Pioneers of the Faith-Based Shareholder Advocacy Movement Honored
The Governing Board of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is pleased to announce that the winners of the ICCR 2016 Legacy Award (www.iccr.org/membership/iccr-members/iccr-legacy-award) are Timothy Smith of Walden Asset Management and Rev. William Somplatsky-Jarman of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. ICCR’s Legacy Award is given to an individual or organization in recognition of leadership and dedication to the vision and mission of ICCR. Both Smith and Somplatsky-Jarman have made outstanding contributions to ICCR and the greater field of responsible investing.
Tim Smith was ICCR’s second Executive Director and served in the role for 24 years during ICCR’s most formative period from 1976 – 2000. He “left” ICCR staff to become an employee of ICCR member Walden Asset Management where he is currently the Director of ESG Shareholder Engagement, co-chair of Walden’s ESG Research & Engagement Committee and a member of the Corporate Governance Committee. Tim plays a valuable role in virtually every ICCR program area but has been an especially effective leader of investor engagements on climate change and on governance topics including lobbying and political spending, executive compensation and separate Chair/CEO, as well as board diversity. The recipient of numerous industry awards, a leader of multiple SRI and corporate engagement initiatives and a valued mentor and colleague, Tim has had a profound impact on the field of responsible investing and is one of the most active members of the ICCR coalition, where he continues to innovate new and more impactful strategies in corporate engagement.
Said ICCR member Sr. Nora Nash of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, “ICCR members will always be indebted to Tim for the clarity that he has given to our mission. He continues to provide collaborative leadership in corporate engagements and has empowered numerous investors to challenge corporations on public policy, lobbying, and climate change-related disclosures. Today, Tim still mentors, inspires, leads, engages, and encourages individuals, investors, and corporations to be more committed to systemic change and sustainability. As ICCR members, we are all grateful to Tim for his valued leadership.”
As staff of its Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) team in the mid-80s, Bill Somplatsky-Jarman helped the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. develop a strategy to pressure banks doing business in South Africa to disinvest and call for the repayment of loans by the government. This launched his career in responsible investment and corporate engagement on behalf of the Church, where he advocated on a number of social and environmental issues including pushing banks on predatory lending; peacemaking; racial, social and economic justice; human rights, anti-sweatshop and labor issues; environmental responsibility including climate change, and securing women’s rights. This year, after 32 years of commitment and impact, Bill retired from his role with the Church. We remain hopeful that we will still find ways to keep him involved with the ICCR family.
Said Board Member Pat Zerega of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, “Bill has been involved in this work from the early days, fighting for justice in apartheid South Africa as well as the coal fields of Appalachia. His commitment to our most vulnerable brothers and sisters impacted by discriminatory and predatory practices in the banking arena made him a leader in this work. In addition Bill has been to all but one UN Climate Summit representing the faith community to call for care of God’s creation. His shareholder advocacy efforts on behalf of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. have had a profound influence on corporate practices and we are grateful for the many contributions he has made to the ICCR coalition.”
Said ICCR Board Chair Rev. Séamus Finn, “The years of commitment to the mission of ICCR and to its members on the part of both Tim and Bill has been a source of inspiration for many and I know I speak for the ICCR community when I say we are truly grateful to them for generously sharing their wisdom, their work and their passion. We look forward to celebrating and honoring both Tim and Bill along with members and friends at ICCR\’s annual event in New York City on September 29th 2016.”
About the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)
Celebrating its 45th year, ICCR is the pioneer coalition of shareholder advocates who view the management of their investments as a catalyst for social change. Its 300 member organizations comprise faith communities, socially responsible asset managers, unions, pensions, NGOs and other socially responsible investors with combined assets of over $200 billion. ICCR members engage hundreds of corporations annually in an effort to foster greater corporate accountability on questions such as climate change, corporate water stewardship, sustainable food production, human trafficking and slavery in global supply chains and increased access to financial and health care services for communities in need. For more information visit- www.iccr.org
