Creators of the beloved Peeps, Mike and Ike, and Hot Tamales, Just Born Quality Confections, has won the Governor’s ImPAct Award.

The award is a state business recognition program co-sponsored by Team Pennsylvania Foundation and the Department of Community and Economic Development. It recognizes a company that demonstrates the tenet of “doing well by doing good,” as part of the third annual Governor’s ImPAct Awards.

The program is designed to reward Pennsylvania companies that enhance and exemplify respectable business and community practices within the state, whose ceremony was held on Thursday, May 21 in Hershey, Penn.

“We celebrate Pennsylvanians, like those at Just Born, who work hard everyday to help their workers thrive, to grow their companies, and to improve the communities in which they live,” Laura Williams says. “All of these things, one day, one place at a time, help to make Pennsylvania better.”

Just Born earned the Community ImPAct Award for its integral role in the community by encouraging associates to help carry out the company vision and philosophy through community service.

Last year alone, Just Born awarded more than 100 grants, made more than 1,000 candy donations and donated more than 1,500 volunteer hours on company time to worthy non-profits.

Every associate can volunteer up to 24 hours a year on company time and the company also has an established Dollars for Doer Program where the company donates up to $250 per year per associate for volunteering off company hours.

Just Born associates have participated in various volunteer programs, such as cooking and serving meals in local soup kitchens, and assisting animal rescue shelters.

The company also has a corporate giving program, which involves monetary donations to charitable, educational and arts organizations. The health and well-being of children and their families is the primary focus of the program.

“It is an honor to be acknowledged with the Community ImPAct Award,” says Matt Pye, Just Born’s v.p. of corporate affairs. “Community involvement has been a part of Just Born’s DNA since the company was established and we appreciate this honor from the Governor’s ImPAct Awards.”

Just Born was nominated by the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) network, along with 200 other companies total in the following categories: Jobs That Pay, Community Impact, Small Business Impact, Entrepreneurial Impact and Export Impact.

Representatives from Team PA and Journal Multimedia evaluated the nominations and selected the award recipients announced at the ceremony.

Just Born Quality Confections is a privately owned company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Bethlehem, Penn., where it manufactures Peeps, Hot Tamales, and Mike and Ike candies. Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews are produced in Philadelphia, Penn.