How Brown-Forman's sales and marketing departments promote alcohol responsibility

SOURCE:Brown-Forman Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

At Brown-Forman, alcohol responsibility starts with our marketing and continues through our sales process. We want our brands to be a positive influence, encouraging customers and consumers to have a positive experience with them.

Tweet me:New Brown-Forman video shows how company promotes alcohol responsibility http://bit.ly/2wh6CCD

KEYWORDS: Responsible Production & Consumption, Public Health, Brown-Forman

SOURCE:International Living Future Institute

DESCRIPTION:

The International Living Future Institute is excited to announce the call for proposals for their 12th annual Living Future unConference dedicated to Authenticity and Action. Next May 1-4 in Portland, Oregon, the unConference will bring together a community of leading deep green practitioners who will share their insights around building socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative communities. 

ILFI wants your most creative ideas for session formats to challenge participants to collaborate deeply, and to ignite empathy, creativity, and action. Join the Living Future community by submitting your session concept! The deadline to submit a speaking proposal is Monday, August 21st. 

Tweet me:Take the stage at #LF18! Last day to submit a proposal for @Living_Future unConference is Mon,August 21st: http://bit.ly/2uDAVyA

KEYWORDS: Events, Media & Communications, Education, International Living Futures Institute (ILFI), LF18, Living Future Conference

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., August 18, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services and the University’s partner in facilities management, has made a gift commitment to WKU to establish the Sodexo Scholarship Fund to support their employees, as well as their dependents, in the pursuit of higher education at any campus of WKU. Sodexo has pledged $650,000 in scholarship assistance over the next 13 years with $50,000 in scholarships awarded in a given academic year.

As part of their mission, Sodexo strives to improve the quality of life of its employees, and through the creation of this scholarship, they are fulfilling that commitment. The Sodexo employees who serve on WKU campuses help the institution operate and provide invaluable services to WKU faculty, staff and students.

“Through this scholarship fund, Sodexo is providing critical financial assistance for employees and their dependents to seize an opportunity to further their own personal and career development at WKU,” said WKU President Timothy C. Caboni. “This commitment from Sodexo honors a very important group within the WKU family.”

“We are pleased to have this scholarship program reflect our company values by providing additional development opportunities for our employees and their families,” said Edwin Morgan, Sodexo District Manager. “We believe this program will be consistent in making every day a better day with taking advantage of the educational opportunities provided by the partnership between Sodexo and Western Kentucky University.”

The first scholarship awards will be made for the 2017-2018 academic year. First preference for recipients will be given to Sodexo employees who work at any WKU campus, and second preference will be given to dependents of Sodexo employees who work at any WKU campus. If unclaimed by the first two groups, third preference will be given to any WKU student who is pursuing a degree in Business or Construction Management with the goal of disbursing the full $50,000 in any given year. This scholarship will be offered in two different types: Facilities Scholarships of $2,500 and Book Scholarships of $625. The Facilities Scholarship may be used toward tuition, while the Book Scholarship may only be used toward purchasing textbooks. Recipients of the Sodexo Scholarship are eligible for both types, and recipients may receive up to $3,125 toward their higher education at WKU.

The College Heights Foundation will administer the Sodexo Scholarship Fund.

“Although this award is not automatically renewable, recipients may reapply for consideration in future years,” said Dr. Donald Smith, President of the College Heights Foundation. “This scholarship fund will undoubtedly create life-changing opportunities for Sodexo employees and their dependents, and the College Heights Foundation at WKU is extremely proud to be a part of that.”

Sodexo in North America 
Sodexo USA is an American business that is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Delivering more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life, Sodexo is a leading provider of sustainable, integrated facilities management and food service operations. It employs 123,000 Americans at 12,500 sites across the country and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional U.S. jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. In support of local communities across the U.S., Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed more than $29 million since 1999 to help feed children in America impacted by hunger.

Media Contact
Jessica Carver
(270) 745-2342

Tweet me:.@SodexoUSA pledges $650,000 to #scholarship assistance for #employees and their dependents at @WKU. http://bit.ly/2xbjOW8

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Education, Sodexo

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

Today the average U.S. soldier carries at least 60 pounds of gear. An extended patrol can double that weight.¹ A group of Booz Allen Summer Games interns are looking to end the musculoskeletal injuries – a result of the weight they carry – that can plague soldiers. As the military explores how to lighten the weight of equipment, these interns in Panama City, Fl. spent their summer designing and building an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), the so-called “Pack MULE", to carry soldiers’ equipment and cargo.

The team is led by Robert Gysi, who began his career at Booz Allen a decade ago as an intern. “Soldiers face a raft of musculoskeletal injuries as a result of the weight they are required to carry,” he said. “Not only does this reduce troops’ combat-readiness and mobility, it also means that young soldiers are too often diagnosed with painful conditions like arthritis and bone spurs, which are a direct result of their heavy packs.”

