SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

GATHERSBURG, Md., September 30, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, was named Global Sustainability Industry Leader in its sector for the 10th year in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the longest-running global sustainability benchmark worldwide and the key reference point in sustainability investing for investors and companies alike.

The annual DJSI review is based on a thorough analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, climate strategy, environmental policy/management systems, supply chain standards and labor practices. The company earned a perfect (100) score for the positive local impact of its business operations around the world. Sodexo also earned the highest score in its industry in the social pillar.

Sodexo has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and DJSI Europe (formerly STOXX) since 2005. S&P Dow Jones Indices works in partnership with RobecoSAM, the investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing that tracks the performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide.

“Sodexo has consistently ranked as the leader in its industry, demonstrating that the company is not resting on its accomplishments but instead dedicated to continuous improvement based on the company’s founding principles to improve quality of life and contribute to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates,” said Manjit Jus, Sustainability Operations Manager, RobecoSAM. “As one of only a handful of companies to top their industry for 10 years or more, Sodexo has consistently evolved ahead of the standards, creating value for its clients, consumers, suppliers, local communities and other stakeholders as part of its business model.”

"This recognition is a great honor for Sodexo,” said Damien Verdier, Sodexo Group Chief Marketing and Strategic Planning Officer “Corporate Responsability has been a principle underpinning the Group’s development since we were founded in 1966. Over the past 10 years revenues rose more than 50%, we grew by more than 110,000 people and strengthened our international presence, while remaining the industry leader with respect to our economic, social and environmental achievements.”

“Human resources is a leading factor in competition. By developing policies focused on improving the Quality of Life of women and men at all levels of the organization, we are stronger, more innovative and better at what we do,” said Elisabeth Carpentier, Sodexo Group Chief Human Resources Officer. “We are proud to be recognized by DJSI as a leading socially responsible and inclusive company.”

Some of Sodexo’s additional 2014 achievements in corporate responsibility include:

• Sodexo was ranked as the best-performing company for social, environmental and economic performance in the benchmark RobecoSAM ‘Sustainability Yearbook 2014’. Sodexo achieved the highest overall score in its peer group, 80 percent (compared to a sector average of 48) and was the only company in the sector named Gold Class.
   
• The United Nation’s Global Compact recognized Sodexo at their highest (Advanced) level; reserved for companies that strive to be top reporters and declare that they have adopted and report on a broad range of best practices in sustainability governance and management according to the Global Compact's Blueprint for Corporate Sustainability Leadership.
   
• Sodexo US is the only company to have been in the top two of the DiversityInc .Top 50 for five years in a row. The company was recognized for its use of diversity dashboards and scorecards to accurately measure and improve initiatives, it’s streamlined and valuable metrics that enable its top leadership to move the needle and are used to show other organizations, including its clients, how to grow and assess diversity initiatives.

About Sodexo in North Amercia
Sodexo, Inc., the leading Quality of Life services provider in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On-site Services in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government and Remote Site segments, as well as Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Sodexo, Inc. is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md. and funds all administrative costs for the independent and charitable Sodexo Foundation— granting more than $25 million since 1999 to end childhood hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at SodexoInsights.com. Visit Sodexo on Facebook and follow on Twitter @SodexoUSA.

Tweet me:#Sodexo industry leadership in #sustainability earns 10th consecutive top ranking DJSI Award http://3bl.me/ezfbrm

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Business & Trade, Sodexo, Dow Jones, sustainability, Index, DJSI

by Amy Bond, Sustainability Program Manager - CBRE US

SOURCE:CBRE Group, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@CBRE's The #Green Perspective blog: Successful #recycle programs need more than lofty goals http://bit.ly/1KvaFJT #CSR

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Corporate Social Responsibility, CBRE, the green perspective, sustainability, Amy Bond

SOURCE:Community Health Charities

DESCRIPTION:

Many people may not know that health nonprofits do more than invest research money for cures. The discoveries that come from research include why diseases occur, therapies and medications that can help manage them and the information that can be shared from breakthroughs. From research comes learning, and from learning comes educational opportunities to help those impacted by the very conditions that many nonprofit health organizations set out to find cures for.

Here, Denise Erickson and Maureen McCluskey, corporate health managers at American Express, share how they blended health nonprofits in nontraditional disease education with traditional resources to develop a program that positively affected the health and wellness of their employees. Read more...

Tweet me:Leveraging Non-traditional Disease Education into Wellness Strategies with @HealthCharities http://3bl.me/n5m8mq

KEYWORDS: Health, Business & Trade

Takes Top Honor in Best Employee Engagement Category for Path of Service program, Highly Commended in Sustainable Innovation for Timberland Tires

SOURCE:Timberland

DESCRIPTION:

September 30, 2015 /3BL Media/ - On Friday, September 25, Timberland was honored at Ethical Corporation’s Sixth Annual Responsible Business Awards ceremony held in London as winner of the “Best Employee Engagement” category.  Timberland took home the award for its Path of Service program, which was launched in 1992 to engage employees, business partners, and consumers in service to others.  Today, the program provides full-time employees with up to 40 paid volunteer hours per year to serve in their communities.

With a simple goal to equip employees with direct experiences to make a difference, Timberland hopes the program will ultimately lead employees to become proactive agents of service on their own. In 2014, 78% of employees served more than 72,000 hours in more than 100 locations in 19 countries, reflecting a 10.3% increase in hours served vs. 2013. This contributed to a major milestone: reaching one million hours served.  Some hours are served through individual employee efforts; others through global, company-led employee service events, such as Earth Day in the spring and the brand’s signature Serv-a-palooza event in the fall.

Such global events are organized by employees through Timberland’s Global Stewards program. Launched 10 years ago, Global Stewards help scale Timberland’s CSR efforts nationally or globally—critical when the core CSR team is headquartered in New Hampshire. These passionate employees volunteer for a two-year term to drive engagement agendas in their locations, and orchestrate events that translate and bring to life CSR initiatives in the country’s language and cultural traditions. 

