WBAL-TV General Manager Bill Fine (center) accepts an award on behalf of the Advertising Association of Baltimore. Pictured with him, from L to R, are: M.J. "Jay" Brodie, president, Baltimore Development Corporation; Arnold Williams of Abrams, Foster, Nole & Williams, P.A.; Mayor Martin O'Malley, and Donald C. Fry, GBC president.

12-09-03 -- Nine Baltimore-area businesses, a nonprofit organization, and a professional association have been named winners of the 2003 Mayor's Business Recognition Awards for civic leadership and outstanding community service.

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley presented the awards during a December 9 luncheon at the Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor hotel. The Greater Baltimore Committee, the Mayor's Office, and the Baltimore Development Corporation sponsored the awards.

The mayor and leaders of the GBC and BDC honored businesses ranging from companies that assist city youth with career planning and job-readiness to an architectural firm that helped a community design a memorial for its fallen police officers.

"The award-winning companies and their employees have been strong corporate partners in our efforts to improve the quality of life for Baltimore area residents," said Mayor O'Malley. "They represent the tremendous commitment to service that exists in the Baltimore business community."

Winners of the 2003 Mayor's Business Recognition Awards are:

• The Advertising Association of Baltimore, for the organization's work, following the death of Baltimore humanitarian Bea Gaddy in 2001, that enabled the continuation in 2002 of Gaddy's trademark Thanksgiving dinner for Baltimoreans in need.
  
  
• Aunt Hattie's Place, for its unique work to enrich the lives of troubled African-American boys aged 9 -19 who often bounce from one foster home to another.
  
  
• Comcast, for its strong support of the "BELIEVE in Your Neighborhood" program and for helping community leaders plan and manage events that unify neighborhoods.
  
  
• The Daily Record, for its continuing donations of printing presses, equipment, computers and supplies to Baltimore City public schools.
  
  
• Lexington Market, for teaming with University of Maryland Medicine and Maryland General Hospital to stage a "Community Health Day" at the market.
  
  
• Marks Thomas & Associates, for working with community leaders and police supporters in Arcadia and designing, at no cost, a memorial honoring fallen police officers of the Northeast district.
  
  
• M & T Bank, for significant financial support in sponsoring the "Believemobile," a 28-foot tractor trailer that provides a mobile stage, theatrical lighting and sound system for use in city neighborhoods.
  
  
• NeighborCare Pharmacy, for providing pharmacy services to low-income residents of East Baltimore regardless of a patient's ability to pay the cost of prescriptions.
  
  
• PepsiCo, for introducing students to career opportunities, providing a year-long job-readiness program for high school juniors and seniors, and for encouraging its employees to be volunteer mentors to students.
  
  
• United Parcel Service, for its strong support of job development among Baltimore's youth through the Mayor's Youthworks Summer job campaign.
  
  
• Verizon, for its support of programs to help disadvantaged young people gain job skills and education, its employee-driven "Books and Breakfast" program at two city schools, and for book donations to school libraries.