1. Honor Roll Webinar Marci Koblenz Cynthia Cobb
Supporting people today; Sustaining society tomorrow
Honor Roll Webinar
Facilitated by
Marci Koblenz
President, Center for Companies That Care
Cynthia Cobb
Honor Roll Chair, Board of Directors

2. Agenda for Honor Roll Webinar
Companies That Care update
Application sections and deadline
Evaluation process and criteria
Honor Roll recognition
Education Initiative
Upcoming Companies That Care Exchange events

3. Companies That Care Update
2008

4. Update since May Completed first year of Aim High
Held first Annual Dinner for fundraising
Held first Awareness Breakfast in Philadelphia
Sponsored by PJM Interconnection
Kicked off 3-year children’s literacy community effort
Hired new Office Manager
New zip code ~ 60654

5. Opportunities for Involvement
Learning
Honor Roll Network
Virtual Book Club
Best Practices Road Show
Become Honor Roll Liaison
Volunteer on committees
Program
Community Symposium
CAREDAYS – Terrific TalesTM
Marketing
Development
Honor Roll Nominating Committee
Nominate companies for Honor Roll
Host a Best Practices Road Show or Awareness Breakfast featuring… You!!

6. Aim High
Center for Companies That Care is engaging the business community to increase college graduation rates among low-income, urban youth by partnering business mentors and sponsors with Chicago public high school students
Current college graduation rate is 6%
Goal: 100% of students in the program will attend and graduate from college
How businesses can get involved…
Sponsor a student
Mentor a student
Teams of 3-5 employees per student
For more information

7. Honor Roll Application for Current Honor Roll Organizations
Subsequent Year Application

8. Why Continue to Be on the Honor Roll?
Accountability
Establishes an internal standard to continue to meet
Introspection
Completing application enables self-assessment and look at the “big picture”
Education
Learn best practices from like-minded organizations; continue to improve
Leadership
Lead the charge to the role of the employer in our society to one that cares about the well-being of employees and communities
Mentor other organizations on the Companies That Care journey
Share your organization’s best practices

9. Why Continue to Be on the Honor Roll?
Attraction
Companies on lists receive 2x unsolicited resumes
Recognition
Validates alignment of values and behaviors
Enhanced reputation
Pride in accomplishment
Citizenship
Expand initiatives on behalf of local communities

10. Application Basics All current Honor Roll organizations re-apply
Application deadline for current Honor Roll companies is December 1
Application may be requested from Companies That Care website (
Submit application and survey questions via
Submit survey questions in Excel
Send check and Statement of Commitment via snail mail
Can also submit processing fee online (
Honor Roll announced on Companies That Care Day
March 19, 2009
Honor Roll companies will be notified by February 15

11. Subsequent Year Application
Application sections
Basic information
Significant company news and impact
10 Characteristics
11th Characteristic – continuous improvement
Best Characteristic and Key Learnings
Accomplishments for 2008 goals
Goals for 2009
Statement of Commitment
Due December 1
OK to submit early!

12. Evaluation Process Same as for first-year applicants
Two-tier evaluation of the written application
Center for Companies That Care staff
Member of the Honor Roll Independent Review Panel
Media search for relevant news about the organization
Telephone interview to discuss application, if needed
Review of relevant employee attitude survey data
Survey questions organized by 10 Characteristics
Need 75% overall favorable response for Honor Roll
Final decision considers both the written application and survey results

13. Key Evaluation Considerations
Transparency
Significant News (business changes, legal challenges, staffing changes, benefits and policies changes)
Integration of Companies That Care feedback
Ratings of change for 10 Characteristics
Progress against goals
Continuous improvement
Progress in the last year (Significant Changes section)
Some improvement in the Characteristics
Stretch goals
Last year’s communication about award and commitment to 10 Characteristics

14. Best Practices for Completing Application
Cut and paste from last year’s application
In 10 Characteristics section, organize response by
Sustained from previous years and
New/Improved from previous years
Include metrics where possible
Explain why
If goals aren’t met
If feedback not addressed
If current goals are unrelated to 10 Characteristics

15. Helpful Hints
Characteristic 3: Cultivate the full potential… -- not just training programs
Characteristic 4: Encourage…work/life balance – is more than flextime
Characteristic 6: Develop great leaders… -- emphasis is on people management skills, not general leadership skills
Characteristic 10: Consider the human toll… -- can be internal or external examples of how this is demonstrated

16. Common Questions Can we cut and paste from last year’s application?
What if we don’t do an employee survey every year?
Results are good for two years
Can use the Companies That Care survey
What if we didn't accomplish our goals from the previous year or perhaps even address them?
What if we didn’t implement feedback from last year’s application?
Is there a warning if an organization is going to be removed from the Honor Roll?
Yes – one year to address identified concerns
Mission is to develop Companies That Care

17. Honor Roll Recognition

18. Honor Roll Recognition
Names of Honor Roll companies posted on Companies That Care website (
Honor Roll seal for use on your website and marketing materials
“Camera-ready” artwork for “We Made It” poster
Framed Honor Roll plaque given to each recipient
May purchase additional plaques, too
Honor Roll recipients hold internal celebrations
Celebration trinkets available at Companies That Care Giving Store
Companies That Care staff member will personally announce the award on-site, if desired
Press release sent to national and local media by Companies That Care
Individual recipients may also contact media
Marci Koblenz or Cynthia Cobb will do interviews on behalf of individual companies

19. Honor Roll Recognition
Significant marketing of Honor Roll throughout the year including national ad (e.g., Wall Street Journal)
Cost is shared by Honor Roll participants
Annual recognition/education event for Honor Roll recipients on May 5-6, 2009
One registration fee waived for Recognition Event
Separate education and networking track for executives

20. 2007 Wall Street Journal Ad

21. Chicago Crain’s Ad

22. “Working Mother” Ad

23. Honor Roll Certificate

24. “We Made It” Poster

25. Best Practices Book

26. Honor Roll Recognition Event 2009
Who should attend?
Executives
Community Relations
Human Resources
PR/Marketing

27. Upcoming Companies That Care Events
Honor Roll
Honor Roll Network Conference Call: October 22, 2008, 10 AM CST
Helping employees during tough economic times
Honor Roll liaisons
Debbie Slayden and Sarah Andzules
Exchange
Community of Caring
Automatic annual membership this year ($250 value)
Best Practices Roadshow: October 14, 2008 in Chicago
½ day seminar in six different cities
Presentations by Honor Roll companies and community leaders
Roundtable discussions and planning for attendees
Seeking sponsors and hosts
Virtual Book Club

28. Bonnie Dayan Memorial Award Nominations due February 1, 2009
Criteria
Demonstrates commitment to Companies That Care’s mission
Works to make his/her company a company that cares
Continually raises the bar and further enhances programs and practices for employees and service to communities
Communicates his/her company’s involvement with Companies That Care internally and externally
Promotes Companies That Care to other companies
Recommends other caring employers to Companies That Care
Currently an employee of an Honor Roll company
Awardees
One nominee per Honor Roll employer who is a local role model for caring
One honoree at the Center for Companies That Care level

29. Discussion Questions What questions do you have?
What makes your Companies That Care experience valuable to your organization?
What would make it more valuable?
Nominations for the Honor Roll

30. www.companies-that-care.org 312/661-1010
Thank you!
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