New York Urban League Honors Champions of Diversity

Online, February 11, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The New York Urban League has recognized four New York City-area corporations for their commitment to diversity at its 8th Annual Champions of Diversity Awards breakfast that took place Monday at The Four Seasons Restaurant in Manhattan.

"I must applaud this year's award recipients for upholding diversity as a fundamental tenet of their corporate philosophy," observed NYUL President and CEO Arva R. Rice. "As you have already discovered, diverse workplaces produce more dynamic corporations better capable of serving a more global clientele in an ever-changing marketplace. Our nation's competitiveness in the 21st century depends upon it."

Honorees included: Adecco Group North America, Interpublic Group, Johnson & Johnson and Macy's, Inc. To be considered for the awards, applicants were compelled to illustrate their diversity commitment in four major areas - corporate leadership, employment policy, supplier relations and corporate giving.

"Johnson & Johnson is truly grateful to be recognized as a Champion of Diversity by the New York Urban League. While we don't do this work for the sake of receiving awards, the truth is this award propels us to continue on this journey and it is a tangible reminder of the important work that lies ahead," said Anthony P. Carter, Vice President, Global Diversity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer for Johnson & Johnson.

Interpublic Group, one of the leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services firms, became the first in its field to earn the award.

"Over the past five years, IPG has made a formal commitment to becoming the world's most inclusive network of marketing services companies. Our plan is to continue investing in diversity and inclusion and to build on the progress we have made so as to make a lasting change to the DNA of our company. Awards like this help to tell us we are on the right track to making that culture change happen," said IPG Chairman and CEO Michael Roth at the ceremony.

Adecco Group North America CEO Tig Gilliam said he was pleased to accept the award on behalf of the world's leading recruitment and workforce solutions provider.

"It is wonderful to see that our strategies for diversity and inclusion are having a real impact and are recognized by our fellow business leaders. Most importantly, I am pleased to see that our corporate strategy is supported so strongly by the day-to-day decision-making and actions of the more than 7,000 local Adecco Group colleagues who are positively changing the world of work by bringing diversity and inclusion to the forefront of our conversations and actions," he said. "We are pleased to be in partnership with NYUL and other great companies like Interpublic Group, Macy's and Johnson & Johnson in the journey to a fully inclusive business environment."

In 2004, the NYUL established the Champions of Diversity awards ceremony, inspired by corporate America's outpouring of support for the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the basic principles of affirmative action.

For photos, see:
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/1043208537/de3a4b4ba739b4e5ca5c15a2c780c185
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/1043211409/9e66c979c93418d138452a8919482c2e

For more information, contact Adrien Seybert of The Wakeman Agency at 212-500-5953 x121 or [email protected].

About NYUL
The New York Urban League was founded by a group of prominent New Yorkers concerned with the poor state of blacks migrating to New York City from the south. From its inception it provided employment and connections for migrating blacks bridging the adjustment from the agricultural/rural life to the industrial urban center. Each decade following, "The League" provided critical services such as emergency aid for the unemployed during the Great Depression; formed the Committee for Interracial Voluntary Hospitals to provide care and work in local hospitals; negotiated the opening of employment for blacks in the airline, brewing, and baking industries; created "Street Academies" which became a national model for high school students; published the first State of Black New York report; and created its signature events including Frederick Douglass Dinner, Whitney M. Young Jr. Classic, and Champion of Diversity Breakfast among many other milestones.