Booz Allen's Commitment to American Cancer Society Earns Esteemed Award

The award was presented in appreciation of the firm's sustained fundraising and other efforts to support the ACS, including its contributions to the National Relay for Life and corporate sponsorship of the Capital Baron's Ball and National Capital Golf Classic. It was accepted by Vice President Susan Penfield on behalf of the firm.

Tina Krall is area manager of ACS, Northern Virginia. "We chose to honor Booz Allen not only for its cumulative giving in 2004, but also for being such a wonderful partner on so many levels," she says.

"Booz Allen employees have an unusual involvement with the ACS. It's not just their work on the Relay teams, it's their leadership roles in our committees. They spearhead the logistics, plan events, and work to spread the word about our organization internally and in their communities. They take an active stance in ACS events, and they always go the extra step."

Booz Allen's relationship with the ACS began 10 years ago with its support of the Relay for Life in McLean, Virginia. Relay for Life is the world's largest fundraising event, and Booz Allen is one of 17 corporations whose employees dedicated the time, effort, and resources for the firm to achieve elite National Team Status. The National Teams program involves businesses in efforts to promote cancer education, prevention, and treatment.

In 2004, Booz Allen and other National Team corporations collectively sponsored 800 teams comprised of 12,000 volunteers, and raised almost $3 million for ACS. Booz Allen's annual contributions to ACS average between $150,000 and $250,000, and up to 600 staff members volunteer across the nation in a given year.

The Distinguished Visionary Award succeeds the Excalibur Award, which the ACS presented to Booz Allen in 2003 and 2004.

"Booz Allen is one of most important supporters of ACS in the Washington metro area"

Krall says Booz Allen's approach to volunteerism is unique. "The premise of corporate philanthropy is ingrained in the company's culture, and ACS has benefited from this focus. Of course, funding is critical to our mission, but volunteerism from Booz Allen employees help us move forward on all our plans."

Individuals throughout the firm have demonstrated their commitment to the fight against cancer by participating in ACS events. Chairman and CEO Ralph Shrader served as chair of the 2001 ACS gala, and the firm has supported every gala since then. Volunteers serve on Relay planning and "day of" committees, and are currently involved in five local Relay events, says Booz Allen's National Team Representative Susan Walker.

Relays are overnight events where teams comprised of survivors, family, friends, co-workers, and caregivers take turns walking or running around a track or trail for up to 24 hours. Each Relay also includes a luminary ceremony to honor survivors and memorialize family and friends lost to cancer.

Funds for ACS are raised from Relay registration fees and throughout the year from a wide range of Booz Allen employee-driven endeavors. In the D.C. area, fundraisers have included chili cook-offs, poinsettia and tulip sales, cookbook sales, the Cabaret for the Cure, balloon pops, bake sales, and car washes. In 2004, Booz Allen played a leading role in the ACS Daffodil Days fundraiser, and contributed organizational development consulting services to ACS as well.

"We're looking forward to becoming an international Relay team in 2006 with the participation of staff in Guam, Europe, and Australia," Walker adds.

Donations and volunteer efforts on behalf of the non-profit assist a considerable range of ACS-supported initiatives, some of which receive very little publicity. In 2006, ACS may focus more media attention on advances made by the 38 Nobel Prize winners whose science and research was funded through the organization.

story posted November 18, 2005