SOURCE:World Environment Center

DESCRIPTION:

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- Alice Korngold, President and CEO of Korngold Consulting, and author of two highly acclaimed books on board governance, service, and global problem-solving, is evaluating how nonprofit board service provides a unique opportunity for companies to develop their employees as leaders. The study will also show how companies can enhance nonprofit board-matching services for their employees.

Korngold is heading up this initiative in collaboration with the World Environment Center, and with the support and participation of major companies, including American Express, eRevalue, HP, Johnson Controls, PIMCO, Symantec, and The Dow Chemical Company.

Business and civic leaders are calling for new ways to develop talented executives who are equipped to solve the greatest challenges facing our communities and the world. Experts espouse the compelling need for leaders who have a deeper understanding of social, economic, and environmental challenges; awareness and empathy for people seeking to improve their lives; the sensitivity to work with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives; and the experience required to be innovative in growing shareholder value by building a better world.

Nonprofit board service holds great promise as a powerful learning opportunity to develop new leaders for a better world through collaboration and learning with the nonprofit sector. Many companies are encouraging and supporting their employees who serve on nonprofit boards with the expectations that as board members, they will develop leadership skills, while helping to strengthen nonprofits with vital missions. 

Alice Korngold, President & CEO, Korngold Consulting, LLC, provides strategy advisory services to international companies and global, national, and regional nonprofits. Her areas of expertise are board governance, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and measurement and ratings. In addition to authoring books, book chapters, and articles, Korngold has conducted outcome measurement studies related to leadership development and CSR for three decades. She has founded and built highly successful social enterprises, and trained and placed several hundred business executives and professionals on nonprofit boards. More information is available at www.korngoldconsulting.com.

The World Environment Center, headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and operations in emerging and developed markets, is unique in its direct application of sustainable development strategies and practices to the business operations of global companies. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics with a specific focus on the preparation of business leaders to implement sustainability; and honors industry excellence through its annual Gold Medal Award. An independent non-profit organization, WEC conducts no advocacy activities. For more information, please visit www.wec.org.

Tweet me:.@alicekorngold partners with @WorldEnvCenter on #nonprofit #leadership bit.ly/2rjgfdN

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion, World Environment Center

How iDE used flexible funding to help solve the sanitation crisis

SOURCE:PYXERA Global

DESCRIPTION:

This is part two in a series highlighting the Lipman Family Prize. Read part one here, and stay tuned for part three.

In 2012, the Barry and Marie Lipman Family Prize named iDE as its inaugural prize winner. Each year, the top award is given to one organization that exemplifies leadership and innovation in the social sector, with a special emphasis on impact and transferability of practices. The Prize recognized iDE’s unique, market-based approach to addressing the global challenge of poor water and sanitation. Two other honorees, Komaza and MedShare, were also recognized in 2012 as game-changing organizations.

iDE’s founder Paul Polak once explained, “If you aren’t able to see a way to reach one million people, then it is not worth doing.”

Prior to iDE’s first interventions in Cambodia, baseline sanitation coverage was around 23 percent, with an annual growth rate of 0.923 percent. At that rate, reaching 100 percent coverage would take over 100 years. Globally, 2.4 billion people — 40 percent of the global population — lack access to safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation solutions. The resulting diarrheal diseases kill more children every year than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined.

When the Lipman Prize was awarded in 2012, iDE had just started scaling up its market-based approach to expand access to hygienic toilets. At this time, iDE had already designed an improved toilet product and trained a network of local businesses to sell 14,000 latrines. In the absence of appropriate sanitation solutions, the local environment and water resources were becoming contaminated with pathogens. iDE responded with a strategy known as sanitation marketing, which takes a marketer’s approach to solving the problem. Instead of the traditional charity model of giving free toilets away, or simply building awareness about the health benefits of having a toilet, iDE sought to make something as taboo and unsexy as a toilet aspirational, affordable, and accessible.

Today, iDE has scaled up the sanitation marketing model to six additional countries in Asia and Africa, resulting in over half a million toilet sales globally and reaching more than 2.5 million people. How was iDE able to make this happen?

Design for scale from the beginning
iDE tapped into a mechanism built to be scalable: the private sector. By designing a product that people actually want and can afford, households decide to pay for their own toilet. By designing a business model that is financially sustainable, businesses and sales agents are motivated to produce and sell toilets. Prior to proving the effectiveness of this market-based approach, other NGOs as well as the local toilet business owners had had difficulty believing that poor people would actually invest their own, limited money into a latrine, especially because it was something that they refused to adopt when it was given to them for free. In the last six years, however, coverage in the Cambodian provinces where iDE is present has increased to more than 60 percent, with an annual growth rate of over 6 percent.

The Lipman Prize’s emphasis on impact helped spur iDE’s early thoughts around expanding the scope of our mission beyond sanitation. iDE began considering how we might extend the tenets of the market-based approach to making an impact in the areas of water, hygiene, and fecal sludge management, all of which contribute to diarrheal disease. The Prize connected iDE’s co-directors to investors and advisors in Wharton and San Francisco, whose advice and input helped advance the transition from a Cambodia-based sanitation program to what is known today as iDE’s Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Initiative.

Continue reading at the Global Engagement Forum: Online. 

Tweet me:How iDE used flexible funding to help solve sanitation crisis @lipmanprize #GlobalHealth @PYXERAglobal #GEFonline http://bit.ly/2qkrlBl

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, Global Health, wash, sanitation, PYXERA Global, GEFonline, Lipman Family Prize

SOURCE:CITGO Petroleum Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

HOUSTON, May 16, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- As part of the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline program, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is partnering with the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) to award science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) mini-grants to educators dedicated to sharing ocean exploration with students. Two Houston-area schools, Olle Middle School and South Early College High School, are receiving funding through the OET Community STEM Mini-grant program to help engage and excite students through unique STEM experiences and encourage them to seek STEM careers. 
 
“Thanks to our multi-year partnership, CITGO and the Ocean Exploration Trust have been able to reach many educators and their students, providing hands-on programming at sea and live ship-to-shore interactions to enhance understanding of deep-sea exploration,” said Rafael Gomez, CITGO vice president of strategic shareholder relations, government and public affairs. “With the announcement of this year’s mini-grant awards, we hope to take the excitement of ocean research and discovery to even more teachers and students in the Houston area.”
 
A mini-grant will support Olle Middle School in hosting a STEM conference this May to increase students’ STEM literacy and encourage more women and minorities to seek STEM degrees and careers. Approximately 200 elementary, intermediate and middle school girls and their guardians will have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions and engineering activities, as well as hear directly from STEM role models. 
 
