Joyce and Kathleen Evans, president of AMCON Distributing Co., are the recipients of AJC’s 2013 National Human Relations Award.
By John Lofstock, Editor
Tom Joyce, vice president of global customer and industry affairs for The Hershey Co., was honored last night by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) at the New York Hilton, receiving the organization’s prestigious National Human Relations Award for 2013.
“I am profoundly honored to have been chosen to receive AJC’s National Human Relations Award,” Joyce said before a host of dignitaries and industry representatives. “The principles for which AJC stands are essential in the ongoing quest for freedom and justice around the world. AJC supports human rights, democracy and the rule of the law. It rallies humanitarian aid for those in need regardless of religion, ethnicity or national origin. It has provided effective leadership for these causes for more than 100 years. It is truly an admirable organization with which I am proud to be associated and it is certainly worthy of our collective recognition and support.”
AJC has been presenting the National Human Relations Award to a member of the candy and tobacco industry for 50 years. The award is presented to a leading member of the business and civic community who has made a significant contribution to the betterment of life on local and national levels. It is awarded in recognition of their dedication to the welfare of the community at large and their devotion to the enrichment of the quality of life for people everywhere, and the generosity of their spirit, which has made a difference.
In addition to Joyce, Kathleen Evans, president of AMCON Distributing Co., was a recipient of the award.
The award was presented to Joyce by friend and colleague Dave Onorato, vice president of global c-store specialty retail and foodservice for Hershey.
“It is special for me to introduce Tom because of what he means to me personally and to the entire Hershey family. During my career I’ve had the opportunity to work with great people, but no one had more of an impact on Hershey sales teams as a mentor and teacher than Tom,” Onorato said. “He has been creating value and best in class relationships his entire career that makes us better every day. I can say for sure that if Mr. Hershey were here, he would be very proud of the work Tom has done.”
In announcing Tom Joyce as the recipient of the Human Relations Award, Farrell Delman, a division chairman with AJC and president of the Tobacco Merchants Association (TMA), described Joyce, “as a man dedicated to numerous causes with a personal commitment and dedication to a host of social concerns and worthwhile philanthropies. It is wholly fitting that he is being honored by AJC, an organization whose goals and ideals he shares and respects.”
Photo captions: (Top) Hershey’s Tom Joyce (left) receives the 2013 National Human Relations Award from Dave Onorato, vice president of global c-store specialty retail and foodservice for Hersehy.
(Bottom) Tom Joyce with Cathy Hartman, wife of Rutter’s Farm Stores President Scott Hartman, and Dave Riser, vice president of external relations and trade marketing for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
