March 17, 2005 – Arlington, VA – This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Better Business Bureau International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Presented annually since 1996, the BBB Torch Award honors businesses that demonstrate exceedingly high standards of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and the communities in which they do businesses.
“We are calling on the many outstanding, upstanding businesses that do the right thing, day in and out, to step forward. Enter the 2005 BBB International Torch Award competition. The deadline for entering is a month away. For a decade, the International Torch Award has brought positive attention to the many businesses that do care about maintaining good relations with their customers, employees, competitors and communities. Previous winners have discovered the long-term value of excellence, fairness, honesty and trustworthiness in their day-to-day operations,” said Ken Hunter, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB).
The deadline for this year’s competition is Friday, April 15, 2005. Businesses of any size that serve the retail or wholesale markets in the U.S., Canada or communities in Mexico that are served by BBBs may submit an entry in the 10th annual BBB International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Torch Award entry forms, judging criteria and competition rules are available online at http://www.bbb.org/BizEthics/torchAward.asp. There is a $50, non-refundable entry fee.
In honor of the BBB International Torch Award 10-year anniversary, the CBBB is excited to announce its new ethics award program to honor young ethical leaders. The BBB International Student Ethics Award will recognize up to five high school students who personify high ethics demonstrated through leadership, community service, academic history and overall personal integrity. Each student who is selected to be honored will receive a scholarship of $2,500 towards his or her college education.
The 2005 BBB Student Ethics Award program is open to students who are recipients of a local Better Business Bureau scholarship program. Information is available to students by contacting their local BBB. To find the nearest BBB, visit http://lookup.bbb.org/.
BBB Student Ethics Award criteria, guidelines, and procedures are available online at http://www.bbb.org/BizEthics/studentForm.asp. The deadline for submitting entries is Friday, May 13, 2005.
This year’s winners of the BBB International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics and the BBB International Student Ethics Award will be recognized at a special 10-year anniversary commemorative ceremony in Las Vegas on September 19, 2005.