Three R.I. organizations finalists for Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

THREE RHODE ISLAND organizations are finalists for the 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award: Cranston Public Schools, CVS Health and Hope Valley Industries. / COURTESY ESGR
THREE RHODE ISLAND organizations are finalists for the 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award: Cranston Public Schools, CVS Health and Hope Valley Industries. / COURTESY ESGR

WARWICK – Cranston Public Schools, CVS Health and Hope Valley Industries are finalists for the 2015 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The Freedom Award, granted by the Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve, is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the guard and reserve, according to a news release from the agency.

“Despite growing support by Rhode Island civilian employers for guard and reserve members and their families, it’s been nearly a decade since our state has won the award at the national level,” Mike Ritz, Rhode Island state chairman of Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve.

Rhode Island is one of only two states to have three employers, one from each category, in the final round. Arizona is the only other state.
Cranston Public Schools is a finalist in the “public employer” category, Woonsocket-based CVS is a finalist in the “large employer” category (more than 500 employees) and North Kingstown-based Hope Valley Industries is the finalist in the “small employer” (fewer than 500 employees) category.
Cardi’s Furniture was the last Freedom Award winner in 2006.

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ESGR received 2,960 nominations nationwide this year. To make it to the final 30, Rhode Island organizations had to demonstrate actions in support of military personnel and their families when called for duty.
While the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Act ensures certain rights and protections for men and women in uniform, Freedom Award nominees go beyond the minimum protections of the law by providing additional extended benefits to their service member employees, according to the release.

Up to 15 Freedom Award recipients will be honored at the 20th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., in late summer.

“These employers are serving our military and our nation proudly through their support of our citizen warriors,” ESGR National Chair Paul E. Mock said.

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