To further share Timberland’s first-hand experiences around employee engagement, the company supports other businesses and organizations looking to engage in their communities. Timberland’s recently re-launched Service Tool Kit provides information and tools to develop and execute meaningful service events for 25-1,000+ volunteers.

“Timberland has a long heritage focused on environmental and social justice, and a truly impassioned employee community that helps us keep that heritage alive,” said Atlanta McIlwraith, senior manager, community engagement at Timberland.  “We are thrilled to be recognized for our commitment to service, and we wouldn’t be winning this award without the dedication of our employees worldwide who live our values every day by serving in their local communities.”

In addition to winning the Best Employee Engagement category at the awards, Timberland was also highly commended in the Sustainable Innovation category for the launch of Timberland Tires, a premium line of tires purposely designed and made to be recycled into Timberland footwear at the end of their life on the road, creating a more sustainable lifecycle for rubber.

For more information on Timberland’s commitment to service, visit http://responsibility.timberland.com/.

Tweet me:Ethical Corporation award winner in employee engagement, @Timberland shares its expertise with Service Tool Kit http://3bl.me/25w39b

Contact Info:

Katie Goudey
Cone, for Timberland
+1 (617) 939-8415
kgoudey@conecomm.com

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Business & Trade, Timberland, Ethical Corporation, responsible business awards

SOURCE:VolunteerMatch

SUMMARY:

On December 1, 2015, winners of the 2015 VolunteerMatch Corporate Volunteer Awards will be announced at the 2015 VolunteerMatch Summit in Oakland, CA. In this series of posts, I’ll introduce you to people and ideas behind the ten most effective employee volunteer programs in our family of corporate clients, determined by performance against four benchmark measures in 2014.

DESCRIPTION:

What makes your employee volunteer program special?

Being volunteer leaders in the community has been one of 1st Source’s principal values since its founding in 1863. The bank’s colleagues are very committed to giving back to the community and they volunteered more than 25,000 hours in 2014. Additionally, 1st Source Bank and the 1stSource Foundation contributed more than $1.4 million to community projects in 2014.

What impact has your program had on your office or company as a whole?

1st Source colleagues have made a big impact on the community by mentoring children, building homes for families in need, serving on nonprofit boards, and many other volunteer efforts. This past year in particular, employees helped low-income individuals file their income taxes through the VITA program with the United Way, they collected food for those in need, and they participated in fundraising walks and events across the 17 counties the bank serves.

What is a volunteer-related accomplishment that you’re especially proud of?

1st Source again participated in Junior Achievements’ JA in a Day, in which nearly 30 bankers volunteered their time to teach financial education to 300 kindergarten – 4th grade students at Warren Primary Center in South Bend. It was a great experience for bank employees and the students alike.

Stay tuned for more finalist profiles in the coming weeks, and announcement of the winners on December 1, 2015 during the 2015 VolunteerMatch Summit.

Tweet me:.@1stSourceBank has a chance to take home the @VolunteerMatch 2015 Corporate Volunteer Award! See how: http://bit.ly/1O2BBTC #CSR

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Awards and Recognition, 2015 VolunteerMatch Summit, #VMSummit15, VolunteerMatch, volunteermatch solutions, Summit Speakers, csr, Employee Volunteer Program, corporate volunteering, employee volunteer, 1st source bank

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Comcast is currently seeking nominations from high school principals and guidance counselors for The Comcast Leaders and Achievers^® Scholarship Program.

Leaders and Achievers, funded through the Comcast Foundation, recognizes high school seniors from Comcast communities for their commitment to community service, academics and demonstrated leadership. To acknowledge these accomplishments, Leaders and Achievers students are awarded one-time scholarships, with a base award of $1,000.

Recipients may also be eligible for scholarships at higher levels, such as the Gustave G. Amsterdam Leadership Award and the Comcast Founders Scholarship, awarded locally from the eligible pool of Leaders and Achievers winners.

Since the inception of the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Program in 2000, more than $24 million in scholarships has been awarded to approximately 23,000 students. More than 53 percent of the scholarships awarded last year benefitted students from diverse backgrounds.

The application deadline is December 3, 2015 for scholarships awarded in support of the 2016-17 academic year.

To learn more about nominating a student, please click here or contact International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. at comcast@applyists.com or at 1-855-670-4787. 

Tweet me:#Scholarship opportunity from @ComcastImpact for community-minded high school seniors #LeadersAchievers http://3bl.me/dmgnz5

KEYWORDS: Education, scholarship, community service, Youth Leadership, Classroom & Community, Comcast NBCUniversal

P&G announces new commitment and recognizes partners at the 2015 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

SOURCE:P&G

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, Septeber 30th, 2015 /3BL Media/ - P&G announced a new Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting to help 100 million girls and women build confidence. The global goal aims to help girls and women boost and maintain confidence and avoid traps that create negative feelings of self-worth. The Company also recognized Keep a Child Alive and Walmart for being outstanding partners in helping bring women, girls and others in need clean drinking water through P&G’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program.

“An estimated 50 million girls around the globe enter puberty every year, experiencing transformative changes as they transition into womanhood. One in two of these girls experience a drop in confidence, and many never truly recover it. As the brand with a 30 year heritage in educating and empowering girls and women, Always was determined to do something about it,” said Fama Francisco, President, Global Feminine Care. “The #LikeAGirl campaign has fueled a powerful movement that has inspired millions of girls and women around the world, but there’s still so much to be done. That’s why P&G is committed to using the power of our brands, including Always, Pantene, Secret and Venus to make a difference and help girls and women live their lives to their fullest potential, through puberty and beyond.”

"Building a better world where girls and women are empowered requires all of us to do our part. I applaud P&G for its leadership and for developing creative partnerships like the one with PSI creating entrepreneurial opportunities and instilling the confidence that help women break down barriers,” remarked Ashley Judd, PSI global ambassador and long-time advocate for human rights, global health and social justice issues that affect women and other vulnerable populations.

