by Julie Fahnestock

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

Frederick Hutson, Co-Founder of Pigeonly; Britnie Turner, Founder and CEO of Aerial Development Group; and April De Simone, Co-Founder of Designing the WE, sit side by side—unlikely people to be sharing a panel together. At the Social Venture Network Fall 2015 Conference, Laura Flanders, successful media guru and host of The Laura Flanders Show, interviewed these three “champions,” showcasing the power of overcoming tragedy through the power of social enterprise.

Meet Frederick Hutson, Co-Founder of Pigeonly

Indicted for the possession of marijuana, Hutson served five years in federal prison. Inside, he was exposed to a world he had no idea existed. While in a halfway house, he called his now co-founder of Pigeonly and described the fundamental inequalities he saw around communication in prison with its link to recidivism.

To continue reading, click here

Tweet me:Three Champions Create Social Enterprise from Tragedy http://bit.ly/1NSX5yz via @Justmeans #SocInn #SocEnt

KEYWORDS: Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, April De Simone, Britnie Turner, Fred Hutson, Pigeonly, Designing the We, Aerial Development Group, B Corp, benefit corporation, Undesign the Red Line, Social Venture Network, Social Venture Network Conference, Net Impact, Stonyfield Farm, Justmeans

Live On. Give On: Medtronic Philanthropy Provides MedTech Patients with $20,000 Grant to Direct to a Charitable Cause of Their Choice

SOURCE:Medtronic

DESCRIPTION:

DUBLIN, December 14, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) announced today that 12 people representing 11 countries will be honored with the 2015 Bakken Invitation Award, which recognizes people who have overcome health challenges with the help of medical technology and are making outstanding contributions of service, volunteerism and leadership.

From educating students in East Africa and supporting a heart hospital in Nepal, to establishing a foster care organization in Spain and helping the homeless in Minneapolis, the 2015 Bakken Invitation Award Honorees use their “extra life” to support communities all over the world.

As part of the award, each Honoree nominates a charity to receive a $20,000 grant from Medtronic Philanthropy. The Honorees also travel to Hawaii in 2016 for a community service and celebration event where they meet Medtronic co-founder and program inspiration, Earl Bakken.

“This year’s Honorees are so inspiring,” said Earl Bakken. “After receiving medical therapy that gave them extra time, they selflessly shifted their focus to others when it would have been easier to focus on themselves. Their stories are a powerful reminder that we can all give back—no matter our current situation.”

Bakken is no stranger to medical technology. In 1957, he developed the first external, artificial pacemaker, an invention that has saved millions of lives and led to the creation of Medtronic. Bakken is also a patient, with a pacemaker, coronary stents and insulin pump giving him “extra life,” which he has used to give back through substantial community involvement.

Honorees’ therapies and treatments include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), stents, heart valves, RF ablation, neurological stimulators and insulin pumps to treat conditions such as heart disease, Barrett’s esophagus, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, and diabetes. There is no restriction on therapy manufacturer.

Read the 12 honoree stories and their inspirational tips below, and view (or share) other stories of living on and giving on the Bakken Community.

For more information and images, visit www.LiveOnGiveOn.org.

Follow the program and stay inspired with real-time updates on Facebook.com/LiveOnGiveOn and on Twitter with the hashtag #LiveOnGiveOn.

The 2015 Bakken Invitation Honorees are:

Andrea Volfova, 37, of Prague, Czech Republic

Medical Condition: Cardiovascular disease

Therapy: Pacemaker

“Choose love and compassion, every single time.”

Much of Andrea’s early life was characterized by limitations from cardiac disease.  In 1988, everything changed for Andrea when a doctor examined her and recommended a pacemaker. Today, Andrea channels her energy and optimism into helping others live their lives to their full potential. She helps students in East Africa obtain an education through the Kenya Education Fund.

Bhim Bahadur Mahat, 47, of Kathmandu, Nepal

Medical Condition: Cardiovascular disease  

Therapy: Heart valve

“All cultures can understand the language of love.”

Bhim was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease and had open heart surgery to replace a damaged aortic valve in 1992.  Immediately after his surgery, he became a lifetime member of the Nepal Heart Foundation and began working to help others with the same condition. Thanks to the efforts of Bhim and the foundation, Nepal now has a dedicated heart hospital.

David Simmonds, 62, of Prince Edward (Wellington), Canada

Medical Condition: Parkinson’s disease

Therapy: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

“Wearing a burden with humor can inspire others.”

