Apollo Group Recognized As One Of America’s Top 50 Community-Minded Companies

Apollo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL) was recognized as one of America’s most community-minded companies in The Civic 50 survey – the first comprehensive ranking of S&P 500 corporations that best use their time, talent and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. The survey was conducted by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) and Points of Light, the nation’s definitive experts on civic engagement, in partnership with Bloomberg LP.

An article about The Civic 50 looking at the philanthropic efforts of some of the top companies appeared in the November 12-18, 2012, issue of Bloomberg Businessweek. The full Civic 50 ranking is posted on www.businessweek.com at www.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/civic_50_2012.html. Apollo Group is proud to be ranked 23.

Apollo Group’s corporate social responsibility philosophy is built around the cause areas of education, career readiness and sustainability. From daily operations to its partnerships and volunteerism, Apollo Group strives to ensure the communities where it does business are incubators for college readiness.

In fiscal year 2011, Apollo Group partnered with 180 organizations to help improve educational outcomes and career opportunities for all Americans. Apollo Group employees logged more than 70,000 volunteer hours worth an estimated $1.4 million. The company also awarded University of Phoenix scholarships valued at $10.1 million to more than 1,500 recipients in all 50 states and around the globe. Apollo Group’s total financial contribution to corporate social responsibility, including University of Phoenix Foundation grants, was valued at $22 million. Additionally, Apollo provides generous tuition assistance for its employees, which totaled more than $100 million in 2011.

“The honor of being ranked 23 on The Civic 50 is a true testament to our organization’s commitment to education, career readiness and sustainability in our corporate footprint,” said Pat Gottfried, vice president of corporate social responsibility for Apollo Group. “We believe the efforts we make in our local communities today will foster success long into the future. Apollo Group is privileged to be recognized as a good corporate citizen.”

“NCoC is proud to be part of  The Civic 50 launch," said Ilir Zherka, executive director of NCoC. " The Civic 50 demonstrates that the best companies in America are deeply committed to strengthening their respective communities. Leaders of these companies are aligning the expertise of their companies and people with the needs of their communities, and then measuring the impact of their programs. NCoC hopes  The Civic 50 will spur companies throughout our country to do the same.”

"As a company committed to community engagement and improvement, Bloomberg is proud to have partnered with the National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light on this important ranking," said Norman Pearlstine, chairman, Bloomberg Businessweek and chief content officer, Bloomberg LP. " The Civic 50 is a pioneering addition to the Bloomberg Rankings inventory. It features a comprehensive, transparent methodology to identify companies that have taken a leadership role in developing and implementing civic engagement programs. We believe it will raise awareness of the importance of a civic consciousness through the U.S. corporate world."

Companies were evaluated on seven specific metrics: leadership, measurement and strategy, design, employee civic health, community partnerships, cause alignment and transparency. Winning companies employed increasingly sophisticated tools to measure the impact of community engagement and alignment of these programs with their business’s core competencies. More than two-thirds of the top 50 companies say they “frequently” or “always” use the professional skills of their workforce to address social issues and real community challenges. Sixty-six percent of the top 50 say they have “mission-level” alignment with the community partners, meaning they work with them on the highest strategic level, not just on individual programs or events.

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