SAN FRANCISCO -- The City of San Francisco today honored State Compensation Insurance Fund supervisor Lealand Stewart as "Employer of the Year." Mr. Stewart’s ‘significant contributions’ for hiring people with disabilities was formally recognized by Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier.

The Annual Achievement Award and fundraising breakfast of the Mayor's Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities honors San Francisco-based businesses, community organizations or individuals who have made significant contributions in the employment of persons with disabilities.

"We are very proud of Mr. Stewart and his commitment to providing equal employment opportunities to persons with disabilities," said State Fund Acting President James C. Tudor. Tudor is a long-time member of the San Francisco Special Olympics Committee and has served on their board. He added, "We are honored to work with the Mayor's Committee and pleased that they have honored Mr. Stewart with this award."

Tina Marzell, job developer for the employment training organization, ‘Toolworks,’ nominated Stewart, who is a custodial manager for the Fund’s Real Property Department, for the award.

"Individuals with disabilities can’t always get hands-on work experience to make them more marketable," said Marzell. "We appreciate State Fund’s commitment to provide opportunities to people who often have a difficult time finding an ‘open door’ to decent wages and positive employment."

State Fund has received numerous awards for its community work. The Mayor's Committee honored State Fund for its outreach programs in 1989, 1991, 1996 and 2001. The California Governor’s Committee for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities also honored State Fund as Employer of the Year in 1991. In addition, State Fund has received national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education and has twice won the Marriott Foundation Award as ‘Employer of the Year.’

State Fund is partnered with San Jose-based Project HIRED and San Francisco Vocational Services, which provide work experience programs to the disabled. Individuals enrolled in theses organizations work in a number of State Fund departments. Several graduates of the programs have been hired permanently at State Fund.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Established by the California Legislature in 1914, State Compensation Insurance Fund guarantees the availability of workers' compensation coverage at cost to all California employers and competes fairly with private carriers. State Fund is a wholly self-supporting non-profit enterprise that serves as a moderating and stabilizing influence on California's workers' compensation insurance system.