David has lived with Parkinson’s disease since 1993. His deep brain stimulator device allows him to function independently and devote his time and energy to helping others, specifically as a volunteer for Parkinson Society Canada.

Juan Carlos Hernandez Corredera, 42, of Salamanca, Spain

Medical Condition:  Barrett’s esophagus

Therapy: Radiofrequency Ablation

“Pay it forward.”

After being diagnosed with high-grade dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus, Juan was treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), an endoscopic technique that cured the disease and enabled him to live a normal, healthy life. Because few people in Spain know about Barrett’s esophagus, which is a serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),  Juan founded Asenbar, with the goal of providing support and treatment options to every patient who needs it. He also serves as president of Asociacion de Familias de Acogida de Salamanca (AFASA), providing temporary housing for foster children. 

Kerry Kalweit, 25, of Pretoria, South Africa

Medical Condition:  Type 1 Diabetes

Therapy:  Insulin Pump

“Education is empowering.”

Kerry was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2004 and uses an insulin pump to manage her blood glucose levels. The pump helps her manage her disease, as well as an unpredictable daily schedule. This flexibility, combined with the assistance of her health care team, has allowed her to pursue her dreams. She first became involved with Youth With Diabetes as a camper and is now the general manager.

Lisa Visser, 42, of Orono, Minnesota, U.S.

Medical Condition: Sudden Cardiac Arrest due to a heart defect

Therapy: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator

“Work hard at creating goodness.”

Lisa suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at the age of 26, leading to a diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, a congenital heart defect. She now has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to treat future SCA episodes. Grateful for the extra life she receives, she has volunteered time helping various organizations for the homeless in Minnesota.

Qi Zhang, 44, of Beijing, China

Medical Condition: Type 1 Diabetes  

Therapy: Insulin Pump

“You are not alone.”

Qi was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was only seven years old. Since then, she has struggled to live a normal life, but she has never given up. Qi started using an insulin pump about 15 years ago. Now, Qi works as a pediatric technician and volunteers with the Beijing Diabetes Prevention and Control Association. She established the China Type 1 Diabetes Caring Foundation, a first-of-its-kind educational organization.

Sheila Vasconcellos, 45, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Medical Condition: Type 1 Diabetes  

Therapy: Insulin Pump

“Love is a powerful remedy that everyone can share.”

Sheila has had type 1 diabetes for 30 years. In January 2014, she began using an insulin pump.  Determined to give back, Sheila started volunteering at Casa de Apoio, where she helps children diagnosed with cancer and serious blood conditions. Shelia believes that the insulin pump has given her an extra life, and hopes to live another 45 years loving and supporting others.

Dr. Thomas Okello, 36, of Kampala, Uganda

Medical Condition:  Damaged heart valves due to Rheumatic Heart Disease

Therapy:  Heart valves

“Treatment is a miracle.”

At just 16 years old, Thomas received a double valve replacement as a result of severe rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Many of his fellow Ugandans with RHD, however, do not receive this life-saving treatment. Thomas, who is now a cardiologist, began working with Uganda Rheumatic Heart Disease Registry to raise awareness about RHD and inspire others to take care of their hearts.

Twinkle VanFleet, 47, of Sacramento, California, U.S.

Medical Condition:  Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type 2

Therapy:  Spinal Cord Stimulation

“When you think you can't, maybe you already have.”

Twinkle was diagnosed in 2003 with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (CRPS/RSD), a painful, debilitating and often progressive central nervous system disorder. A spinal cord stimulator has helped manage her pain. As advocacy director and executive board member for the Power of Pain Foundation, Twinkle works on policy efforts, patient awareness and many other aspects of chronic pain.

Vincent Browne, 80, of Galway, Ireland

Medical Condition: Cardiovascular disease, Heart Attack

Therapy: Coronary stents

“Keep busy.”

Vincent had his first heart attack in 1989, which was treated with angioplasty and a triple bypass. Following his second heart attack, he was fitted with three coronary stents — and then three more after his third heart attack.   He has volunteered for the past 18 years with Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation, to help them raise money to bring heart disease prevention and recovery to tens of thousands of people in Ireland.

Tanya Hall, 38, of Melbourne, Australia

Medical Condition:  Cardiac Arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation

Therapy:  Pacemaker

“Never give up on your dreams, no matter your circumstances.”

