Outreach Efforts

Reaching Out to the Community

NATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORTS

Avis Budget Group meets with “benchmark” or “mentor” corporations whereby we exchange helpful suggestions for the expansion and effective management of a Strategic Business & Diversity Relations Unit such as ours. We meet with corporations throughout the United States as well as network with them at trade fairs for minority and women-owned businesses. As part of that effort, we have featured minority and women suppliers in various national ads.

Because of our efforts in supplier diversity, Avis was recognized in 2000 by Fortune Magazine as one of “The 50 Best Companies for Minorities.” Avis was #8 on the Fortune list. Included in the award criteria was supplier diversity, an area in which Avis placed second in the country.

The Avis Budget Group has been recognized by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council as one of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises at their annual awards ceremonies held at the White House in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Each year, Avis Budget Group sponsors and exhibits at numerous minority and women’s business trade fairs, conferences and conventions. Avis Budget Group is a corporate member of the following organizations:

• Airport Minority Advisory Council

• National Minority Supplier Development Council

• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• United States Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce

• Women Presidents’ Organization

LOCAL OUTREACH EFFORTS

Our field employees are encouraged to add diversified suppliers that can pro¬vide goods and services on an “as needed basis.” Avis Budget Group believes in word and in deed that doing business with diversified suppliers makes good business sense! Our Strategic Business & Diversity Relations Unit works aggressively with numerous organizations and agencies that promote opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses.

Our vision is to fully integrate minority and women suppliers into all aspects of the com¬pany’s supplier chain. We have also developed strategic alliances with minority and women professional service providers including attorneys and consultants specializing in airport concessions in an effort to proactively assist these companies as they advance and grow.

Reaching out and into the community is a vital and critical element of the Avis Budget Group ’s approach to identifying opportunities for small, minority and women-owned businesses. The Avis Budget Group Plan is aimed at improving contracting opportu¬nities for its minority and women-owned business com¬munity. As noted above, local Strategic Business and Diversity Relationships Liaison Representatives staff our airport locations. Our liaisons participate in local events and consistently work to ensure that our DBE database continues to grow.

In addition, we are participating in the Welfare to Work initiatives on a national basis. Our participation is mainly through job readiness training centers. At the present time, we work with the following organizations: American Works, Urban League, Access for Women, Business Link, Federation Employment and Guidance Services, Inc. (FEGS), New York State Department of Labor, Board of Cooperative Educational Services and more. To date, 550 individuals have been hired by Avis Budget Group through the Welfare to Work initiatives.