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[Editor's note: This post was originally published on Realized Worth]

Companies that make an impact fitting of their capacity also dare to be bold.  They dream a dream big enough to capture the hearts of their stakeholders and they make a robust action plan to that realize that dream

Attendees at BCLC's recent National Conference had the opportunity to take a first look at the 2012 goodpurpose® study presented by Carol Cone, Chairman, Edelman Citizenship. Now in its fifth year, the research explores consumer attitudes about social purpose and business. goodpurpose® is the only global, longitudinal study of its kind, and the wealth of data and insight will provide tangible tools and best practices to leverage in your brand and corporate citizenship.

What gets a CEO’s attention when thinking about how a company should be socially involved? “The more quantifiable the impact is, the more comfortable CEOs will be,” said David Ratcliffe, retired chairman, president, and CEO of Southern Company. “But sometimes you just need to do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

This week we're down in Atlanta for our annual National Conference - Forecast: Corporate Citizenship and America’s Future. Over the next three days we're bringing together the foremost voices in corporate social responsibility (CSR) for a solutions-focused discussion on how to address the tough challenges facing America today and what we can do together for the future. 

 “And what is your commitment to community?”

College students ask this question all the time of the companies for which they’re considering working. Students recognize that it’s not enough to achieve their own career successes – they’re also invested in ensuring the advancement of others.

At Viacom, we’re storytellers; channeling the power of our content to create stronger bonds with our audiences and empowering them on the issues they care about most. Education and mentorship are at the top of that list, and within Viacom Corporate Responsibility’s Viacommunity umbrella, our brands, including BET, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, and Paramount Pictures, act as megaphones for the messages that educate, engage and empower.

A critical reason why cities and towns are able to be at the forefront of sustainable development is their ability to engage a broad swath of stakeholders and create effective partnerships. Communities are able to harness talent, energy and capital in innovative ways that drive progress. Through partnerships, communities are often able to achieve results that would otherwise be unattainable.

California has long been seen as on the forefront of environmental innovation and sustainability. So it’s not surprising that two out of the nine Siemens Sustainable Community Awards finalist are from California. One of those finalists, Santa Monica, is a finalist in the mid-size community category, and has a long history of implementing innovative sustainable practices.