KEEP ON GIVIN': Give Something Back is being recognized nationally as philanthropists extraordinaire.

The nonprofit Oakland office products company that shares a percentage of its revenue with the community is a finalist for the $250,000 Newman's Own/George Award for corporate philanthropy.

In the award's first year in 1998, the owner of Malden Mills Industries of Lawrence, Mass. won for continuing to pay its workforce while rebuilding its plant after a catastrophic blaze.

Given that criteria, the Oakland company seems like a real contender.

Consider this: Since the company began in 1991, it has donated at least 50 percent of its income to community-based organizations.

The company will donate more than $250,000 based on last year's revenue, said Sean Marx, one of the company's founders.

Company contributions climb hand-in-hand with rising revenue.

The company reported income of $7.5 million in fiscal 1997, $12.5 million in fiscal 1998 and projects that revenue will soar to more than $20 million next year, Marx said.

In the meantime, he and partner Mike Hannigan are ecstatic about the nomination.

``We're fortunate to be able to reinforce on a regular basis how wonderful this company's philosophy is,'' he said.

``This is another example. It validates why we do what we do.''

The winner will be selected at a May 19 dinner in New York hosted by the award sponsors.

If the company wins, its clients and employees, who help select the charities that receive donations, will give the cash award to local nonprofit groups that teach job skills in welfare-to-work programs, Marx said.

Chip Johnson's column appears in The Chronicle on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. He can be reached at (510) 433-5984, by e-mail at johnsonch@sfgate.com, or by writing The Chronicle at 483 Ninth St., Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94607.