P&G is uniquely positioned to engage millions of girls and women around the world by offering support and teaching confidence building skills. Over the next year, P&G brands will address the specific issues and shared experiences of building confidence commonly faced by girls and women.

Always, expanding on the groundbreaking #LikeAGirl campaign, will launch the Always Global Confidence Teaching Curriculum, a program that will benefit millions of girls around the world. The new confidence teaching curriculum, incorporating the latest research on confidence-building, is being co-developed by Always and education-thought leaders and experts. The curriculum builds on Always’ 30 year heritage in puberty education. Additionally, TED, the non-profit devoted to spreading ideas, has committed to supporting Always in teaching confidence to young girls. In this unique collaboration, Always and TED are working together to develop and spread a collection of confidence-inspiring content through TED-Ed, TED’s award-winning educational platform creating lessons worth sharing.

• Secret’s “Mean Stinks” program is dedicated to bringing an end to girl-to-girl bullying by inspiring and supporting girls directly in their quest to end mean behavior. Secret is partnering with Teen Vogue to encourage girls to join the #ChainOfNice movement to pay kindness forward. Later this year, Secret will initiate a scholarship program to reward girls for their commitment to kindness and ending bullying.
• Venus launched the ”Use Your And” campaign with the aim to inspire women and girls to stand-up against one-dimensional labels and to #UseYourAnd to unleash their innate potential.
• Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program inspires girls and women to help other women battling cancer feel more confident by providing free, real-hair wigs. Pantene will launch the 2015 Beautiful Lengths multi-media #8or8 campaign in September with its partners to inspire other girls and women to donate 8 inches or hair or $8 and join in their efforts to empower those fighting cancer.

P&G and CGI co-hosted the “Giving Girls a Chance” topic dinner which featured leading global advocates for girls and women including Ashley Judd, Global Ambassador Population Services International; Sienna Miller, Global Ambassador International Medical Corps; Michelle Nunn, President and CEO CARE and Dr. Pasquine Ogunsanya, Executive Director and Founder, Alive Medical Services. Moderated by Tina Brown, the panelists shared their perspectives on topics relevant to women and girls including family planning, gender-based violence, health challenges, economic development and education.

P&G’s newest CGI Commitment to Action builds upon 10-years of participation in the Annual Meeting, and the Company just renewed its commitment to providing clean drinking water to those in need by announcing the Company will deliver 15 billion liters of clean drinking water by 2020. Keep a Child Alive and Alive Medical Services were recognized for providing comprehensive and compassionate care and clean water to people living positively with HIV transforming their health and turning obstacles into opportunities. Walmart was awarded for raising awareness of the global water crisis in Brazil and Argentina and providing more than 100 million days of clean water to children and families globally.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)—an initiative of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation—convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 180 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, members of the CGI community have made nearly 3,200 commitments, improving the lives of more than 430 million people in over 180 countries.

CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

Tweet me:Commitment to Action at @ClintonGlobal Meeting to help 100 million girls & women build confidence http://3bl.me/xa2qda via @ProcterGamble

Contact Info:

Julie deSylva
Procter & Gamble
+1 (513) 780-0006
desylva.j@pg.com

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Business & Trade, Procter & Gamble, P&G, Clinton Global Initiative, Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, CSDW, #LikeAGirl, Always Global Confidence Teaching Curriculum, TED, CGI, Commitment to Action

Short Film Series by Academy- and Award-Winning Filmmakers Ross Kauffman, Kief Davidson and Steve James Showcases how Toyota Shares its Expertise for Good

SOURCE:Toyota

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:The Toyota Effect short film series debuted at New York Film Festival, brand meets story! @Toyota http://3bl.me/qzpfgn

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, Philanthropy, Toyota, New York Film Festival

By Simon Mainwaring

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

DESCRIPTION:

Your time is more precious than ever in light of an ever-increasing workload and the rising competition that we face today as marketers. That said, there are times when it’s critical to step outside your company or industry to understand the best practices of other brands that have built their brand reputation, sales and social impact. The We First Brand Leadership Summit is such an occasion. Let’s take a look at who should attend and why.

CMO’s and Brand Marketers: Given the transparency and accountability imposed on brands by the web and social media, the reputation of a company is now driven by its supply chain all the way through to customer service. Companies can no longer hide behind the boardroom, corporate veil or entertaining marketing, but rather must demonstrate their positive impact on the world. The Summit lays out this new marketing landscape and provides actionable strategies, tactics and case studies that show how your brand must respond to lead the future.

Corporate Communications Officers: Increasingly corporate communications are as much about the CSR, sustainability and philanthropic work that a brand is doing, as it is about the company and its products. This shift is being driven by the need for companies to communicate the positive difference they are having on the world and to clarify their corporate social responsibility efforts to that end. The Summit specifically looks at how to align corporate communications, sustainability, CSR and Foundation efforts into a simple, consistent and seamless message that internal and external stakeholders want to share.

Sustainability Directors: Sustainability has rapidly becomes table stakes for brands and yet such efforts are wasted if their stories are not told well. Both because the brand won’t get the credit and reputational benefits for its work, but more importantly because it won’t inspire employees, customers or consumers to participate and scale the positive impact. The Summit reveals the latest research, best practices, and case studies around effective sustainability storytelling so that your brand can get the credit it deserves and increase its positive impact.

CSR Officers: Corporate Social Responsibility is already a tent pole of almost all organizations, but it’s importance will only rise in light of the compounding social crises we face such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, access to clean water, and beyond. Meanwhile, new mandates for contribution are emerging being driven by initiatives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals being announced this September. As such, what was once a ‘nice to do’ rather than ‘must do’ is now a key competitive advantage for a brand. The Summit looks specifically at the most innovative, creative and engaging ways that brands are sharing their social responsibility efforts to inspire all stakeholders to join and scale your brand community.

Cause Marketing Leaders: Cause marketing has now become a critical expression of the core values of a brand. But rather than simply listing the amount of money that a company donates or the hours that its employees volunteer, a brand must frame such communication with a focus on the people being impacted, rather than the brand itself. The Summit examines how to communicate your well-intended and meaningful efforts most effectively so stakeholders want to associate themselves with your brand.

