social issues and rising social expectations. In preparation for this event, CECP, together with McKinsey & Company, has been exploring the global forces that will affect the landscape of corporate community involvement in the next ten years. Klaus Kleinfeld, President and CEO of Alcoa and Ken Powell, Chairman and CEO of General Mills, will lead a discussion, moderated by ABC News’ National Correspondent Chris Bury, on how companies can have the greatest impact with their corporate giving strategies in the next decade. Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes will address attending CEOs at an Executive Luncheon following the conference.

 

New Impacts Measurement Research

In addition, on February 22 CECP will release a new report, Measuring the Value of Corporate Philanthropy: Social impact, business benefits, and investor returns, that assesses current practices and measurement trends in corporate philanthropy. This report, which focuses on three primary conversations — between giving practitioners and grantees, between giving practitioners and the CEO, and between the CEO and investor community – clarifies the demands for evidence of the social and business benefits of corporate giving and identifies the most promising steps forward for practitioners.

 

Joint Event on Philanthropy with the United Nations

In the afternoon of ICPD, CECP will join the UN Economic and Social Council and the UN Office for Partnerships in hosting a special program focusing on “Engaging philanthropy to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.” Confirmed executive panelists include Alan Hassenfeld (Hasbro); Michael Patsalos-Fox (McKinsey & Company); Sharon Allen (Deloitte LLP); and Sharon D’Agostino (Johnson & Johnson). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will address attendees.

 

New York Stock Exchange Bell-Ringing

Senior giving practitioners from CECP member companies including Alcoa, Bloomberg, Capital One, General Mills, Intel, Moody’s, The McGraw-Hill Companies, and ITT will open the day’s activities by ringing the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of their companies’ philanthropy initiatives.

 

Recent Trends in Corporate Philanthropy

Corporate philanthropy programs are investments in the future: for a company’s employees, for its communities, and for the business itself. This trend is evidenced by CECP’s 2009 “Giving in Numbers” report, which found that among companies with decreased pre-tax profit in 2008, 53 percent still increased their total giving, with an impressive 27 percent of companies having increased their giving by 10 percent or more.

 

Landmark Lightings

On the evening of International Corporate Philanthropy Day, the Empire State Building in New York and the clock tower of the Wrigley Building in Chicago will light in the colors of ICPD, blue and green, to mark the occasion.

 

 

About the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy

The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) is the only international forum of business CEOs and chairpersons focused exclusively on corporate philanthropy. Co-founded by actor-philanthropist Paul Newman in 1999, CECP’s 175 members lead the business community in raising the level and quality of corporate philanthropy. Membership includes global executives who are committed to advancing the business case for philanthropy and inspiring others to make a positive impact through sustained corporate giving. For more information, visit www.CorporatePhilanthropy.org.

 

$350,000 grant to produce comprehensive strategy for reducing hunger and malnutrition

 

PITTSBURGH – The H. J. Heinz Company Foundation announced today that it will sponsor a nutrition-mapping project conducted by the World Food Program (WFP) in Bangladesh, which will result in a comprehensive strategy for addressing that country’s nutritional deficiencies in an efficient and sustainable manner.

 

The H. J. Heinz Company Foundation is supporting the project in the first year with a grant of $350,000, as well as in-kind technical assistance.

 

Although significant progress has been made in recent years, under nutrition remains one of the most chronic and pressing public health issues in Bangladesh. Young children and women are particularly at-risk, as nearly 40 percent of both groups are underweight, and almost half of children under five suffer from stunted growth.

 

According to multiple data sources, most Bangladeshis are also deficient in vitamins and minerals, especially iron, vitamin A and zinc, resulting in cognitive impairment, anemia and blindness, among other conditions.

 

“In Bangladesh, Heinz is helping WFP identify the most vulnerable populations and formulate strategies to improve their access to food and their nutritional intake. The goal is to create a model for helping to build a healthier, more productive and self-reliant society from the ground up,” said Tammy Aupperle, Director of the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation.

 

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, fighting hunger worldwide both through emergency response and long-term projects, which improve people’s lives.

 

This year, WFP was aiming to feed 5 million hungry people in Bangladesh, who have been seriously affected by high food prices and the downturn in the global economy – including many who were affected by last year’s Cyclone Sidr.  Due to major funding shortfalls, however, WFP can now only reach 1.4 million – or around one quarter of the original caseload. In Bangladesh, WFP distributes wheat flour, biscuits and blended food, all fortified with essential micronutrients. It also distributes micronutrient powders, which can be added to food, to targeted groups.

 

“The World Food Program is thrilled to be partnering with the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation on a unique project to comprehensively map the nutritional status and needs of Bangladesh, and then develop with other key stakeholders a sustainable strategy for eradicating hunger and micronutrient malnutrition in this nation,” said John Aylieff, WFP Bangladesh Representative.

 

The H. J. Heinz Company Foundation is dedicated to helping reduce global malnutrition through its signature program, the Heinz Micronutrient Campaign (HMC).

 

Through its sponsorships, the HMC has pioneered the development of micronutrient powders that can be added to staple foods in the developing world to combat anemia and other disorders related to micronutrient malnutrition.

