THE BCA TEN: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America Announced November 8, 2006
November 8, 2006, New York, NY - THE BCA TEN: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America, sponsored by the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) and FORBES Magazine, were presented on November 8th during a black-tie gala attended by business and arts leaders from throughout the country. The announcement was made in the Hudson Theatre, New York, New York by actress, producer and director Olympia Dukakis and Jacques d’Amboise, ballet dancer, choreographer and founder of the National Dance Institute.
This national list – the first of its kind created by a not-for-profit organization – was initiated by BCA in 2005 to recognize ten companies each year for their exceptional support of the arts in the United States. The companies on THE BCA TEN for 2006 include:
Advanta, Spring House, PA |
Bison Financial Group, Lafayette, IN |
Boeing Company, Chicago, IL |
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX |
HCA, Nashville, TN |
Lincoln Financial Group, Philadelphia, PA |
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA |
Sabroso Company, Medford, OR |
Time Warner Inc., New York, NY |
I.W. Marks Jewelers LLP, Houston, TX |
“These companies are models for the American business community. They provide the arts with significant financial and in-kind support, and they incorporate meaningful arts-related programs into their employee, customer and community relations activities,” said Judith A. Jedlicka, President, Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. “They are leaders in developing and sustaining arts education initiatives, workplace art collections, plus a myriad of exhibitions and performances, enriching the lives of millions of Americans in communities large and small, from coast-to-coast.”
The Media Sponsor of THE BCA TEN is USA TODAY and Presenting Sponsors include Bank of America, MARKEM Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Principal Financial Group, Target and The First American Corporation. Leadership Circle supporters are Equity Dynamics Inc., Meredith Corporation, The Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, UBS and Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.
BCA Leadership Award
During the November 8th presentation, the BCA Leadership Award was presented to J. Barry Griswell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa. The award was established by BCA in 1993 to recognize individuals whose vision, commitment and leadership champion the arts. The 13th recipient of the annual BCA Leadership award, Griswell has also actively engaged other businesses to support the arts in their communities.
BCA Hall of Fame
Since 1992, the BCA has maintained a Hall of Fame to recognize companies that demonstrate exceptional long-term support to the arts. This year’s inductee is Humana Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky. Humana Inc. is the 20th company inducted into the Hall of Fame.
About Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA)
The Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) was founded in 1967 by David Rockefeller to bring business and the arts together. Since then, business support to the arts has grown from $22 million in 1967 to $3.32 billion in 2003. BCA’s mission is to ensure that the arts flourish in America by encouraging, inspiring and stimulating business to support the arts in the workplace, in education and in the community.
Nominations for THE BCA TEN – 2007 open February 1, 2007. For more information, click here.