Jon M. Huntsman to receive Leadership Award from American Chemical Society Group

40 years ago, Jon M. Huntsman founded Huntsman Corporation with the purchase of a small entrepreneurial plastics packaging business. Last year, Huntsman revenues exceeded USD 11 billion. However, business success alone has not defined Jon M. Huntsman, who in 2011 Forbes Magazine counted among the 18 “most generous givers on the planet.”

George Rodriguez, Chairman of CM&E and Board member of the American Chemical Society's New York Section, stated in a news release: “It is uncommon to start a company and turn it into a global multibillion dollar corporation. Mr. Huntsman is a trailblazer who has remained undeterred when faced with economic and technology challenges. Further, his genuine concern for humanity and utmost generosity are exemplary.”

When advised of the group's intentions, Jon M. Huntsman, also Founder and principal benefactor of the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was deeply honored and noted: “The public and chemical professionals find a wonderful home for industry insights and networking in the CM&E group of American Chemical Society New York Section. I commend CM&E's support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students, earnest harbingers of a better world.”

The Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. Huntsman and his wife, Karen, in 1995 to accelerate the work of curing cancer through human genetics. The Institute is now one of America's major cancer centers dedicated to finding a cure. The combined facility features leading-edge research laboratories with a state-of-the-art hospital treating cancer patients.

The numerous awards that Jon M. Huntsman has received include the Chemical Heritage Foundation Othmer Award for Outstanding Inventions in Plastics, the Freedom Foundation Great Humanitarian Award, American Cancer Society Medal of Honor, and WSJ’s Innovator of the Year Award. In 2000, he was named One of Ten Most Influential Utahns in the 20^th century.