Foundation Officers: The integration of corporate communications, CSR and foundation work is well underway in many major corporations. For too long philanthropic efforts have been silo-ed off to the side as a luxury for a brand once profits have been made and taken. With greater demands for social responsibility from Millennials and Gen Z, a brand’s foundation work has become a central part of its communication strategy. The Summit looks specifically at how to integrate a brand’s foundation work within its overall marketing to build its reputation and cultural leadership. 

Start-ups and Entrepreneurs: Founders and entrepreneurs are constantly pulled in multiple directions and too often there is little time or resources for branding and marketing. Yet when you consider that 90% of startups go out of business, you quickly realize that your product or company will not succeed unless you market it effectively. The Summit is that rare opportunity for founders and entrepreneurs to learn how to define their brand from the world’s top marketers in an affordable and time-effective way.

Non-profits: Too often non-profits are challenged by a lack of resources especially when it comes to marketing. Yet with more for-profit brands becoming purposeful, non-profits must now compete with these brands in communicating their purpose, story and social impact. As such it is more important than ever that they learn best practices in social storytelling from top brands that are experts in bringing their brand’s purpose to life.

Everyone on this list has one thing in common. In some capacity, each is a steward of the purpose of a brand. Given the reality of compounding social crises, connective social technologies, and shifting demographics, that purpose is now a fundamental business driver. If you do not know how to communicate the positive impact that your brand is having on your stakeholders’ lives and the world you are not only ignoring the expectations of key demographics, but you are leaving yourself open to consumer or media activism that can greatly damage your reputation and customer loyalty. On the flip side, if you do you can leverage these new market drivers you can inspire all stakeholders to build your reputation, community, sales and social impact.

Register now for the We First Brand Leadership Summit on October 6-7 at the W Hollywood Hotel. In addition to the reasons laid out above, the event itself is truly unique in 3 ways:

1. SOCIAL BRANDING BLUEPRINT: Every attendee walks out with an actionable marketing roadmap for 2016 specific to their business so you get real value in your hands.

2. EXPERT COLLABORATION: You get to create that plan informed by the insights of some of the top marketers in the world that you won’t find gathered in such an intimate forum anywhere else. This year’s list of global marketing experts includes:

• Virgin Unite – Jean Oelwang, CEO
• Levi Strauss & Co. – Michael Kobori, VP Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Coca-Cola – Global Marketing Director, Sustainability
• Sony Pictures Television – John Rego, VP Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility
• Timberland – Colleen Vien, Sustainability Director
• THRIVE Farmers – Ken Lander, Founder and CSO, Thrive Farmers Coffee
• UN Foundation – Aaron Sherinian, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer
• PwC – Shannon Schuyler, Corporate Responsibility Leader

3. FREE NON-PROFIT GUEST: Every attendee gets to invite his or her favorite non-profit for free so you get to make a contribution in alignment with your core values simply by attending.

The Summit is limited to 200 seats and sells out so get your individual and group tickets today at WeFirst15.com

Tweet me:Last chance to register for #WeFirst Oct 6-7 in Hollywood. http://www.wefirst15.com “You need to be a mission w/ a business”

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Media & Communications, We First, We First Brand LEadership Summit, 3bl media llc

By Carol Baroudi

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

Getting rid of the trash is a function that frequently falls to facilities management. As trash equates to waste, trash itself is a worthy target for the sustainability-minded, the economically minded, and the efficiency-minded.

Eliminating the root causes of waste typically translates to less use, less spend, and even process optimization. Take paper, as an example. If an electronic form can replace a paper form, not only is the paper form no longer needed, but the double entry – first on the form and then subsequently into some sort of automated system (frequently introducing errors) – can be eliminated. Paper you don’t use you don’t need to buy. Better for the environment, better for the business’s bottom line, and better for the quality of data. Triple win.

When getting rid of electronic waste also falls to facilities management, there’s ample opportunity to make choices that are better for the environment, better for the business’s bottom line, and better for data security. There are also significant risks you need to address. Make no mistake – the organization is vulnerable when electronic waste is not handled properly.

Risks to the organization include failure to properly eradicate data. No organization is exempt from data privacy regulations, which cover personnel records, financial data, and all sorts of proprietary information. It might not be obvious at first glance that sensitive data might reside on a copier, scanner, or printer. It can lurk in networking gear and on mobile devices long after you think you’ve deleted everything.

Conversely, just as appropriately collected paper might be sold to a recycler, appropriately handled electronics can potentially carry residual value for the organization. Ensuring secured data and responsible environmental stewardship help protect the organization and its brand.

I’ll be at the FMA Future Facilities Summit in Teaneck, New Jersey, October 21st and 22nd. I’ll be talking about the ways e-waste can help or hamper your organization, including tips for garnering extra LEED points. It’d be great to see you there! Need more information? Drop me a line at cbaroudi@arrow.com.

Carol Baroudi works for Arrow’s Value Recovery business, promoting sustainability awareness and action. She is the lead author of Green IT For Dummies. Her particular focus is on electronics at the IT asset disposition stage, e-waste, and everything connected. Follow her on Twitter @carol_baroudi and connect with her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carolbaroudi. Follow FMA Summits on Twitter @FMASummits.

Tweet me:Getting rid of electronic waste gives ample opportunity for better choices, according to @Carol_Baroudi @ArrowGlobal http://3bl.me/aw9nga

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Technology, Arrow Electronics, Carol Baroudi, ITAD, data security, IT ASSET Disposition

SOURCE:Farm Credit

DESCRIPTION:

By Amelia Sprague

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) and Farm Credit are now recruiting social media savvy agricultural communications students to join the 2015 NAFB Social Media Corps.

For the third year in a row, Social Media Corps members will develop a content plan – including creating videos, photos, tweets and Facebook posts – and will manage the online conversation during the annual convention and Trade Talk.

