Editor's note: Release from 2022 that may not have reached intended audiences.
For Immediate Release Date: February 17, 2022 Contact: Joe Campbell, ESGR Public Affairs
OSD.ESGR-PA@mail.mil
ESGR Announces 2022 James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism Award Recipients
WASHINGTON – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism Award. The recipients are ESGR volunteers nominated by their respective ESGR State Committee Chairs for their exceptional contributions to ESGR’s mission over a sustained period of time.
ESGR has the unique characteristic for a government organization of relying on nearly 3,300 volunteers across 54 state committees to carry out local engagement with Service members, employers, and to conduct informal mediation between civilian employers and Service members when issues arise related to military service.
In 2021, ESGR volunteers logged more than 126,600 hours of service, delivering a $3.6 million return on investment to the Department of Defense. Collectively, ESGR volunteers executed 2,561 events, and engaged nearly 180,000 employers and Service members last year.
The Roche award is named for James M. Roche, who served several years as the ESGR National Chair after retiring as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at General Motors Corporation, and other senior leadership roles at PepsiCo, Jack Eckerd Corporation, and the New York Stock Exchange. A past quote attributed Roche reads: "Anybody who achieves a top position in an organization owes a debt of some kind. If you have a talent and you have your health, you should help others."
We congratulate the 2022 Roche Award recipients for their outstanding service to ESGR and the Department of Defense:
About ESGR
ESGR, a Department of Defense program, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR develops and promotes supportive work environments for Service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. It also provides assistance in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. To learn more about ESGR, part of the Defense Personnel and Family Support Center, visit https://ESGR.mil.
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