This day began in 2004 as National Corporate Philanthropy Day and has since grown to a truly international event, with participation not only from companies around the world, but also private foundations and nonprofit organizations.  While CECP’s primary focus is on engaging the corporate sector, we do so with full recognition that true social progress is not possible without the coordination of the expertise, resources, and networks across sectors.  Nonprofits, government, and private foundations—each group has differing strengths, and we must together find the most promising paths for societal progress and learn from each other’s successes and failures.

Founded as a CEO membership organization over ten years ago, CECP brings together leading global CEOs for a forum each year on ICPD to discuss, peer-to-peer, the challenges and opportunities of investing in solutions to society’s toughest issues. Today, this convening, the Board of Boards CEO Conference, has reached record attendance of over 70 global CEOs, including executive delegations from China and the Arabian Gulf.  As communities, economies, and communications become increasingly interconnected, we believe that leading institutions must come together to explore how their organizations can join forces in creating stronger societies worldwide.

In the afternoon, CECP and representatives from many of our member companies will join the United Nations Economic and Social Council and other UN Agencies for a special forum bringing together the entire philanthropic community to address paths to achieve Millennium Development Goal 2, achieving universal primary education. Mr. S. Gopalakrishnan, CEO and Managing Director of Infosys, a CECP member company, will participate in the afternoon discussion as a panelist, sharing the ways in which the company engages in educational initiatives and scientific exploration in countries where it operates.  Western Union will announce a partnership with the United Nations to advance the Millennium Development Goals, particularly those aimed at reducing poverty and providing universal education.

At CECP, our member companies are engaging their employees and other stakeholders in ICPD through unique programs and initiatives, all listed on CECP’s website, including: 

• The Alcoa Foundation expanded and launched several environmental programs, representing a total investment of $7 million as part of a new sustainability strategy.
• The Campbell Soup Company recently announced a $10 million plan to reduce childhood obesity and hunger in Camden, the company’s headquarter city, by 50% over ten years.
• Bloomberg is leveraging its technology and communications platforms to broadcast the messages of ICPD to employees and customers worldwide.
• The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will introduce its redesigned robust Community Service program, Team Hart, to employees today.
• ITT Watermark announced a partnership with the Emergency Capacity Building Project to support the development of water-related risk reduction programs.
• Roshan, a CECP member company based in Afghanistan, is mobilizing their employees to support the building of wells at schools by leveraging the company’s mobile money transfer product, M-Paisa.
• State Farm ® is celebrating ICPD by sharing a grant opportunity for service-leaning grants in areas that the State Farm Youth Advisory Board chose as issues that are important to teens and young adults—driver safety, access to higher education/closing the achievement gap, financial literacy, natural and societal disaster preparedness, and environmental responsibility.

Affirming the cross-sector spirit of the day, United States President Barack Obama continued the longstanding presidential tradition of support for ICPD by sending a letter of support to business leaders in recognition of ICPD. We are honored and grateful for his recognition, and hope that others who share a commitment to these issues will look for ways to celebrate our collective progress—and continue to reach for new heights in the months and years ahead.