Tanya was born with a hole in her heart and a heart murmur.  She had open heart surgery when she was nine years old.   At 21, she awoke to severe chest pain, her heart racing at two hundred beats per minute.  Ultimately, she was diagnosed with a number of heart arrhythmias, and received a pacemaker.   In 2011, frustrated with the lack of cardiac patient support groups in Australia, and at a loss for how she would spend the rest of her life, Tanya founded hearts4heart to fill both voids. 

About Medtronic and Medtronic Philanthropy

Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 85,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together. Medtronic Philanthropy focuses on expanding access to quality chronic disease care among underserved populations worldwide, in addition to supporting health initiatives in communities where Medtronic employees live and give.

Tweet me:Medtronic Bakken Invitation Award Honors 12 Patients from Around the World for Giving Back http://bit.ly/1NPsYwv #philanthropy

Contact Info:

Richard Fischer
Medtronic
+1 (763) 505-2975
richard.fischer@medtronic.com

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Philanthropy, Medtronic, Bakken Invitation Award

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

DESCRIPTION:

A landmark accord. An historic breakthrough. An unprecedented game changer. Those are some of the terms being used to describe the outcome of COP21, and for once, hyperbole seems appropriate. For the first time, nearly every country in the world has signed on to a universal agreement that commits the global community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.

The Paris deal represents a seismic shift in global economic policy, says The New York Times, “the moment at which the rise in planet-warming carbon emissions that started during the Industrial Revolution began to level out and eventually decline.” For the global financial and energy markets, it’s a strong signal to re-think investments in fossil fuels and double down on zero-carbon energy sources.

A few years ago, all the major oil and gas companies had divisions working with renewables—wind, solar, and hydro power. As oil prices rose, those units—never very large—were phased out. The bottom line, post-COP21? The combination of today’s low oil prices, which continue to fall, and the international agreement to lower GHGs will cause the major companies to consider an historic pivot in their strategies. Remember BP’s bold branding as “Beyond Petroleum”? It may have been just too far ahead of its time. Today, that message seems prophetic. I’m John Howell for 3BL Media.

Video Source: COP21: Global Financial and Energy Markets Face Economic Shift

Tweet me:Countries commit to reducing #greenhouse gas emissions after historic #COP21 conference http://3bl.me/hq6vsb @3BLMedia #CSRMinute

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Energy, COP21, CSRminute, 3bl Media

Gesture During Historic Goodwill Tour Will Benefit U.S.-Based NGO Providing Humanitarian Aid to the Island Nation

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, December 14, 2015 /3BL Media/ – The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), through the Major League Baseball Players Trust (www.PlayersTrust.org), and Major League Baseball (MLB) jointly announced that they will provide a $200,000 grant to Caritas Cubana, the U.S.-based, non-governmental provider of humanitarian, social and emergency services to Cuba, in recognition of this week’s goodwill tour arranged by MLBPA and the MLB.

Caritas Cubana focuses on assisting Cuba’s most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly, children, single mothers, people with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to conducting programs for these populations, Caritas Cubana distributes medicines and provides emergency relief as needed. To highlight MLB’s and the Players Trust’s support of Caritas Cubana, the players will visit with the non-profit as part of their tour.

The goodwill tour, which will take place between December 15th-18th, includes MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark and Hall of Famers Joe Torre (Chief Baseball Officer, MLB) and Dave Winfield (Special Advisor to the Executive Director, MLBPA). Participating active players selected by the MLBPA include Cuban-born Major Leaguers José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox, Brayan Peña of the St. Louis Cardinals, Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers and free agent shortstop Alexei Ramirez, as well as three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, two-time American League Most Valuable Player Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers, four-time AL All-Star Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners and 2011 World Series Champion Jon Jay, now of the San Diego Padres.

The goodwill tour marks MLB’s first visit to the island since the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game against the Cuban National Team in March 1999. The joint effort will consist of an opening press conference at Hotel Nacional, featuring Clark, Torre, Winfield and the participating players; children’s clinics at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana and Estadio Victoria de Giron in Matanzas; and the charity event in conjunction with Caritas Cubana.