To prepare for this highly-visible assignment, Social Media Corps students will receive training from the Farm Credit National Communications Team focused on strategic social media program development and execution. The Social Media Corps members will share their NAFB experiences, and drive online conversation with both conference attendees and the broader online community.

This unique opportunity allows students to gain real-world experience in their chosen field and learn how to use social media as a business tool. Do you have what it takes to be a member of the 2015 NAFB Trade Talk Social Media Corps? We’re looking for students who are:

• Planning to attend the NAFB Convention in Kansas City, MO, November 11-13
• Passionate about social media and digital storytelling
• Active on social media channels and have social media experience
• Looking to learn more about running a strategic social media program

Apply by October 10, 2015. To give yourself an edge over your competition in the selection process, we encourage you to show the judges your social media skills and make sure to use the official event hashtag: #NAFB15

Travel and lodging costs will not be covered. For information about member benefits, click here. 

NAFB Social Media Corps members will be notified by October 19, 2015. Please feel free to share this blog post with your agricultural communications peers and your social media networks. We can't wait to hear from you!

Tweet me:.@Farmcredit is looking for #socialmedia savvy students! Applications for the 2015 NAFB Social Media Corps are open: http://3bl.me/8vsv24

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Media & Communications, students, resume, Social Media, agriculture communications, ag communications, Farm Credit, Dairy Challenge

Reprinted from BiomimicryInDesign Blog

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

In late summer, the ideas started pouring in from every corner of the world.

Thousands of designers, architects, biologists, engineers, students, nature-lovers, and big thinkers had answered the call to completely rethink our food system using design inspiration from nature. The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, hosted by the Biomimicry Institute and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, provided a platform for these global innovators to practice biomimicry in action, by applying it to one of the most urgent issues of our time – our broken food chain. It makes perfect sense – how are we going to create a healthier, more equitable, truly regenerative food system without learning from the natural ecosystems and organisms that are an inextricable part of it?

Read more.

Contact Info:

Valerie Bennett
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
+1 (770) 317-5858
valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org

Erin Connelly
Biomimicry Institute
+1 (415) 800-1407
erin.connelly@biomimicry.org

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Business & Trade, biomimicry, Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, nature-inspired design, biomemetic, food systems, food security, food politics, Ray of Hope Prize, Biomimicry Institute, Ray C Anderson Foundation

U.S. CSR RepTrak® conducted more than 55,000 interviews as part of the study conducted in the first quarter of 2015

SOURCE:MGM Resorts International

DESCRIPTION:

October 1, 2015 /3BL Media/ - MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) has been named one of America’s top 100 most reputable companies for corporate social responsibility (CSR), according to research by Reputation Institute, a leading global source on corporate reputation.

Reputation Institute’s top 100 list is derived from data collected by the 2015 U.S. CSR RepTrak^®, a public survey examining the perceptions of companies by the U.S. general public. Involving more than 55,000 interviews during this year’s first quarter, U.S. CSR RepTrak^® measured companies according to three dimensions: citizenship, workplace, and governance.

“Consumers want to engage with companies that are good corporate citizens,” said Brad Hecht, Chief Research Officer at Reputation Institute. “Companies with high CSR scores in our research can point to a demonstrated track record of ethical behavior and leadership.”

Among the other companies named to Reputation Institute’s list include: Google, Levi Strauss & Co., Panera Bread and Starbucks. MGM Resorts is one of a few companies in the hospitality industry to make the list.

“We are delighted to be recognized by Reputation Institute, and the general public, for our commitments to social responsibility,” said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Our CSR efforts make us a stronger company and a better corporate citizen as we seek to inspire our guests, employees and host communities through everything we do,” continued Murren, a CR Magazine 2013 winner of the Responsible CEO of the Year Award.

Reputation Institute’s RepTrak^® database is normative, examining 15 stakeholder groups in more than 25 industries and more than 50 countries for more than 7,000 companies. For additional information on U.S. CSR RepTrak^® and its rankings, please visit: http://www.reputationinstitute.com/research/CSR-RepTrak.

# # #

About MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The Company is in the process of developing MGM National Harbor in Maryland and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.  The Company also owns 51 percent of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features Aria resort and casino. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

About Reputation Institute

Reputation Institute (RI) is the world’s leading research-based consulting and advisory firm for reputation. RI enables many of the world’s leading companies to make more confident business decisions that build and protect reputation capital, analyze risk and sustainability topics, and drive competitive advantage. RI’s most prominent management tool is the RepTrak® model for analyzing the reputations of companies and institutions — best known via the Global RepTrak® 100, the world’s largest and most comprehensive study of corporate reputations, as well as Country RepTrak® and City RepTrak® studies that look at reputation across organizations within a given geography.

Learn more at: http://www.reputationinstitute.com/

SOURCE MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rey Bouknight

MGM Resorts International

702-692-6804

rbouknight@mgmresorts.com

Tweet me:.@MGMResortIntl named Reputation Institute's Top 100 Most Reputable Companies for CSR. http://3bl.me/bm64by #MGMCares

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Company Ratings, MGM Resorts International, csr

John Buckley, BNY Mellon’s global head of CSR, reflects on the adoption of the UN’s sustainable development goals and discusses why rule of law and social finance are critical to their success.

SOURCE:BNY Mellon

DESCRIPTION:

This past weekend marked an important milestone in tackling the world’s development challenges: the United Nations (UN) General Assembly approved the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals. These 17 goals are the successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and aim to tackle poverty, inequality, climate change and other critical challenges around the globe over the next 15 years.

For many, it was a time to celebrate, though UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presciently noted that the true test of this commitment will come in its implementation. As noted in our report, “Social Finance at Scale: Creating Value for Investors,” finding monies to support these goals remains the most significant challenge to success. Calculations from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s 2014 World Investment Report put the investment gap at between US$1.9 and US$3.1 trillion per year. That is a challenge countries cannot take on alone.