Mechanical Engineering students Kasey Lugo, from Panama City, Florida and Krish Desai, of Aurora, Colorado have been challenged to design the UGV’s base frame, or chassis, select mechanical components, and run various analyses.  Emily Crews, an Electrical Engineering student from Samson, has designed the electrical aspect of the project, including selecting electrical components and completing system schematics.  Computer Science student Taylor Shields of Lakeville, Minnesota, is selecting sensors for obstacle avoidance and autonomous following as well as developing code to integrate the sensors into the UGV’s system.

“It’s been so rewarding to work on a full project lifecycle—from pure concept to prototype,” said team member Kasey Lugo. Krish Desai added, “This UGV directly helps soldiers, not only while they serve, but also after their service, limiting physical strains on their bodies that may cause future medical problems. I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer than to help create a product that will help keep our military men and women healthy.”

Wherever the UGV goes, the team is confident it will carry the burden of many in need.

Think your ideas can change the world? Visit: boozallen.com/careers. 

Tweet me:.@BoozAllen Interns Develop Autonomous Vehicle to aid soldiers at the #SummerGames. #BAH_PCB http://bit.ly/2v8rJlR

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Booz Allen Hamilton, summer games, autonomous vehicles, UGV, military

SOURCE:VolunteerMatch

DESCRIPTION:

Discovery Communications held their annual Impact Day on June 16, 2017. Over 4,000 Discovery employees across 60 offices in 37 different countries completed nearly 200 service projects. In this post, Laurel Schepp, Manager, Corporate Relations at Discovery, discusses the planning that goes into Impact Day, how they align the day with business goals, and what makes their overall volunteer program shine.

By Laurel Schepp

Discovery Communications launched Impact Day in 2010, in conjunction with our 25th anniversary. It was part of a spirit week that celebrated the creativity and innovation within the company and the communities outside of our walls with a day of service.

With a day that engages over 4,000 employees, we dedicate a significant amount of time, energy, and resources to ensure its success. We kick off the planning process 6 months in advance, at which point we finalize and communicate the date, secure our global team of Impact Day Ambassadors, and begin conversations with local nonprofits.

We rely heavily on an 80+ person team of Ambassadors across our US and international offices, who take on the responsibility of planning and executing their local projects. They have a pulse on the needs of their communities and the causes that resonate most with their employees, so are essential to localizing the day for each office’s workforce.

In addition to gathering input on organizations from employees, we also align projects with our business goals.

For example, one of Discovery’s networks across Europe, Eurosport, acquired rights to the Olympics across Europe starting in 2018. With that acquisition, we targeted sports-related charities/projects through this year’s Impact Day, particularly across Europe. We also partner with organizations that are year-long partners of our network teams such as ASPCA, who works closely with Animal Planet. We even had an employee who adopted a dog she met during her Impact Day project with ASPCA last year!

In addition to Impact Day, our employee volunteer program, called Discovery Impact, includes a global Dollars for Doers program where Discovery donates $3,000 to pre-vetted nonprofit organizations after an employee volunteers 30 hours of community service. We also have a pro bono initiative called Creating Change that leverages employees’ professional skills to help nonprofits tackle their business needs, a disaster relief program that includes launching employee matching campaigns around large-scale global disasters, a sports sponsorship program to support employees who participate in races/sporting events benefiting charities, various holiday give back programs, and more.

One story that touches not only Impact Day, but many of our other corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is a multi-year partnership with the DC Diaper Bank. We were first introduced to the organization, which supplies diapers to families in need in the DC-area, over five years ago through our pro bono program, Creating Change, where we created a marketing and creative campaign for them.

From that introduction, we explored in-person volunteer opportunities and integrated them into our Impact Day, where a few employees fell in love with the organization and began volunteering in their personal time through our Dollars for Doers program. Through Dollars for Doers, we’ve now donated over $20,000 and counting to DC Diaper Bank, and have linked them with our Employee Resource Group that supports working parents. We’ve also hosted diaper drives in our offices to further benefit their incredible work and mission.

Discovery is and always has been, at its heart, a purpose-driven company. Our volunteer program gives employees a way to bring that mission to life in the communities where they live and work, and gives our local communities a way to engage more fully with Discovery.

Impact Day provides employees from different backgrounds, departments, levels, and skill sets with the opportunity to cross paths with colleagues they might never meet otherwise and contribute to something bigger than themselves. It breaks down global barriers and allows our employees across the world to feel more connected to one another as everyone is volunteering “together” on one day, even though they might be thousands of miles away.

Thank you, Laurel, for sharing Discovery’s story! VolunteerMatch is honored to support Discovery’s volunteer efforts through our YourMatch™ solution.

Learn how YourMatch can power your company’s volunteer program.

Tweet me:.@DiscoveryComm Employees Shine on Impact Day and Beyond via @VM_Solutions #volunteer http://bit.ly/2vKXqoA

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, VolunteerMatch, discovery communications

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

Over the past few years, industry-leader REI has sparked movements focused on getting people outside during Black Friday and advancing gender equality in the outdoors through campaigns like #OptOutside and Force of Nature. Now, another outdoor company is gearing up to add a new dimension to level nature’s playing field.

