Three Minnesota companies—3M, Cargill and Wells Fargo—are among the five recipients nationwide of the United Way of America’s coveted Summit Awards for 2005. The awards are a component of United Way’s Spirit of America® Awards program, which recognizes a company’s outstanding commitment to improving lives in local communities.

UWA recognized 3M, St. Paul, as its 18^th Spirit of America Award recipient, the highest honor given by United Way. "Through their committed leadership and the dedication and generosity of their employees and retirees, 3M and United Way can focus resources that produce results that matter to communities across the country," said UWA president and CEO Brian A. Gallagher. "3M’s executives and employees continue to go the extra mile to change people’s lives for the better. They have demonstrated year after year that making a real difference in the community takes incredible focus, dedication, hard work, time, money and perseverance," Gallagher said.

3M’s corporate values—"respecting our social and physical environment" and "being a company that employees can be proud of"—drive its commitment to volunteerism. 3M’s visible commitment and encouragement of volunteerism and the United Way inspire many employees and retirees to contribute hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours through hands-on classroom and business mentoring plus donating their skills to community-building activities and task forces.

"We are honored to receive the Spirit of America award recognizing the outstanding contributions of our employees," said W. James McNerney, 3M chairman and CEO. "3M is proud to support the meaningful and important work of the United Way."

UWA recognized Cargill, Minneapolis, as a Summit Award recipient in the Community Leadership and Employee Community Engagement categories. Cargill has taken its commitment to volunteerism and made it a part of its annual planning process. Business units and locations are not only asked for specific objectives on how they will enrich their community through volunteerism, but also must report on the methods they will use to track their involvement. This global commitment has led to the creation of the 200 employee-led Cargill Cares Councils in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. These Cargill employees review the interests of their colleagues and the needs in the community and then determine the best projects where they can make a significant impact on the community.

"Cargill has done an outstanding job promoting United Way participation among its employees," said Gallagher. "At Cargill, service to the community is not a platitude written in an annual report to bolster their image. It is a way of life for this company and its employees."

UWA recognized Wells Fargo, Minneapolis, as a Summit Award recipient in the Community Leadership, Corporate Community Investment, Employee Community Engagement and Employee Community Investment categories. Wells Fargo’s workplace volunteer program is comprehensive and encourages every employee to get involved in his or her community. The company has several corporate volunteer initiatives, including the annual "Week of Caring" which is held in conjunction with the Community Support Campaign. In 2004, over 3,000 team member across the country volunteered to lend a hand at local community service agencies. In addition, thousands of team members help teach Wells Fargo’s financial literacy curriculum, Hands on Banking®, in schools and to community groups. The Wells Fargo Volunteer Leave Program rewards team members who give their time to important causes by offering them the opportunity to receive up to four months of fully paid volunteer leave to participate in a major specific project for a nonprofit.

"Wells Fargo is a national leader in the area of corporate community investment. The company recognizes that to help solve community problems requires not only financial resources, but also employee volunteer hours and community leadership," said UWA’s Gallagher. "Together, Wells Fargo and United Way focus resources on the most pressing problems in local communities to change people’s lives for the better."

United Way of America also presented Summit Awards to Microsoft Corporation and Principal Financial Group.