Two South Sound businesses will receive top honors this week from Washington’s secretary of state for their work to improve lives in local communities.

The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion will be awarded to Columbia Bank, which provides staff with 40 hours per year of paid volunteer time and matches $100 per employee per year for charitable donations. Last year, bank employees contributed more than 20,600 volunteer hours and donated more than $248,000 to charitable causes.

The award also will be presented to The Doty Group, which provides staff members with paid time to volunteer during business hours, administers an annual “Volunteer as a Team” program for the Rescue Mission and Humane Society, and gives in-kind tax and financial assistance to many fundraising efforts.

Both companies are based in Tacoma.

Spokane-based Avista Corporation and Wenatchee-based Cordell, Neher & Company also will receive the honor.

In addition, AAA Washington, Bank of America, Molina Healthcare of Washington, and Mission Support Alliance will receive certificates of honor for their community contributions.

“I’m proud to recognize large and small companies for their outstanding efforts to make Washington communities better places to live, work, and thrive,” said Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman. “These special organizations really went above and beyond to help society, and are greatly deserving of our Corporations for Communities honors.”

The companies will be honored during a ceremony on November 29 at 1:30 p.m. in the Office of the Secretary of State in the Legislative Building in Olympia.

Source: Southsoundbiz.com