Recognizing the need for business and mainstream investor support, we at BNY Mellon entered into a partnership with the UN Foundation to support the inclusion of rule of law—the legal principle that law should govern a nation—in the SDGs in goal #16. Along with protecting human rights, facilitating equality and providing safety for individuals, rule of law will allow for increased capital flow to developing and emerging markets. This capital can have a transformative effect, helping the developing world grow its economies and provide jobs, while creating attractive new investment opportunities for investors. We consider this intersection between positive social or environmental impact and financial returns to be at the heart of all social finance investments.

The commitment to bringing the SDGs to fruition is palpable—and I’m pleased that rule of law has continued to gain prominence as a solution to the world’s problems. Having attended various events this past weekend ranging from a forum on businesses’ call to action to the White House’s Solutions Summit, a common thread has been the importance of rule of law as a precursor to addressing both human rights and development issues.

Since the MDGs were agreed to in 2001, we have witnessed incredible progress, but we are “only half way,” as this video from The Global Goals underscores. As we move forward, we continue to collaborate with others to advocate and build support for creating conditions to bring social finance investments to scale to solve the world’s most pressing problems and open up new business opportunities for our clients and firm.

To learn more about BNY Mellon’s commitment to enabling positive social and environmental impacts through investments, I encourage you to visit our social finance website: www.bnymellon.com/socialfinance. 

Tweet me:Read @BNYMellon's Global Head of #CSR's latest post: What’s next for the @UN’s #GlobalGoals? http://3bl.me/4y2hkv

Contact Info:

Colleen Krieger
ColleenAnne.Krieger@bnymellon.com

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Social Finance, rule of law, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Global Goals, united nations, BNY Mellon

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, October 1, 2015 /3BL Media/ - The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) today announced the 2015 Women of Excellence Award recipients. Betty Thompson, executive vice president and chief personnel officer of Booz Allen Hamilton, was honored for her business accomplishments and leadership.

Subha Barry, vice president, general manager, Working Mother Media says, "The NAFE Women of Excellence are a great illustration of the divergent paths to success. From finance to global diversity, the award recipients are exemplary for their leadership and achievement." NAFE will celebrate this stellar assembly at the NAFE Women of Excellence Gala Breakfast December 11 at the Yale Club in New York City before an audience of senior corporate executives.

Dr. Betty Spence, president of NAFE, made the announcement, says, “The impressive 2015 NAFE Women of Excellence awardees include individuals who are exceptional at their jobs and notable for ensuring the success of women and girls. These awards spotlight unsung heroes both for their achievements and for their commitment to gender equity.”

“To be included in such a prestigious group of women is an honor in itself,” Booz Allen’s Thompson remarked. “Receiving the NAFE Activist Award is a recognition that I’m particularly proud of—being acknowledged as someone who helps other women succeed goes beyond any personal accomplishment I could achieve.”

About Working Mother Media
Working Mother Media, a division of Bonnier Corporation (bonnier.com), publishes Working Mother magazine and its companion website, workingmother.com, and the Working Mother Research Institute. The National Association for Female Executives (nafe.com ), Diversity Best Practices (diversitybestpractices.com) are also units within WMM. Working Mother Media’s mission is to serve as a champion of culture change. Working Mother magazine reaches more than 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers; Workingmother.com gives working mothers @home and @work advice, solutions, and ideas. Please follow us on Facebook or on Twitter. NAFE Contact: Andrea Kaplan, andrea@andreakaplanpr.com, (917)-836-2741

About Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton has been at the forefront of strategy and technology for more than 100 years. Today, the firm provides management and technology consulting and engineering services to leading Fortune 500 corporations, governments, and not-for-profits across the globe. Booz Allen partners with public and private sector clients to solve their most difficult challenges through a combination of consulting, analytics, mission operations, technology, systems delivery, cybersecurity, engineering, and innovation expertise. With international headquarters in McLean, Virginia, the firm employs more than 22,500 people globally, and had revenue of $5.27 billion for the 12 months ended March 31, 2015. To learn more, visit www.boozallen.com. (NYSE: BAH)

Tweet me:2015 @_NAFE_ Women of Excellence Awards: Top Women In Business Achievement. http://3bl.me/wknva2 @BoozAllen Betty Thompson recognized

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Business & Trade, Booz Allen Hamilton, NAFE, National Association for Female Executives, Working Mother Media, Women of Excellence Awards, Top Women In Business Achievement

SOURCE:JetBlue Airways

DESCRIPTION:

'Bid for Good' Online Auction Lots Include One-of-a-Kind Items to Benefit Together We Rise, DoSomething.org and the JetBlue Foundation

NEW YORK, NY, 10/01/15 /3BL Media/ - JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), New York's Hometown Airline, today announced its seventh annual Swing for Good Golf Classic and Bid for Good online charitable auction, the airline's marquee fundraising campaign of the year.

Over the past seven years, the Swing for Good and Bid for Good campaign has raised more than $2.1 million for a variety of charitable partners. This year's recipients include three youth-focused non-profit organizations:

• Together We Rise -- JetBlue welcomes this new recipient, a non-profit organization led by young adults formerly in foster care focused on transforming the way youth navigate America's foster care system.
• DoSomething.org -- This non-profit returns for the third time as a beneficiary. DoSomething.org empowers young people to take action in their community around a variety of causes.
• The JetBlue Foundation -- The JetBlue Foundation returns for a second year as a recipient. This JetBlue-sponsored private foundation encourages and advances aviation-related education. Placing aviation top-of-mind as a career choice for students, the JetBlue Foundation's mission is to ignite interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.

JetBlue's annual charitable fundraising initiative includes the Swing for Good Golf Classic as well as the Bid for Good online auction, powered by Charity Buzz. This year's golf classic will be held on Wednesday, October 14 at Bethpage State Golf Course in Bethpage, N.Y. The Bid for Good online auction takes place online from October 1-19.