The North Face launched a new campaign, Walls Are Meant For Climbing, to spotlight its passion for rock climbing and inclusivity. The campaign gives new meaning to the negative connotation of “walls” and shows how walls should unite- not divide our community. The goal of the campaign is to reach groups that tend to get overlooked by the outdoor community. Rather than hinging the campaign around an already established moment in time, the retailer has created its own hashtag holiday to get consumers involved. North Face has partnered with dozens of climbing gyms to make August 19 a Global Day of Climbing, with free climbing opportunities across the world. 

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:North Face pushes to unite the outdoors community by building walls http://bit.ly/2uPVqgf #wallsaremeantforclimbing #CSR

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, Walls Are Meant For Climbing, North Face campaign, Global Day of Climbing

As World Mosquito Day approaches, revisit this story from the Novartis archives on how the rising concern of resistance threatens the great progress made against malaria

SOURCE:Novartis

DESCRIPTION:

In Kenya, about three-quarters of the population is at risk for malaria, and all four species of the malaria parasite that infect humans occur in the country. Although there has been substantial progress, malaria remains the leading cause of mortality in Kenya, killing an estimated 30,000 people every year, most of them children under 5 years old.

Lake Victoria in southwestern Kenya is on the front line in the fight against malaria, and Agnes Akoth is a key figure. Tall and striking, this towering force of energy in Kisumu County is a 35- year veteran of the global quest to eradicate a deadly disease.

Despite job offers from big hospitals in the capital Nairobi, Ms. Akoth has chosen to stay in Kisumu and works as head nurse at the US Army Medical Research Unit-Kombewa clinic, known locally as the Walter Reed Project. Here she provides much-needed local leadership and addresses poor understanding of malaria in surrounding communities.

Her own experience of contracting the disease while pregnant with her youngest child has made her resolute about what must be done. The Walter Reed Project has a two-pronged approach to fighting the disease. Scientists there conduct research and run clinical trials that may potentially lead to new malaria vaccines and drugs.

Novartis works with the project and runs clinical trials for new antimalarial medicines there, including two key studies for its artemisinin-based therapy Coartem.

Read the full story on Novartis.com, https://www.novartis.com/stories/global-impact/specter-malaria-resists-treatment

About the Novartis Malaria Initiative:

The Novartis Malaria Initiative drives research, development and access to novel treatments to eliminate malaria. It is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s largest access-to-medicine programs. Since 2001, the initiative has delivered more than 800 million treatments without profit, mostly to the public sector of malaria-endemic countries.

The Novartis Malaria Initiative is integrated in Novartis Social Business, a unit which includes Novartis Access, SMS for Life and the Novartis Healthy Family programs.

For more information visit www.malaria.novartis.com

Tweet me:For #WorldMosquitoDay on Aug 20 @Novartis reminds us of the community healthcare workers who are key in the fight to #endmalaria

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, Education, Novartis, Malaria, The Walter Reed Project

SOURCE:Antea Group

DESCRIPTION:

Water is the foundation of a food and beverage company’s business. Burgeoning population, climate uncertainties, political volatility and other conditions have an effect on water availability for business.

Antea Group’s new blog discusses how a successful approach to a solution goes beyond traditional water stewardship practices. 26,000 facility water risk screenings and 400 watershed assessments later, we bring 3 data-driven insights to propel water stewardship in the food & beverage sector.

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 3 Data-Driven Insights to Propel Water Stewardship in the Food & Beverage Sector http://bit.ly/2x7J6Vl

Contact Info:

katie.nordenson@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: Environment, water use, water stewardship, water security, water scarcity, water quality, climate change, water efficiency, watershed, CEO Water Mandate, antea group

Rehabilitation of 50 hand pumps provides safe drinking water to 30,000 villagers

SOURCE:Bacardi Limited

DESCRIPTION:

LAGOS, Nigeria, August 21, 2017 /3BL Media/ – As part of the Bacardi ‘Spirit for Life, Caring Together’ annual Corporate Responsibility Month community service volunteer program, Bacardi partnered with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF) in Nigeria on its Mission for Water Project to provide safe drinking water to villagers in Kebbi state. Through the rehabilitation of 50 hand pumps, the initiative is benefitting more than 30,000 villagers.

In Nigeria, about 70 million people lack access to safe drinking water, with more than 110 million lacking access to adequate sanitation. Every year, an estimated 124,000 children under the age of five die because of diarrhea, as a result of unsafe water and lack of proper sanitation.

As the largest privately held spirits company in the world, Bacardi recognizes the importance of the local communities where we live and work and plays an active role in giving back by supporting organizations that make a difference.

This water pump rehabilitation initiative was officially launched today by Alejandro “Alex” Ouziel, regional president for Bacardi in Asia, Middle East & Africa; along with Mohammed Bala Yelwa, deputy general manager of Kebbi State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA); and Col GR Prasad, the Chief Executive of Tulsi Chanrai Foundation. Also representing family-owned Bacardi from its Asia, Middle East & Africa region were Finance Director Gerardo Herrera; Human Resources Director Saurabh Upadhyay; Legal Director Andrew Deane; and Managing Director - Nigeria Vikas Mittal.  

