The Charles C. Keller Excellence Award for Corporate Philanthropy was created by the Board of Trustees of the Washington County Community Foundation in 2011 to recognize a local for-profit business (i.e. single proprietor, limited liability partnership, corporation, etc.) for exemplary giving and community service. The award also recognizes Chuck’s leadership as a Founding Trustee and Chairman of the Foundation.
About Charles "Chuck" C. Keller
A Summa Cum Laude graduate of California State College (now PennWest California) Chuck received that institution’s highest undergraduate honor, the Distinguished Service Award, and was later honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh.
In WWII, Chuck served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps, and retired as a Lt. Colonel and Judge Advocate after 30 years in the United States Air Force.
Chuck was an active Rotarian, served as President of Rotary International in 1987-1988, and was a leading advocate in the organization’s efforts to eradicate Polio. He was President of the Washington County Bar Association, and received its prestigious Distinguished Service Award, and was also a Trustee of the Washington County Bar Foundation. He also served as President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and was also a Fellow of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation. Additionally, he served in the American Bar Association House of Delegates and was elected a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation. Other organizations to which he donated his time include the Washington County Easter Seal Society, Boy Scouts of America, Mon Valley United Way, Mon Valley Hospital, Mon Valley Health and Welfare Council, General Alumni Association of California University of PA, and the California Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the PA State Chamber of Commerce.
“That my law firm should be the first recipient of a corporate philanthropy award is a source of great satisfaction and pride. . . . My greater joy is in recognizing that a long parade of deserving businesses and professions will receive this honor and recognition in the years to come.” - Charles C. Keller— Charles C. Keller.
Eligibility:
All for-profit businesses with operations in Washington County are eligible for nomination. Preference will be given to nominees whose community service is not directly beneficial to the operations of the company.
Criteria:
- Demonstrate a company philosophy of community service, such as time-off or flexible scheduling for employees to perform community service;
- Encourage employee commitment at multiple levels of the company;
- Donate resources including financial, personnel, facility or product;
- Orchestrate a sustained effort to address a community need;
- Promote active community participation by others.
Nomination Process:
Community members may recommend a business for consideration at any time.
