    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 18, 2000]
    [Page 966]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 966]]

    Statement on the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership
    May 18, 2000

        When I called on the business community in 1996 to work with the
    administration to develop a new Presidential award for corporate
    citizenship, the response was immediate and enthusiastic. The Ron Brown
    Award for Corporate Leadership is now a preeminent corporate citizenship
    award in America. And so today I am pleased to welcome to the White
    House the most recent winners of this honor.
        The five companies we recognize today earned this award because
    they've developed some of the Nation's most innovative, successful
    programs in employee and community relations. General Mills is
    strengthening communities through an inner-city joint venture. GTE's
    literacy programs reach 40 millions adult Americans who struggle with
    basic reading. Hewlett-Packard's commitment to diversity in education
    reaches talented individuals from kindergarten to graduate school. IBM's
    partnerships with our public schools bring new ideas and new
    technologies to American youngsters. US WEST's commitment to diversity
    benefits employees and communities across a broad swath of America.
        As I had hoped, the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership is
    making a significant difference in America by showing that businesses
    can do well by doing good--something that Ron Brown, for whom this award
    is named, often reminded us. Like the Malcolm Baldrige award, it
    exemplifies the best of American business. Managed by the independent
    research organization, the Conference Board, this award has broad
    support in the business community. I know it will continue to strengthen
    employees, families, and communities for many years to come by
    celebrating and spreading the highest achievements in corporate
    citizenship.