“By living our values every day, we also commit ourselves to contributing to a more sustainable future for all. By caring deeply and passionately about our business and the world around us, we excel in creating brands consumers can trust,” said Alex Ouziel. “Our goal is to return to the environment at least as much as we take away.”

Kebbi State RUWASSA representative, Mohammed Bala Yelwa, added, “We have felt the impact of the Bacardi water initiative in the state. We appreciate the effort of the company in giving the indigenes safe drinking water which has helped to eradicate illnesses in the long run.”

In addition to restoring the water pumps, representatives from TCF briefed the villagers about the importance of safe drinking water. A goal of the project is to motivate the local community to take ownership of and maintain water sources, as well as to engage local governments to provide support.

“This is a just beginning for us in Nigeria. For Bacardi, it is in our long-term interest to foster healthy and vibrant communities. Our employees and business partners come from many local communities, and respecting and supporting our communities is an important part of our being a trusted partner,” added Vikas Mittal.

“TCF is extremely thankful to Bacardi for their partnership. Over the years 1.9 million people have been given access to safe water in partnership with government agencies and other like-minded organizations, TCF aims to make high quality sustainable and replicable models in primary health care, provision of safe drinking water and eye care in Nigeria,” added Col Prasad CEO of the foundation.

To learn more about Bacardi and its corporate responsibility across the entire Bacardi family of premium spirits and wine brands, visit: https://www.bacardilimited.com/corporate-responsibility/

About Tulsi Chanrai Foundation

Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF) is an international non-governmental organization initiated in Nigeria by one of the arms of the Chanrai family in 1994. TCF presently employs 20 Indian expatriates and 300 national staff. The mission of TCF is to establish in partnership, high quality replicable models in primary health care, provision of safe drinking water and eye care in each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. www.tcfnigeria.org

About Mission for Water 

TCF’s Mission for water is focused on the Concept of Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM) by:

• Forming water, sanitation and hygiene committees (WASHCOMs) for each rehabilitated hand pump
• Skill development training of two private local area mechanics (LAMs) in hand pump installation-repair-maintenance in each of participating LGAs,
• Capacity building of WASHCOMs on preventive maintenance and managing their water sources,
• Establishing linkages to a local supply chain for high quality reasonably prices fast moving hand pump spare-parts.

TCF has covered 175 Local Government Areas in 27 States and executed village level operation and maintenance (VLOM) of hand-pumps by rehabilitating over 4,448 non-functional hand-pumps with the successful completion supported by UNICEF

About Bacardi
Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Blended Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka.

Bacardi Martini Nigeria was incorporated in 2015 for distribution and sale of Bacardi brands in and is one of the fastest-growing spirits company in Nigeria.

Founded more than 155 years ago, in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi manufactures its brands at 29 facilities and sells in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. www.bacardilimited.com

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY.

©2017 BACARDI

BACARDI, THE BAT DEVICE AND OTHER MARKS APPEARING ON THE BACARDI GROUP PRODUCTS SHOWN AND/OR QUOTED IN THIS VIDEO NEWS RELEASE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED OR OF OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF BACARDI LIMITED

Tweet me:.@BacardiLimited and @tcfnigerai team up in Nigeria to provide #SafeDrinkingWater http://bit.ly/2wqASLF #GoodSpirited #CSR

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Water, Bacardi Limited, Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, Mission for Water

SOURCE:United Nations Global Compact

SUMMARY:

The following is an article by Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director, UN Global Compact published on 18 August 2017 on Huffington Post.

DESCRIPTION:

In her 1958 address to the United Nations in New York, Eleanor Roosevelt posed what she called "the great question," saying:

Where, after all, do universal rights begin? In small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.

The recent display of racism, bigotry and violence in the city of Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend has raised alarms and drawn condemnation from large swaths of society, from human rights groups and academics to business leaders and concerned citizens. As a group of United Nations human rights experts rightly observed, this disturbing anti-diversity demonstration was only the latest in a string of examples of increased racial tensions and xenophobia in the United States.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted to journalists during a press conference this week that this trend transcends borders, saying that “racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism or Islamophobia are... poisoning our societies,” and that “it is absolutely essential for us all to stand up against them everywhere and every time.”

There was widespread rebuke of the tactics and ideology of the white supremacist protesters in Charlottesville from CEOs and business leaders in the United States. The lack of condemnation from the US Government also drew strong criticism, including from CEOs on the now-disbanded US economic council, several of whom lead companies that participate in the United Nations Global Compact. Before the disbanding, several CEOs of UN Global Compact companies made the decision to step down from the council, citing anti-discrimination concerns, including Kenneth Frazier (Merck), Brian Krzanich (Intel), Denise Morrison (Campbell Soup) and Inge Thulin (3M).

Companies like these who join the UN Global Compact, an organization I am proud and honoured to lead, commit to Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The UN Global Compact’s human rights principles are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Eleanor Roosevelt played an instrumental role in drafting. When she gave her “great question” speech, it was nearly 10 years since the proclamation of the monumental Declaration. Now, nearly 70 years since its adoption, the UN Global Compact continues to support companies around the world in meeting their minimum responsibilities to respect human rights.

