CSR Awards: CSR Leader/Company — Over 25K Employees – Cisco Systems Inc.

Even in challenging economic times, Cisco Systems has demonstrated continued commitment to CSR and citizenship. Aligning responsible business practices and social investments to create long-term value and sustainability for the company and global communities, Cisco actually expanded its philanthropic efforts in 2009 through straightforward donations and partnering with governments, organizations and other companies. Highlights include:

● $4.6 million to support the Global Hunger Relief Campaign—reaching 108 local and international food support agencies

● $10 million toward reconstruction efforts in the western Indian state of Karnataka following devastating floods

● As part of its Cisco Networking Academy, which teaches students worldwide how to design, build and troubleshoot and secure computer networks, Cisco launched the Workforce Retraining Initiative in Michigan, designed to create new job opportunities for U.S. workers. To date, the Cisco Networking Academy courses have been taught at more than 9,000 academies, reaching more than 2.6 million students. ■

Honorable Mentions:

Bank of America —

The bank’s signature CSR program, the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, invested in 92 nonprofit organizations in 2009. This initiative and others are communicated via media outreach highlighting personal stories, giving a human face to the efforts.

Coca-Cola Enterprises —

During a time when most companies were reducing their expenditures on environmentally and socially responsible activities, Coca-Cola increased theirs. Commitment 2020 is a road map to reducing the company’s carbon footprint by 15% by the year 2020.

GE —

With the framework, “make money, make it ethically and make a difference,” GE focuses CSR efforts in the areas of education, health, environment, disaster relief, community building and stakeholder engagement. To home in on critical global issues, the company reaches out to key stakeholders for knowledge and opinions.

H.J. Heinz Company —

One year after launching a global sustainability initiative to reduce its solid waste 20% by 2015, Heinz is also focusing on social issues such as a Micronutrient Campaign in Bangladesh and Tanzania that provides nutritional supplements for children.

ITT —

Highlighting its positioning as a problem solver, ITT concentrates on providing safe water and sanitation to children and families in need. Along with successfully increasing public awareness, ITT has actively engaged 3,500 of its employees in the efforts.

Kaiser Permanente —

Kaiser has put its weight behind health initiatives, including the launch of a “Reduce Your Use” campaign that encourages employees to reduce their resource consumption.

Oracle —

Oracle touts its CSR efforts in education, volunteerism, the environment and diversity through its Corporate Citizenship Web site, a Global Employee News Portal and integration into Oracle events and sales campaigns.