Avis Budget Chairman Ronald Nelson Receives Award for Fight against
Cancer
Avis Budget Group Inc. announced on June 23 that Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer Ronald L. Nelson has received the 2011
Donald A. Gemson Cancer Prevention Public Policy Award. The award,
presented by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
(ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society,
recognizes leaders for broad-based policy change in the fight
against cancer. Mr. Nelson was saluted for both pioneering Avis
Budget Group’s landmark smoke-free fleet policy and for
being one of the founding co-chairs of the American Cancer Society’s
CEOs Against Cancer program in the ACS Northeast Region.

“Ron Nelson had the vision to see that moving to a smoke-free
fleet was a risk that was worth taking in order to provide a better
rental experience to customers,” said Donald Distasio, chief
executive officer at the American Cancer Society of New York and
New Jersey. “He extended his commitment to cancer prevention
by sharing his vision with other CEOs and by prohibiting smoking
in Avis Budget Group facilities in the United States and Canada.”
In late 2009, Avis Budget Group became the first rental car company
to offer a 100 percent smoke-free fleet by prohibiting smoking
in Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car vehicles in the United
States and Canada. The Company also instituted a tobacco-free
policy for all employees and contractors who drive its vehicles.
In April 2011, Avis Budget Group designated all of its locations
and administrative offices as “tobacco free.”
“We are dedicated to supporting the well-being of the people
we employ and providing our customers with clean, smoke-free vehicles,”
said Mr. Nelson. “This recognition by the American Cancer
Society is a distinguished honor and one I proudly and humbly
accept.”
The American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer program
brings together leaders of leading businesses to discuss practical
ideas for cancer prevention and wellness, to share groundbreaking
ideas that have worked for their organizations and to offer concrete
solutions that reduce costs by improving the health and well-being
of employees.
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