Business leaders know that diversity and inclusion are the way forward. From driving growth and innovation to promoting better decision-making and enhancing employee engagement, diversity and inclusion improve overall corporate performance. Further, leaders know their employees, customers and shareholders expect it of them.

As a former business executive, it comes as no surprise to me that CEOs are calling out discrimination and making the case for social cohesion. I applaud the business leaders who, in public and in private, are standing up for human rights by disavowing racism and intolerance. Just as importantly, they are also educating their audiences about these issues and integrating solutions into their business models. Rather than simply criticizing, they are actually fostering the change we need.

While Governments bear the responsibility of protecting individuals against human rights abuses, we are living in times where the business community is being called upon to do more. In our role as the United Nation’s centrepiece for responsible business action, the UN Global Compact is increasing our capacity to support companies everywhere in standing up for human rights. As Eleanor noted in her “great question,” the beginning of universal rights is in the small places. We all need to be doing our part to amplify non-discrimination and equality, and to lead as living answers to this timeless question. 

Tweet me:How can CEOs answer this timeless #humanrights question? Read the new blog post by UN @globalcompact's @Lise_Kingo http://bit.ly/2wqj9Ul

Contact Info:

Margaret Fenwick
UN Global Compact
+1 (646) 884-7531
mfenwick@unglobalcompact.org
@globalcompact
www.facebook.com/unglobalcompact
www.linkedin.com/company/united-nations-global-compact

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion, UN Global Compact, Global Compact, Human Rights, equality, Lise Kingo

SOURCE:Voya Financial, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

August 21, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that Paul Gennaro, senior vice president of Brand and Corporate Communications, and chief communications officer (CCO), has been appointed to the board of directors of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). USBLN is a national nonprofit that helps the business community drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain and marketplace.

Paul serves on the board of the Ethisphere Institute and is chairman of its Communications Advisory Board. Additionally, he is a member of the board of advisors for the Emory Center of Ethics.

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.

¹ U.S. Census Bureau data and respondents’ self-identification.

MediaContact:

Nicole Vasile

Voya Financial

Cell: (860) 839-1589

nicole.vasile@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 $517 billion in total assets under management and administration as of June 30, 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 Chief Communications Officer Paul Gennaro joins @USBLN board to advance #diversity in business community http://bit.ly/2wqv6JF

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Nonprofit Boards, Corporate Responsibility, diversity, inclusion, disability, Disabilities, Special Needs, Voya Financial

Exploring Boeing's top environmental priorities

SOURCE:Boeing

DESCRIPTION:

**This is the 11th article in a series focusing on The Boeing Company's environmental performance and progress in 2016. Visit www.boeing.com/environment for more information.**

Boeing's products connect people, protect nations, explore space and sea and inspire the world. We are committed to making the world’s best airplanes with the smallest environmental footprint and working with industry stakeholders on climate protection.

Reducing the environmental impact of our products starts with good design. We strive to use lightweight materials such as composites, which make up half of the 787 Dreamliner’s primary structure, including the fuselage and wings. We integrate highly efficient engines and incorporate other engineering innovations on all of our airplanes to achieve superior aerodynamics.

Our talented employees design and build the world’s most fuel-efficient commercial aircraft. The 737 MAX reduces fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent compared with the original Next-Generation 737and has a 40 percent smaller noise footprint than today’s single-aisle airplanes. The fastest-selling airplane in Boeing’s history, the 737 MAX had its first deliveries in the spring of 2017.

The revolutionary 787 Dreamliner family improves fuel use 20 to 25 percent compared with the airplanes it replaces. The efficiencies are due to new engines, lightweight composite materials, more efficient systems applications and modern aerodynamics. The 787 Family has saved airlines more than 14 billion pounds (6.4 billion kilograms) of fuel since it was introduced in 2011.

Technologies on the 787 also ensure that no sound louder than 85 decibels—about the level of loud traffic heard from the side of the road—leaves the airport boundaries. The 500th Dreamliner was delivered in 2016 and the first 787-10, the largest model, rolled out in February 2017.

The 777X, which is on track to begin deliveries in 2020, will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet. With 12 percent lower fuel consumption than competitor airplanes, the 777X will have the world’s largest composite wing, aerodynamic improvements and a highly efficient GE9X engine.

To speed up development of new technologies that enhance safety and reduce fuel use, emissions and noise, Boeing has completed four ecoDemonstrator flight-test programs since 2012. Some 60 technologies have been tested, most recently in 2016 aboard an Embraer E170 regional jet—the first such collaboration between two airplane manufacturers.

Tweet me:.@Boeing is committed to making the world's best airplanes with the smallest environmental footprint http://bit.ly/2sMuKuk

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Engineering, Boeing, csr, esg, environment report, ecodemonstrator

SOURCE:KeyBank

DESCRIPTION:

CLEVELAND, August 21, 2017 /3BL Media/ — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has arranged a $6.9 million FHA loan to Millennia Housing Development Ltd., for the substantial renovation of Sherman Thompson Towers Apartments, a 151-unit affordable seniors housing community, located in Ironton, OH. Each of the units are designated for residents earning 30-60% area median income (AMI).  The project was awarded tax credits by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

The property was built in 1978 and has a 15-year HAP contract that provides rental assistance to 150 of the 151 units.

