Inaugural Corporate Citizen Award presented to GIA

From GIA, Carlsbad, Calif. – The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce introduced a new award called the “Corporate Citizen of the Year” and presented it to GIA at the Chamber’s 85th Anniversary Celebration on March 2. The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerceis the 10^th largest in the state of California.

Presenting the award, Paul Thompson, chairman of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors said, “In order to be a good corporate citizen, an organization mustgive freely of its time, effort, and experience to make the community a better place to live, work, and play. Our honored Corporate Citizen of the Year has a department charged with leading the way to not only make them a good neighbor but a neighbor of choice.”

For example, the Chamber highlighted three of GIA’s corporate citizenship activities. They are:

• Since its inception in 2000, GIA’s Community Development Department has contributed executive time and intelligence to at least 43 organizations or committees, and has participated in well over 450 community meetings, activities, and events.
• GIA employees have donated thousands of hours to community efforts such as clean-ups, community projects, fund-raising events, and the Carlsbad trails program.
• The leadership of GIA has allowed Gary Hill, GIA's director of Community Development to sit on the Chamber Board of Directors for nine years and serve as Chairman of the Board of the Chamber in 2002.

The award was accepted by Donna Baker, president of GIA, and Gary Hill.

“We’re thrilled to be the first organization to receive Carlsbad’s Corporate Citizen of the Year Award,’” said Baker. “In turn, we congratulate the Chamber on the occasion of its 85^th Anniversary, and look forward to working with Chamber members on other community projects in the future.”