In June, South Early High School will host a one-week camp for high school students, imparting the skills to build fully functional underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Through the camp, students will take part in various real world-inspired missions with their ROVs such as the disabling of underwater “mines,” and at the end of the camp, participants will demonstrate their robots at a STEM community program. 
 
“The Ocean Exploration Trust’s partnership with CITGO has enabled thousands of teachers to learn more about science in the real world, and the Community STEM Mini-grant program is helping to expand the reach of OET resources,” said Allison Fundis, OET vice president of education, outreach and communications. “Through the CITGO partnership, we have helped provide educators the resources they need to show students that they can achieve their dreams in STEM. These grants will empower them to take steps toward pursuing those goals.”
 
In addition to its support for the mini-grant program, CITGO is also sponsoring participants in this summer’s OET Science Communication Fellowship. This year, two educators from CITGO operational areas will board the 64-meter Exploration Vessel Nautilus to learn more about ocean science in the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and share their findings with students across the country via live ship-to-shore interactions broadcast at www.NautilusLive.org.
 
The CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline program partners with educational organizations near the company's operational areas to increase access to STEM educational opportunities, including those associated with the Ocean Exploration Trust. The program promotes the importance of STEM education in the socioeconomic development of our communities and highlights the numerous pathways to rewarding careers, including those in the energy industry. It provides grants to schools and educational organizations to support programs that increase student interest, retention and graduation rates – particularly at the high school and post-secondary levels – and those that prepare students for STEM technical and university level curriculum. The program also provides scholarships for students pursuing higher degrees in STEM fields. In 2016, the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline benefited 3,000 students and 300 educators across the CITGO operational footprint, strengthening the communities where the company has a presence. 

About CITGO
CITGO is committed to giving back to the local communities it serves through its network of locally owned locations. CITGO Marketers and Retailers in Michigan own and operate more than 300 CITGO locations and are proud to support their communities. For more information on the positive impact generated by CITGO in local communities and classrooms, visit www.fuelinggood.com.

Tweet me:.@CITGO & OET partner to award STEM mini-grants to educators as part of the STEM Talent Pipeline http://bit.ly/2rjo8Q3

Contact Info:

Fernando Garay
+1 (832) 486-1489
fgaray@citgo.com

KEYWORDS: Education, Energy, Oil & Gas, STEM, OET, Citgo

From the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report

SOURCE:PNC Financial Services Group

DESCRIPTION:

PNC’s Performance and Innovation Group is responsible for developing and executing on the strategy to reduce the company’s energy and water consumption and carbon emissions. Seeking efficiency opportunities that support cost savings, reliable services and occupant comfort, the group conducts energy and water audits, tracks building performance and targets low performing sites for retrofits. The group’s previous activities include but are not limited to lighting retrofits in 27 offices and more than 1,000 branches and the development of more than 6 million square feet of LEED® and ENERGY STAR® certified space. Through these efforts, PNC has decreased its annual utility payments more than $15 million since 2009, met its 2020 carbon emissions reduction goal and is on track to meet its other 2020 environmental performance goals.

Read more and Download the Full 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility report  

Tweet me:.@PNCBank supports transition to low-carbon economy by helping clients finance energy #efficient projects http://bit.ly/2q9GPbD

KEYWORDS: Environment, Energy, PNC’s Environmental Performance, CSR Report, renewable energy projects

SOURCE:Common Impact

DESCRIPTION:

Impact at Work: Communities in Schools San Antonio Project Spotlight

By Marjie Bland, Common Impact

Common Impact has partnered with JPMorgan Chase since 2014 on the Virtual Service Corps (VSC), a skills-based volunteering program where employees utilize their talents and expertise virtually to support JPMorgan Chase’s nonprofit grantees in building capacity to serve the community.

Recently, a team of JPMorgan Chase technologists supported Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA), a San Antonio-based nonprofit dedicated to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed in life. The JPMorgan Chase volunteers worked with CIS-SA to assess their technology infrastructure and create a set of recommendations for improvements.

Melissa Kazen, Executive Vice President of CIS-SA, shares her take on this project and how it has informed the organization’s future planning.

Why does this project matter? Specifically, why was the assessment piece a high priority for your organization?
We’ve had a lot of growth – from 5 sites when we started to 99 currently. As we grew, many resources were spent on serving more students through our programs, but not much on building our internal capacity. Even after such rapid growth, we still remained an IT department of 1. Because of the small size, our IT department was often reactive to the work that came up. As an organization, we didn’t have the expertise on hand to be able to put much thought into the future of our technology infrastructure. We needed some external evaluation to either validate our current processes or raise the alarms.

The JPMorgan Chase volunteers supported us in highlighting our gaps and developing an actionable roadmap for our IT structure. They broke the project down to separate components and reported out on their findings along the way. The team also really empathized with our nonprofit realities and our budget constraints. They focused on small work streams with minimal cost dependencies and changes in culture for the organization that would achieve the intended results in the roadmap.

Can you tell us more about your process for understanding how to take a step back and realize that an assessment was critical before diving into implementation?
The assessment process is part of our DNA and mindset on how we serve our clients. For our students, we identify where they are struggling, asking: is it attendance, behavior, academics? We also assess our school partners, identifying what resources the school already has, what assets are in the community, and how can we bridge any gaps. As we’ve grown as an organization we brought that mentality back to our internal infrastructure and applied it on a bigger scale. We can assume that IT should look a certain way, but unless we complete that initial assessment piece, we don’t have a full picture.

We also had to recognize our own budget constraints and look outside our walls for the needed external expertise. Sometimes it can be a board member, existing volunteers, or capacity building grants. You can’t always hire that expertise, so you have to be creative and think about the other resources available to you.

How has this project impacted your organization? Have you identified how this will improve your IT infrastructure in the future?
The resources the volunteer team provided for us were very clear and easy to understand. Almost immediately after the project, we convened our whole staff and reviewed the findings. We also sent instructions to staff with some of the simple solutions outlined in the roadmap from our volunteers to instruct them on how to better secure their data.

While it will take a while to train the entire staff on these processes, we know it’s going to make a tremendous impact. In the short term, this project has fundamentally changed the way we handle basic security with our data. The team also helped us identify how to get to that next level and to budget and plan to move our all of our data online to the cloud. In the long-term, we will continue to keep data security in mind, and entrenched in our culture. We have realized that one data breach could have a significant negative impact on our work, and this simple investment of our time can mitigate a significant amount of that risk. 