Jeff Rodman of Key’s Commercial Mortgage Group and Kelly Frank of Key’s Community Development Lending (CDLI) group arranged the financing.

About Millennia Housing Development Ltd.

The Millennia Companies have years of experience in preserving and managing affordable housing for thousands of residents. The Millennia Companies have grown into an economically diverse organization with operations in eighteen states – Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. Since 2004, MHD has developed over 7,000 apartment units with a majority of its projects being comprehensive renovation of the apartment communities. MHD has extensive experience as a HUD Developer and Principal, having financed over 3,900 units using HUD/FHA financing.

About Key Community Development Lending and Investment

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) helps fulfill Key’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive by financing projects that stabilize and revitalize communities. Experts in complex tax credit lending and investing, Key is one of a handful of affordable housing lenders in the country with a platform that brings together balance sheet, equity, and permanent loan offerings. CDLI has a substantial investment and loan portfolio worth more than $2 billion, 90% of which is Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects. For its ability to lend to, invest in, and serve its communities –especially low-to-moderate income communities – KeyBank has earned eight consecutive “Outstanding” ratings on the Community Reinvestment Act exam, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $135.8 billion at June 30, 2017. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, insurance, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of more than 1,200 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Contact: Laura Mimura, 216-471-2883 laura.mimura@key.com

Tweet me:KeyBank arranges $6.9 Million in #FHA financing for Ohio seniors #affordablehousing property http://bit.ly/2uZTXE9 @Key_B2B

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, #affordablehousing, affordable housing, keybank, CDLI, #KeyBank CDLI

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

DESCRIPTION:

The socially responsible investment sector is recording unprecedented growth since the Trump administration took office. Since January, Morningstar, a fund-tracking firm, has logged a four-times increase in the use of ESG data in its cloud platform, a base for research by asset managers, advisory firms, and independent wealth managers.

In response to this rise in investor interest, fund companies have opened a dozen new open-end sustainable mutual funds and ETFs, adding to a total of nearly 200 such funds identified by Morningstar as sustainable financial products. The bottom line is rising, too, according to Barron’s.

Morningstar reports that 45% of ESG-focused large-cap blend funds beat the S&P 500 through June 30, compared with 28% percent of US large-cap blend funds overall. It seems that the responsible investment sector is taking its cues from bottom line results rather than from the Trump administration’s retrograde environmental policies. I’m John Howell for 3BL Media. 

Video source: Socially Responsible Investing Gets a Trump Bump

Tweet me: Socially Responsible Investing Gets a Trump Bump #CSRminute @3blmedia http://bit.ly/2xbrTua

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Media & Communications, CSR Minute, 3bl Media

SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

The self-healing system can automatically detect, isolate and reroute power when a problem occurs. This helps reduce the number of outages, decrease the duration of outages and can even help restore power in a matter of minutes. And the best part, this can be done before anyone reports a power outage.

This is third in a series of three videos explaining how the modernized smart grid will deliver benefits. 

Tweet me:Self-healing #technology means less power outages and faster energy restoration time http://bit.ly/2vhTQ1G @DukeEnergy #innovation

KEYWORDS: Energy, Utilities, Duke Energy, self-healing grid, sustainability, electricity

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Natalia Adler describes herself as a problem-solver, not a data scientist. When she came to work at UNICEF’s New York headquarters after seven years in Nicaragua and Mozambique, she joined the data research and policy division. “I immediately saw that, even though we do all sorts of data work, we were behind on the data science component,” says Adler, now a data, research, and policy manager at UNICEF (The United Nations Children’s Fund). “And if you want to make progress on that front, you need to access to big data – however, most relevant datasets sit with corporations.”

That insight has been the impetus for Adler to work on a project called data collaboratives, which seeks to better understand how private companies can share their data to help the public good. One of her partners in this initiative is Stefaan G. Verhulst, the co-founder and chief research and development officer of The Governance Lab at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, better known as The GovLab. Adler, like Verhulst, is a member of this year’s Program Committee for the Data for Good Exchange, which will take place at Bloomberg headquarters in New York on Sunday, September 24, 2017.

To read the full story, click here. 

Tweet me:Natalia Adler shares how UNICEF uses its data collaborative with @bloomberg to improve children's lives @technology http://bit.ly/2wqPv1j

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Events, Media & Communications, d4gx, Bloomberg, bloomberglp, UNICEF, data for good, Tech at Bloomberg

Glen and Alisha Perkins are dedicated to making life better for those with mental illness

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Around the time of Major League pitcher Glen Perkins’ sixth annual Fifteen’s 5K charity race, the MinnesotaTwins’ veteran closer was nearing the finish line of a nearly 16-month rehabilitation process from major shoulder surgery.

“I’m in a better place mentally than I have been,” the three-time all-star said when he returned to Minneapolis the day before the Aug. 6 race. “I think for the first time in my rehab I’ve been pushing our medical and our front office to say, ‘Hey, let’s go.’ For a long time I didn’t feel good enough to take steps.”

