JLens is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 Corporate TOV Awards. Of the companies that are part of the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. Index, JLens has identified 18 that rank highly and outperform peer companies on JLens’ Jewish values scorecards.
JLens has developed bespoke company scorecards on Combating Antisemitism & Hate, Support for Israel, and Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) to assess companies in the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. Index, which is composed of the 500 largest U.S. public companies. These scorecards are informed by robust data collection, in-depth research, and direct engagement with companies. The JLens Corporate TOV Awards are inspired by the Hebrew word “Tov,” which means “good.”
Research and Advocacy
JLens is the only organization conducting research on corporate behavior and policy related to issues of importance to the Jewish community. JLens’ company scorecards are the backbone of its research and advocacy strategies and inform shareholder advocacy priorities. Through investor advocacy, the JLens team promotes issues that matter most to the Jewish community through direct engagement, participating in investor coalitions with key partners, and when necessary, filing shareholder resolutions.
JLens Corporate TOV Award Recipients
These 18 corporations receiving the JLens Corporate TOV Award operate in Israel or have significant relationships and direct investments in the Israeli economy. Many of these companies have shown significant support for their Israeli and Jewish employees following October 7, 2023. These companies have many religious inclusion initiatives in place, including initiatives that can support the inclusion of Jewish employees. Additionally, these companies also have strong performance in JLens’ Tikkun Olam scorecard.
The 18 recipients of the Corporate TOV Awards are: AbbVie, Accenture, American Express, Applied Materials, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cisco, Citigroup, Gilead Sciences, International Business Machines (IBM), Intuit, Johnson & Johnson, Marriott, Mastercard, Medtronic, Merck & Co, Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce.
In alphabetical order:
AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), Pharmaceuticals
AbbVie demonstrates a deep commitment to supporting Israel and its Jewish employees. With more than 200 employees in Israel, the company has played a vital role in strengthening local healthcare systems through partnerships with Israeli hospitals, advancing access to medicine, and addressing critical health challenges. AbbVie fosters an inclusive workplace with multifaith prayer rooms, floating holidays, and a thriving Jewish employee resource group, the Jewish Resource Committee, which helps provide robust support for its Jewish employees. Following the events of October 7, 2023, AbbVie donated $1 million to humanitarian relief organizations, including a 2:1 match for employee donations to select humanitarian relief partners. Additionally, AbbVie is committed to help patients access the medicines they need. For example, AbbVie has expanded its patient assistance program to ensure those who were uninsured could access necessary medications.
Accenture (NYSE: ACN), Consulting & Research
Accenture embodies best-in-class religious inclusion policies regarding flexible religious holiday accommodations, “dress for your day” inclusive clothing policies, and an active Jewish group with its Faith at Work employee resource group. In addition to supporting their employees, Accenture is using AI to expand the world’s collective memory of the Holocaust and preserve the names and experiences of those who were persecuted. Accenture is deeply invested in the Israeli economy with an R&D lab in Herzliya, as well as Accenture technology competitions across Israeli universities. Additionally, programs like Accenture’s Development Partnerships, where employees work with clients pro-bono to solve social and economic challenges throughout the globe, demonstrate the company’s deep commitment to social responsibility. In 2024, Julie Sweet, the Chair and CEO of Accenture, received ADL’s Courage Against Hate Award for her deep commitment to ethical leadership and ‘zero tolerance’ for hate.
American Express (NYSE: AXP), Consumer Finance
Israel is one of American Express’s largest international markets, in which the company partners with IsraCard to offer its services in Israel. The company also invests in Israeli ventures. Following October 7, 2023, the company committed to donating $750,000 to the American Friends of Magen David Adom and $500,000 toward HIAS’ Israel response, which included helping provide essential items, mental health support, and other critical services in Israel. The Jewish Employee Resource Group, Chai, hosts educational and community-oriented events about Jewish culture and provides a support network for Jewish employees. With exemplary religious inclusion practices, American Express offers customizable holiday calendars and includes materials on religion in its company trainings. American Express has also achieved carbon-neutral operations.
Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT), Semiconductor Equipment
Applied Materials Israel is home to the company’s largest R&D center outside of the United States, with more than 2,000 employees across facilities in Rehovot, Kiryat Gat, and Migdal HaEmek. The company has numerous social impact initiatives in Israel, focusing on educational youth programs, female empowerment, and fighting hunger. Following October 7, 2023, in its Israel offices, Applied Materials helped relocate evacuated employees and their families as well as provided onsite childcare. The company has given generous philanthropic support to Matan Israel, a socio-economic support services organization. The company also funded a kindergarten for displaced families from Kibbutz Be’eri and matched employee giving with no limit. Additionally, Applied Materials has shared ADL’s Antisemitism 101 for the Workplace training module with the company’s employee resource groups.
Applied Materials is a first-time JLens award recipient.
Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), Pharmaceuticals
Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical leader, is dedicated to discovering and delivering innovative medicines to help patients overcome serious diseases. The company implements many of JLens’ religious inclusion best practices, including providing multiple floating holidays, which employees can use to take time-off for religious holidays that they observe. The company also accommodates religious attire and dietary restrictions. In Israel, Bristol Myers Squibb drives innovation through its office in Petah Tikva and through partnerships with Israeli biotech companies. The company has provided a variety of sponsorships and donations to medical associations and medical care facilities in Israel, including product donations. Following October 7, 2023, the company offered a 2:1 employee matching donation program to United Hatzalah.
Bristol Myers Squibb is a first-time JLens award recipient.
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), Communications Equipment
Cisco has in place many religious inclusion practices, such as floating holidays, dietary accommodations, prayer and reflection spaces, and an interfaith employee resource group. Additionally, Cisco has a strong presence in Israel, with research centers and corporate social responsibility programs to promote digital access and skill building. For example, Cisco has an established partnership with the Israeli government to accelerate the country’s equitable access to digital resources, and has invested in Palestinian technology companies and fostered economic partnerships between Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs. The company has not acquiesced to the demands of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement despite being a target of BDS activists. Additionally, with most of its electricity for its facilities sourced from renewables, circular design initiatives, and electronics take-back and recycling programs, Cisco is committed to shaping a sustainable future.
Citigroup (NYSE: C), National & Multi-National Banks
As the largest foreign financial institution in Israel, Citigroup (Citi) has demonstrated its leadership and commitment to Israel for many years, even while under pressure from the BDS movement. Citi’s Technology Innovation Lab in Tel Aviv is a top innovation lab, working locally and globally together with the Citi accelerator program and cyber security lab. The Citi Foundation provided $1 million to humanitarian organizations operating in Israel after October 7, 2023, and Citi praised its Israeli employees for their strong spirit and dedication to each other despite the horror they faced. Citi has offered antisemitism and Islamophobia training for managers. In the last year, Citi launched an interfaith employee resource group. Additionally, the company offers a Heritage Day, which employees can take at any time to honor a day of personal or religious significance.
Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD), Biotech Therapeutics
Gilead has an office in Israel that provides medical, sales, and marketing support for Gilead’s products in Israel. In Israel, Gilead collaborates with Israeli hospitals, healthcare providers, and patient organizations with the aim to improve care for patients and raise disease awareness. The company has also given back to the local community in Israel. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilead employees collaborated with advocacy groups and HIV clinics to create a program to safely transport patients to medical appointments. To promote religious inclusion in the workplace, Gilead offers floating holidays and includes a clause on religious attire in its dress code. Additionally, the company is a top funder of AIDS and HIV programs. In 2023, the company made 20 million HIV treatments available through voluntary licensing.