_____________

Interested in learning more about the impact of our work? Join us next week at the Sustainable Brands conference in Detroit! Click here to register and email us at info@commonimpact.org for our partner discount codes! 

Tweet me:.@CommonImpact interviews @CISSanAntonio about the impact of their #probono #tech assessment project w/ @jpmorgan http://bit.ly/2rixmfo

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Community Involvement, Communities in Schools San Antonio, CIS-SA, JPMorgan Chase, Virtual Service Core, impact, nonprofit, Common Impact

Katie Couric talks to the business titan and former New York City Mayor about the challenge of saving the world

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally featured on www.townandcountrymag.com.

We need a hero.” This is what an acquaintance at a dinner party told me last year, by way of explaining why she was so desperate for Michael Bloomberg to enter the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. Needless to say, her prayers were not answered—although perhaps a version of them was. Because while the former mayor of New York City abstained from what turned out to be the most shocking race in recent history, his commitment to serving the public is as intense as ever.

In the last few months Bloomberg has doubled down in particular on his initiatives to fight climate change, with a new book (Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet), a new role at the UN, and a global “covenant” among mayors that he’s leading. Here, he discusses what his parents taught him about giving back, the crucial interplay between government and philanthropy, and why the private sector is often too quick to sing its own praises.

To read the full article, click here. 

Tweet me:Michael Bloomberg on Climate Change and the Power of Good Government @mikebloomberg @bloombergdotorg #climatechanged http://bit.ly/2qjFRJU

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Environment, Bloomberg, philanthropy, Mike Bloomberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies, katie couric, Town and Country, climate change, Climate Changed

G&A's Sustainability Highlights (11.05.2017)

SOURCE:Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Water scarcity, resource depletion, climate change impacts... these were top-of-the-agenda items at the annual Ceres Conference convened last week in San Francisco.  These of course are pressing challenges for the domestic and global business communities, for investors and various stakeholders.  While there are many aspects to these issues to consider, the takeaway from the conference, writes Aaron Pickering, is that the focus on sustainability is good business (and good for business).

Among the key issues and topics in the Ceres dialogue:  the role of clean-energy in driving economic growth.  Clean energy creates jobs -- lots of them.  Clean energy power -- think renewables -- making for cheaper consumption than traditional fossil fuels in many parts of the word.  (A study by Ceres, WWF, CDP and Calvert indicated that Fortune 500 companies saved almost US$3.7 billion through their climate and energy commitments in 2016. That is good for business -- and many stakeholders!) 

Cheers to Walmart Stores, General Motors, Bank of America, Google, Apple, and Facebook -- these are among F-500 companies that have set or are setting definitive science-based goals -- and (23) are setting practices in place to power 100 percent of their operations with renewables.  IBM is working toward the 2020 renewable energy goal the company has set, with more than 3,000 energy conservation programs in place; in 2015, the company saved $30 million and avoided emissions of 250,000 metric tons. 

Lots of good news coming out of the very popular Ceres gathering in San Francisco, welcome indeed in contrast to some of the news coming out of the nation's capital as the Trump forces and members of the Congress look to dismantle vital parts of the Obama Administration environmental and energy-saving policies.   Tune in to the Top Story by Aaron Pickering (VP of Cone Communications; Ceres is a client of his company).

And there is much more encouraging news in the selections for you  in this week's newsletter by our Editor-in-Chief Ken Cynar and the G&A Team.  The forces arrayed against the foes of U.S. environmental protection, clean energy and greater sustainability policies are broad-based and influential.

This is just the introduction of G&A's Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

Tweet me:G&A's Sustainability Highlights: Encouraging News & Opinion Coming Out of Ceres Gathering in San Francisco http://bit.ly/2qvyL6g

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS, business & trade, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, G&A Institute, GRI, Governance & Accountability Institute, G&A, SRI, SWF, socially responsible investing, Sovereign Wealth Funds, sustainability, Corporate Citizenship, esg, CERES

“Eddy the Ambassador”, Preventing Malaria Through an Awareness Cartoon

SOURCE:Sanofi

SUMMARY:

• 212 million malaria cases worldwide in 2015(1)
• 90% of malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan African countries(1)
• 1 child dies from malaria every 2 minutes in this region(1)

DESCRIPTION:

This cartoon will be broadcasted on TV5 Monde Africa and Tivi5 Jeunesse, as well as local television channels.

Learning While Having Fun

In collaboration with its local partners, Sanofi offers a complete range of malaria edutainment tools to raise awareness among children of sub-Saharan Africa and so that they spread key malaria prevention messages:  board game, flipchart, story books, card games are so many different and complemetary ways to understand and learn about malaria while having fun.

Sanofi has been a major player in the fight against malaria for decades.  In line with the WHO (World Health Organization) and the International Community strategy, it aims to achieve a world without malaria by 2030.

Children are the first victims of this disease and they are also tomorrow's adults; this is why Sanofi puts them at the heart of its behavior change communication strategy.

References:

Sources:

1. WHO Fact sheet N°94 December 2016;
2. IPSOS – survey made in Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya towards a panel of 210 and 200 children aged 7- 12 years – Dec 2016

Tweet me:"Eddy the Ambassador" - World Malaria Day Sanofi Awareness Campaign http://bit.ly/2r8ATx0

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, Education, Sanofi, csr, Malaria, africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, public health, mosquito, World Malaria Day, Ivory Coast, Kenya, WHO, world health organization, International Community

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

Happy one month Adopt-iversary Kayden! We’re so happy you’ve joined your forever family! Kayden will turn three in June, but he has been with his family since he was four months old! We are so happy to see they are a family where he is loved and can shine! #FosterCareAdoption #ItsWorthIt

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is committed to dramatically increasing the number of adoptions from foster care. The Foundation funds grants to adoption agencies through its signature program Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. Agencies use those dollars to hire adoption recruiters who are specially trained by the Foundation in our child-focused recruitment model. It’s up to three times more effective in finding homes for older children, sibling groups and children with special needs.

Consider helping our mission to find more homes for children like Kayden by visiting our website at davethomasfoundation.org.

Tweet me:Happy one month Adopt-iversary Kayden! Learn more about @DTFA's commitment to #FosterCareAdoption: http://bit.ly/2ptjMYV #FosterCareMonth

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Dave Thomas, foster care, adoption, Recruiter, forever family, Wendy’s, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Foster Care Month

SOURCE:VolunteerMatch

DESCRIPTION:

Team-building is a great reason to volunteer. Employees who volunteer together have the opportunity to form closer bonds. At larger companies, a corporate volunteer event might be an employees’ first interaction with a co-worker from a different team or department.

