2010 Communitas Award Nominee Raytheon Company (Waltham, MA) believes in engaging, inspiring and honoring citizens in surrounding communities. The defense technology firm has submitted its newest Corporate Responsibility Report that outlines the vast reach of its community and volunteer efforts and results. The report explains that Raytheon has expanded its MathMovesU initiative, and has introduced its Sum Of All Thrills program that lets guests custom-design and experience their own virtual thrill ride. These efforts are designed to educate young students about the power of math and inspire them to pursue math-related activities and careers. The report indicates that Raytheon’s employees also visit local Boys and Girls Clubs to explore math or science through sports, and host a rocket-launch competition to inspire students to learn principles of aerospace engineering. According to the report, Raytheon supports members of the Armed Forces by building the Fisher House Boston, a facility that offers temporary lodging for families when a military member or dependent requires extended medical care. Collectively, Raytheon employees provided more than 36,000 hours of their time to volunteer efforts last year, according to the report. Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business. The deadline for submitting nomination forms is August 2.

The spirit of the Communitas Awards was recently underscored by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who made the wish of a lifetime come true for a 15-year old fan who is battling a kidney disease. You can read the heart-warming story — the 200th Make-A-Wish appearance by Dale, Jr. — by accessing this link:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Dale-Earnhardt-Jr-grants-wish-of-a-kid-s-lifeti?urn=nascar,256781.
The story details the meeting between the two, which is part of SportCenter’s “My Wish” series (a collaboration between ESPN and Make-A-Wish Foundation). Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business. The deadline for nominations is August 2, 2010.

Communitas Awards is now accepting nominations through August 2, 2010 to recognize exceptional businesses, organizations and individuals for Excellence in Community Service (volunteering, philanthropy), Corporate Responsibility (inclusion of public interest in corporate decision making, sustainability, green initiatives), and/or Community Service & Corporate Responsibility. For more information and to find, print and utilize nomination materials, please go to the Communitas Awards website at www.communitasawards.com.

SRC/SRCTec, a nonprofit research and development company (Syracuse, NY), cares deeply about its employees as well as the communities that it serves. In order to assist both entities, the firm established a web site that matches employee volunteers with opportunities to help and make a difference in the community. SRC/SRCTec also encourages members of its workforce to provide unused vacation time donations that can be used by fellow employees who face extenuating personal issues (i.e., lengthy illnesses). The company, whose encouragement of leadership through volunteer actions is reinforced in each manager’s annual performance objectives, earned Communitas Leadership Awards for Leadership in Community Service and Corporate Social Responsibility. Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business. Nominations will be accepted through August 2, 2010.

The spirit of the Communitas Awards was highlighted recently when Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy — played by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw in the film The Blind Side — exhorted those in a Dallas audience to “get out of your comfort zone and make a difference.” The TV report and article can accessed at
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Blind-Side-couple-inspires-Dallas-congregation-98719534.html

The Tuohys adopted an at risk young man and clothed, fed and educated him. The young man, Michael Oher, attended college and became a pro football player for the Baltimore Ravens. The film “The Blind Side” was adapted from a book by author Michael Lewis “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game”. Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business.

The dedicated employees of Seattle (WA) City Light recognize how crucial the Skagit River is to the local population. The waterway supports the hydro-electricity supply for nearly one million consumers in the greater Seattle area. The river also supports the largest wild population of Chinook salmon in the Puget Sound. Nominated for volunteering at the 4th Annual Skagit River Cleanup to remove debris and improve habitat on the river, the utility’s employees also provided shuttle service, meals and lodging for other volunteers and their families. In addition to helping the local salmon and citizens, SCL employees earned a Communitas Award for Specific Volunteer Project. Do you know of a company or an individual who has made a difference in your community? We invite you to visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business.

State Senator Valerie Wiener introduced legislation to create the Nevada Youth Legislature (NYL), a program supported through volunteer resources and expertise. Nominated for Nevada Youth Legislature: Extended Training Program, the initiative encourages youths from the state to increase their commitment to civic engagement. As a result, youth legislators appointed by their state senator are required to conduct at least one town hall meeting. One youth legislator held an emergency meeting to gather young peoples’ input and concerns regarding (potential) budget cuts to education. A Communitas Award winner for Community Service/New Category, Senator Wiener brought the binder from that youth legislator’s emergency meeting to a special session and shared its input with her legislative colleagues as they processed their state’s budget bill. Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business.

The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, PA) is convinced that even as a small 188-employee company, it can make a large impact on the environment. Nominated for Giving Back to the Community Through Volunteerism, The Board of Pensions formed an internal team to identify methods of recycling and conservation, including electricity consumption reduction, water consumption, and decreasing use of paper. Recycling cans were placed in every office, cubicle, and conference room, and employees were encouraged to turn off lights, monitors and printers when appropriate. Incoming packing materials is used for outgoing shipping needs, and duplex printing and electronic file sharing also are included in the firm’s green initiative. In addition to earning a Communitas Award for Company Sponsored Volunteer Project Community, the firm used this initiative to embrace a cultural change affecting the firm’s business practices – creating a foundation that incorporates sustainability into its future decision making. Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business.

Ciber DTS Customer Training Practice (Newport News, VA) employee Evelina Johnson established a volunteer team with her colleagues. Nominated for its participation in The American Cancer Society’s 2009 Relay for Life, Ms. Johnson rallied the firm /with her passion and dedication. The lead volunteer also hosted several local fundraisers, placed American Cancer Society donation cans in the company’s lobby, held raffles and designed and sold T-shirts to raise money. Ciber DTS Customer Training Practice employees earned a Communitas Award for Specific Volunteer Project as a result of their efforts. Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business.

Ciber DTS Customer Training Practice (Newport News, VA) employee Evelina Johnson established a volunteer team with her colleagues. Nominated for its participation in The American Cancer Society’s 2009 Relay for Life, Ms. Johnson rallied the firm /with her passion and dedication. The lead volunteer also hosted several local fundraisers, placed American Cancer Society donation cans in the company’s lobby, held raffles and designed and sold T-shirts to raise money. Ciber DTS Customer Training Practice employees earned a Communitas Award for Specific Volunteer Project as a result of their efforts. Please visit www.communitasawards.com for printable nomination forms and information on how to nominate a deserving individual and/or business.