Bid for Good features one-of-a-kind opportunities and experiences such as:

• A once-in-a-lifetime internship with DoSomething.com
• Deluxe JetBlue Getaways vacation packages
• Tickets to Bonnaroo Music Festival
• A trip to the Boston Red Sox training camp
• A JetBlue flight simulator experience
• Access to VIP events and other exclusive experiences.

"In partnership with our dedicated and passionate crewmembers, customers and business partners, we unite to make a meaningful difference in our mission of inspiring humanity," said Robin Hayes, JetBlue's president and chief executive officer. "Supporting causes focused on youth, education and community are integral to who we are. We are proud that our Swing for Good campaign generates essential funds for our non-profit partners to continue their work."

Swing for Good is an annual fundraiser which includes JetBlue executives, crewmembers and business partners joining together to make a difference. The campaign raises funds for charitable organizations focused on youth, education and community -- the core pillars of JetBlue's corporate social responsibility platform.

About Together We Rise

Together We Rise is a non-profit organization comprised of motivated young adults and former foster youth. Our vision is to improve the lives of foster children in America, who often find themselves forgotten and neglected by the public.

About DoSomething.org
DoSomething.org makes the world suck less. One of the largest global orgs for young people and social change, our 4 million members in 130 countries tackle volunteer campaigns that impact every cause. Poverty. Discrimination. The environment. And everything else they care about. Our promise: Any cause, anytime, anywhere. *mic drop*

About The JetBlue Foundation
Founded in 2013, the JetBlue Foundation is committed to supporting aviation-related education in general and Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) in particular. The Foundation empowers and provides opportunities to underserved students and communities through local and national education institutions and aviation-related programs. For more information, please visit www.jetblue.com/inspiringhumanity.

About JetBlue
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline™, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 32 million customers a year to 90 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of 875 daily flights. For more information please visit JetBlue.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS

JetBlue Corporate Communications

Tel: +1 718 709 3089

corpcomm@jetblue.com

Reservations +1 800 JETBLUE (538 2583)

TTY/TDD: +1 800 336-5530www.jetblue.com 

Tweet me:.@JetBlue announces 7th annual Swing for Good Golf Classic and Bid for Good online charitable auction http://3bl.me/673bvz #CSR

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Swing for Good Golf Classic, JetBlue Airways, together we rise, csr, JetBlue Foundation, dosomething.org, youth and education

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

DESCRIPTION:

Healthcare organizations have been on the sustainability track for some time now. With its many large facilities, its purchases of vast numbers of goods and services, from equipment to energy, and its huge workforce, the healthcare sector has looked at sustainability as just common business sense. But with the revolutionary changes in business models caused by the Affordable Care Act, there’s an increasing need to quantify those sustainability practices in financial terms. Today, defining sustainability in healthcare is a bottom line necessity in reducing costs and improving ROI.

A new report, What Matters and Where: Managing Sustainability in the Healthcare Sector, by BrownFlynn and Trucost, describes how healthcare organizations can put specific numbers to sustainability by using a value chain approach. BrownFlynn’s Impact Mapping and TruCost’s Natural Capital Accounting are two new tools that can be used to analyze value chain impacts. Companies such as Dignity Health, Baxter International, Novo Nordisk, and the U.K.’s National Health Service have used these tools to analyze and manage the billions of dollars in resources that the sector requires for its trillions of dollars in revenue generated. Getting a better grip on numbers that large could result in big cost savings and even bigger profits.

I’m John Howell for 3BL Media.

Video source: Building the Bottom Line Business Case for Sustainability in Healthcare

Tweet me:Defining #sustainability in #healthcare is a bottom line necessity today http://3bl.me/mtdwqc via @3BLmedia #CSRminute

KEYWORDS: Health, Business & Trade, 3bl media llc, CSR Minute

SOURCE:Common Impact

DESCRIPTION:

We all know that skills-based volunteering is a great idea for companies, its people and, most importantly, the nonprofits that deliver critical services every day to our communities.  Still, whether you’re excited to bring a skills-based volunteer program to your company, become a skills-based volunteer yourself or find professionals to help move your nonprofit organization to the next stage, it can be hard to figure out how to take that first step in making SBV a truly effective resource for you! 

Common Impact is excited to launch Pro Bono Perspectives, a series of profiles – featuring people like you – who took a leap into skills-based volunteering.  From intrapreneurs, to entrepreneurs, to nonprofit executives, to corporate leaders – these individuals all have their own stories to tell, successes to share, lessons they’ve learned and tools they’ve used.

Meet Anmol Mehra. As the Board Chair of a small and growing nonprofit, Urbanity Dance, Anmol works closely with staff to build the foundation Urbanity needs to scales its successful model of inspiring individuals and communities through movement and dance.  Read Anmol’s story and hear how he brought skills-based volunteering to the table at Urbanity’s Board conversations and used it to solidify and stabilize the organization during its rapid growth.

Describe your work and what drives you.

I had been a supporter of the arts for quite some time and was always interested in the theater, art, and music while I was growing up.  Four years ago, I met Betsi Graves, the founder of Urbanity Dance and was really impressed by what she and the organization had already accomplished.  I joined the Board at a point where the organization had no employees, no office, no studio.  Betsi wanted to take the organization to a new level.

It has been eye opening that I have areas of expertise that is of real value to the community.  Board service, to me, has been about helping the organization to grow by making sure it adheres to its value system and is financially sound.  It’s been rewarding to watch the organization succeed and grow.

What was your first exposure to Pro Bono?

Common Impact was really my first introduction to skills-based volunteering.  I had heard of pro bono in the legal profession, but it didn’t become real to me until I knew of this specific opportunity in my community. 

Why did you become “hooked” on Pro Bono / Skills-Based Volunteering?

Urbanity was growing financially and getting a bit more complex. We needed help building our financial systems, for day to day management and strategic decision making.  The use of a pro bono team was a great experience, and an opportunity to leverage the deep expertise of finance professionals.  Common Impact made sure the team had the right skills, stayed engaged throughout, and that the project progressed as planned. Our initial project helped lay the infrastructure for what we do now.

What benefit do companies get out of Skills-Based volunteering? What can a nonprofit environment "teach" a business?

