PROCTER & GAMBLE recently received the Spirit of America Award from United Way Worldwide for the company’s work with United Way nationally, internationally and in the communities where P&G plants are located. P&G Duracell of Cleveland’s Bill Barkley and Sheila Ogle show their United Way of Bradley County spirit with their “Live United” T-shirts.
The award was presented at the United Way Worldwide Community Leaders Conference in Nashville earlier this month.
“P&G is a global leader in corporate citizenship and a great United Way partner,” said Brian Gallagher, United Way Worldwide president and CEO. “P&G and its employees have demonstrated incredible leadership, innovation and volunteer commitment which are improving children’s lives and making a lasting impact in communities here in the U.S. and around the world.”
When it comes to volunteering, P&G and its employees donated more than 52,500 hours in 2011, plus senior leaders served on more than 200 prominent local boards, as well as several national and global boards. Plus, the company actively engages employees with nearly 3,500 United Way leadership givers and 92 United Way Tocqueville Society members.
P&G Duracell in Cleveland, with plants on Mouse Creek Road and Tasso Road, has been involved with United Way of Bradley County for many years. In United Way’s most recent campaign, Plant Manager Bill Barkley served as a division chair (his wife, Dr. Reba Barkley, chaired one of the United Way’s fund distribution panels). The company pledged over $90,000 to United Way of Bradley County.
The company traditionally takes tours of United Way agencies and conducts meetings with employees where recipients of United Way services speak, as do P&G Duracell employees who have participated in these tours.
“We appreciate the commitment P&G has made to United Way and are honored to partner with them in helping others in our community,” said Matt Ryerson, United Way of Bradley County president and CEO. “They are traditionally one of our larger donors, due to the size of their employee base, but I believe they are also one of our larger donors because of the size of their hearts. They really care about Cleveland and Bradley County.”
This was most evident following the storms of April 27, 2011, when P&G Duracell employees not only donated batteries and other items to victims of the tornadoes, but allowed employees to take time from their jobs to go out and provide needed assistance in storm-devastated areas.
“We had so many companies step up and help after those tornadoes hit our area, and P&G Duracell employees were right there on the front lines helping in any way they could,” Ryerson noted. “Much like Cleveland is called ‘The City with Spirit,’ companies like P&G and others are ‘Companies with Spirit.’”
This is the first time that P&G has been honored with the Spirit of America award. P&G has previously won five Summit Awards from United Way Worldwide, three in 2010 and two in 2011, for its work in community impact and volunteer engagement.
“United Way’s Spirit of America award is powerful recognition that we are making a difference in our communities around the world,” said Robert A. McDonald, P&G chairman, president and CEO. “We are humbled by this tremendous honor and grateful for our long partnership with United Way.”
Other companies receiving Summit awards at the Community Leaders Conference were Bank of America, Deloitte, Publix Supermarkets, Microsoft Corporation, General Motors, Wells Fargo and ITW.
