The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities has won a national bronze award for its corporate communications program in the corporate responsibility category.
The BPU was recently named a “Bronze Stevie” award winner in the 2020 American Business Awards.
The awards are a national awards program for businesses. A panel of judges recognized the BPU for its continued efforts to better the community and the environment, according to a BPU spokesman.
A spokesman stated that the BPU is committed to maintaining, investing in and protecting the local community, its customers and the environment. The BPU gives back to Wyandotte County through three core areas – community giving, volunteerism and environmental education and advocacy, according to the spokesman.
The BPU’s community giving efforts included raising $58,000 for children through its annual charity golf tournament in 2019; collecting more than $200,000 for the United Way; and helping 600 households through its utility assistance program last year.
Volunteerism efforts included a toy drive for homeless children, Thanksgiving meals delivery and adopt-a-family programs for the needy, according to the spokesman.
Ongoing environmental education and advocacy initiatives helped promote a sustainable future through energy efficiency and water conservation efforts, including videos featuring energy and water-saving tips, a video on the benefits of using renewable energy and a new Kids’ Zone webpage providing environmental and safety information for children.
The American Business Awards are considered the nation’s preeminent business awards program, with more than 3,600 nominations and 230 judges in 2020 from organizations of all sizes and in almost every industry, according to the spokesman. Two of the total four recognized companies alongside BPU in this year’s social responsibility category included MasterCard and Mercedes Benz.
The “Stevies” are considered the Oscars of the business community, according to the New York Post.