I work at a large company and I really enjoy my work – but I am a tiny cog in a really big wheel.  For corporate skills-based volunteers, working on a nonprofit project with a tangible goal provides an opportunity to see the impact you’re having on an organization.  It reengages you in your work.  It puts a magnifying glass on the skills you already have and develops new skills. 

What has been most rewarding about participating in a Pro Bono program?

We didn’t have the expertise, time or budget to implement some of our priority projects. Working with the pro bono teams, our staff developed a different skill set that they didn’t have before, functional areas that they didn’t have and made them even more effective in their jobs. We built up our own longer term capacity to sustain the organization.     

What was most challenging, in your role, about leveraging or participating in a Pro Bono program?

We could have done a better job investing time in the project at the beginning.  We would have spent more time upfront planning, scoping, and ensuring we were available to answer the team’s questions.  We also would make sure we were looking not just 3 or 6 months ahead, but 2 or 3 years ahead.

If someone was in your shoes, looking to get started with skills-based volunteering for the first time, what advice would you give or tool would you point them to?

It’s so important to understand the time that is involved and the effort needed to manage a team.  It requires an honest assessment with the board and the staff to figure out why you are seeking this help, why it is important, how big of a priority is it for the organization, and if it is an immediate need.

If Pro Bono were a celebrity, who would it be and why?

Kevin Durant, NBA superstar on the Oklahoma City Thunder, because he takes his fame and channels it to benefit the people in his community that need it most through his charitable foundation.  And he teaches kids basketball – now that’s a skills-based volunteer experience I would have fun with!

Visit our newly released site, Pro Bono Perspectives to check out Anmol's full story and access to Common Impact’s tools for nonprofit leaders.

Tweet me:Meet Anmol Mehra and learn how he brought skills-based #volunteering to the table @UrbanityDance http://bit.ly/1JHjT21

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Expert Connections, skills-based volunteering, Volunteering, pro bono perspectives, pro bono, capacity building, organizational development, Urbanity Dance, Corporate Social Responsibility

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

Arrow Electronics, the Denver Broncos and the nonprofit organization Ten80 Education kicked off the Tackle STEM initiative yesterday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Over 800 students from 14 Colorado high schools participated.

The STEM learning program is designed to engage and inspire students in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as apply their knowledge to innovation projects, including building and racing radio-controlled model cars and programming robots to navigate mazes.

The Tackle STEM event marks the first in a series of statewide STEM events by Arrow and the Broncos that will reach thousands of Colorado students and teachers.

Tweet me:800 students "tackled" STEM at Denver's Mile High stadium, with @ArrowGlobal, @Ten80Ed and @Broncos http://3bl.me/qhc3gs #STEM

KEYWORDS: Education, Arrow Electronics, STEM, Denver, Broncos, Tackle Stem

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

At the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live on September 29, nearly 7,000 female high school students from the Los Angeles Unified School District gathered for an exclusive screening of He Named Me Malala, the newest documentary from Fox Searchlight Pictures and Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim. The event served as the film's West Coast premiere, and it gave the young women a chance to hear from activists and community leaders about the power they have to make a difference in the world. 21st Century Fox was a Presenting Sponsor of the event.

He Named Me Malala tells the story of Malala Yousafzai, the 18 year-old Pakistani activist for women's rights who was shot and nearly killed by the Taliban in October 2012. She suffered multiple gunshot wounds, only to make a miraculous recovery and return to public life as an international advocate for girls' education. In October 2014, she became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

"I always make a movie with a certain audience in mind," said Guggenheim, who addressed the crowd of 7,000 girls before the screening began. "With this film, the audience is you... This movie has a global story, but it really speaks to every girl everywhere."

The event also served as the launch of Girls Build LA, the newest campaign from the LA Fund for Public Education to empower young women to take action in their communities. The LA Fund has a long history of working to improve the education system in Los Angeles, and this new initiative will award grants to 50 teams of girls who identify social issues in their communities and then propose solutions. The organization also worked with the LA County Board of Supervisors and the LA City Council to recognize October as Girls Empowerment Month in honor of the three-year campaign.

Those in attendance also received a special video message from First Lady Michelle Obama.

"I am so proud of all of you for committing to your education and stepping up as leaders in your schools and communities," Obama said. "Don't listen to the doubters. Don't listen to the haters. Just work harder to prove them wrong... The President and I can't wait to see everything you all will contribute to your schools, your communities, and our country."

Following the screening, students were treated to a festival on the L.A. Live Plaza, where 21st Century Fox organized a selfie campaign, encouraging girls to make a pledge to #StandWithMalala and take action in their schools and communities.

Among those who participated in the social media campaign were students from Ghetto Film School Los Angeles, a local nonprofit co-founded by 21st Century Fox that teaches filmmaking to young people from traditionally underserved neighborhoods.

"If I ever had any doubt about being a teacher, I don't anymore," said Francis Arana, a senior in Boyle Heights who attends the Ghetto Film School on evenings and weekends. "I definitely want to be a teacher. She has inspired me."

"She's all of us," said Chantal Serrano, another GFS LA student. "She's saying you have to fight for your rights no matter what."

Fox Searchlight Pictures'He Named Me Malala will open in New York and Los Angeles on October 2, with a wide release on October 9. The theatrical run will be followed by a television broadcast on the National Geographic Channel in early 2016, airing in 171 countries and 45 languages. Many other 21st Century Fox businesses have supported the film and are helping bring its inspiring message to as many people as possible.

Keep reading at impact.21CF.com.

Tweet me:7000 girls attend LA premiere of HE NAMED ME MALALA http://bit.ly/1QNidJI @21CF_Impact @MalalaFund @LAFund @FoxSearchlight #withMalala

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, Business & Trade, 21st century fox, fox searchlight, he named me malala, Malala Yousafzai, Davis Guggenheim, inconvenient truth, waiting for superman, ghetto film school, Youth, la fund, michelle obama, girls empowerment, Teachers, students, National Geographic