United Way’s Success By 6 2003 Donlon Award Winners Announced

DEWITT, NY - May 2, 2003 - The United Way Success By 6 program recognized five organizations for their outstanding commitment to create a family-friendly workplace at the Donlon Awards breakfast on April 24 at the University Sheraton. The Donlon Awards are named after William Donlon, a former chief executive of Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. and the first chairman of the Success By 6 policy council. 140 people attended the breakfast.

Syracuse University won the first ever Spirit of Excellence Award, established by the judges to recognize and honor an organization for their excellence in workplace policies given the unique environment in which they conduct their business. SU offers benefits such as on-site childcare, free tuition benefits of 12 credits a year, full annual tuition for dependents of each employee and a work life center.

Elmcrest Children’s Center won in the non-profit category. Despite the fiscal constraints that come with being a private-non-profit human service agency this organization strives to offer wages and benefits that allow their employees to have both richly rewarding careers and quality time to spend with their families. The judges were impressed that Elmcrest employees voluntarily talk about their positive work environment.

Solvents & Petroleum Services, Inc. of Salina won in the small business category (up to 100 employees with no human resources personnel). The judges liked how the company has a strong belief that in order to meet their business objectives, they need to take good care of their employees, offering flex time and use of paid time off for family and personal needs.

Sensis Corporation won in the medium business category (under 250 employees with human resources personnel on staff). The company’s strong commitment to maintaining a positive relationship with their employees, offering benefits such as telecommuting and profit sharing, impressed the judges.

Time Warner Cable won in the large business category (over 250 employees). The judges were impressed that their consideration of the employee as a person clearly came through in their application and in the independent actions they take in support of their employees, offering relocation assistance and tuition assistance.

Keynote speaker Maryella Gockel, director of Work Life Integration at Ernst & Young, encouraged the winners to continue their work-life policies.
“It takes a lot of time and energy and patience to change the corporate culture in America,” said Gockel.

The Donlon Awards are sponsored by United Way’s Success By 6 and the Human Resources Council of the Manufacturer’s Association with the support of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce.

Success By 6, an initiative of United Way of Central New York, brings together leaders of business, education, government and the community to work on behalf of young children. The Success By 6 mission promotes the concept that by age 6, all children in Onondaga County will attain the necessary mental, physical, social and emotional development to successfully embrace educational and social opportunities for growth and learning.