AUSTIN, Texas—The Austin Chamber of Commerce today announced HEB Central Texas Region Senior Vice President and General Manager Jeff Thomas will receive the Bobby Jenkins Philanthropic Leadership Award and keynote the Austin Gives Generous Business Awards on Apr. 12.

As the Philanthropic Leadership Award honoree, Thomas will share how he came to embrace, lead and cultivate the next generation of leaders while maintaining the commitment and culture set forth by the founders of HEB.

The Chamber also announced the Generous Business Awards finalists:

Charitable Champions: 26 or less employees
Antonelli's Cheese Shop
Austin Bar Association
Give Realty
Notley
The Junkluggers of Austin

Big Heart: 27-100 employees
Frontier Bank of Texas
PIMCO
STG Design
The Beck Group
Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group

Bold Giver: 101-400 employees
Austin American-Statesman
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Maxwell Locke & Ritter
Norton Rose Fulbright
Truluck's Restaurant Group, Inc.

Community Leaders: 401+ employees
Applied Materials, Inc.
RBFCU
Silicon Labs
Texas Mutual Insurance Company
University Federal Credit Union

One winner will be named in each category.

“Austin is incredibly fortunate to have an outstanding business culture," said Austin Chamber Senior Director of Engagement Beth Krueger. "Austin Gives looks to honor all of the job creators and employers that make giving back to the community a part of their business model. Each year special recognition is given to those businesses that are giving back in meaningful and impactful ways. We receive a multitude of deserving nominees and are confident Austin will once again bring forth the best stories of how businesses are making a difference through their philanthropy.”

Austin Gives recognizes businesses that have pledged 1 percent of pre-tax earnings—such as volunteer time, products, services and financial support—toward community impact efforts. The program is voluntary with no cost to participants.

Tickets and tables for the Generous Business Awards luncheon can be purchased at https://members.austinchamber.com/events/austin-gives-generous-business-awards.

Media is invited to attend but must RSVP to dtrevino@austinchamber.com.

ABOUT AUSTIN GIVES
The Austin Gives Award program was created to recognize Austin businesses for their efforts to give back to community-based, non-profit organizations. Since its launch in 2011, the program has celebrated Austin as one of the most philanthropic regions in the nation. Learn more at austin.gives.

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