On November 4, arts and business leaders from all over the US commended twelve exceptional businesses for their commitment to the arts at the BCA 10 awards in New York City. Now that the awards are over, the black ties have come off and the awardees have returned to their respective home bases. But from Iowa to Oregon, the celebration of these exceptional businesses shows no signs of stopping.
In Cincinnati, Strata-G continues to celebrate by renewing their commitment to supporting the arts. The company is launching a campaign to offer two Cincinnati area arts organizations their marketing services, pro-bono, for a full year. “Being nominated for and winning the BCA 10 award further reinforced in us the role that business can play in supporting area non-profits,” Strata-G managing partner Jeff Eberlein said. “We wanted to step up once again and show our gratitude to and support worthy arts organizations.” Strata-G earned a BCA 10 award for providing over $75,000 in pro-bono services to arts organizations in 2009 alone. And in Oregon, Portland General Electric is being honored at Business and Culture for the Arts’ Breakfast of Champions, where Portland Mayor Sam Adams will re-present the BCA 10 award to PGE CEO Jim Piro. “PGE believes the arts have the power to educate, heal and create a vibrant economy and has long demonstrated a dedication to incorporating the arts in its corporate culture while also encouraging other businesses to follow suit,” said Virginia Willard, Business for Culture & the Art’s executive director.
Floridian arts organizations have expressed their gratification that Darden Restaurants Chairman and CEO Clarence Otis, Jr. was honored with the BCA 10 Leadership Award. “United Arts is so proud that a leader of a company right here in our backyard has received such a prestigious honor,” said United Arts president Margot Knight. “Mr. Otis’ personal passion for the arts, and his belief that the arts matter to the community mean the world to us.”
Iowa City, too, continues to commend Mark Ginsberg, of M.C. Ginsberg Jewelers and Objects of Art, for the staunch arts commitment that earned his company a BCA 10 award. “For a privately-owned company to be on this list, out of Iowa City, is nothing short of amazing,” said Dennis Green, a fellow Iowa City arts supporter. Since 1985, M.C. Ginsberg Jewelers has contributed twenty to thirty percent of its net profits to the arts.
In addition to celebrating, some companies are using their awards to motivate others to support the arts. “While I applaud participants, I encourage everyone to give as much as they can,” Ginsberg said. “We are bound morally and ethically to give something back.”