Contact: John Blundell, Major League Baseball, (212) 931-7878, mlbpressbox.com, twitter.com/MLB and twitter.com/MLB_PR; Greg Bouris, Major League Baseball Players Association, (212) 826-0808, mlbplayers.com, twitter.com/MLB_PLAYERS

Tweet me:.@MLB and @MLB_Players grant $200,000 to Caritas Cubana

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, MLB, MLBPA, Players Trust, cuba, Caritas Cubana, tony clark, Joe Torre, Clayton Kershaw, Jose Abreu, Brayan Peña, dave winfield, Yasiel Puig, Alexei Ramirez, Nelson Cruz, Miguel Cabrera, Jon Jay

The creative spirit needs fuel and inspiration to propel itself forward

SOURCE:International Living Future Institute

DESCRIPTION:

By Peter Wiegle

The creative spirit needs fuel and inspiration to propel itself forward. The inspiration (catalyst) for my renewed spirit appeared in the form of a Japanese publication cal the "Data Book," technical illustrations of frame and component details of period 1940s-1970s French bicycles (example featured above). Like a portal to a lost civilization of fine bicycle details, the pages featured beautiful alloy fenders, well-engineered luggage racks and lighting systems. Read the article.

Tweet me:The creative spirit needs fuel and inspiration to propel itself forward #TrimTab #Bicycle #Craft @Living_Future http://3bl.me/akdkp8

KEYWORDS: Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Ethical Production and Consumption, International Living Future Institute, ILFI, Bicycle, design, craft, Peter Weigle, Trim Tab

SOURCE:Benevity

DESCRIPTION:

Although the focus of Giving Tuesday is fundraising for worthy causes, the key to success – both for companies and the broader landscape – is about developing a passion for service and giving back. Companies that infuse a culture of giving back into their workplace and customer-facing activities report several benefits, including enhanced reputation, improved ability to attract employees and customers, and improved retention. The company becomes not just a place to collect a paycheck or purchase a commodity, but a place that inspires people and fosters connections with a broader sense of purpose and passion.

#GivingEveryDay Twitter Chat

On Wednesday, Dec. 9th, we were thrilled to take part in a Twitter chat all about making #GivingEveryDay a reality. Benevity was joined by Asha Curran, Director of the Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92Y and Diane Solinger, Global Lead, GooglersGive at Google. The team at TriplePundit moderated the discussion and over the course of an hour we responded to more than 20 questions from people keen on fostering a culture of giving back all year round.

Read more on the Benevity blog...

Tweet me:.@Benevity explains how companies can transform #GivingTuesday into #GivingEveryDay http://bit.ly/1O0VJ4U

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Business & Trade, Engagement, #GivingEveryDay

Global leaders are converged in Paris. Is climate action actually here?

SOURCE:Green Builder Media

DESCRIPTION:

The world has waited with bated breath to see what, if anything, would come out of the United Nation’s COP21 climate summit this week. Some have been overjoyed with the outcome, citing groundbreaking commitments and a final agreement that may reach beyond initial expectations.

Others claim defeat, asserting that the lack of binding commitments will cause Paris to be a repeat of Copenhagen—a set of empty promises that have no real method of enforcement. Critics state that the lack of real accountability will likely lead to widespread reneging, alluding to the Kyoto Protocol, which was not ratified by the U.S. Senate specifically because of the lack of enforceability. They also point out that in order to take real action and spend money, the President will need agreement from Congress, which has become more unlikely than flying pigs these days.

In my opinion, the Paris talks are a far cry from Copenhagen, namely because these meetings brought a tour de force of corporate commitments to climate action. In a dizzying display, company after company, industry after industry threw bold commitments into the ring, showing unprecedented support for a transition to a low carbon economy and a clear understanding of how a changing climate will negatively impact businesses of all kinds. I believe that the private sector’s acute pressure on world leaders to agree on and execute a global climate deal that mitigates global warming, dramatically reduces emissions, and expedites a low-carbon economy will be the thing that turns the tide in the climate action battle.

As one example, apparel companies including Levi Strauss & Co., Gap Inc., VF Corporation, H&M, Eileen Fisher, Adidas Group and Burton Snowboards pledged to work together to reduce the textile industry’s environmental impact. In a joint statement, the companies affirmed that, “Drought, changing temperatures and extreme weather will make the production of apparel more difficult and costly. Climate change mitigation and technological innovation are vital to the health and well-being of those who make and use our products, as well as the future supply of materials needed to make those products.”

In the construction industry, the hubbub was around the launch of a new Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, comprised of governments and organizations from across the globe vested in green building (including multinational giants GlaxoSmithKline, Interface, Lloyds Banking Group, Philips, and Tesco), focused on making all new facilities net zero energy by 2030 and all existing buildings net zero by 2050.