But that’s only part of the equation.

Not everyone likes to volunteer the same way. By restricting your company’s volunteer initiatives to a few large events per year, you’re also restricting employees’ individual passions and skills. People who opt-out of these large-scale volunteer activities won’t have the opportunity to feel like they’re making a difference in their community.

And with 74% of employees saying that their job is more fulfilling when they have opportunities to make a difference, that’s not a great move.

Also, large-scale group volunteer events often aren’t the best way to serve nonprofit needs. As Sacha Pfieffer wrote in The Boston Globe, nonprofits may feel obligated to accept help, and therefore end up creating events that fit the company’s needs — but not the nonprofit’s.

So, what’s the solution? To start, offering variety in the type of group volunteering your company does is key. Not everyone enjoys using their hands to volunteer (although some do!). Consider adding group pro bono projects, like Groupon does. They run a program called “Grouponsultation”, in which small, skilled teams work collaboratively to help a nonprofit overcome a specific challenge that the nonprofit requests assistance with.

Also, empower volunteers to find their own way to give back. Offering volunteer time off (VTO) is a fantastic way to allow your employees to explore their passions. I should know! VolunteerMatch has a generous VTO policy for its staff, which allows me to spend a few hours per month helping out at a local elementary school. I never realized how much I enjoyed working with children until this opportunity. (Thanks, VolunteerMatch!)

If all this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. It doesn’t need to be difficult to find out where your community needs you. Both you and your employees can follow these three simple steps to make a big impact:

1. Access the VolunteerMatch Network
2. Listen to real-time community needs
3. Volunteer where those needs meet the interests of your company or your employees’ skills and passions.

Remember: Team-building is a wonderful, and important, outcome of corporate volunteering. But also remember that your volunteer program can do so much more — for your company, your employees, and your community. Learn how the VolunteerMatch Network can get you there.

Tweet me:Why Employee Volunteering Is About More Than Team-Building: http://bit.ly/2qOVRoj via @VM_Solutions

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Community Involvement, employee volunteering, Employee Engagement, team-building, VolunteerMatch

Voya announces launch of Voya Cares program to help people with special needs, and caregivers, plan for the future they envision

SOURCE:Voya Financial, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), today participated in the NYSE’s 225^th anniversary opening-bell celebration, which recognized a select group of NYSE-listed companies positively impacting the world.  The event was tied to the NYSE’s new campaign, “Ring True,” which celebrates NYSE’s vision for the future, and the roles that NYSE-listed companies have in changing the world.

“On behalf of every Voya employee, I would like to convey how honored we are to be recognized by the NYSE for the work that we do to make a positive difference in society,” said Voya Chairman and CEO Rodney O. Martin, Jr.

Voya — which has earned external recognition for ethics; governance; diversity and inclusion as well as equality; environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility — also announced the launch of its Voya Cares program, which is designed to help people with special needs, and caregivers, plan for the future they envision.

“Serving the special needs community is an extension of Voya's efforts to help all Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better,” Martin said.  “This is especially true for people with special needs and disabilities — as well as their families, caregivers and other benefactors — by helping them address the financial and emotional challenges that come with their unique situations.”

In addition to Martin, participants at the event included Jill Houghton, president and CEO of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and college students in the USBLN Rising Leaders Mentoring Program.  Voya is a corporate partner with the USBLN, a national, non-profit, non-partisan business to business network that helps business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace.  The chair of USBLN’s board of directors, Jenny Lay-Flurrie, who is the chief accessibility officer for Microsoft — and the first deaf Chief Accessibility Officer in the world — also attended the event.  The USBLN students met Martin a day earlier when they participated in a “job shadow the CEO” session as part of Voya’s fourth annual National Day of Service, a companywide effort during which thousands of its employees give back to their local communities.

“We have seen first-hand Voya’s growing commitment in becoming disabilities inclusive in the workforce and market place,” said Houghton.  “We are excited to be a part of their day in ringing the NYSE opening bell, as they are truly a company positively impacting society.”

Voya Cares features educational resources designed to help visitors map out the future they envision for their families as well as learn more about navigating government benefits and leveraging various legal tools to help achieve their desired futures.  Later this year, the program will evolve to:

• Connect customers nationwide with Voya Financial Advisors who are specially trained to assist members of the special needs community.
   
• Feature an enhanced focus on serving members of the special needs community within the corporate clients of Voya’s Employee Benefits, Retirement, Investment Management, Annuities and Individual Life businesses.

More information about Voya’s support for members of the special needs community, as well as the financial and emotional challenges they face, can be found on Voya's Supporting People with Special Needs webpage. 

As an industry leader and advocate for greater retirement readiness, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its vision to be America’s Retirement Company® and its mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time.

Media Contact
Jeanne LaCour                                                 
Voya Financial                                                             
(212) 309-8949                                                  
Jeanne.LaCour@voya.com                               

About Voya Financial^®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13.6 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $11 billion in revenue in 2016. The company had $505 billion in total assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2017. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time — Voya’s vision is to be America’s Retirement Company^®. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work^® Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible and has been recognized as one of the 2017 World’s Most Ethical Companies^® by the Ethisphere Institute, as well as one of the Top Green Companies in the U.S., by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook and Twitter @Voya.

Tweet me:Voya launches "Voya Cares" program to support people with #specialneeds and #disabilities http://bit.ly/2roEc3j

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Special Needs, Disabilities, NYSE, New York Stock Exchange, U.S. Business Leadership Network

SOURCE:PNC Financial Services Group

DESCRIPTION:

To enhance early childhood education, PNC recently announced a $5 million initiative with online charity DonorsChoose.org. The program helps pre-K teachers obtain instructionally rich school resources, such as books, art supplies, classroom technology and field trips to child-friendly museums.

On the initiative’s first day, PNC funded 849 projects in public and charter pre-K classrooms in 22 states and Washington, D.C. The initiative also expanded DonorsChoose.org’s crowd-funding platform to Head Start centers around the country. In addition, PNC will match donations to all eligible pre-K projects within its service area, subject to restrictions and a maximum dollar amount.

PNC’s investment was made as part of PNC Grow Up Great^®, a $350 million, bilingual multi-year school readiness initiative for children from birth to age 5.   

