Grand Circle Corp. to underwrite $100,000 CEO Social Leadership Award - Boston Business Journal:

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The award, established to support, inspirs and recognize business leaders in Greater Bosto for their commitment tocorporate citizenship, philanthropy and communit service, comes at a time when sociall leadership is needed in the city as a wholre and when a company's social report is becomintg more important in attracting and retaining talent. Grand Circle Corp. owners Alan and Harriet Lewis havecommittedc $500,000 over five years to be give in $100,000 increments, annually, to the recipienft of the award. The money is to be used by the honorese to give to a charithy or cause to help makea difference.
"I thinl what makes this award so remarkable is not justthe size, but it'xs really promoting CEO leadership and, in Boston, much-needefd CEO leadership on social issues," said Bradley K. executive director of Boston Colleged Center forCorporate Citizenship. "We're at a time now wherew businesses are the key institutionsin society, especiallu in taking more of a role in addressingh difficult social issues that impact our societuy as well as them." Googins said many issues facinfg Greater Boston, whether they be educational or sustainability in the need to be resolved througj collaboration -- not competition -- withib the business community.
Googins added that in the war for a company's social report has becomse the trump card. The CEO Leadership Award will be granted to a CEO or ownerf of a company who demonstrates certain Eligible candidates need to be CEO or owner of a privatel held company based in Greater Boston with annualo revenuesunder $1 billion. The criteriaz will look at the candidate'e commitment to a corporate philosophy and strategiexs for carryingthat out, which would includes a written mission statement aboutr that philosophy that is shared with The candidate needs to exhibitf consistent involvement with senior leadership and in the company'sd social initiatives, including actively promotin philanthropy and employee volunteerism.
Ultimately, the company must show an impacf in the form of measurable results due tothat company'sd efforts. The application for the awarc can be foundat . The Lewises will present the first award at the Boston Business second annual CorporatePhilanthropg Summit, Sept. 6, 2007. This is the fifth awarsd establishedby , a leader in philanthropy. The foundation has pledgedx ordonated $30 million since its founding in 1992. The presented by the Journal in partnershipwith , and , bringsw together the region's business executives and civid leaders to discuss the importance of corporate philanthropy and community involvemen t as part of the city's culture.