November 5, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
William Burns, Director of Communications
(410) 269-0642, (301) 261-2858

Maryland Companies Honored for Corporate Philanthropy

Baltimore, MD (November 5, 2007) The Maryland Chamber of Commerce and Baltimore Business Journal awarded the Maryland Business Philanthropy Awards today during the annual Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) - Maryland Chapter Philanthropy Day Luncheon in Baltimore. The awards program honored three companies whose philanthropic efforts have made Maryland a better place to live, work and do business.

“The purpose of the Business Philanthropy Awards is to recognize the significant contributions that employers throughout the state make to charitable organizations each year,” said Maryland Chamber Chairman Betty Buck, President of Buck Distributing Company, Inc. “Most charities recognize that, without corporate support, their programs would be considerably smaller and perhaps even unfunded.  Corporate contributions make a difference in the work of these non-profits – and in the quality of life of tens of thousands of Marylanders across our state.”

This year's winners are:

Small Employer Winner  (1-100 employees)
Correct Rx Pharmacy Services: Philanthropy is part of Correct RX Pharmacy Services’ mission.  Its generosity to groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, United Way and the American Heart Association are exceptional, particularly for a relatively small firm with fewer than 100 employees.  A woman-owned and operated business, this company has designed policies to help its female employees excel.  Its founder is a mentor through a Network 2000 program to reach out to young business women.  She is also a member of United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Women’s Leadership Council. 

Medium Employer Winner  (101-500 employees)
Capital Technology Information Services: CTIS has an extensive array of community involvement including collecting and donating school supplies for children in a Latino program, volunteer development and updating of website for non-profits, and providing dinners on a regular basis for residents of a drug and rehabilitation program. A company philosophy of giving back extends to the hiring of a half-time employee whose job is to identify and match non-profits with the resources and interests of its employees.  The firm has provided assistance to the Community Ministries of Rockville, Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, American Red Cross, and ARC of Montgomery County.  CTIS’s non-profit affiliate assists underserved populations abroad and locally by using Information Technology to empower human service programs

Large Employer Winner (501+ employees)
Verizon Maryland: Verizon Maryland awarded nearly two million dollars in cash grants to local organizations in Maryland last year.  Its Maryland employees contributed nearly $875,000 through its volunteer programs which the company supports with matching grants.  Corporately, the company has created Thinkfinity.org which will provide high quality, standards-based classroom resources at no cost to schools.  And its new Check Into Literacy program in Maryland enables its customers to donate one dollar a month to literacy programs across Maryland. Such innovation and commitment to the community are models for others to follow. 

This was the seventh year the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and Baltimore Business Journal partnered to present the Maryland Business Philanthropy Awards. All Maryland-based businesses that have made a positive contribution to Maryland residents through financial support, in-kind donations or volunteer efforts are eligible for nomination. A panel of business and community leaders judge the nominees based on the extent of the service provided to the community, the impact on the community and the commitment the business has shown to the community over time. Judges also take into consideration the size of the business relative to their corporate giving.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit coalition of 840 businesses who employ more than 422,000 people in the state. Its mission is to maximize opportunities for its members and their employees to grow and prosper. For more information about the Chamber, visit its website, www.mdchamber.org or call (410) 269-0642 or (301) 261-2858.

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