Environmental Improvement:
STAPLES throughout Oklahoma

In the ultra-competitive office supply business, it often takes more than low prices to earn the loyalty of customers. One of the big advantages Staple's has in Oklahoma is Joe Lada, a district manager whose useful ideas are matched only by his ability to make them grow.

His notion was to divert thousands of empty ink and toner cartridges from landfills by donating a dollar to Oklahoma education for each one collected and recycled at Staples. Only seven months in, the program was more than a quarter of the way toward its $100,000 goal and it had inspired Staples to take the Oklahoma program nationwide with a $5 million goal.

Our judges laud Staples for its great commitment to education and the environment. We agree that the Staples' Recycle for Education program supplies good news for students and landfills in Oklahoma.



Beautification & Landscaping:
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP.
Oklahoma City

When Chesapeake Energy decided to do something about several nearly barren medians along major trafficways in Oklahoma City, it did more than populate them with trees. Crepe Myrtle, holly and flowers also now flourish, helped along with sod and irrigation systems.

Chesapeake's commitment to its corporate hometown doesn't stop there. The company is responsible for maintaining the medians and it has extensively landscaped Horace Mann Elementary School, establishing a beautiful arboretum and an outdoor classroom.

The judges call it an outstanding effort and note the ongoing commitment to the community. For its planting and maintenance efforts on several medians, as well as its ongoing partnership with Horace Mann, Chesapeake Energy Corporation is planting good news for everyone in Oklahoma City.