Twenty companies made it onto our annual “companies that care” list. Collectively, these 20 are the 2010 finalists for the annual Corporate Citizenship Awards, recognized as one of the highest distinctions for responsive and responsible businesses.

One category — the Partnership Award — is a “people’s choice” award, described this morning by Christie Garton at USA Today as a “version of the Oscars with a philanthropic twist.” Check out the finalist Partnership Award projects and cast your vote.

Here are all 20 finalists, excellent corporate citizens who make a positive difference in society at large and communities where they operate:

U.S. Community Service — Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Health Care Service Corporation, Loews Hotels, Navistar Diesel of Alabama, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

International Community Service — AMR Corp. (American and American Eagle Airlines), Cargill, Dillon Gage Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, Goldman Sachs

Partnership Award — Amway with Kids Food Basket, Caterpillar with CHF International, Deloitte with College Summit, Microsoft with Net Hope, Qualcomm with the Grameen Foundation

Corporate Stewardship — Best Buy, Duke Energy, Johnson & Johnson, Viacom, Walmart

Congratulations, finalists!

BCLC Executive Director, Stephen Jordan, noted,“This year’s finalists exemplify that despite the current economic uncertainty, companies continue to care about giving back to their communities.”

Please consider joining us on Nov. 30th in Washington, D.C., at the 11th annual Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner, where the winner in each category will be announced.

About the Judging Process: 

For the U.S. Community Service and International Community Service categories, a peer committee that includes past award winners will select the winner. For the Corporate Stewardship category, a panel of preeminent experts in corporate citizenship and business performance will select the winner. The Partnership Award winner is selected “people’s choice” style in the public voting campaign on BCLC’s website.

Cross-posted from BCLC Blog.