NH Businesses for Social Responsibility Announces 2018 Award Winners

NH Businesses for Social Responsibility Announces 2018 Award Winners

CONCORD, NH ​–​ On May 2, 2018 New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility announced the 2018 Cornerstone and Partnership for Innovation Award winners at their 17th Annual Spring Conference, Lead the Change. Winners of the prestigious Cornerstone and Partnership for Innovation Award were chosen for their exemplary efforts to promote the concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the greater business community of New Hampshire.

"Our Cornerstone Award winner, Dr. Fiona Wilson, and the Partnership for Innovation Award winners, Hannaford in partnership with Manomet," stated Michelle Veasey, Executive Director of NHBSR, "demonstrate the leadership in sustainability we need to magnify in today's world.  We were extremely pleased to recognize their work and that of the other extraordinary finalists as all are creating positive impact for the state."

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire attended the conference to recognize and honor the award winners and finalists for the valuable impact their work has in the state. In Washington Shaheen is dedicated to building strong and engaged workforces and workplaces. She upholds a sustainability ethic on the national platform, with a continued strong commitment to supporting sustainability efforts and leaders in her home state of New Hampshire.

Fiona Wilson received the 2018 Cornerstone Award. As Executive Director of the Center for Social Innovation and Enterprise at University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, she educates, inspires, and empowers our next generation leaders to affect positive change in their communities. A former business leader, Fiona understands the importance of connecting the public and private sector toward sustainability. Through the Social Venture Innovation Challenge, Fiona helps students develop viable, market-based environmental and social solutions to a variety of pressing community issues. In 2012, she helped lead a partnership between the Paul College, UNH’s Sustainability Institute, and New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility that culminated in a 3-day program on corporate sustainability leadership for business executives.

Hannaford Supermarkets and Manomet were winners of the 2018 Partnership for Innovation Award for their partnership in creating the Grocery Stewardship Program (GSP). The Grocery Stewardship Program assesses the environmental impacts of operating a supermarket and explores opportunities for and challenges to improvement. GSP surveys 280 aspects of supermarket operation and scores results to drive both awareness and improvement at individual stores by managers and sales associates. By educating, engaging, and training store employees, GSP is a powerful tool that empowers the grocery store industry to be leaders in sustainability. Manomet's scientific approach, expertise in surveying, and comprehensive and accessible reporting offers all grocery stores an extremely useful resource on how to reduce their environmental impacts. GSC is currently used in over 500 North American stores and serves as a baseline for excellence within the grocery industry.

Finalists for the Cornerstone Award include Impax Asset Management|Pax World Funds and Volunteer NH. Partnerships between ReVision Energy and Amicus Solar as well as Stonyfield and Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment were named finalists for the Partnership for Innovation Award.

About New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility

NHBSR is a vibrant community of nearly 200 businesses, nonprofits, and governmental agencies working together to support sustainability efforts in New Hampshire. Since its inception in 2000, NHBSR’s instrumental role in driving Corporate Social Responsibility into the core of how NH companies do business is exemplified by its many services and programs, including: NHBSR’s Spring Conference, Community Roundtables, Sustainability Slam, partnership for Energy Week and, most recently, collaborative advocacy efforts that have brought together over 60 leading NH businesses in urging lawmakers to support policy for a clean energy environment.

For more information, contact Michelle Veasey at (603) 391-8472 or michelle@NHBSR.org