The charity race itself focused on mental health. Proceeds from this year’s event went to the PrairieCare Child & Family Fund, which supports mental health innovations in education, services and research in the Twin Cities through community partnerships and health services innovations.

The race has become an annual summer highlight for fans in Minneapolis as well as Glen, who grew up in Stillwater, Minn., attended the University of Minnesota and has now pitched his entire 12-year MLB career with the Twins, who drafted him in the first round in 2004.

As is the case with a lot of causes with which players become involved, there was a personal connection. Alisha Perkins, Glen’s wife and the person who originally came up with the idea for the annual race, went public in early 2015 with her battle with an anxiety disorder she’s had since childhood.

A year ago, Alisha published a memoir called Running Home in which she chronicled the way she discovered her voice through running and mental health advocacy.

This year approximately 1,200 runners took part in the 8 am run that begins in downtown Minneapolis and finishes near home plate at Target Field. The Twins and Twin Cities in Motion supported the race and several teammates even participated in the event.

Eleven days later, on Thursday afternoon, the 34-year-old left-hander reached his goal by returning to the mound in the Twins’ loss to the Indians at Target Field.

Major Leaguers are #GoingToBat for causes near and dear to them, as they personify the Players Trust’s motto to ‘care, act and inspire.’ To learn more about the charitable interests and activities of Glen Perkins and other Major Leaguers, please click here.

Tweet me:.@glenperkins of @Twins & wife taking strides to improve lives of those w/ mental illness - #MLBPlayers #GoingToBat http://bit.ly/2v9utiM

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, Events, Media & Communications, Major League Baseball Players Trust

SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

At two recent events in Mumbai, GRI Regional Hub South Asia gathered some of the biggest Indian companies and conglomerates to promote high-quality reporting in the region, and initiate a discussion on the corporate role in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

​In 2014, India was one of the first countries to enforce the legal requirement that large and mid-sized companies devote 2% of their profits to social development projects. Since then, the country has witnessed a year-on-year growth in total CSR spending, with an increasing chunk of corporate profits being directed towards education, health and sanitation initiatives.
 
Advancing the state of reporting in India is particularly relevant given this increasing amount of spending on corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. More consistent and comparable reporting will help stimulate accountability and measure the actual impact of CSR spending on the Indian economy, environment and society.
 
Here we present a brief overview of GRI South Asia's recent events, highlighting why companies in the region are motivated to start reporting with the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI Standards), and align their reporting with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
Staying ahead of the game with the GRI Standards
On 6 July, GRI Regional Hub South Asia conducted a capacity-building workshop in collaboration with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), to provide guidance to Indian companies making the move to reporting with the GRI Standards. Among the prominent companies represented at the event, were ACC Limited and the Mahindra Group.
 
ACC Limited, India’s leading cement and concrete manufacturer, is one of the earliest adopters of the GRI Standards in India. Speaking about the value of reporting with the GRI Standards, Mr. K.N. Rao, Director Energy and Environment at ACC, stated: "It’s a moment of pride for ACC Limited to become the first company in India to release its externally assured sustainable development report 2016 as per new GRI standards. We were aiming to be an early adopter of the GRI Standards since their global launch in October 2016. We also targeted to release our report on World Environment Day, 5 June 2017. We knew it would take hard work to realize both these ambitions, but we went the extra mile to make it happen! The GRI Standards have brought us better clarity with disclosures and have helped us make our report more comprehensive and transparent, to benefit our stakeholders.”
 
Another vital benefit for Indian companies looking to report with the GRI Standards is that they can be used to comply with the Business Responsibility Reporting (BRR) requirements mandated by the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Earlier this year, GRI released a linkage document in collaboration with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to provide guidance on linking the disclosures under these two frameworks.

Mr. Naresh Patil, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer at Mahindra Group – a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai – highlighted this point: “Sustainability reporting helps to monitor and improve a company’s environmental, social and economic performance. This non-financial report is also of interest to stakeholders, particularly investors, to evaluate the environmental, social and ethical risks which can impact company profits. The GRI Standards will be of immense help especially in light of SEBI’s recent announcement on ‘Integrated Reporting’. Mahindra & Mahindra Limited will be publishing its first integrated report this year and we look forward to taking our integrated reporting further using the GRI Standards.”

Paving the way for SDGs in Indian corporate reporting
In addition to building reporting capacity and quality, GRI South Asia is also gathering business momentum to align corporate reporting in the region with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On 5 July, GRI South Asia and the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development held the first of their 8-part dialogue forum series on the SDG Agenda 2030.
 
Speaking at the first dialogue forum, Mr. Sachin Joshi, Principal Counsellor at CII, outlined the motivation behind this initiative and why Indian companies should begin to emphasize the SDGs: “CII has partnered with GRI South Asia to improve the discourse of the private sector with SDGs. SDGs offer a compelling framework for businesses, particularly in South Asia, to reinvent themselves for the future and lead the post-2030 world."
 
