Salem, N.J.—For the second straight year, Mannington Mills is seeking women “who are enriching the lives of others and making a positive impact in their communities” as part of the annual Stand On A Better World Awards.

Nominations for the prestigious honor are being accepted exclusively online at www.StandOnA
BetterWorld.com through Aug. 31.

The tribute focuses on those women who, in an ongoing effort, have improved the quality of life for others by caring, making a difference, reaching out to help people around them, making a commitment to preserve natural resources or helping to improve the economic conditions of others.

Awards are given out in three categories—Social, Economic and Environmental—as well as a grand prize. Winners receive cash prizes—$25,000 for grand prize, $10,000 for the two other category winners and $1,000 for five additional finalists—that are donated to the person’s chosen charity.

In addition, the top three winners, along with the people who nominated them, receive free Mannington flooring products, valued at $1,500. Also, the three winners and a guest are given an all-expense paid trip to Philadelphia for the Stand On A Better World Awards Ceremony which takes place Nov. 16 at the National Liberty Museum.

Finally, each of the winners will be featured in next year’s marketing materials, beginning with a professional photo shoot. Plus, Mannington will feature their stories in its 2007 Style Guide, and on its Better World Web site.

Tom Davis, Mannington’s president and CEO, said in the inaugural year more than 450 nominations were received from across the country. “They contained stories about women who have demonstrated great strength, passion and courage to help others. These women are an inspiration to us all, and they make our world a better place on which to stand.”

As more people are hearing about the honor, Davis expects “this year’s program to be even bigger.”

To choose the winners, Mannington, as it did last year, has assembled a prestigious group of women to be on this year’s selection committee. Last year’s panel included former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

This year’s committee includes:

• Leeza Gibbons, TV news journalist, host, radio personality, producer and businesswoman. She is the founder of the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, a non-profit that supports those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and the search to find a cure;
• Dorothy Hamill, figure skating legend and Gold Medal winner in the 1976 Winter Olympic Games. She supports a number of charitable organizations including the International Special Olympics and March of Dimes, and recently appeared on Fox TV’s “Skating with Celebrities,” and
• Christine Todd Whitman, the first female governor
of New Jersey. She also served in a Cabinet position as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from January 2001 until June 2003.

In addition to the three celebrity judges, Deborah Bell, the grand prize winner in the 2005 Stand On A Better World competition and co-founder of Refuge International, will be on the selection committee.

For more information on the Awards or to nominate someone, visit www.StandOnABetterWorld.com.