CECP Identifies Rare Potential and Shared Responsibility of Senior Executives to Take Action on Society's Toughest Challenges

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Marc Benioff, Ursula Burns, Karim Khoja, Bob Moritz, James Prokopanko, and Ginni Rometty speak with audience of 50 Fortune 500 CEOs about their corporate societal commitments.
• CECP launches new brand and engagement model for CEOs which focuses on "Top Actions" CEOs can take to lead corporate societal engagement within their companies and the business community. 
• Companies and nonprofits all over the world recognize International Corporate Philanthropy Day through commitments and initiatives. 

Multimedia:

CECP Brand Launch Video           Social Media Channels          Photos

CECP, an organization that leverages the work of global corporate leaders to address societal challenges, will convene nearly 50 of its Fortune 500 CEO members for the annual Board of Boards CEO Conference to discuss the actions CEOs are taking to solve societal issues. CEOs will gather on International Corporate Philanthropy Day (ICPD) to hear from their CEO peers, including Marc Benioff, Ursula Burns, Karim Khoja, Bob Moritz, James Prokopanko, and Ginni Rometty, and share their experiences of how busy CEOs can make community investment a part of their stewardship of the company.

Based on more than a decade of work with top CEOs, CECP developed a list of "Top Actions of an Engaged CEO," which are concrete areas of focus that corporate executives can adopt to be visible and active leaders of corporate societal engagement. This year's CEO conference, a rare platform for CEOs to speak candidly about the positive role business can play in society, will focus on the theme, "CALL TO ACTION: Engaged Leadership, Unprecedented Impact."

The Board of Boards CEO Conference will feature a panel in which Ursula Burns of Xerox, Bob Moritz of PwC, and Karim Khoja of Roshan will speak with Chris Nurko of FutureBrand Worldwide about the Top Actions and what it means to be a truly engaged leader. Ginni Rometty of IBM, James Prokopanko of Mosaic, and Marc Benioff of salesforce.com will also share their personal experiences in applying the skills and resources of their companies to solve some of the world's toughest challenges.  The conference will also honor the corporate winners of the 2013 Excellence Awards. 

"As the role and image of the CEO has evolved over the years, so too has the dialogue we are holding with the CEOs," explained Daryl Brewster, CECP's first-ever CEO. "CECP is identifying the rare potential and shared responsibility of its members, some of the world's leading global executives, in setting themselves at the forefront of societal issues while simultaneously building global business performance."

Formerly known as the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, CECP will unveil its new brand identity at the event. Since the non-profit organization's founding in 1999 by Paul Newman, CECP's focus has evolved from philanthropy and charity to also include a wide variety of strategies that emphasize CEO engagement, investment, and impact. The new brand and CEO engagement model reflect that movement. CECP will continue to deliver world-class support to CEOs and corporate giving officers, alike, through data and trend analysis, convenings, and the communication of best practices. 

"CECP's new engagement model focuses on working with CEOs to accelerate progress on their companies' top priorities," stated Margaret Coady, newly appointed Executive Director at CECP. "We will be an irreplaceable partner to CEOs as they challenge themselves to carry out actions that will set their companies apart."

The Top Actions of an Engaged CEO are:

1. Reinforce the value of your company's community engagement
2. Inspire employees at all levels to get involved
3. Rally other CEOs to do more
4. Commit your company's unique skills and resources
5. Reach outside your company to create solutions
6. Prioritize measurement and transparency
7. Elevate community initiatives to your Board
8. Mobilize your company's senior leadership

Globally on ICPD, businesses and nonprofits will announce special events, commitments, and initiatives that demonstrate the shift towards community investment that is intertwined with business strategy. CECP has highlighted a selection of member companies' initiatives for ICPD 2013 on its website, including:

• Pepco is partnering with the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNANCA) to launch its Global Classrooms program, which will provide area students with a global education, building confidence and critical thinking skills for effective leadership.
• The Western Union Company and the Western Union Foundation are celebrating the success of Western Union's Our World, Our Family® program. Launched in 2007, the program committed $50 million over five years to promote economic opportunity and help families stay connected, overcome barriers, and realize their dreams.
• New York Life is partnering with Respond and Rebuild, a new 501(c)(3) inspired by the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy, whose mission is to clean and repair the homes damaged by the storm in the Rockaways area of New York City. 

To close out ICPD, CECP's CEO members will ring The Closing Bell^SM of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, the Empire State Building, the Con Ed Building, and 55 Water Street in New York and the Wrigley Building in Chicago will light in ICPD's blue and green colors.

An executive summary and video highlights from the Board of Boards Conference will be available in early March on CECP's website. 

About CECP

CECP draws together and empowers senior executives of the world's leading companies to achieve unprecedented progress on societal challenges while driving business performance. Through high-powered connectivity and the platform to multiply investments in solving the world's most pressing issues, CECP is an irreplaceable tool catalyzing the forces that drive big change. For more information, please visit www.CorporatePhilanthropy.org.

SOURCE CECP