This regional initiative already includes several top names from the Indian corporate sector, such as Aditya Birla Group, Ambuja Cement, GAIL (India) Limited, ITC, Jindal Stainless, JSW Group, Jubilant Life Sciences, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Power Grid Corporation India Limited, Reliance Industries Limited, State Bank of India, and Tata Consultancy Services. The remaining seven dialogue forums, over the course of the coming two years, will spotlight several individual topics such as poverty and economic growth, investor expectations, food security, health, equality and education, management of natural resources, and stakeholder inclusiveness.

If you’d like to know more about the upcoming dialogue forums and other reporting workshops in South Asia, please contact Dr. Aditi Haldar - Director GRI Regional Hub South Asia.

To subscribe to the monthly GRI Newsletter, please click here.

Tweet me:Growing interest in #sustainability #reporting and #SDGs in India: http://bit.ly/2uYGVXu

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Research, Reports & Publications, GRI, global reporting initiative, GRI Standards, sustainability reporting, csr, sustainable development goals, SDGs, India, responsible investing

Fairfax Assembly earns ENERGY STAR® certification for energy efficiency

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

KANSAS CITY, Kan., August 22, 2017 /3BL Media/ — General Motors’ Fairfax Assembly plant, home of the Chevrolet Malibu, earned ENERGY STAR^®certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, signifying it meets strict energy performance levels. GM Fairfax is the only manufacturing plant in Kansas to earn such certification in the last nine years. Below are some energy-efficient practices the facility employs.    

Implementing a new paint process. The Chevrolet Malibu, which gets an EPA-estimated 36 highway miles per gallon, gets its glossy shine through a paint process that uses 40 percent less energy per vehicle compared to traditional paint shop processes, saving $4 million a year. GM Fairfax’s new paint shop uses a water-based “three-wet” paint operation that eliminates the need to use a primer bake oven between primer and color-coating layers. GM also recirculates air in paint spray booths, requiring less frequent outdoor air intake and temperature adjustments.

Establishing energy teams. Employees champion simple energy-saving initiatives such as shutting down equipment and turning off lights during non-production times. They also share this knowledge and resources across all departments to help the facility meet non-production energy targets.

“Achieving ENERGY STAR certification at an assembly plant takes the time and dedication of an entire team,” said Al Hildreth, GM global energy manager. “Our Fairfax employees are helping GM build cars more efficiently and reducing our environmental impact in Kansas.”

Optimizing heating and cooling temperatures. An energy management system, Energy OnStar, enables employees to monitor heating and cooling temperatures in real time. Adjusting temperatures by even one degree can immediately realize 3-4 percent in energy savings.

Illuminating with LEDs. More than 3,500 new LED lights in the facility’s administrative and engineering mezzanine save the plant $56,000 in energy costs every year. The team is strategizing to expand the use of LED lighting throughout the plant to make an even bigger impact.   

“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s industrial facilities is critical to protecting our environment,” said Jean Lupinacci, chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the plant floor to the boardroom, organizations are leading the way by making their facilities more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification.”

Continuing the momentum. While this is GM Fairfax’s first ENERGY STAR certification, the facility met the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry in 2010 by reducing energy intensity by 16 percent in just three years. GM Fairfax also recycles or reuses 89 percent of waste from daily operations. This year, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment presented GM Fairfax with the Pollution Prevention award for efforts to reduce energy use, emissions and waste.

GM is committed to reducing energy use per vehicle produced by 20 percent by 2020. Between 2010 and 2016, the company has reduced energy by 16 percent. This year, GM earned ENERGY STAR’s Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for continued corporate-wide leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. For more information on GM’s environmental commitments, visit its sustainability report or environmental blog.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), its subsidiaries and joint venture entities produce and sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. GM has leadership positions in several of the world's most significant automotive markets and is committed to lead the future of personal mobility.

CONTACT:

Mary Padilla
Plant Communications Manager, GM Fairfax Assembly & Stamping
(913) 954-2055
mary.padilla@gm.com

Tweet me:.@GM's Fairfax Assembly & Stamping plant earned @ENERGYSTAR certification from the @EPA. http://bit.ly/2vVrZs5

KEYWORDS: Energy, Energy Efficiency, General Motors, GM, Energy Star, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Fairfax Assembly, Chevrolet Malibu, EPA

Organizers improve on past performance to earn gold level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport for Social and Environmental Initiatives

SOURCE:Scotiabank

DESCRIPTION:

Eugene, OR — The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM), held October 16, 2016 and hosted by Canada Running Series, has achieved Gold Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (Council) by improving performance from its first certification effort (silver) in 2015. Organizers earned credit on 45 of the best practice standards offered in the Council’s certification program for social and environmental responsibility at sporting events, up from 38 achieved in 2015. The marathon, which hosted over 25,000 participants in 2016, remains the only certified event in Toronto out of over 150 total certified events worldwide.

Click here to continue reading

Tweet me:Green Turns to Gold at the @ScotiabankViews Toronto Waterfront Marathon http://bit.ly/2xpFcHg #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Environment, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Scotiabank, sustainability, environmental responsibility