The DonorsChoose.org initiative adds to PNC’s existing programs that help enrich early learning and raises awareness of a quality early childhood education’s impact on the youngest students. 

Tweet me:.@PNCBank's Grow up Great and @DonorsChoose Enhancing the Pre-K Classroom Experience http://bit.ly/2qoEE4n #CSR

KEYWORDS: Education, pnc grow up great, csr, early childhood education, donorschoose.org, pnc financial services

by Paul Huttner

SOURCE:General Mills

DESCRIPTION:

MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke to General Mills vice president Jerry Lynch about how climate change is viewed through the eyes of a major food supplier. Lynch is also the company's chief sustainability officer.

Lynch told Huttner that increased temperatures are likely to cause two things: frequent severe weather events and less water for crops.

See the full story here >>>

Tweet me:Climate Cast: No choco-pocalypse yet but cocoa could become scarce via @mprnews http://bit.ly/2rnpCKb @GeneralMills

KEYWORDS: Responsible Production & Consumption, Environment, General Mills, MPR News, Jerry Lynch, climate change

SOURCE:Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

CONFIRMED AGENDA & SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

New date is fast approaching for for the second "Introduction to Corporate ESG for Investment & Finance Professionals Certification" scheduled for June 15, 2017. This full-day course is offered by Governance & Accountability Institute and Global Change Associates and is being hosted at Baruch College/CUNY at The Newman Vertical Campus in New York City.

This all-day certification program will be presented on Thursday, June 15, 2017. The program is being hosted at Baruch College’s Newman Vertical Campus (55 Lexington Avenue) in midtown Manhattan. The course will begin at 8 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast, leading into a full day of lectures from leaders in the sustainable investing field. A networking lunch is included. Participants will receive a certificate of completion from G&A and GCA at the close of the seminar.

CONFIRMED AGENDA & SPEAKERS

• Welcoming Remarks
  Donald Schepers, Associate Dean, Baruch College
   
• Welcoming and Introduction to Corporate ESG Strategies, Peformance, Actions -- What is Corporate ESG and Why It Really Matters to Shareowners 
  Hank Boerner, Chairman & Co-Founder, Governance & Accountability Institute 
   
• Bridging the Perceived Gap Between Corporate Sustainability & Corporate Profitability: Materiality, Risk Management & How Top and Bottom Lines Are Affected
  Louis Coppola, EVP & Co-Founder, Governance & Accountability Institute 
   
• Latest Trends in ESG Investment 
  Michael Salat, Publisher & Founder, CleantechIQ 
   
• Integrating ESG Factors into Portfolio Construction 
  Jordan Kimmel, Co-Founder & Portfolio Manager, FACTS Asset Management 
   
• ESG Analysis, Rating, and Research 
  Gaurav Trivedi, Senior Associate, ESG, MSCI 
   
• What Investors Need to Know About the Rising Importance of Impact Investing
  Kate Starr, Founder & CIO, Flat World Partners; formerly Vice President-Capital Deployment, Heron Foundation 
   
• About SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) and More Effective 10-k Disclosure 
  Eric Kane, Sector Analyst - Health Care, SASB 
   
• Case Study of Corporate Malfeasance: The VW Emissions Scandal 
  Peter Fusaro, Chairman, Global Change Associates 
   
• Bridging the Gap: Sustainability vs. Profitability
  Bahar Gidwai, Founder & CEO, CSRHub
   
• ESG Equity Fundamentals Data Analytics 
  Hideki Suzuki, ESG Group, Equity Fundamentals Department, Bloomberg LP 
   
• CDP Investor Initiatives
  Agnes Terestchenko, Senior Account Manager, CDP
   
• About the Baruch CSR-Sustainability Monitor Project 
  Mert Demir, PhD in Finance, Senior Research Associate, Weismann Center for International Business at Baruch College 
   
• Wrap-Up Comments - Seminar Concludes Looking Beyond Corporate Sustainability & Financial Performance 
  Hank Boerner, Chairman & Co-Founder, Governance & Accountability Institute 
  Louis Coppola, EVP & Co-Founder, Governance & Accountability Institute 
  Peter Fusaro, Chairman, Global Change Associates

Lecturers include leading experts in the sustainable investing field and the participants will come away with an understanding of why ESG matters, and how to apply ESG to corporate valuations, reputation, risk, opportunity and other aspects of financial analysis.

All participants will have access to all presentations after the seminar. Each attendee will receive a digital copy of Hank Boerner’s new book -- "Trends Converging, A Look Ahead of the Curve for ESG, Sustainability, CR, SRI Professionals."

Less than one month away!
Register and reserve your seat today!

For more information and to register click here.

For questions, contact Louis D. Coppola, Executive Vice President & Co-Founder, Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. at Tel 646.430.8230 ext 14 or email lcoppola@ga-institute.com.

Tweet me:Agenda & Speakers Announced for Intro to ESG for Investment & Finance Profsnl Certification @BaruchCollege 06.15.2017 http://bit.ly/2qpcgiu

KEYWORDS: Education, Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Corporate ESG, certification, certificate program, Governance & Accountability Institute, G&A Institute, G&A, Global Change Associates, Baruch College, cuny, Donald Schepers, Corporate ESG Strategies, Hank Boerner, corporate profitability, risk management, Louis Coppola, Trends in ESG Investment, Michael Salat, CleantechIQ, Integrating ESG Factors, Jordan Kimmel, FACTS Asset Management, ESG analysis, ESG Rating, ESG Research, Gaurav Trivedi, MSCI, Kate Starr, Flat World Partners, SASB, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, Eric Kane, Peter Fusaro, Bahar Gidwai, CSRHUB, ESG Equity Fundamentals Data Analytics, Hideki Suzuki, Bloomberg LP, CDP Investor Initiatives, Agnes Terestchenko, CDP, CSR-Sustainability Monitor Project, Mert Demir, Weismann Center for International Business

SOURCE:National Grid

DESCRIPTION:

May 17, 2017 /3BL Media/ - National Grid announced strong results from its two-year Smart Energy Solutions (SES) program, demonstrating high customer satisfaction, retention and savings from a smart grid program for 11,000 customers in Worcester.

An annual evaluation revealed the SES program achieved a 98 percent retention rate, a 69 percent customer satisfaction rate and total customer savings of $1.8 million on their electric bills from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016. Participating customers also experienced significant energy savings: collectively, customers saved a total of 1,573 megawatt-hours – enough to power more than 100 homes for a year. Additionally, the average customer reduced their usage during peak periods of energy demand by 7.2 percent in 2016, an increase from 3.9 percent in 2015.

