Public invited to nominate Washington businesses that go the extra mile

Each year, the Office of the Secretary of State calls for nominations for the Corporations for Communities Award. Now in its tenth year, the Corporations for Communities award program recognizes for-profit businesses that give back to Washington State communities despite having no requirement to be generous.

“One of the highlights of my job is bringing attention to companies throughout Washington that go the extra mile for not only their customers but their communities,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman, whose office oversees the registration of Corporations and Charities in Washington. “I want to encourage anyone who knows of a business active in charitable causes to nominate them for the award.”

Secretary Wyman will present the Medallion Award on behalf of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) to up to five businesses nominated by the public via the annual Corporations for Communities program. Nominations for this year’s award begin today and must be submitted by Aug. 31. Nominations can be submitted online or by mail using forms on the Secretary of State’s website at sos.wa.gov.

Any Washingtonian can nominate a business for the Corporations for Communities awards. For-profit corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships of any size are eligible. Nominees need to be registered with the Office of the Secretary of State and must be in compliance with state and federal laws.

In 2018, NASS Medallion Awards were presented to Avista Corporation of Spokane, Columbia Bank of Tacoma, and Cordell, Neher & Company of Wenatchee. These recipients demonstrated charitable activities such as paid time for employee volunteer work, sponsoring and organizing fundraisers, matching of employee giving efforts, making cash and in-kind donations, and building a community of giving within their organizations.