The Ruderman Family Foundation, in partnership with the Jewish Week Media Group, is proud to announce an innovative competition highlighting North American for profit businesses who have shown exemplary practices in hiring, training and supporting people with disabilities. Those selected will be recognized with a Ruderman “Best in Business Award” and featured in a supplement in The Jewish Week June 19th edition – both printed and online.

“The surest path to full inclusion in our society comes from meaningful employment” said Jay Ruderman, the foundation’s president. “People with disabilities are the most excluded members of our society because they are unemployed at the rate of 70 percent.” As a result, he said, “we must hold up as shining examples those employers who have demonstrated a commitment to hiring people with disabilities. We are proud to partner with The Jewish Week to recognize these employers as the best in the business.”

The awards will showcase those businesses – whether large corporations or small companies – that have a history of:

• employing people with disabilities
• training and supporting employees with disabilities
• developing innovative approaches to maximizing employee’s abilities

For additional information and to make a nomination, please complete the online form at www.thejewishweek.com/Ruderman-best-in-business. Nominations will be accepted through March 27, 2015.

A panel of experts in the field of inclusion and disability will select the winners. Their bios are available at www.thejewishweek.com/ruderman-best-in-business-panel

Each winner will be featured in the supplement with a profile that includes their business logo, a photo, link to their website and description of their inclusive policies.