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The BCLC Report Citizenship Awards IBM���s Ann Cramer and a quartet of organizational worthies were honored in the nation���s capital. DSM, Google, Qualcomm, and WellPoint Foundation were recognized with the top honors at the Business Civic Leadership Center���s (BCLC) 13th annual Corporate Citizenship Awards (Citizens Awards) presentation in early December. Each of the evening���s winners demonstrated how their corporate core competencies could significantly impact the world. ���The 2012 Citizens Awards winners represent the true spirit of business and what it can do to empower society,��� said BCLC Founder and Executive Director Stephen Jordan. ���In every case, their corporate citizenship shows the exceptional ability of business to innovate, solve problems, and help people realize their potential.��� BCLC is a nonprofit arm of the the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The event was held at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. In addition to the corporate recognition, a surprise (and unprecedented) ���lifetime achievement��� award was conferred on Ann Cramer, IBM���s director for corporate citizenship and corporate affairs for the Americas. Cramer���s award, the first of its kind from the BCLC, recognizes her leadership and contribution to the field of corporate citizenship, both as an IBM official and a member of BCLC���s board of directors. [24] CR MAGAZINE | WINTER 2012 ���Ann is one of the strongest corporate citizenship officials in the United States,��� said Jordan. ���At IBM, Ann played a vital role in the company���s leadership for community and societal issues before corporate citizenship became mainstream in American businesses. She is an inspiration and mentor to many people, including me.��� In the last decade, corporate citizenship has steadily increased in importance as a business strategy for addressing societal challenges, such as education, sustainability, economic development, and disaster response. Cramer���s involvement with the U.S. Chamber and BCLC began in 2004, when she advised Jordan in the creation of a program called the Business Education Network. IBM became part of BCLC���s corporate donor network in 2007, and Cramer joined the BCLC Board of Directors in 2011. Cramer received a standing ovation from the 350 business and civic leaders at the event. Members of BCLC���s board of directors joined Jordan on stage to present the award. ���It���s hard to think of anyone more deserving of this recognition than Ann Cramer,��� said Stanley S. Litow, IBM vice president