The Corporate Citizenship Hall of Fame documents the living history of corporate philanthropy and social responsibility.
Established in 2019 for the 20th Annual Citizens Awards, the Corporate Citizenship Hall of Fame identifies and commemorates companies and their leaders, employees, and cross-sector partners that have made extraordinary contributions to the betterment of society and brought about a new era where purpose is the foundation for progress.
The Corporate Citizenship Hall of Fame is the world’s leading repository of the business community’s social, environmental, and philanthropic investments and impacts. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is honored to induct six companies into the Hall of Fame’s inaugural year.
At the 2019 Citizens Awards, we recognized Cisco, DSM North America, Entergy Corporation, GSK, Merck, and UPS for their vision, authenticity, and commitment to empowering individuals and building resilient communities. See below to learn more about their work.
Cisco
Cisco leverages the power of technology and expertise to accelerate global problem solving to benefit people, society, and the planet. Whether it’s restoring communications in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, reducing homelessness in California, or supporting a circular economy—Cisco invests its resources to help build a better tomorrow.
Cisco’s goal is to positively impact 1 billion people with digital solutions by 2025. To reach that goal, the company invests in scalable technology solutions that allow its partners to pursue sustainable approaches to societal and environmental problems. For example, Cisco’s five-year partnership with Mercy has reached 5 million people in 27 countries with lifesaving and life-enhancing solutions in the first two years.
In 2017, Cisco was recognized as the Citizens Awards winner for its Networking Academy. Reaching over 2 million students each year across 180 countries, the program addresses the growing need for IT talent on a global scale by equipping students with entry-level IT and 21st century career skills.
DSM North America
Across the U.S., DSM operates 34 sites across 20 states—in cities large and small. It plays an important role in all of them as an economic engine and employs a broad range of skilled employees, from materials scientists to agricultural professionals. All employees are empowered to “do something meaningful,” DSM’s imperative to improve the world.
DSM aims to make clean, solar energy a reality for all by helping the industry further lower the Levelized Cost of Energy. The company’s anti-reflective coating for glass has enabled more than two hundred million solar panels to capture more of the sun’s power. Since 2014, DSM has partnered with Niaga® to develop a fully recyclable carpet.
From building healthier communities and reaching global sustainability goals, to achieving a low-carbon future and reducing waste, DSM incorporates purpose and social impact into everything it does. The company uses its expertise, partnerships, and innovation to end hidden hunger, combat climate change, and drive a circular economy.
Entergy Corporation
Giving back to communities and volunteerism are an integral part of Entergy's mission. The company has a long legacy of commitment to creating and sustaining strong, healthy, and vibrant communities. Collectively, shareholders donate nearly $18 million to more than 2,000 organizations with a focus on education and workforce development, poverty solutions, community enrichment, environmental improvement, healthy families, arts and culture, and disaster relief.
Entergy employees dedicate more than 100,000 volunteer hours every year. In 2018, they contributed 112,000 hours of service, translating into a $3.5 million economic impact to communities. This year, Entergy aims to double its impact by reaching 200,000 volunteer hours.
From contributing to almost 10,000 permanent jobs to Entergy’s service area to planting more than 50,000 trees and raising $2.9 million in employee, customer, and shareholder contributions to help our most vulnerable customers pay their utility bills, Entergy’s volunteerism and charitable giving has allowed the company to power life in the places that it calls home.
GSK
GSK’s purpose is to help people do more, feel better, and live longer. Whether it’s through a national effort to build community resilience following a disaster or localized skills-based volunteering, the company supports the health and long-term prosperity of communities through strategic investments and partnerships.
Since 2015, GSK has partnered with the National Center for Disaster Preparedness and Save the Children, to assist populations in the wake of disasters and strengthen community resilience. The Resilient Children/Resilient Community initiative provides a free, online toolbox with resources for communities to prepare for emergencies and improve their ability to help children quickly return to a sense of normalcy.
In partnership with The Franklin Institute, GSK leads its Science in the Summer program—a free, inquiry-based science program that helps elementary children get excited about science. The program is now offered in 26 cities across the U.S. and serves more than 35,000 students every year.
Since 2009, GSK has sent more than 800 skills-based employee volunteers to work with nonprofit organizations for 3 or 6 months full-time through the PULSE Volunteer Partnership.
Merck
Merck’s purpose to save and improve lives for generations has inspired the company to run to, not from, the world’s biggest health challenges. Merck lives its core commitment to sustainable impact by managing its business responsibly, finding solutions for some of the world’s most debilitating diseases, striving to reach those in need with medicines and vaccines, and helping build robust, durable health systems worldwide through partnership, investment, and innovation. Merck’s targeted social investments provide resources to take on health challenges at scale. Through its global programs, the company forges the strong public and private partnerships required to overcome systemic barriers to better health, including through initiatives like the MECTIZAN® Donation Program for river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, as well as Merck for Mothers to help end preventable maternal mortality. Merck empowers patients, caregivers, and communities to be more resilient and resourceful in their fight against disease.
UPS
UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions, including transporting packages and freight, facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business.
Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. The UPS Foundation leads UPS’s global citizenship efforts and is responsible for facilitating community involvement for local, national, and global communities.
The UPS Foundation’s mission is to help build safer, more resilient and inclusive communities around the world. Its philanthropic approach centers on four areas: diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, community safety, and volunteerism.
UPS believes the best way to give back is to draw upon its collective strengths, linking philanthropic dollars with logistics expertise, transportation assets, and the skills and passion of UPSers, who contribute more than 3 million hours of volunteer service annually, to create a shared value for communities and people around the world.
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