OREANDA-NEWS. December 04, 2009. Sakhalin Energy came out a winner in Russia’s most prestigious 2009 Corporate Donor of Russia Awards that rank corporate philanthropy projects according to their efficiency, reported the press-centre of Sakhalin Energy.

In addition, the Sakhalin Salmon Initiative, which was also introduced by Sakhalin Energy for the 2009 Corporate Donor of Russia Awards, won the main prize as the “Best programme demonstrating corporate philanthropy policy and social investment principles” and the other Sakhalin Energy’s project “In Charge for the Future” that supports philanthropy initiatives of the Company’s employees was prized as “The best programme (project) promoting philanthropy culture in society”.

This was the fourth time the Corporate Donor of Russia Awards were given out. These awards recognise best practices in developing and realising philanthropy programmes or projects and publicizing them in business community and the rest of society. The organisers of the 4th Corporate Donor of Russia Awards were the RF Ministry of Economic Development, RF Public Chamber, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Donors Forum, together with the Vedomosti newspaper and PricewaterhouseCoopers. This year the nominations for the Corporate Donor of Russia Awards came from more than 40 major companies working in Russia, including such business leaders as Lukoil, Severstal, Transaero, Uralsib Bank, Intel Corporation and others.

Sakhalin Energy first contended for Corporate Donor of Russia Awards in 2008 and succeeded right away, winning the main prize for its programme What to Do in Emergency Situations and a prize in another nomination for its Sakhalin Indigenous Minorities Development Plan.

The winning of the Corporate Donor of Russia Awards in 2009 is further evidence of the Company’s “responsible neighbour” approach to doing business in Sakhalin. Sakhalin Energy sees this award as recognition of the Company's social achievements, which remain focused on contributing to the sustainable development of the region for the benefit of its residents.