Class I Briefs: CPKC, UP
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
CPKC photo
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) chooses Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation as its primary charity partner for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. Also, Union Pacific (UP) is named to Fortune magazine’s list of World’s Most Admired Companies.
CPKC
CPKC on Feb. 1 announced that Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, to be held at the historic Earl Grey Golf Club from July 23-28.
“CPKC is pleased to once again partner with the Alberta Children’s Hospital through the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open,” said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. “By building on our first Women’s Open partnership with Alberta Children’s Hospital in 2016, we will leverage our community investment program, CPKC Has Heart, to help the youngest hearts across Alberta.”
This year’s goal is to raise more than $2.75 million for Alberta Children’s Hospital. Those funds, CPKC says, will be dedicated to support researchers at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute who believe there is potential to develop a routine blood test to provide earlier detection of congenital heart defects or other anomalies at birth so parents and caregivers can be prepared before the baby is born.
“Every year in Alberta, there are approximately 550 babies born with a congenital heart defect,” said Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation President and CEO Saifa Koonar. “With this incredible support from the CPKC Women’s Open, our researchers are working to develop a new, non-invasive test to identify these problems sooner, leading to better prenatal care and opportunities for critical life-saving interventions.”
“It has been inspiring to share in the impact of CPKC Has Heart on the lives of countless youth and families in the host communities of the CPKC Women’s Open,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Bringing the 50th playing of our National Women’s Open Championship back to Calgary and now to Earl Grey Golf Club for the first time will be special. I know that golf fans and event enthusiasts will celebrate the CPKC Women’s Open as a week-long festival experience that will leave a meaningful community legacy in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.”
The LPGA awarded the CPKC Women’s Open, hosted Aug. 22-27 at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, with Tournament of the Year in 2023 for the second consecutive year. Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022 and 2023, as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
UP
UP announced Feb. 1 that the Class I railroad is has been named to Fortune magazine’s list of World’s Most Admired Companies for the 18th time in 22 years and is the highest ranked in the Trucking, Transportation and Logistics category for the second consecutive year.
Fortune magazine and research partner Korn Ferry surveys executives, directors and analysts each year to rate outstanding companies within their field based on nine criteria. In the Trucking, Transportation and Logistics category, UP was ranked first in four of the nine criteria: use of corporate assets, social responsibility, financial soundness and long-term investment value.
“Union Pacific’s ranking is a reflection of our commitment to providing safe, reliable and environmentally responsible service for our customers,” said UP CEO Jim Vena. “We’re proud to connect businesses and communities to each other and the world, and we continue to show what is possible when we work together.”
Union Pacific’s long-running presence “is a testament to its strong corporate reputation nationally, and its long track record of being a responsible corporate citizen,” the railroad said.
The magazine’s annual World’s Most Admired list will be available on newsstands Feb. 20.
