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Living Values

2007 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

 

Diversity and Inclusion

 

Organizational Sponsorships and Memberships

As a founding member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) in 1972, OfficeMax has long recognized the value of supporting – and taking an active role in – organizations dedicated to promoting diversity in the marketplace.

In 2007, we continued in this direction through membership and sponsorship activities. Some of the organizations with whom we partnered are described below.

National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). In 2007, OfficeMax became a corporate partner in the NGLCC, a national advocacy and certifying body for an estimated 800,000 to 1,400,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT)-owned and operated businesses. We are the first office supply company to accept NGLCC minority-business certifications.

Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC). In 2007, OfficeMax supported the WBDC by sponsoring its 21st Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference, the oldest conference and business opportunities fair for women in business in the country. The WBDC is a nationally and internationally recognized nonprofit organization that works with women to launch new businesses and strengthen existing businesses in the Chicago area.

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). As a founding and active member of NMSDC, OfficeMax supports the organization through our participation in its regional fairs. The primary objective of the NMSDC is to certify and match more than 15,000 minority owned businesses with member corporations that want to purchase goods and services.

Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC). OfficeMax supports the MMBDC through our participation in its regional fairs. The MMBDC is a nonprofit, corporate services organization, which through certification of minority-owned businesses assures corporate buyers that an individual business is truly minority-owned, operated and controlled.

Chicago Minority Business Development Council, Inc. (CMBDC). In 2007, OfficeMax aided the CMBDC by providing benefactor-level support (highest sponsorship amount) for its Chicago Business Opportunity Fair, which promotes interaction between 4,000 participants from public and private-sector buying organizations and minority companies. The CMBDC is a premier organization for increasing business opportunities between major buying organizations and minority-owned businesses.