Baltimore Mayor honors 12 winners of 2012 Business Recognition Awards

BALTIMORE, Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twelve Baltimore companies were honored today by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake as winners of the 2012 Mayor's Business Recognition Awards for outstanding community service.

The awards for corporate leadership, commitment to community and dedication to improving the quality of life in Baltimore City were presented by the mayor to winners during luncheon ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore.

The annual awards event is presented by the Mayor's Office, the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Baltimore Development Corporation.

The 2012 Mayor's Business Recognition Award winners are:

Ballard Spahr LLP, for its volunteerism in cleaning up and improving the Reservoir Hill community, and its pro bono legal services to support a wide range of initiatives, including a donation of more than 530 hours to Star-Spangled 200, Inc.

BB&T, where 450 employees were involved in "Spring Swing" sponsorship and fundraising activities that raised more than $100,000 this year – and a cumulative total of $735,000 since 2008 – to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's patient care, research and community programs.

The Brick Companies, for its year-round employee volunteer work and support for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore, that includes purchasing food and supplies, cooking breakfast for families of patients and participating in the annual Red Shoe Shuffle.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, for its Mother and Child Health initiative, which donated $3 million to support the "B'more for Healthy Babies" a three-year strategy to reduce infant deaths in 12 city neighborhoods that has benefitted more than 22,000 men and women.

Comcast, for investing more than $770,000 in Baltimore community organizations and for employee volunteer work with numerous community organizations and for "Comcast Cares Day," when 200 employee volunteers participate in cleanup and planting around Gwynn Falls Elementary School and Hanlon Park.

Domino Sugar, for employee volunteer and fundraising efforts benefitting Our Daily Bread, Share Our Strength, the Locust Point Festival,  "Blue Water Baltimore," and the "Year-Up" program for inner-city career development.

EMD Sales, Inc., where the company and its employees partnered with two charitable and religious-based organizations in a  "Bags of Love" initiative that delivered bags containing 40 food items each to 80 needy families. EMD also coordinated food acquisition and provided a facility for the project.

KPMG LLP, for providing core funding and worked with an organization of financial information employees to launch "Project Homeless Connect," an event that provided free and immediate services, including housing, haircuts, health screenings and food for more than 1,000 homeless recipients.

M.C. Dean, for providing greater access to job training opportunities for Baltimore residents through the construction of a state-of-the-art apprentice and training facility in South Baltimore, and for conducting a pre-electrical apprenticeship program for residents of East Baltimore.

McGladrey LLP, for creating a Community Outreach Committee for corporate giving and volunteering, and for offering employees time during business hours to participate in firm-sponsored community service activities and fundraising for five community-service organizations.

SunTrust Bank, for its major investments in POWER House, a Living Classroom community center that offers educational programs and resources including financial literacy education to children and families; and for its participation in the Adopt-A-Family holiday gift campaign.

Wells Fargo, where more than 70 Baltimore employee volunteers renovated Loving Arms, Inc., a services center for homeless and runaway children in Northwest Baltimore City, and for developing a Bankers Job Fair in support of the city's Hire One Youth campaign.

SOURCE Greater Baltimore Committee