THE One claimed the prestigious Corporate Social Responsibility Leader of the Year Award for the second year running at the Middle East Business Achievement Awards 2009 ceremony held at the Dubai International Convention Centre on Monday, October 26.
While MEBAA recognises leadership and outstanding achievement in a challenging new era for business, the highly regarded CSR Leader of the Year award honours a far-sighted organisation that shows continued support for corporate social responsibility, rising to the challenge of committing to CSR within reduced budgets and positively impacting the community in terms of the environment, employment, education and charitable work.
An elated Thomas Lundgren, founder and CEO (Chief Emotional Officer) of THE One, humbly accepted the accolade presented by 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu.
“Winning this award is a great honour and just goes to show that what we are doing in terms of Socially Responsible Investment really works! I am so proud of my Tribe,” said Lundgren after the awards ceremony.
The home fashion brand outshone shortlisted companies Bayt.com and DLA Piper Middle East by demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the care of staff and customers, hiring of challenged employees, local volunteering initiatives, ethical sourcing and their big idea: Global Education through THE Onederworld – THE One’s Sustainable Village Community Programme.
Thomas personally kicked off the first Onederworld project in Kenya in August 2008 and has set his Tribe a goal of successfully running 99 stores by 2020 in order to adopt 99 villages, proving that CSR goes way beyond financial and legal obligations.
Just last week at the 6th CSR Summit, Lundgren collected yet another CSR accolade, walking off with the CSR Leadership Award which recognised the individual who best demonstrated the promotion of all aspects of corporate social responsibility, including environment, sustainability, community partnerships, education as well as poverty alienation.