Company: AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah
Company Description: One hundred years ago, car enthusiasts started a progressive club to increase the comfort and safety of all drivers. AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah now provides emergency roadside service and membership benefits to 4 million members in our three state territory. We also offer the full-service AAA Travel Agency and a variety of insurance products for home, auto and property.
Nomination Category: Company Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program

Nomination Title: AAA's Greenlight Initiative

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved since January 1 2007 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

          AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah launched its Greenlight?
          Initiative in November 2005 to provide consumers with a trusted source for
          information about alternative fuels and vehicle technologies and to take
          leadership in promoting environmental progress in transportation. The program
          took full flight in 2006, launching a number of high-profile opportunities for
          consumer education about hybrid cars, alternative fuels, and the future of the
          automobile.

          Because no initial budget was allocated for the Greenlight Initiative project,
          AAA made full use of untapped company resources and existing sponsorships and
          partnerships including the San Francisco International Auto Show, CalCars, the
          Commonwealth Club, and CalStart to furnish media opportunities and donate
          services and products such as hybrid vehicles for displays. We also created a
          close new partnership with the University of California at Davis Institute for
          Transportation Studies. Budget for 2006 was $400,000.

          In 2006, AAA of Northern California:

          * Launched the Greenlight Initiative Web site (www.aaa.com/greenlight)
          in March to provide consumers curious about ecological automobile options with
          a trusted information portal.

          * Announced in May that all 400 of its corporate fleet cars would be
          switched over to hybrids in the next two years.

          * In July, held the first Greenlight Initiative Rally media event, with
          several alternative-fuel vehicles traveling a 117-mile course from Santa Clara
          to Sacramento. Rally featured cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells, biodiesel,
          natural gas, plug-in hybrid, electricity and propane.

          * Sponsored a presentation in October by several leading researchers and
          advocates of biofuels and alternative vehicle technologies at San Francisco*s
          prestigious Commonwealth Club.

          * In November, AAA's second Hybrid Awareness Month featured press
          releases offering mileage tips for hybrid drivers and introducing a study on
          hybrids conducted by UC Davis and sponsored by AAA; classes to help hybrid
          owners get the most out of their vehicles; and a strong focus on the
          Greenlight Initiative at the San Francisco International Auto Show, including
          six alternative vehicles on display.

          AAA*s Greenlight Initiative has been tremendously well-received. In 2006 we
          garnered:

          * 251 news media stories in our region* featuring the Greenlight
          Initiative and information from AAA on hybrid vehicles in 2006
          * $157,609 in equivalent media ad value for those news stories
          * 5,649,994 impressions/circulation for those news stories

          Furthermore, results of the Greenlight survey were featured prominently in
          testimony by AAA National before the House of Representatives subcommittee
          hearing on "Mitigating the Impact of High Gas Prices on the American
          Workforce" AAA also distributed 20,000 Greenlight Initiative brochures in
          2006.

          AAA continues to expand the program in 2007. It seems clear that the

          Greenlight Initiative is thrusting AAA into the limelight as a trusted, expert
          source for information about alternative fuels and vehicles and as a leader
          for transportation progress.

          *Our region comprises nine media markets: San Francisco, Las Vegas, Salt Lake
          City, Sacramento, Reno, Monterey, Fresno, Chico and Eureka.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

          PRESS RELEASES

          Confused About Hybrids? AAA Can Help
          http://www.csaa.com/portal/site/CSAA/menuitem.f8ea57972f9730c0f4e78c7492278a0c
/?vgnextoid=0724a272eb91d010VgnVCM100000c512daceRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

          AAA Switching Fleet to Hybrids
          http://www.csaa.com/portal/site/CSAA/menuitem.f8ea57972f9730c0f4e78c7492278a0c
/?vgnextoid=88a5a272eb91d010VgnVCM100000c512daceRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

          Are Hybrids Making a Difference?
          http://www.csaa.com/portal/site/CSAA/menuitem.f8ea57972f9730c0f4e78c7492278a0c/
?vgnextoid=c2f876c13f6fe010VgnVCM1000008712daceRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

          AAA Debuts 'Greenlight Initiative Showcase'
          http://www.csaa.com/portal/site/CSAA/menuitem.f8ea57972f9730c0f4e78c7492278a0c
/?vgnextoid=f7802afb713fe010VgnVCM1000008712daceRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

          NEWS COVERAGE

          AAA and UC Davis Study Finds Hybrids Will Be Very Beneficial If More People
          Drive Them
          http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5686151&nav=8faO

          Hybrid Driving Course Saves Gas
          http://cbs5.com/consumer/local_story_319191208.html

          Alternative fuel vehicles take to the road in the first-ever road Rally that
          runs a 117-mile course from Santa Clara to Sacramento.
          http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2006/07/08/plug-and-play/

          AAA Switching to Hybrid Fleet
          http://www.greencar.com/index.cfm?content=news&ArticleID=149&show=all

          The TH Interview: Jenny Mack, Spokesperson for the California State Automobile
          Association
          http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/11/the_th_intervie_20.php

          AAA showcases CalCars at SF Intl Auto Show Nov. 19-26
          http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/190.html

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:

          In 2005, Paula Downey became the first woman president in the auto club's 105-
          year history. Downey joined AAA of Northern California as chief financial
          officer in April 2000. In 2003, she moved into the role of chief operating
          officer. In 2004, she was recognized as one of the Bay Area's "100 Most
          Influential Women in Business? by the San Francisco Business Times. Downey was
          instrumental in the creation of AAA's Greenlight Initiative.