 

“As one of the world’s leading producers of nutritious foods for infants and children, Heinz is dedicated to reaching those people who cannot access or afford our products with a low-cost solution to the serious global health challenge of micronutrient deficiency,” said William R. Johnson, Heinz Chairman, President and CEO.

 

To date, the HMC has reached approximately 3 million children with single-serve micronutrient sachets containing a culturally appropriate mix of vitamins and minerals, including iron, vitamin A, folic acid, zinc and other essential nutrients tailored to the needs of a specific population.

 

A regimen of 60 sachets administered over two months can meet the micronutrient needs of a child over the course of a year for a cost of about $1.50.

 

The HMC is currently sponsoring with the Chinese Ministry of Health a pilot program in China’s northern and western provinces aimed at reaching 500,000 children. Other projects are under development in Tanzania, India, the Philippines and Cambodia.

 

About the Nutrition Mapping Project for Bangladesh

 

For every project WFP undertakes it must first establish what type and quantity of food is needed to address the problem at hand, considering the local population’s cooking and eating habits.

 

WFP is working with corporate partners, universities, UN agencies and NGOs to develop and assess the effectiveness of innovative products, such as micronutrient powders, in preventing and treating malnutrition.

 

With this data in hand, a comprehensive strategy can then be devised to determine what nutritional support tools to utilize, with a focus on optimizing use of local ingredients and delivery mechanisms.

 

The project will produce a summary of what is known about the nutritional status and needs of different target groups based on age, sex, disease prevalence (i.e. malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS), urban vs. rural areas, and regional differences related to climate and local food production.

 

An assessment will also be conducted of existing programs, policies and structures that target nutrition and food security. This assessment will identify the main stakeholders for nutrition in government and the private sector.

 

Once this is complete a proposed country nutrition strategy will be created with a timeline for implementing short, medium and long-range goals. The strategy document will recommend the most suitable stakeholders from both the public, academic, NGO and private sectors for carrying out the strategy’s different elements.

 

About the World Food Programme

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide.  In 2009, WFP aims to feed 108 million people in 74 countries. Some 10,200 people work for the organization, most of them in remote areas, directly serving the hungry poor.  For more information, please visit www.wfp.org.

 

About the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation The H. J. Heinz Company Foundation was established in 1951 to make contributions to further the public welfare.  Funded each year by the H. J. Heinz Company, the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation is committed to promoting the health and nutritional needs of children and families, with priority given to programs in communities where Heinz operates.  The Foundation proactively donates funds to develop and strengthen organizations that are dedicated to nutrition and alleviating under nutrition, diversity, and fostering healthy communities.  The Foundation supports socially responsible endeavors and encourages Heinz employees to participate in voluntary activities in support of charitable organizations.

 

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Paul Newman and Ken Derr are the founding co-chairs of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), the only international forum of CEOs exclusively focused on corporate philanthropy. CECP’s mission is to lead the business community in raising the level and quality of corporate philanthropy. Engaging with the public, private, and independent sectors, CECP’s 170 members seek and create opportunities to help advance the case for philanthropy and inspire other business leaders to make a lasting commitment to community giving. www.CorporatePhilanthropy.org

AWARDS:

1. The top award for Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy went to Cisco’s cross-sector partnership with Community Voice Mail.

By partnering with community-based organizations in over 40 cities nationally, 41,000 people were served last year. Community Voice Mail provides the exceptional service of free, personalized telecommunications access to the poor and homeless across the U.S.

The simple concept of providing voice mail service to connect individuals to prospective employers, landlords, case managers and family members is a critical step on the road to stability and self-sufficiency. In 2003, the Cisco Foundation awarded CVM a $2.5 million grant to enhance the organization’s service capabilities, centralize the voice mail system, and bring its services to additional cities nationwide. Cisco’s investment and the application of its technology and expertise for social good has had a transformative impact on the lives of tens of thousands of people every year.

“The partnership that Community Voice Mail National has with Cisco Systems is one that most nonprofit organizations can only dream of,” said CVM Executive Director Jennifer Brandon. “With the depth and breadth of Cisco’s contribution, we have been able to thrive instead of just survive. Ours is a situation that I wish more nonprofits could have because the impact would be extraordinary.”

 

2. PNC was awarded CECP’s Large Company Excellence Award; for the PNC Grow Up Great initiative, the company implemented a 10-year, $100 million investment to provide underserved children with quality preschool opportunities, preparing them for future success in school and throughout life. Through a holistic effort that involves significant public CEO endorsement, advocacy, funding and employee engagement to educate parents, caregivers, and communities on the importance of pre-K education, PNC has successfully created a model that has the potential to achieve national impact.

3. Moody’s Corporation won the Small Company Award (revenues less than $3 billion) for the company’s giving program which encourages students to develop a passion for mathematics, economics and finance. In partnership with the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Moody’s Mega Math Challenge offers an Internet-based applied mathematics competition for high school students. Proficiency in mathematics is essential for many careers in the 21^st century and this program helps build a future talent pipeline for the company.