“We are extremely pleased with the results from the Smart Energy Solutions program and will use the data and insight as we continue our modernization efforts,” said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts. “Our pricing plans and in-home technologies demonstrated significant value for customers and we are eager to bring those benefits to more customers so they can better manage their energy usage and costs.”

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approved National Grid’s Smart Energy Solutions program in 2012. To keep the DPU and other interested parties updated, National Grid prepared an annual evaluation report on the customer experience. Key findings in the 158-page report include notable energy and Peak Event savings, the important role of technology and strong customer satisfaction.

In 2016, National Grid filed for a two-year extension of the Smart Energy Solutions program in Worcester. The DPU approved an interim extension.

With its focus on technology, tools and infrastructure, the program has informed the company’s grid modernization proposal in Massachusetts, which is pending review with the DPU.

“The Smart Energy Solutions program yielded an innovative blueprint beneficial to all our customers as we embrace the next wave of energy technologies,” Reed added. “Participants saved money and reduced their energy consumption by positively responding to incentives and pricing models.”

A key feature for National Grid’s Smart Energy Solutions program is the installation of the latest technology to improve reliability and electricity system performance. These investments have enhanced by 10 percent the reliability of the electricity distribution system in the program area. Special equipment and switches that report and automatically isolate power outages minimized the impact for customers, reducing the number of minutes customers were interrupted by 194,000 minutes over the two-year period.

Customer Savings and Performance

The most important phase of the SES program began in early 2015 with the activation of two dynamic pricing plans: Smart Rewards Pricing and Conservation Day Rebate. Both these plans provided participants with opportunities to lower their energy bills. For both the summer of 2015 and the summer of 2016, National Grid notified customers of 20 Conservation Days, days when demand for energy was expected to be high. On these hot and humid days, the price of electricity increased during designated hours, called Peak Events.

During Peak Events, customers utilizing no-cost in-home technologies (digital picture frames, smart thermostats, smart plugs and the online energy portal) were able to reduce energy usage up to 31 percent. The most popular action was to avoid using energy-intensive appliances during Peak Events. The average residential customer using the Smart Rewards Pricing plan saved $236 over the two-year period. The average residential customer taking the Conservation Day Rebate plan received a total of $30 in credits for reducing their usage during the 40 Conservation Days. Collectively, participants in both plans saved a total of $1.8 million in 2015 and 2016.

Customer Engagement and Experience

As part of the program evaluation, National Grid explored customers’ expectations of the program, their reasons for participating, and their experience during the Conservation Days of 2015 and 2016. Key findings include strong customer satisfaction, bill savings, and retention rates with few customers opting-out of the SES program’s time-based rates. Close to 70 percent of customers were satisfied with the Smart Energy Solutions program.

Importantly, the company found that that customer savings were in line with other, mostly opt-in, smart grid programs across the country. The evaluation report stated, “The 98 percent retention rate achieved by National Grid after two years running the Pilot - coupled with the fact that the Company called more event days [Conservation Days] in each summer than any other dynamic rate (pricing) pilot - is remarkable.”

National Grid’s Sustainability Hub, located at 912 Main Street in Worcester, will also continue to be an important location for customers and the larger Worcester community. Since opening in the fall of 2013, the Hub has provided over 8,000 visitors with hands-on education about sustainability, smart grid technologies and energy efficiency.

To learn more about the Smart Energy Solutions program including the pricing plans, please visit www.worcestersmart.com . To access the Smart Energy Solutions Evaluation Report, please visit http://web1.env.state.ma.us/DPU/FileRoom and search for DPU Docket 10-82 (“Smart Grid Pilot Evaluation Working Group”)

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.

Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).

For more information please visit our website, or our Connecting website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram

CONTACT: Media Relations 781-907-3980

Tweet me:.@nationalgridus announces strong results from its two-year Smart #Energy Solutions (SES) program http://bit.ly/2rqfNu5 #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Energy, Smart Energy Solutions Program, Worcester, customer satisfaction, National Grid, sustainability

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

BOSTON, May 17, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Seven-in-10 Americans believe companies have an obligation to take actions to improve issues that may not be relevant to everyday business operations, according to the 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study. The study, with benchmark data dating back to 1993, examines not only the consumer attitudes, perceptions and behaviors around corporate social responsibility (CSR), but also if and how companies should stand up for social injustices.

The research revealed consumers factor a company’s core beliefs into shopping decisions. Eighty-seven percent said they’d purchase a product because that company advocated for an issue they cared about, and more than three-quarters (76%) would refuse to purchase a product if they found out a company supported an issue contrary to their beliefs.

Americans believe progress on key social and environmental issues will slow and look to companies to drive change in the future

Due to today’s political environment, more than two-thirds (67%) of Americans believe progress on social and environmental issues will be slowed in the absence of government regulation – and their confidence in organizations to drive change is low. When asked what type of entity was most effective at solving social and environmental issues, Americans felt they must look within to make a positive impact:

• Individuals (43%)
• Nonprofits (18%)
• Government (17%)
• Business (13%)
• Religious organizations (9%)

Still, Americans are hopeful companies will take the reins in the near future. Eight-in-10 (79%) expect businesses to continue improving their CSR efforts and nearly two-thirds (63%) believe business will take the lead to propel social and environmental change moving forward.

“The events over the past year have ignited a groundswell of activism on very divisive topics and Americans are questioning future progress. They are looking to companies to drive change on the issues they hold dear,” says Alison DaSilva, executive vice president, CSR Strategy,Cone Communications. “Now, consumers are no longer just asking, ‘What do you stand for,’ but also, ‘What do you stand up for?’”

Consumers’ definition of a responsible company broadens

Consistent over the years, nearly nine-in-10 Americans (86%) expect companies to do more than make a profit, but also address social and environmental issues. However, their definition of what it takes to be a responsible company has become more all-encompassing. Americans prioritize a number of different business actions as important:

• Being a good employer (94%)
• Operating in a way that protects and benefits society and the environment (90%)
• Creating products and services that ensure individual wellbeing (89%)
• Investing in causes in local communities and around the globe (87%)
• Standing up for important social justice issues (78%)

When asked the most important responsible business practice, Americans felt being a good employer was the top priority (35%) – showing that consumers want to do business with companies that, first and foremost, do good for their own people.

“Being a good employer has always served companies well in terms of recruitment and retention, now those practices can also yield broader positive business benefits,” says DaSilva. “Companies should now showcase their internal efforts to enhance their reputation and gain crucial points in the eyes of consumers.”

