University Place’s Cornerstone Financial Strategies is among seven Washington businesses to earn honorable mention certificates from Secretary of State Sam Reed in the new Corporations for Communities program. To read more about the program and the other honorees below.
Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed has chosen a small Auburn materials company and a landmark Seattle TV station as the first two Washington businesses to ever receive the state’s highest civics award.
KING 5 Television and Auburn’s Composite Solutions were selected from a statewide pool of nominees as award winners of Reed’s new Corporations for Communities program, which honors exceptional Washington businesses that make community a priority.
Reed will present the two corporations with National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Awards at a reception on November 4. This is the first time that a National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion – an award that has long been given to applaud voter education efforts, civic engagement, or government service – is being awarded to a business.
“Both KING 5 and Composite Solutions have shown a dedication to the community that clearly goes to the core of their business operations and services,” said Reed. “I am so pleased to recognize them as corporations that set the standard for giving back, which is what Corporations for Communities is all about.”
Corporations for Communities, launched this summer by Reed, is a recognition program within the Secretary of State’s Corporations & Charities Division. Twice a year, Reed selects one small and one large corporation from Washington to recognize with Medallions.
KING 5 Television, the large corporation category winner, has been a major supporter for disaster relief in the Northwest and organizes and hosts food drives for a statewide hunger program. Winning the small corporation category, Composite Solution gives employees paid time off to do a variety of volunteer work; this year, despite layoffs, more than 60 percent of their employees volunteered at food banks, community programs and more.
Additionally, Reed recognizes a handful of corporations for honorable mention certificates. This cycle, the honor roll includes BNBuilders, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Strategies, Olympia’s KGY Radio, LeMaster Daniels Certified Accountants and Advisors, Puget Sound Energy, Rowley Properties, and the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.
Starting in August, the public was able to nominate any Washington business demonstrating a commitment to giving and a drive to improve local or regional social conditions.
“We are deeply impressed by what the nominees are doing to better their communities, and we hope this recognition encourages them to keep up the extraordinary work for Washington State,” said agency Corporations Director Pam Floyd.
The recognition ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at KING 5 in Seattle.
The next cycle of award nominations is open from Feb. 1 to March 15, and winners will be announced in April 2010. More details about the nomination process can be found at www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/corpsforcommunities