International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM), Technology Consulting
IBM has in place many best practices for religious inclusion in the workplace, including prayer spaces in its offices, floating holidays, and dietary accommodations. IBM Israel is home to one of the company’s largest research labs outside the U.S, with more than 3,000 employees. IBM has developed programs to recruit employees from diverse sectors of Israeli society, focusing on those from Arab and Ultra-Orthodox backgrounds. In a statement following October 7, 2023, Arvind Krishna, the company’s CEO, announced the death of one current IBM employee and one retired IBM employee, stating: “We honor their memories, and our hearts go out to their families who are working through indescribable pain. Since this violence unfolded, IBM has been working proactively to protect and support IBMers and their loved ones impacted in this time of war. IBM stands by our people, and they can count on the company’s support for as long as they need.” This statement of support is particularly significant given that IBM has been a target of the BDS movement.
Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU), Application Software
Intuit has inclusive workplace practices, such as offering prayer and meditation spaces, and providing a global holiday calendar with a list of religious holidays. The company also launched a Jewish employee resource group, the Intuit Jewish Network, which has helped provide a valuable space for Jewish employees. Following October 7, 2023, the company expressed its commitment to employee well-being and safety, especially for its hundreds of employees in Israel. Intuit fosters diversity through initiatives like the Arab Network, which is an employee resource group dedicated to attracting and nurturing exceptional Arab talent in Israel. The company’s office in Israel also helps drive innovation and growth for the company. Additionally, through its Prosperity Hub program, Intuit partners with communities to create jobs through virtual and physical call centers, collaborating with local schools, and funding small business support centers which empower people with skills for workforce success.
Intuit is a first-time JLens award recipient.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Pharmaceuticals
In Israel, Johnson & Johnson employs more than one thousand people through four sub-companies. The company has shown unwavering support following October 7, 2023, offering counseling resources for employees and their families, providing $2 million in humanitarian aid, and internally communicating its commitment to stand against antisemitism. The company has employed many of the best practices and policies to foster religious inclusion, including having prayer rooms at its facilities, providing religious accommodations in its dress code, and offering multiple floating holidays. Johnson & Johnson has consistently ranked among the top five performers in the Access to Medicine Index (ATMI), which evaluates pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to improve access to healthcare in lower- and middle-income countries.
Johnson & Johnson is a first-time JLens award recipient.
Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR), Hotels & Resorts
Marriott is a leader in ethical recruitment to address vulnerability of migrant workers, and educates employees and the hotel industry on sex trafficking and forced labor. Marriott has multiple hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. After October 7, 2023, Marriot hosted Israeli evacuees, and offered a safe space and food as well as provided programming for the kids to help alleviate stress. Marriott has many policies concerning religious inclusion like floating holidays, inclusive dress codes, and prayer spaces. Marriott has introduced “culture days” for its associates to better understand guests and local communities. Marriott hosted a Jewish culture day, in which the company educated its employees about Kashrut, Shabbat, and different forms of Judaism. This exploration of Jewish identity helps staff create a welcoming environment for their guests.
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), Payment Processing
With many customers and partnerships in Israel, Mastercard opened a fintech and cybersecurity innovation lab in Beersheva, Israel, which works with Israeli startups to develop solutions for the payments and energy industries. Following October 7, 2023, the company offered a 1:1 match for donations up to $15,000 per employee to organizations such as Magen David Adom and Leket Israel, which focuses on hunger and food security in Israel. The company has shown dedication to combating antisemitism through facilitated conversations on the topic of standing against hate and tackling antisemitism and anti-Arab hate. Additionally, Mastercard announced this year the fulfillment of its pledge to connect 25 million female entrepreneurs worldwide to the solutions they need to grow their businesses. Mastercard is also committed to sustainability, powering 100% of its direct operations with renewable energy.
Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), Medical Equipment & Devices
Medtronic is committed to fostering religious inclusion, engaging in best practices such as providing dedicated spaces for prayer and meditation, and offering a floating holiday. Its Medtronic Jewish Community employee resource group and participation in Shine A Light, an initiative to raise awareness about antisemitism, exemplifies its support for Jewish employees, customers, and patients. Additionally, Medtronic recognizes Israel as a hub for innovation in the medical device space, and an area where Medtronic has a meaningful and expanding presence. With more than one thousand employees in Israel, the company engages in R&D in Israel, in addition to direct manufacturing. Recognizing the value of Israeli ingenuity, Medtronic has acquired several Israeli companies, ranging from data analytics to robotics, further solidifying its investment in transformative healthcare advancements.
Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), Pharmaceuticals
Merck & Co stands out as a leader in supporting Israel and its Jewish employees through meaningful action. The company has conducted groundbreaking clinical studies with Israeli researchers and pledged aid to Israel following October 7, 2023. Notable contributions include grants and donations to Israeli medical foundations and a $200,000 donation to American Friends of Magen David Adom. Merck also fosters inclusivity through religious accommodations and its interfaith employee business resource group. Former CEO Kenneth C. Frazier was the recipient of the ADL’s Courage Against Hate Award in 2020, and the ADL recognized him for using his platform to speak out on behalf of marginalized communities and serving as an exemplary role model for corporate leadership. Globally, in 2023, Merck reached more than 550 million people with its medicines and vaccines, reaching 79% of countries with its products.
Merck is a first-time JLens award recipient.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Enterprise Software
Microsoft has long demonstrated a commitment to Israel and its Jewish employees, even while being a target of the BDS movement. Microsoft maintains a strong presence in Israel with nearly 3,000 employees across its research & development centers and offices in locations such as Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Nazareth. Following the events of October 7, 2023, Microsoft stood in solidarity with its employees, displaying a yellow heart on one of its offices in Israel. Microsoft’s Israel offices have been a supportive hub for its employees and the surrounding communities, such as hosting animal adoptions and sharing their campus kitchens with evacuees so they could cook family dinners. Additionally, the company fosters a welcoming environment through its Jewish employee resource group and robust religious accommodations, which include dietary accommodations, flexible religious holidays, and an inclusive dress code. Additionally, Microsoft developed their AI for Good lab that supports the use of AI for professionals working on global challenges.
Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), Enterprise Software
Oracle has approximately 400 employees in Israel across two R&D sites in Petah Tikva and Beersheva, focusing on cloud services, AI, and cutting-edge technologies. In 2021, the company built an underground data center in Jerusalem, which functions as a regional cloud provider. Following October 7, 2023, not only did Oracle strongly condemn the terrorist attacks, but Safra Catz, Oracle’s CEO, also visited Israel. During her visit, Safra Catz reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Israel by pledging to double the company’s investment in Israel and to open a second underground public cloud center. Oracle launched a global fundraising campaign for Magen David Adom, donating $1 million to Magen David Adom and promising to double the funds raised by the company’s employees. Oracle also offers employees unlimited time-off, which they can use for observing religious holidays.
Oracle is a first-time JLens award recipient.
Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), Software As A Service
Salesforce fosters religious inclusion through prayer spaces and an interfaith employee resource group called Faithforce. Through Faithforce, employees have celebrated holidays from many different faiths, including Passover, Easter, Eid ul-Fitr, and Diwali. Salesforce also has a significant presence in Israel, with more than 750 employees in offices in Tel Aviv and Nazareth. The company’s offices in Israel are a key source of innovation for the company, and the company has continued to acquire Israeli start-ups. Following October 7, 2023, Salesforce supported Israeli employees and donated $1 million each to United Hatzalah and the Association for Immediate Help for Holocaust Survivors, providing essential aid and mental health support. In addition, in 2024, the company maintained net-zero residual emissions, and achieved 100% renewable energy for its operations.
Salesforce is a first-time JLens award recipient.
About JLens
Founded in 2012, JLens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Registered Investment Advisor that empowers investors to align their capital with Jewish values and advocates for Jewish communal priorities in the corporate arena. JLens’ Jewish Investor Network is composed of over 30 Jewish institutions, representing $11 billion in communal capital. In 2022, JLens became an affiliate of ADL (the Anti-Defamation League).
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