CVS Samaritan Award
A lot of companies talk about making the world a better place, but they don’t usually take it to this extreme. No matter which layer of Battelle Memorial Institute you look into, you’ll find it’s made of a fabric of giving back.
Jeffrey Wadsworth, Battelle’s president and CEO who also serves on seven community boards, leads the company. Through its R&D services and philanthropic efforts, the organization seeks to create greater value not just for its customers but for the world — whether that’s through diversifying energy sources, investing in medical and agricultural advances, managing the laboratories that house scientific development or leading education initiatives.
The CVS Samaritan Award goes to the company that best represents a philanthropic commitment to breaking the poverty cycle. And that’s just what Battelle does day-in and day-out.
Following the philosophy of the sage who emphasized teaching a man to fish over just giving him one meal, Battelle is particularly focused on training the future innovators of the world. The company is leading reform by supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics education through resources like the Ohio STEM Learning Network.
This commitment to education is inherent to the company’s foundation and legacy. In his will, founder Gordon Battelle left his belongings to the organization for the purpose of education, research and innovation.
Beyond developing future fishers, Battelle is also casting plenty of its own support lines. The R&D firm strives to solve significant industrial and societal problems, creating solutions in agriculture, energy, medicine and national security.
The Battelle Charitable Distributions Committee selects nonprofits that meet the guidelines to be the recipents of Battelle’s capital campaigns. Through these partnerships, the company supports downtown development, scholarships, food banks, school systems and organizations like Meals on Wheels, March of Dimes and the Make a Wish Foundation.
Battelle’s giving efforts are corporately prescribed as part of the firm’s legacy. Gordon’s will also mandated that the company donate at least 20 percent of its revenue to charity. Beyond that, Battelle employees volunteer their time and finances to organizations that matter to them. Executives serve on numerous community boards, and in 2009, staff members volunteered on more than 50 projects. The company’s combined philanthropic efforts exceeded $17 million.
How to reach: Battelle Memorial Institute, (800) 201-2011 or www.battelle.org