2011 American Cancer Society Impact Awards

Award Criteria

Corporate Impact: Excellence in Tobacco Control - Nominees for the Tobacco Control award implement a company-wide smoke free policy that is enforced across all US worksites. In addition, 100 percent of US employees have access to a tobacco prevention/cessation program, and all barriers, including employee out-of-pocket expense, have been removed.

A company must meet the following criteria:

  • Comprehensive tobacco free policy in place that is communicated and enforced at all US company owned or leased locations and vehicles.
  • Employees are provided access to telephonic tobacco cessation services (i.e., Free & Clear). Companies may also provide on-line or on-site group support programs (all programs may be offered through outside vendor, EAP or health plan).
  • Over-the-Counter nicotine replacement therapy (patch, gum) is available through company health plans or a contracted vendor
  • Workplace Programs — All cessation programs available to employees are free to the participant. Companies also provide documentation of on-going promotions plan.
  • Employee Health Benefits— Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy medications (patch, gum) are provided to employees at no cost.

Answers to these questions can help support the nomination; please answer if known and include in the narrative:

  1. Describe how the company implemented their smoke-free policy.
  2. How did the company promote utilization of tobacco cessation services?
  3. How has the company utilized incentives to decrease tobacco prevalence?

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Corporate Impact: Excellence in Cancer Control – Nominees for the Cancer Control award provide health benefits to address each of the following four cancer prevention behaviors: cancer screening, tobacco control, and physical activity and nutrition.

  • Cancer screening benefits include:

-Out-of-pocket costs (i.e., co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible requirements) for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening have been eliminated for employees and insured dependents.

  • Tobacco control benefits include:

-Tobacco cessation nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) – including nicotine gum, inhaler, lozenge, nasal spray, and patch – is covered at 100 percent of allowed cost for the length of time it is recommended to be used (for most products not longer than six months) for employees and insured dependents.

-Tobacco cessation non-nicotine prescription aids (chantix, wellbutrin, zyban) are covered at no cost to employees and insured dependents.

-Tobacco cessation counseling (i.e., group or individual counseling) is covered at no cost to employees and dependents.

  • Nutrition/Physical Activity health benefits include:

-Evidence-based weight loss counseling programs or nutrition/physical activity programs are covered for employees and insured dependents.

  • The company being recognized provides comprehensive health information (i.e., at least four times per year) to address each of the following cancer prevention behaviors: physical activity, nutrition, tobacco control, and cancer screening. Within the physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco control programs, the company is informing their employees about how these behaviors can impact chronic disease prevention (i.e., cancer should be listed as one of the chronic diseases).
  • The company also provides evidence-based programs/services to address each of the following four cancer prevention behaviors: physical activity, nutrition, tobacco control, and cancer screening. (The company must demonstrate that they are offering at least one program/service listed for each behavior. Programs may include lunch and learns; however, lunch and learns should not be the only offering – at least one additional evidence-based offering from each behavior below should be included.).
  • Physical activity programs/services include:

-Onsite fitness facilities

-Discount at a local fitness facility

-Safe outdoor walking or bicycling trails

  • Nutrition programs/services include:

-Healthy food options in the cafeteria

-Subsidized food

-Healthy vending machine options

-Healthy food at company venues

  • Tobacco control programs/services include:

-Promotion of state quitline

-Contracted employee quitline for employees and dependents

-Onsite group counseling sessions

  • Cancer screening programs/services include:

-Mobile mammography

-FOBT/FIT kit home mailing

  • The company must also have a strategic health communication strategy to increase participation in cancer prevention and control programs. That strategy must include the delivery of information to employees at least four times per year (quarterly) and the integration of additional wellness program offerings where applicable (i.e., if promoting breast cancer, remind employees about physical activity programs within the company’s suite of wellness offerings).
  • In addition, the company must be committed to tracking and reporting health participation and outcomes. This means that a company is working with their health care providers when applicable (i.e., cancer screenings) to collect data on benefit and program successes in order to build/offer programs that will impact the outcomes. For programs where health care providers are not applicable (i.e., cancer screening data), the company should be actively tracking outcomes (i.e., physical activity).

