United Cerebral Palsy Honors Meijer with Employer of the Year Award

Retailer recognized for providing meaningful opportunities to persons with disabilities

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Apr 17, 2014, 10:30 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing its dedication to the employment of persons with disabilities, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) has named Meijer "Employer of the Year." The 2014 Award for Excellence, announced at UCP's Annual Conference in Nashville, Tenn., demonstrates the retailer's steadfast commitment to diversity while helping people with disabilities reach their full potential through meaningful employment at Meijer.

From its company-wide initiative to recruit qualified individuals with disabilities for its manufacturing and distribution network to its ongoing partnerships with vocational rehabilitation organizations to effectively source candidates with disabilities, Meijer was recognized for its efforts in fostering an environment where all employees are treated equally and given the tools they need to succeed.

"We are proud to be recognized by United Cerebral Palsy and even prouder that we work every day to focus on what people 'can do' rather than what they cannot do," said Rick Keyes, executive vice president of Supply Chain Operations and Manufacturing for the Grand-Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. "In creating a culture of inclusion and diversity, we strive to see everyone as part of one team and build on team member strengths. In our experience, the results within our distribution network have been fantastic."

"The Awards for Excellence are a way for UCP to recognize the incredible work that our affiliates, friends and partners do to support our mission, and we are thrilled to honor such an extraordinary group this year," said Stephen Bennett, president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. "Meijer in particular demonstrates a commitment to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities through their comprehensive employment programs. For fostering an environment where all employees are treated equally and given the tools they need to succeed, we are proud to honor Meijer, Inc. with the 2014 Employer of the Year Award."

In setting a precedent for all workers to respect diversity and to be mindful of disabilities, Keyes said one key to the company's success is that Meijer provides training to team leaders and supervisors on working with employees with a disability. The company actively seeks partnership with local and state vocational rehabilitation organizations and is an active voice in discussions around Disability Policy Reform for the state of Michigan to create more opportunities for persons with disabilities.

For more information on how the retailer is helping people with disabilities reach their full potential through meaningful employment at Meijer, click here.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 204 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services through an affiliate network to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. Together with nearly 100 affiliates, UCP has a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities by supporting more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time. UCP works to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities. For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. Together, with parents and caregivers, UCP will continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams, for the next 60 years, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.ucp.org.