John S. Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers, Inc. (ERI), and Founder and Chairman of Addicted.com has been named a recipient of the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award, presented by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Committee at their annual Commemoration Program held yesterday at the William Saroyan Theatre.
Shegerian is Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers, Inc. (ERI). Established in 2002, ERI is an Electronic Waste collector and recycler, specializing in the environmentally safe and socially responsible dismantling of electronic items such as computers, televisions and monitors. Shegerian has made a point of offering reformed convicts a second chance and many of the employees at ERI are realizing the dream of a “recycled life” as a result of Shegerian’s compassion.
Shegerian is also the founder of Addicted.com, a website designed to provide addiction recovery resources and tools for addicts, family members and friends throughout the world-wide internet community. Visitors to the site come for advice, answers, assistance or just someone to talk with – and ultimately, hope.
“If we as human beings do not find ways to take care of ourselves, then nobody else will,” said Julia Dudley Najieb, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Committee Event Chair. “However, innovative individuals such as John Shegerian look beyond business to discover the human side and evaluate humanity as a whole because that is what will make a difference in our future–he is setting the example for our youth to follow suit.”
Shegerian serves alongside Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a member of the California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth and was recently appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve on the Governor’s Gang Advisory Committee, focused on providing the State’s top legislators with guidance pertaining to policies geared toward the reduction of gang and youth violence.
“The walls of our offices contain one of my favorite quotes by the great Dr. King,” said Shegerian, “that ‘everyone can be great because everyone can serve.’ The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Committee is doing excellent work to further messages such as this – messages of unity and strengthening communities with tolerance and compassion. We applaud their efforts. It is with great humility that I accept this award.”
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