CECP today presented its 2014 Directors’ Award to humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief at the annual CECP Summit in New York City for its collaboration with FedEx to help tens of millions of people in need in the U.S. and around the world access life-saving medicines and supplies.

Founded by Paul Newman in 1999, CECP is a coalition of 150 CEOs united in the belief that societal improvement is an essential measure of business performance. The Directors’ Award honors an exemplary partnership between a company and a nonprofit in combating a critical societal issue. Of the more than 1.4 million charities in the United States, Direct Relief is the single nonprofit to be recognized with the CECP Directors’ Award in 2014.

Since 2003, Direct Relief and FedEx have worked together, both during emergencies and on an ongoing basis, to equip healthcare providers throughout the U.S. and around the world with critically needed medicines and supplies so that they are able to provide these resources to people who would otherwise be unable to afford or access them.

“FedEx is a force multiplier in Direct Relief’s humanitarian efforts and has brought amazing scale, efficiency, and precision to helping people in poverty or affected by disasters get the critical help they need,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief.

In the U.S. alone, more than 10 million people have received over $400 million in needed medications – all delivered by FedEx.  In November 2013, FedEx provided Direct Relief an emergency airlift of medical supplies to care for 250,000 people affected by the typhoon in the Philippines.

“This is a powerful example of the essential, lifesaving activity that simply could not happen without this type of collaboration,” said Tighe of the Philippines airlift. “Although a strong case for a profitable business simply does not exist in every situation where a compelling human case does, businesses insight, tools, and skills are equally applicable to address many of the inherent challenges involved, which are essentially the same.”

“CECP’s awards recognize businesses, nonprofits, and individuals that demonstrate strong connections between community solutions and business strategy,” stated Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP. “This year’s winners used their resources, know-how, and passion to address tough societal issues and exhibit in a forthright way the win-win nature of business investing in society.”

Corporate participation in disaster relief efforts has been increasingly important to the business bottom line, as employees and customers look to companies – not just governments or aid organizations – to provide critical relief assistance.  Many companies are moved to participate in humanitarian efforts because they have seen the staggering losses inflicted when disasters destroy communities and interrupt the flow of business; working to alleviate the economic impact of such disruptions makes good sense for society and business.

In addition, companies feel increasing pressure from consumers, employees, and a growing segment of the investment community to demonstrate good corporate citizenship. According to the 2013 Cone Communications Disaster Relief Trend Tracker, nearly nine in 10 (87%) global consumers believe companies should leverage their unique assets to lend support to communities affected by disasters- in part because the majority (69%) thinks corporations are better able to effectively respond.

The Directors’ Award is open to 501(c)3 organizations with an annual operating budget equal to or exceeding $500,000 and includes a $25,000 cash donation made by CECP’s Board of Directors to the winning nonprofit.

 

About the Excellence Awards

Excellence Awards winners are added to a distinguished roster of companies that take part in an ongoing awareness building effort on their behalf by CECP. The storytelling that emerges from the awards brings corporate societal engagement to life, and the awards process allows companies to strengthen that story and share it among a wider audience. Presented annually since 2000, these awards are juried by an external Selection Committee that is comprised of representatives from the corporate, nonprofit, consulting, media, and academic communities. For more information, visit http://cecp.co/events/excellence-awards.html