1/25/2006
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622
Jo Lynn Garing, [317] 327-3690 |
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Mayor honors six local organizations for strides in diversity
INDIANAPOLIS - Mayor Bart Peterson today awarded six local businesses and organizations with the fifth annual Mayor's Celebration of Diversity Award. More than 1,000 people attended a luncheon this afternoon to salute the winners.
The Mayor created the awards to honor businesses and organizations that support workforce diversity, development of diversity education and communication within the organization, community activities encouraging diversity and leadership in diversity strategies throughout the organization.
"These awards recognize the visionary leaders in our business and not-for-profit community who have committed to growing and celebrating our community's rich racial, ethnic and religious heritage," Mayor Peterson said. "We hope they serve as an example to all our fellow citizens of the importance of including all people in the business of Indianapolis."
A record 30 organizations were nominated, and a committee interviewed the nominees, conducted on-site meetings and selected the winners.
Sam H. Jones Award. This special award is the top award given and recognizes a business or organization with the strongest performance in all four categories.
Veolia Water was awarded the Sam H. Jones Award. The Mayor named the award in honor of the late Sam Jones, the first president of the Indianapolis Urban League and a tireless advocate for peace, justice and understanding in Indianapolis.
"Sam Jones helped make these diversity awards possible," Mayor Peterson said. "His vision and leadership laid the foundation for local organizations to develop initiatives supporting diversity and race relations. It is truly fitting that this award carries Sam's name."
The other winners were: FedEx for workforce diversity; Bosma Industries for development; Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis for development; WISH-TV Channel 8 for community relations; and Roche Diagnostics for leadership in diversity.
The Celebration of Diversity Awards are an outgrowth of the Mayor's January 2000 Summit on Race Relations, which brought together more than 900 Indianapolis residents to bridge the gaps that sometimes exist between people of different races, religions and backgrounds.
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