United Technologies Recognized as Outstanding Corporate Citizen, Best Philanthropic Program at China Corporate Citizenship Awards
For a second consecutive year, United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) received the China Outstanding Corporate Citizen award for its overall corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments. UTC was also recognized with the Best Philanthropic Program award for its Green Shoots Program, which combines volunteer projects at primary school facilities with sustainability education lessons for students. The awards, jointly presented by the Committee of Corporate Citizenship of the China Association of Social Work (CASW), Tencent Charity Foundation and CCTV Channel of Finance & Economics at the China Corporate Citizenship Annual Conference, recognize the best corporate citizenship initiatives in China.
The theme for this year’s conference, “Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility Awareness and Legislation,” aimed to promote both economic and social benefits through enhancing CSR management and governance. The winning philanthropic programs were judged on their innovation, sustainability and levels of social success and awareness. Other criteria included the organizational structure of the program, including management and operations; active participation of employees and corporate leaders.
“At United Technologies, we are committed to being responsible corporate citizens and to contributing to the communities in which we operate. Through programs like Green Shoots we encourage and enable our employees to do the same,” said Ross Shuster, President, International Operations, United Technologies Climate, Controls & Security. “The Green Shoots program is one of our key initiatives in which we engage local communities through employee volunteers including our corporate leaders, with the goal of improving the lives of our young citizens and inspiring them to become green ambassadors of tomorrow. These awards are excellent recognition for the Green Shoots program, as well as our company’s and employees’ efforts in promoting sustainability in China.”
Launched in 2011, the Green Shoots program brings together United Technologies employees as volunteers to support primary education in China and the region. The program has helped to enhance the educational environment of students by improving school infrastructure, while also encouraging young minds to think about sustainability at an early stage. In addition, employees have helped to set up libraries where students will find new books and resources about environmental stewardship and healthy living habits. Since its launch, more than 4,300 United Technologies employees in China have volunteered as part of the Green Shoots program. The program has benefitted more than 20,000 children in primary schools throughout Asia including those in China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Korea. In 2014, 620 employees in China devoted more than 30,000 volunteer hours to help 2,852 students in 21 primary schools across China, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and India.
For more information about sustainability initiatives at United Technologies Corp., visit www.NaturalLeader.com.
About UTC Climate, Controls & Security
UTC Climate, Controls & Security is a leading provider of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, building controls and automation, and fire and security systems leading to safer, smarter, sustainable and high-performance buildings. UTC Climate, Controls & Security is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.CCS.UTC.com and follow @UTC_CCS on Twitter.
About United Technologies Corp.
United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. Our businesses include Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, UTC Aerospace Systems, UTC Climate, Controls & Security and Otis. For more information, visit our website at www.utc.com or follow us on Twitter: @UTC.