BP Corporation Raises the Stakes; Plans To Award $750,000 To Chicago Non-Profits Demonstrating Excellence In Economic Development And Leadership.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 2000

Awards Ceremony To Be Held September 15 At The Fairmont Hotel

BP (formerly BP Amoco) today announced its Global Social Investment Business Unit has increased the total of its annual Leader Award from $500,000 to $750,000. Three Awards, in the amounts of $250,000, will be presented to local non-profit community organizations that demonstrate excellence in sustaining human progress through job creation and retention, leadership and innovation.

The following six organizations have been selected as finalists: ACCION Chicago; Enterprising Kitchen; Fund for Community Redevelopment and Revitalization; Greater Southwest Development Corporation; Shorebank Neighborhood Institute; and the Women's Business Development Center.

Eligible organizations in Cook County, Illinois were nominated by the Leader Awards Nominations Committee made up of Chicago business leaders, non-profit leadership, the media and representatives from BP and its Global Social Investment Unit.

"We want to partner with organizations that have proven track records of success in sustaining human progress and community-based wealth. Our commitment is shown with the $250,000 increase in this year's Leader Awards program," said Irene Brown, executive director of BP Global Social Investment.

A discreet blue ribbon panel of judges will convene to vote on the three winning organizations. Site visits to review operations will be made to finalist organizations before final awards are made. In addition, interviews with board leadership and key staff members will be important to the final decision making process. The organizations will be honored at a luncheon ceremony on September 15 at the Fairmont Hotel.

BP is a force for good and a global leader in setting new standards of corporate social performance. Its Global Social Investment Business Unit goes beyond traditional philanthropic approaches by enabling communities where it operates to create better lives for themselves through the building of community-based wealth, the creation of jobs, resources invested and its products and services. BP delivers energy daily to 10 million customers worldwide. The Global Social Investment Business Unit of BP invests in community and educational organizations in more than 30 countries.

For more information, contact Robin Beaman at 312.751.9689.