Frontier Co-op has been named the winner of a 2022 Silver Halo Award in the Social Service Initiative category by Engage for Good.
The award recognizes Frontier’s Breaking Down Barriers to Employment initiative, which helps employees and community members overcome systemic barriers to employment and economic mobility by providing access to child care, transportation, second chance hiring practices and an apprenticeship program.
Launched in 2017, the initiative not only advances Frontier’s commitment to social giving, but also serves as a recruitment tactic that allows the company to meet staffing needs and contributes to a more diverse workforce.
“At Frontier Co-op, our foundational belief is that doing good, works,” said Frontier CEO Tony Bedard. “As a 40,000-member owned cooperative, we are committed to our values and a business for good approach to everything we do – from building relationships with our growers, to working with local organizations supporting our community – and we are honored to receive this acknowledgement reinforcing the impact we can make by lifting up our communities.”
The Halo Awards are North America’s highest honor for corporate social impact initiatives that showcase outstanding consumer engagement or employee engagement efforts.
This marks the 20th year that Engage for Good has rewarded businesses and nonprofits with Halo Awards. A total of 20 category awards were given out to programs judged as the best corporate social impact campaigns of 2021 at the Engage for Good Conference in Atlanta May 18.
As an extension of the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment initiative, Frontier Co-op recently committed $225,000 over a three-year period to continue their partnership with Willis Dady Homeless Services in Cedar Rapids. The partnership will aim to expand supportive housing units, employment training, one-on-one case management services, childcare, transportation and more.
“With the world facing such enormous man-made and natural crises, Halo Award-winning campaigns remind us of the tremendous positive impact companies can have in combating societal problems,” said Engage for Good president David Hessekiel. “Among this year’s Halo winners were campaigns that educated and mobilized thousands to get vaccinated, used NFTs to inspire and engage younger fundraisers, and helped break down barriers to unemployment – all while building stronger businesses.”
Founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa, Frontier Co-op offers a full line of products for natural living under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic, Aura Cacia and Plant Boss brands. Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; and aromatherapy products, with a wide selection of organics. Frontier Co-op’s goal is to provide consumers with the highest-quality products while supporting and promoting social and environmental responsibility.
