WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- John Tyson, the chairman of Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), received the prestigious "Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship" at a special dinner Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C.
The Award, presented by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution, is given to executives who have shown a deep concern for the common good beyond the bottom line. Previous winners have included Ted Turner of Time Warner, Inc., Jurgen Schrempp of DaimlerChrysler and John T. Chambers of Cisco Systems
"I share this honor with our Tyson Team Members as well as my entire family, which has given a lot for the success of our company," said John Tyson. "I'm also proud to receive an award named after President Wilson. While there is so much to admire about his life, I'm most struck by the way his faith formed his public service. Faith can -- as it did with Wilson and it also does with me -- lead us to take a longer view and give us hope that we can leave the world better than we found it. That's one of the reasons why Tyson Foods, as part of our Core Values, strives to be faith-friendly and honor God."
Tyson was selected by the Center's Board of Trustees in recognition of his leadership in business, civic life and education. Under his leadership, Tyson Foods has become the world's largest producer of chicken, beef and pork, as well as one of the single largest U.S. exporters to Russia.
"His steadfast commitment to U.S.-Russian economic and commercial ties has been a model for other U.S. business leaders at a time when promoting that relationship is more important than ever," said Lee H. Hamilton, president and director of the Woodrow Wilson Center.
"Equally important is the sense of corporate responsibility he's instilled in the company," Hamilton said. "Tyson Foods is known as a Team Member-friendly company based on core values of truth and integrity."
The Wilson Center also noted Tyson's generous support for the University of Arkansas. For example, he served as vice chair of the university's Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee, helping secure contributions to enhance the school's standing as a top institution of higher learning.
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is the living; national memorial to President Wilson established by Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a nonpartisan institution, supported by public and private funds, engaged in the study of national and world affairs. The Center establishes and maintains a neutral forum for free, open, and informed dialogue. The award given to John Tyson was presented at a dinner to benefit the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute, one of the premier Russian studies centers in the United States.
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the "Powered by Tyson"(tm) strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 110,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.