Economic development leads as top issue for companies to address

Americans have also resoundingly prioritized economic development (34%) as the top issue for companies to address, consistent since 2011. A topic that was widely covered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, economic development is a macro issue that is inclusive of a variety of difficulties impacting communities across the globe. Other important areas include:

• Poverty and hunger (19%)
• Environment (15%)
• Human rights (14%)
• Education (9%)
• Health and disease (9%)

Americans expect companies to address divisive issues

Beyond the overarching issues, consumers expect companies to get involved in many of today’s hot-button matters. When asked about topics that are active in the news, job development topped the list (94%), continuing the theme of economic development. However, consumers also felt companies had a role to play in other social justice concerns facing the United States today, including racial equality (87%) and women’s rights (84%). Other issues Americans want companies to address include:

• Cost of higher education (81%)
• Immigration (78%)
• Climate change (76%)
• Gun control (65%)
• LGBTQ rights (64%)

And companies’ actions around these matters are factoring into consumers’ decision-making. Nearly three-quarters (73%) said they would stop purchasing a product from a company that shared a different perspective on one of these polarizing issues.

“Simply addressing issues within the business footprint is no longer going to cut it in the eyes of consumers,” says Whitney Dailey, Director, Marketing/Research & Insights, Cone Communications. “Today’s consumers expect companies to have a voice on oftentimes divisive issues, and they’re willing to boycott if a company’s core beliefs does not align with their own.”

CSR continues to positively impact reputation and bottom-line

Nearly 25 years of benchmark data reveals CSR continues to be a differentiator in the minds of Americans – impacting consumers’ likelihood to switch brands as well as their positive perception of the company. Nearly nine-in-10 Americans (89%) would switch brands to one that is associated with a good cause, given similar price and quality, compared with 66 percent in 1993. And whenever possible, a majority (79%) continue to seek out products that are socially or environmentally responsible.

The research demonstrates that CSR is a growing and powerful strategy to build brand reputation, loyalty and affinity. Increasing over time, respondents have a more positive image (92% vs. 85% in 1993), are more likely to trust (87% vs. 66% in 1998) and are more loyal (88%) to companies that support social and environmental issues.

“Consumer sentiment has grown significantly over the last two decades, showing an unwavering conviction to do business with companies that care,” says Dailey. “CSR is not a fad, a trend or nice-to-have. It’s a business imperative that must be authentic and seamlessly integrated into the brand value proposition.”

Americans find strength in the power of the wallet

When it comes to intended and reported actions, Americans see the power of their own dollar to make change. Remaining consistent over the past six years, consumers continue to reward and punish companies based on CSR efforts. The chief actions Americans say they will take remain to boycott for irresponsible business actions (88%) and buy a product with a social or environmental benefit (87%). A majority of the other top intended actions are also tied to the wallet:

• 87% purchase a product because a company advocated for an issue they cared about
• 82% donate to a charity supported by a company they trust
• 81% tell friends and family about a company’s CSR efforts
• 76% refuse to purchase a company’s products or services upon learning it supported an issue contrary to their beliefs
• 74% volunteer for a cause supported by a company they trust

Americans are following up on that intent with their dollars. The top reported actions taken over the past 12 months include making a donation (70%), purchasing a product with a benefit (55%) and buying a product because that company stood up for an issue they cared about (52%). Still, consumers are not only using their buying power to reward companies, but also to punish. One-in-every-two said they have boycotted a company for irresponsible business actions (50%) or because that company supported an issue contrary to their beliefs (46%) in the last year.

Mandate to communicate is real and urgent

Companies that are not communicating around their CSR initiatives stand to lose out in the eyes of consumers. In fact, nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents stated they do not believe companies are striving to be as responsible as possible until they hear information about positive efforts. And companies that make commitments are being held accountable to produce results (82%).

Still, companies need not wait be flawless to share efforts. Remaining consistent over the past six years, nine-in-10 Americans (91%) say it’s okay if a company is not perfect, as long as it is honest about efforts. To further gain credibility in the eyes of consumers, companies should look to take a multifaceted approach to communications. Seventy-nine percent of consumers say they are more likely to believe a company’s CSR commitments if they share their efforts along multiple channels.

“Consumers have spoken – their expectations of companies are high and CSR is a critical factor in decision-making,” says DaSilva. “For companies to gain attention and realize bottom-line benefits, they need to authentically build CSR into the brand experience – this means going beyond a CSR report, an ad campaign or page on the corporate website.”

About the Research

The 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study presents the findings of an online survey conducted March 9 – 15, 2017 by M/A/R/C Research among a random sample of 1,030 adults, comprising 500 men and 530 women, ages 20+. The margin of error associated with a sample of this size is ± 3% at a 95% level of confidence.

About Cone Communications

Cone Communications (www.conecomm.com) is a public relations and marketing agency that is Always Making a Difference℠ for business, brands and society. With a unique combination of corporate responsibility, consumer brand and integrated marketing expertise, our people deliver emotional storytelling and business value for every client. Cone is a Porter Novelli company and part of the Omnicom Public Relations Group.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

Tweet me:.@Cone launches new 2017 #CSR Study. Explore the insights here: #ConeResearch http://bit.ly/2rjdR6u

KEYWORDS: Research, Reports & Publications, Diversity & Inclusion, Cone Communications 2017 CSR Study, Cone Communications

SOURCE:Morgan Stanley

DESCRIPTION:

May 17, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Morgan Stanley Investment Management has raised more than $125 million in final commitments for its first global impact fund, PMF Integro Fund I (“Integro” or the “Fund”).  Launched in partnership with the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing (the “Institute”), Integro invests in private equity funds that offer the potential for compelling financial return while demonstrating positive environmental impact, social impact or both.  The fund is managed by AIP Private Markets, the private markets solutions team within Morgan Stanley Investment Management. 

“Sustainable Investing is an incredibly important part of our Firm’s DNA, and the launch of Integro underscores our commitment to promote sustainable finance solutions while serving the needs of our clients,” said James Gorman, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley.  “From education and healthcare in South Asia, to financial inclusion in South America, the Fund epitomizes our belief as a firm that there are opportunities for investors of all types to pursue both positive financial return and sustainable impact.”

Audrey Choi, CEO of the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing added, “Morgan Stanley is dedicated to providing exciting sustainable and impact investing opportunities to our diverse client base.  We believe that the team’s deep investment experience, impressive track record and focus on innovation makes Integro an attractive opportunity for our clients.”

