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Each year Gifts In
Kind International recognizes those who have made an important contribution
to the organization’s mission to enhance, empower
and restore communities and people in need around the world.
The Light of Hope Award
recognizes Gifts In Kind International’s
corporate partners and their employees for their outstanding corporate
citizenship and product philanthropy. The donations provided by these
partners help
a wide spectrum of people in need, including at-risk youth, the
homeless, elderly people who are struggling or ill, low-paid U.S. military
families,
battered women, refugees, immigrants, the illiterate, the under-
and unemployed, victims of natural and man-made disasters, and many others.
Other Light of Hope Award recipients include businesses and individuals
who have donated their services to Gifts In Kind International, allowing
the organization to continue to operate at less than 0.5 percent of its
annual donations.
Light of Hope Award winners include:
3M
Bed Bath & Beyond
Avon Products Inc.
Benson, Erika
Dell
General Motors Corporation
The Gillette Company
HP
IBM Corp.
Kmart
The Martin
Agency
Mattel
Men's Wearhouse
Philip Morris USA
Sara Lee
Troutman Sanders LLP
3M
3M was honored for its unique place in Gifts In Kind International's history, in addition to its outstanding contributions. The creation and founding of Gifts In Kind arose from a generous contribution provided by 3M in 1983. The company donated new photocopy machines valued at $12 million. At that time, an in-kind donation of that size was unheard of. This donation not only empowered thousands of nonprofits to improve the efficiency of their operations, it also sparked a new trend in corporate giving. 3M has given quality products through Gifts In Kind consistently during the past 25 years, empowering nonprofit organizations to do more in their communities.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond was honored for its significant retail partner donation program. The company has given consistently during the last several years to local charities around the country as a participant of Gifts In Kind International’s Retail Donation Partner Program. Gifts In Kind matches each Bed Bath & Beyond store with a local charity. The Bed Bath & Beyond retail donation program has been integral to Gifts In Kind’s efforts to empower more than 120,000 charities. The products these charities receive throughout the year during their partnership with Bed Bath & Beyond allow them to address the basic needs of the community – whether it is providing a blanket to somebody who is homeless or basic household items for those displaced from their homes due to disaster.
Avon Products Inc.
Avon Products Inc., the world’s largest direct seller of cosmetics and
beauty-related items, received the Light of Hope Award in Community Service
for its commitment to the well being of women. For the past 20 years, Avon
has been at the forefront of emergency relief assistance by quickly and generously
providing its products to those in need. Through collaborative efforts with
Gifts In Kind International’s community partnership program, Avon’s
donations have been directed to local nonprofit community programs that provide
physical and emotional support to thousands of women and their families.
Benson, Erika
Erika Benson, a former associate with Troutman Sanders LLP, and now with Patton
Boggs, was honored for the many hours of pro bono legal work she provided to
Gifts In Kind International and will continue under her new association as
co-counsel to GIKI Board.
Dell
Dell was honored for contributing technology to local nonprofit organizations,
allowing those groups to connect to services, donors and their constituents
in a more effective way. Nonprofits in 20 cities in the United States benefited
from Dell’s program in 2004.
General Motors Corporation
General Motors Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of cars
and trucks, received the Light of Hope Award in Dedication to Product Philanthropy.
General Motors partners with Gifts In Kind International to contribute cars,
automotive components (e.g., engine transmissions, body parts, etc.) and other
essential tools to high school and post-secondary technical schools for automotive
training and education programs. Donations are contributed through its Global
Asset Recovery and Vehicle Recovery Programs. In partnership with Gifts In
Kind International, GM has donated corporate property, including office furniture
and equipment, which has helped more than 550 U.S. schools provide quality
educational opportunities to more than 600,000 young people.
The Gillette Company
The Gillette Company, the world’s number one maker of shaving supplies
and a leading producer of batteries, dental care products and toiletries, received
the Light of Hope Award in Community Service for its commitment to improving
communities worldwide. Gillette’s donated products provided much needed
support to hospice care, shelters and transitional housing for families in
crisis, elder care, relief to victims of natural disasters and support to the
physically challenged and women dealing with cancer.
HP
HP, a technology company that operates in more than
170 countries around the world, was honored for its Employee Product Donation
Program, which is managed by Gifts In Kind International. Thousands of HP employees
have made contributions and many charitable and nonprofit organizations have
received donations through the program.
IBM Corp.
IBM Corp. received the Light of Hope Award in Community Productivity.
Since 1996, IBM has donated technology equipment, primarily to
early education centers,
in order to give youngsters in daycare and childcare centers a jump-start on
their education. Through IBM’s long-standing partnership with Gifts In
Kind International, the corporation has been able to provide donations of computer
technology to thousands of nonprofits throughout the United States and to agencies
in more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. IBM views
its efforts to enhance early learning programs as a crucial step in helping
children reach their highest level of academic achievement.
Kmart
Kmart was awarded the Light of Hope Award for being one of the early leaders
in product philanthropy. The retail company has made many high-level donations
of clothes and other items to help people in need around the country.
The Martin Agency
The Martin Agency, an award-winning creative agency that was named
the 5th best agency in 2007 by Advertising Age, was honored for its pro bono
work to create print public service announcements for Gifts In Kind International
(http://www.giftsinkind.org/about/?pn=psa.asp). The Give Better print ads—which
encourage corporations to set up product donation programs—are currently
being distributed to business and trade publications.
Mattel
Mattel was honored for its youth programs, which donate thousands
of dollars in toys to needy children throughout the United States.
The company, in partnership
with the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions
and Gifts In Kind International, donated more than 45,000 toys worth $1 million
to more than 160 children’s hospitals in the United States, Canada and
Puerto Rico in 2006.
Men’s Wearhouse
Men’s Wearhouse, a national retailer that offers quality men’s
apparel, was honored for its donation program that was created to support men
in need. The Men’s Wearhouse product donation program—managed by
Gifts In Kind International—focuses on getting men on their feet and
on the road to self-sufficiency.
Philip Morris USA
The employees of Philip Morris USA were awarded the Light of
Hope Award in 2006 for their role in distributing new clothing
to adults in need throughout
the United States and other countries, including victims of Hurricane Katrina
and other natural disasters.
Sara Lee
Sara Lee received the Light of Hope Award for assisting people in need through
its "clothe and comfort" initiative. The company has demonstrated its
corporate social responsibility as a leader in both product philanthropy and
cash donations.
Troutman Sanders LLP
Troutman Sanders LLP, an international law firm, was honored for the many hours
of pro bono legal work it has provided to Gifts In Kind International. Firm partner
Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., continues to serve as legal counsel to the Gifts In Kind
International Board of Directors.
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