East Cooper Meals on Wheels Receives National Recognition as Outstanding Socially-Progressive Small Business from SCORE Foundation sponsored by the Office Depot Foundation

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patricia Walker of Mount Pleasant, SC, and owner of East Cooper Meals on Wheels, has been chosen as this years' recipient for the prestigious Outstanding Socially-Progressive Small Business award given by The SCORE Foundation. SCORE, (www.SCORE.org) "mentors to America's small business," serves over 350,000 clients annually and honors their most successful clients at The SCORE Foundation's annual award ceremony celebrating excellence on Thursday, September 15th at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington D.C.  East Cooper Meals on Wheels will be honored for demonstrating unique vision, innovation and achievement as an Outstanding Socially-Progressive Small Business sponsored by the Office Depot Foundation.  

East Cooper Meals on Wheels is receiving this award out of a group of hundreds of nominees based on their successful small business growth and successful community partnerships and involvement. The tireless efforts of the East Cooper Meals on Wheels team extend beyond the poor and elderly to include anyone of any age who is homebound and unable to independently provide for themselves. While 75% of the recipients live at, or below the poverty line, East Cooper Meals on Wheels has never reverted to a waiting list. Within 24 hours of a call for assistance, their screening team investigates and processes the need, servicing the nutritional necessities of the community at absolutely no charge.

SCORE CEO Ken Yancey says, "Despite a tough economic year, many small businesses were able to survive and thrive. The SCORE Awards celebrates and honors these successful and innovative entrepreneurs and the small business advocates who support entrepreneurship in America." Yancey adds, "It is important for us to recognize those outstanding socially-progressive businesses, like East Cooper Meals on Wheels that are supporting their communities through their success."

The SCORE Foundation President Mark Dobosz says, "In our third year of the SCORE Awards we look forward to honoring clients and supporters that inspire other small businesses as they proceed on their path to success. SCORE is honored to celebrate the people and businesses that fuel social progress and economic success in America."

About SCORE: Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 9 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. More than 13,000 business experts volunteer as mentors in 364 chapters serving local communities with entrepreneur education to help grow 1 million small businesses.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE at www.score.org. Connect with SCORE at www.facebook.com/SCOREFans, http://twitter.com/SCOREMentors and www.scorecommunity.org

About The SCORE Foundation: The mission of The SCORE Foundation is to support and leverage the work of SCORE by soliciting, investing and managing resources for the benefit of SCORE. Learn more about The SCORE Foundation at www.scorefoundation.org.

SOURCE SCORE