Integro targets private equity funds with high organic growth that will drive strong financial returns and meaningful positive impact.  The Fund seeks to provide investors with exposure to a portfolio that is diversified by geography, theme and impact outcomes.  The AIP Private Markets team believes that this approach will maximize commercial returns to investors and increase access to quality jobs, education and healthcare, among other socially beneficial outcomes, for underserved populations.  In addition, Integro targets funds that strive to impact the environment in a positive manner and reduce the effects of climate change.  While the Fund seeks geographic diversification, consistent with the team’s views on the best way to achieve broad and large-scale positive impact, the likely focus of the majority of the Fund’s underlying managers will be on opportunities in emerging and frontier markets.  In addition, Integro plans to provide detailed, impact-related reporting alongside traditional financial statements for all investors.

"We are very pleased to offer this innovative new Fund," said John Wolak, Head of AIP Private Markets.  “I believe Integro provides a compelling solution for our institutional and high net worth clients who are increasingly seeking investment options that target the strong commercial returns that they have come to expect from our team, coupled with demonstrable and measurable social and environmental impact.  We view Integro and this initiative as an important component of the broader suite of strategic solutions we are able to offer clients through our comprehensive private markets platform.”

The AIP Private Markets team, part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, provides innovative private markets solutions to a global client base.  AIP’s built-for-purpose investment team draws on its deep understanding of private markets strategies formed over decades of investment experience and applies this expertise and insight to bring thoughtful, opportunistic and innovative solutions to clients.  For further information about the AIP Private Markets team, please visit www.morganstanley.com/im.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management, together with its investment advisory affiliates, has more than 581 investment professionals around the world and $421 billion in assets under management or supervision as of March 31, 2017.  Morgan Stanley Investment Management strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations and individuals worldwide.  For further information about Morgan Stanley Investment Management, please visit www.morganstanley.com/im.

The Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of sustainable investing.  The Institute partners across the firm to pioneer scalable sustainable finance solutions, build new sustainable investing tools and generate industry leading insights that inform and empower investors.  For further information about the Institute, please visit morganstanley.com /sustainableinvesting.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services.  With offices in more than 42 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals.  For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com. 

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Events, Media & Communications, Morgan Stanley

SOURCE:Antea Group

DESCRIPTION:

Data centers provide an essential service in the business world today. The explosive growth of digital-consumption, the adoption of cloud-based systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT) have increased dependence on data centers, and all market signals confirm this dependence is here to stay. What are the implications of this expansion when it comes to precious resources such as water? Read Antea Group’s fascinating blog on why, because they are so essential to business operations, data centers  are in an exciting ‘watershed moment’ position. 

About Antea Group
Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more at http://us.anteagroup.com.

Tweet me:.@AnteaGroup Are Data Centers Facing a Literal Watershed Moment? http://bit.ly/2rkppGR

Contact Info:

katie.nordenson@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: Environment, data center, cloud-based, the cloud, global water solutions, water crisis, sustainable watersheds, watersheds, water stewardship, Water Supply, antea group

SOURCE:Consumers Energy

DESCRIPTION:

While maintaining its historic feel, the Michigan Theatre of Jackson is embracing a flair for the future.Consumers Energy has donated more than $230,000 in energy efficiency products since 2013, including replacing the theater's boiler for $195,000 in 2016.

Consumers gave more than $800,000 to 11 different historic buildings across Michigan to make them more energy efficient, company officials said. Besides Jackson's Michigan Theatre, this included a library in Mason, historical museum in Frankenmuth and courthouse in Ithaca.

Read the complete article & view photo gallery via MLive.com 

Tweet me:Michigan Theatre to save $20,000 a year via @ConsumersEnergy help http://bit.ly/2qoSTWH

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Events, Media & Communications, Consumers Energy

SOURCE:Black & Veatch

DESCRIPTION:

At the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we are relying heavily on the impacts of a more digital grid. The previous revolutions had significant impacts on society – introducing steam, electricity and computing, but none that were so closely intertwined with technology.

Infrastructure Week allows us to reflect on the modernization needed to drive the new digital grid. A comprehensive view of the infrastructure elements needed to create a more efficient and sustainable energy landscape should include communications networks and embedded computing. Utilities, technology vendors and community leaders will need to work in collaboration to ensure all elements are considered for the digital grid to thrive.

When developing an optimal grid modernization strategy, three standards can be used to steer understanding: systems thinking, managing complexity and service orientation.

Systems Thinking: Systems thinking, based on information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) convergence, views the connections in a system as the true driver of value. In a modern grid, the objective of the system is not dependent on the parts it is comprised of, rather what those parts can achieve collectively. The convergence of IT and OT is an indisputable facet of the digital grid, and the bridge to systems thinking.

Systems thinking can be exemplified in smart grid investments such as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). According to survey results from the 2017 Strategic Directions: Smart City/Smart Utility Report, smart meters still represent 75 percent of use cases for grid modernization. Creating the two-way power digital grid will also require investments in transmission and distribution automation as well as cybersecurity protection. Integrating these technologies to create a multiway power and information flow will allow utilities to gain operational flexibility and scale grid operations for greater reliability.

Managing Complexity: Digital power distribution systems produce data that can be overwhelming to interpret meaningfully. Managing the complexity of this data to drive intelligent business and operational decisions are essential to the grid’s success. Software platforms that can analyze and consolidate the plethora of data points and tie in mapping can help operators visualize data to inform asset management.

Service Orientation: A new value stream emerging from the digital grid model is service-oriented architecture. Service orientation aligns software structure to the business model, from governance to policy. Services are the capitalization of the other two paradigms and provide the basis for the valuation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and our digital grid.

While these components will be integral to the success of the modern digital grid, it’s also important not to overlook the necessary communications and network infrastructure that will enable new technology implementation. Reliable Internet Protocol (IP) data networks will support systems thinking, data management and service oriented business models for more effective electric service delivery. Taking all these factors into consideration in holistic master planning will ensure a streamlined entry to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its value to the modern power grid. 

Tweet me:Infrastructure Week allows us to reflect on the modernization needed to drive the new digital grid #TimetoBuild http://bit.ly/2rm1BlS

Contact Info:

Edward Sutton
Black & Veatch

KEYWORDS: Green Infrastructure, Energy, Black & Veatch, Infrastructure Week, grid modernization, grid investments, Infrastructure Investments, telecommunications networks, smart meters, transmission and distribution