WASHINGTON TRUST COMPANY WINS NATIONAL AWARD

FOR EXCELLENCE IN WORKPLACE VOLUNTEERISM

The Points of Light Foundation presented Washington Trust Company, of Westerly, RI with the Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteerism at the Washington DC Convention Center during the 2005 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Elizabeth Eckel, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Washington Trust was on hand to receive the award. Washington Trust's service to the community, through both its employee volunteerism and charitable contributions, unites its employees, customers, and the community by spreading a sense of social responsibility and goodwill among them. This creates a positive response that reflects the importance of Washington Trust's employee-selected core values - quality, integrity, and community.

Five other corporations, some with a presence in Rhode Island, were recognized for their similar efforts. Sharing the stage with Washington Trust Company were Aetna, Inc. (Hartford, CT), Cisco Systems, Inc. (San Jose, CA), Federated Department Stores, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH & New York, NY), The Home Depot (Atlanta, GA), and Georgia Natural Gas (Atlanta, GA).

"Industries as diverse as retail, computer networking, financial services and health benefits, companies are discovering how community service programs can deliver real-world results," says Robert Goodwin, president and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. "Workplace volunteering is an increasing business trend throughout the United States. Many business leaders agree that employee volunteer programs, which encourage employees to share their time and talent by volunteering in the community, help businesses achieve company objectives and deliver on their values."

Selected honorees were judged by major business and nonprofit groups, based on how well each company's overall workplace-based volunteer program reflect the Principles of Excellence, a plan to ACT:

§  Acknowledge that effective volunteer programs contribute to a company's ability to achieve its business goals;

§  Commit to establishing and supporting a program that involves all employees and treats volunteering like any other key business requirement; and

§  Target volunteering to address serious social problems within their communities.

            The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, the nation's leading volunteer resource, views companies a one of the primary sources of volunteers and provides a full range of services to help business develop and sustain workplace volunteer programs. As a member of the Volunteer Center National Network, The Volunteer Center of Rhode Island (VCRI) is the local resource for businesses to receive those services.

The Washington Trust Company and its employees will also be receiving the 2005 Volunteer Center of RI Award for "Outstanding Commitment to Volunteerism" at the upcoming "Tribute to Volunteerism gala", September 24 at the Crowne Plaza, in Warwick. For tickets and information contact VCRI at 401-421-6547 or e-mail info @vcri.org.

About the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization, supports the vital work of community volunteers who help solve our nation's most serious social problems by bringing people and resources together. For more information, call (202) 729-8000 or visit www.pointsoflight.org.

About the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island

                The mission of the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island is to connect people and opportunities for effective volunteer community service.  This is done by promoting volunteerism statewide, connecting volunteers to community needs, building the capacity for effective volunteerism through training and consultation, and by collaborating with community stakeholders where volunteers are involved.  For more information call (401) 421-6547 or visit www.vcri.org.

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