Answers to these questions can help support the nomination; please answer if known and include in the narrative:

  1. How does the company promote utilization of cancer screening benefits?
  2. How does the company track participation and utilization of services and benefits?
  3. If possible, provide samples of communication materials to support utilization of programs, policies, or benefits.

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Corporate Impact: Excellence in Employee Engagement –Nominees for the Employee Engagement award demonstrate outstanding volunteerism in support of the American Cancer Society’s mission.

Answers to these questions can help support the nomination; please answer if known and include in the narrative:

  1. How many employees volunteered for the American Cancer Society through team participation, event committees, etc.?
  2. How does the company’s culture support and encourage company-wide volunteerism (i.e., formal policy, volunteer opportunities, incentives/matching gifts, how hours are tracked, senior leadership involvement, inclusiveness/diversity, etc.)?
  3. Describe company-wide community activities and volunteer projects the company, employees, and retirees participate in and how these are integrated with their overall philanthropic goals/corporate citizenship.

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Corporate Impact: Excellence in Employee Giving – Nominees for the Employee Giving award provide their employeesopportunities to support the American Cancer Society’s mission through their employee giving campaign, as well as opportunities for the Society to support the company’s campaign. The company makes an impact in the fight against cancer in the workplace by creating a campaign that embodies a combination of best practices that may include: building a business case for the program, reviewing and assessing performance and practices, branding the campaign, expanding giving options, integrating all employee involvement programs through the campaign, building leadership and an effective organization, marketing the campaign and educating employees, measuring employee satisfaction, and recognizing and thanking donors and volunteers.

Answers to these questions can help support the nomination – please answer if known and include in the narrative:

  1. How many employees are eligible to participate in the campaign?
  2. How many employees participated in the campaign?
  3. Total campaign revenue?
  4. Total campaign revenue increase from previous year?
  5. Company average gift?
  6. How many employees contributed to the American Cancer Society?
  7. Total revenue contributed to the American Cancer Society?
  8. What are the campaign objectives and what strategies were developed to meet the objectives?
  9. Describe the CEO/Senior Leadership's involvement in the employee campaign.
  10. Does the company engage employees and retirees in the company-wide campaign and year-round? (examples: communication, education, awareness, agency speakers, tours, community partners, activities, etc).
  11. How are employees thanked and recognized for campaign participation and year-round support? (examples: letter from CEO or campaign chair; pin or other small gift; thank you luncheons; receptions; days off (by department or individual))
  12. How does the company promote expanded giving options?
  13. How does the company market the campaign and educate employees? (i.e. packaging the campaign and making it appealing and fun)
  14. How does the company measure employee satisfaction? (i.e. survey employees when considering expansion, periodic surveys to measure employee attitudes and perceptions)

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Award of Excellence (not open for nomination)

The Award of Excellence recipient supports the American Cancer Society’s mission in a variety of ways such as corporate and employee giving, customer engagement and volunteerism. The company demonstrates a commitment to employee health and wellness benefits, policies, programs and promotion. The company’s executive leadership is engaged as well through participation in such programs as CEOs Against Cancer or other local leadership roles (committee participation, campaign leadership, Board participation, etc).

The American Cancer Society, through its Corporate & Systems Initiative program, aims to reduce the burden of cancer by helping employers implement scientifically sound wellness programs and high-quality support for cancer screening and care. The Society offers corporate partners a suite of flexible, evidence-based, scientifically documented services – Workplace Solutions – that targets the key risk factors underlying cancer and other costly chronic diseases. Workplace Solutions also provides companies with opportunities that address employee engagement/volunteerism, cause branding/sponsorship, workplace giving, team building, community recognition, brand enhancement and employee morale.

For more information on the American Cancer Society 2011 Nationwide Corporate Impact Awards Series, please contact – Jim Hammelev, managing director, American Cancer Society, Corporate & Systems Initiative, at (575) 532- 5551 or via email at .

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