Read more...

Tweet me:Global leaders are converged in Paris. Is climate action actually here? http://3bl.me/cv94we #COP21 #ClimateChange

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Carbon Footprint, Sara Gutterman, Green Builder Media, COP21, climate change, Environmental Politics

Eligible homebuyers can make an appointment now to apply for a matching down payment assistance grant up to $7,500 Jan. 15-16 at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

PHOENIX, Dec. 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), NeighborWorks America^® and its network member Trellis, today announced the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT^® program will expand to Maricopa County with a $5 million commitment by Wells Fargo  to help boost local homeownership.

Interested homebuyers can register for the free homebuyer event scheduled on Jan. 15-16 when eligibility will be determined for an opportunity to reserve a matching down payment assistance grant ranging from $2,500 up to $7,500 based on the homebuyer’s contribution. To learn more about the matching down payment assistance program eligibility requirements and to register for the homebuyer event, visit www.NeighborhoodLIFT.com.

“Making homeownership more affordable can help hard-working families and strengthens our neighborhoods,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.  “This innovative public-private partnership will make a difference for eligible homebuyers through financial education and down payment assistance.”

Approximately $4 million of the NeighborhoodLIFT program funds for Maricopa County will provide down payment assistance grants and program support to help hundreds of homebuyers overcome the barrier of making a sufficient down payment.

“While the local economy continues to show signs of improvement, many families have yet to re-enter the housing market because they struggle with coming up with a sufficient down payment,” Michael Riley, Metro West area president for Wells Fargo. “We believe these matching down payment assistance grants will add up to make a huge difference for hundreds of people and families who want to own a home.”

Matching down payment assistance grants ranging from $2,500 up to $7,500 will be based on the eligible homebuyer’s contribution. Annual incomes must not exceed 80 percent of the local area median income. In Maricopa County that is about $51,200 for a family of four, with income maximums varying depending on family size and type of loan.  To be eligible, homebuyers must meet criteria such as completing an eight-hour homebuyer education session with Trellis, a HUD-approved counselor.

Registration is open for free NeighborhoodLIFT event on Jan. 15-16

The Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT program will begin with a free event on January 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel located at 340 N. 3^rd St. Prospective homebuyers can register and learn more about the program at www.NeighborhoodLIFT.com or by calling (866) 858-2151. Pre-registration is strongly recommended for an opportunity to reserve a matching down payment assistance grant up to $7,500, although walk-ins will be welcome while funds are available for reservation.  The event also includes a Wells Fargo Affordable Home Tour^® viewing center where attendees can preview local homes available for purchase. 

To reserve a grant, participants buying homes with LIFT program down payment assistance grants must commit to live in the home for three years and qualify for a first mortgage on the property.

“This innovative collaboration among NeighborWorks America, our network member Trellis, Wells Fargo and Maricopa County will put more families and individuals on the path to homeownership,” said Gary Wolfe, regional vice president, Rocky Mountain Region, with NeighborWorks America. “The required housing counseling and education classes provided by certified professionals have been shown to help people achieve their goals of buying a home.”

The Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT program down payment assistance grants may also be combined with other down payment assistance programs to provide additional financial benefit to qualified buyers. Information regarding these other programs will be available at NeighborhoodLIFT events.  Participating homebuyers can obtain mortgage financing from any qualified lender.   Trellis will determine homebuyer eligibility and administer the down payment assistance grants. Approved homebuyers will have up to 60 days to finalize a contract to purchase a home within Maricopa County.

“We are ready to help families qualify for the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT program down payment assistance grants,” said Patricia Garcia Duarte, president & CEO, Trellis.  “Wells Fargo’s investment will help more individuals and families become homeowners, making Maricopa County neighborhoods even stronger.”

Wells Fargo’s NeighborhoodLIFT program for Maricopa County follows the Phoenix NeighborhoodLIFT program launched in 2012 that created 375 homeowners as a result of an $8 million investment by Wells Fargo. Maricopa County is the first Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT program of 2016 and is now one of 40 communities across the country that will benefit from more than $283 million Wells Fargo has committed through its LIFT programs.  NeighborhoodLIFT program is a corporate philanthropic initiative funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and since  February 2012, LIFT programs combined have helped create more than 10,500 homeowners in the 39 communities where the programs have been introduced. A video about LIFT programs is posted on the Wells Fargo YouTube Channel.

