United Way Of America Names Nationwide As 14th Annual Spirit Of America Award Winner

United Way of America
Thursday, 17 May 2001

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—May 17, 2001— United Way of America has awarded Nationwide with its 14th annual Spirit of America Award, United Way's highest national honor for corporate involvement and commitment to building better communities.

"The entire Nationwide family has long been a staunch supporter of United Way's efforts to focus resources on the most important needs in communities throughout America," said Ellie Ferdon, United Way of America's Board Chair. "This prestigious award is a tribute to Nationwide's generosity and commitment to improving the lives of people in need. Thanks to their ongoing support, United Way is helping to make a measurable impact in communities across the country every day. Nationwide's successful efforts to help United Way financially and through volunteer work truly demonstrate the principles of the Spirit of America award."

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the country's largest financial services and insurance organizations. In business for 75 years, it has 30,000 employees and 4,200 exclusive agents.

Among their volunteer activities in 2000, Nationwide associates donated nearly 17 percent of the blood supply of Franklin County, Ohio; fed the hungry by providing time, dollars and food that equated to more than 1 million meals, partnered with schools to tutor and mentor youth; constructed 40 homes across the United States with Habitat for Humanity; and worked with youth on 4-H Club projects. An estimated 1,000 employees participated in United Ways' 2000 Day of Caring (a community-wide volunteer project).

Nationwide employees, agents and retirees pledged more than $5 million in their 2000 United Way campaign, which will be matched dollar for dollar by Nationwide's Foundation and distributed to more than 700 United Ways across the United States. In total, Nationwide, its foundation and affiliates, made charitable contributions in excess of $18 million in 2000, more than half of which was directed by Nationwide employees and management. United Way invests these donations into projects that help improve the overall quality of communities where Nationwide employees live and work.

"We are honored that United Way has recognized Nationwide's community efforts with this prestigious award," said W. G. Jurgensen, Nationwide's chief executive officer. "Our employees, agents and retirees have a tremendous spirit of caring, contributing countless hours and resources to civic, religious, and nonprofit organizations in their communities. United Way, in particular, has long been one of Nationwide's most treasured community partners."

In addition to the Spirit of America award, United Way presented Summit Awards to companies that have achieved distinction in specific categories for activities above and beyond the ordinary. This year's Summit Awards go to:

- FedEx for employee campaigns, major gifts and volunteer programs

- Holland & Knight for corporate contributions and employee campaigns

- United Parcel Service for employee campaigns, major gifts and volunteer programs

Spirit of America and Summit Award winners are judged on detailed criteria by a panel of past winners and United Way National Corporate Leadership members who have not entered the competition, United Way labor liaisons and individual United Way organizations.

United Way of America's National Corporate Leadership (NCL) program works with more than 130 major corporations and 1,400 United Way organizations to strengthen corporate involvement in communities. Typical NCL companies have more than 10,000 employees and annual corporate and employee contributions of more than $1 million. NCL companies contribute more than $800 million to United Ways to help bring communities together to focus resources and provide solutions for the most important needs in the community.

For more information, or to contact United Way of America, see their website at: www.unitedway.org