July 2008: Shortlist for 2008 President's Awards for CSR Unveiled

Shortlist for 2008 President's Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility Unveiled

Chambers Ireland today (14/07/08) unveiled the shortlist for the fifth annual President's Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This year's awards are partnered by Business in the Community Ireland, run in association with the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and kindly sponsored by resource. Congratulating all of the companies that entered this year's awards, Chambers Ireland President David Pierce said, “At a time of economic challenge, the high calibre of the projects shortlisted is testament to the proactive attitude of Irish businesses in the area of CSR.” “Given the increasing pressures facing Irish business, it is important now - more than ever - to applaud the efforts of the Irish business community on this important area and recognise best practice while further encouraging and embedding CSR in Ireland's business culture,” Pierce said. John Curran T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, said "I am delighted that my Department is supporting the 2008 Chambers Ireland President's Awards for CSR. These Awards play an important role in highlighting the great advances being made in Ireland in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility, and underline the fact that CSR is good for business, good for the community, and good for society." Terence Brannigan, CEO, resource, said, “As a company committed to CSR, we are delighted to be working with Chambers Ireland as the main sponsor of these awards to help raise the importance of CSR in Irish business. resource strongly believes in the benefits to our staff, company and customers from investing time and money in a progressive CSR programme that delivers tangible positive impacts for employees, society and the environment.” Kieran McGowan, Chair of Business in the Community Ireland continued, “We congratulate the companies who made the shortlist and especially welcome the entrants in the new marketplace categories as quality customer care and excellent supplier relations are essential components for all Irish companies.” A total of eighteen awards will be made this year at the gala awards ceremony on September 25th in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, with separate category of awards for SMEs, large indigenous and multinational corporations in Environmental, Community, Workplace, Marketplace Supplier and Marketplace Customer projects. In recognition of special efforts in the fields of literacy projects, overseas programmes and projects enabling employees to volunteer, there will be additional once-off awards presented on the night. An award for the most innovative project and an outstanding achievement award will also be presented. All winners will receive a specially commissioned trophy designed by Waterford Crystal. -Ends- 2008 Shortlist Large Indigenous Company (LIC) Good Neighbour Community • Anglo Irish Bank Corporation: Education Projects • Zurich: Provision of Cover for Victims of HIV • Eircom: Telethon 2007 • Irish Life and Permanent: Community involvement through partnership • Respond! Housing Association: Pride in our Community Eco-business Award • Bulmer's: Leading the way in sustainability • Newbridge Silverware: Silver Turns Green • NTR: Lifetime Lab Responsible Employer Workplace • AIB: Well Being Programme • CRH Ireland: Simon Safety Challenge Marketplace Customer • Irish Life and Permanent: Relentless Pursuit of Customer Satisfaction • Sherry Fitzgerald Group: Getting Close to the Customer • Hibernian Health: Health Education Programme Supporting Employee Volunteering • Anglo Irish Bank Corporation: Education Project • Eircom: Telethon 2007 • Meteor Mobile Communications: Barnardos Christmas Campaign 2007 • National Irish Bank: National Irish Bank Charity Partner • Ulster Bank: Community Cashback Awards Multi National Corporation (MNC) Good Neighbour Community • AOL Global Operations: Suite of Employee Projects • Dell Ireland: Dell Foundation • Intel Ireland: Transforming Lives • Tesco: Charity of the Year • TK Maxx: GiveGet 2008 • Vodafone: World of Difference • White Young Green: Community Engagement Policy Eco-business Award • BT Ireland: Green is Good for Business • Pfizer: Getting Energetic about Energy • Unilever Ireland: A Greener Place to Work • Wyeth Medica Ireland: EMS - Sustainable Development/Beyond Compliance Responsible Employer Workplace • Accenture: Inclusion and Diversity • AOL Broadband: Feel Good Factor events committee • Intel Ireland: Employee Health and Wellbeing Marketplace Customer • Abbott Laboratories: Rediscover Life Waste Management Programme • Dell Ireland: Project RED • Danone: Toddle for Barnardos • Sodexo: Healthwise • Merck Sharp & Dohme: Health Literacy Awards Marketplace Supplier • BT Ireland: Creating Sustainable Business • Danone Ireland: Health and Nutrition Governance Policy • IBM: Air Filled Void Filler Process • Microsoft: Bringing the Benefits of Technology to every Charity in Ireland Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) • Dublin Port Company: Community Scholarship Project • CastleKnock Hotel & Country Club: Carbon Neutral Project • Clontarf Castle Hotel: Disability Awareness Special Award: Literacy Related Programmes • An Post • EBS Supporting Employee Volunteering • Abbott Vascular: Croí an Óir • Accenture: Special Olympics Developing Leaders • AOL Broadband: Employee Volunteering • Dell Ireland: Global Community Involvement Month • Intel Ireland: Transforming Lives • Microsoft: Employee Driven CSR