Altria Ranked #30 on The Civic 50 for Commitment to Community

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Inaugural survey conducted by Bloomberg LP, National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light

RICHMOND, Va. -- November 9, 2012 --

Altria Group has been ranked #30 among America's most community-minded companies in The Civic 50 survey - the first comprehensive ranking of S&P 500 corporations that best use their time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. The survey was conducted by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) and Points of Light, the nation's definitive experts on civic engagement, in partnership with Bloomberg LP.

"For Altria, our companies and employees, investing in our communities means more than just writing a check," said Jennifer Hunter, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs, Altria Client Services.  "We're committed to helping make our communities better places to live, work and play. We work to find long-lasting solutions to the challenges facing our communities - an important part of how we pursue Altria's Mission and make our business more successful."

Companies were evaluated on seven specific metrics:  leadership, measurement and strategy, design, employee civic health, community partnerships, cause alignment and transparency. Winning companies employed increasingly sophisticated tools to measure the impact of community engagement and alignment of these programs with their business' core competencies.  More than two-thirds of the top 50 companies say they "frequently" or "always" use the professional skills of their workforce to address social issues and real community challenges.  Sixty-six percent of the top 50 say they have "mission-level" alignment with the community partners, meaning they work with them on the highest strategic level, not just on individual programs or events.

"NCoC is proud to be part of The Civic 50 launch," said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of NCOC. "The Civic 50 demonstrates that the best companies in America are deeply committed to strengthening their respective communities. Leaders of these companies are aligning the expertise of their companies and people with the needs of their communities, and then measuring the impact of their programs. NCoC hopes The Civic 50 will spur companies throughout our country to do the same."
"As a company committed to community engagement and improvement, Bloomberg is proud to have partnered with the National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light on this important ranking," said Norman Pearlstine, Chairman, Bloomberg Businessweek and Chief Content Officer, Bloomberg LP "The Civic 50 is a pioneering addition to the Bloomberg Rankings inventory. It features a comprehensive, transparent methodology to identify companies that have taken a leadership role in developing and implementing civic engagement programs. We believe it will raise awareness of the importance of a civic consciousness through the U.S. corporate world."

"Today, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we can see clearly how much corporate America pitches in - with expertise, talent, time and money - to help communities meet critical needs," said Jackie Norris, executive director of the Points of Light Corporate Institute. "In times of disaster and in relative calm, The Civic 50's work is transformative, innovative and critically important."