About Trellis and NeighborWorks America

Trellis is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 240 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.trellisaz.org or www.neighborworks.org to learn more.

About Wells Fargo (Twitter @WellsFargo)

In Arizona, Wells Fargo has 258 banking stores and more than 14,000 team members. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations, 12,800 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

# # #

Tweet me:.@MayorStanton joins @WellsFargo @TrellisAZ & @NeighborWorks to launch $5MM for #Phoenix #housing http://3bl.me/cwtz8m

Contact Info:

Lori Brown
Wells Fargo
+1 (602) 378-4434
brownlo@wellsfargo.com

Danny Ischy
Wells Fargo
+1 (602) 378-1049
Danny.ischy@wellsfargo.com

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Business & Trade, Maricopa, Home Ownership, Wells Fargo, Arizona, Phoenix

SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

December 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ - GRI, architect of the world’s sustainability data, has announced a series of local roundtable meetings to support the professional development of North American sustainability reporters. The GOLD Roundtables will promote collaboration and knowledge sharing among local reporting organizations and empower them to generate better reports and to unlock new ways to use their sustainability data. GRI Gold Roundtables will have a maximum of 30 participants, who will meet quarterly in either of two locations: San Francisco and Atlanta.

Roundtable participants will work together to tackles issues related to four important reporting topics:

• Sustainability Context
• Materiality and Boundaries
• Stakeholder inclusiveness
• Supply Chain

“Sustainability reporters have shared with us that they are looking for ways to network and learn from others who share geographic, regulatory and cultural similarities,” said Alyson Genovese, GRI’s Head of Corporate & Stakeholder Relations in North America. “GRI is committed to advancing the quality of sustainability reports as well as helping companies use reports as strategic business tools. The GOLD Roundtables will help participants deepen their skills and knowledge.”

The GOLD Roundtables reflect GRI’s growing list of educational and support programming in the United States, including the upcoming “3BL Media Webinar to Discuss Trends and Best Practices in Sustainability Reporting” on Thursday, January 14 at 11 a.m. ET, a collaborative effort from GRI and Weber Shandwick.

The GOLD Roundtables are generously hosted by Prologis in San Francisco and the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business in Atlanta.

GRI will also convene GOLD Roundtables in Germany, Brazil, Colombia, the Netherlands in 2016.

For more information, download the GOLD Roundtable Program overview or contact Alyson Genovese at genovese@globalreporting.org.

Tweet me:GRI launches GOLD Roundtables Program in USA! Read more here http://bit.ly/1NvaY6Y via @GRI_Secretariat

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Corporate Social Responsibility, GRI, global reporting initiative

Highlights from Domtar's 2015 Sustainability Report

SOURCE:Domtar

DESCRIPTION:

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products, including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products. The foundation of our business is a network of world-class wood fiber-converting assets that produce papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp. The majority of our pulp production is consumed internally to manufacture paper and consumer products. Domtar is the largest integrated marketer and manufacturer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America with recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice®, EarthChoice® and Xerox® Paper and Specialty Media. Domtar is also a marketer and producer of a broad line of absorbent hygiene products marketed primarily under the Attends®, IncoPack® and Indasec® brand names. In 2014, Domtar had sales of $5.6 billion from some 50 countries. The Company employs approximately 9,800 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com. 

Tweet me:.@DomtarCorp recordable incident rate has been lowered by 52% since 2008 improving #employee #safety. Read more: http://3bl.me/m58dkw

Contact Info:

Paige Goff, Vice President, Sustainability & Business Communications
+1 (803) 802-8101
Paige.Goff@domtar.com

KEYWORDS: Technology, Diversity and Human Resources, Domtar, Domtar's 2015 Sustainability Report, Sustainability Report, employee safety

By Kirsty Britz, Director of Group Citizenship at Barclays

SOURCE:Barclays

SUMMARY:

Kirsty Britz, Director of Group Citizenship at Barclays offers her tips on engaging internal stakeholders in creating a new strategy – and wants to hear yours

DESCRIPTION:

As I wrote in my previous blog, Barclays current citizenship strategy comes to a close at the end of the year. We are currently putting the finishing touches on its successor, a plan we’ve been working with internal and external stakeholders for the past 18 months.

Stakeholders have been central to the development of the new plan – for us, this has meant deep internal engagement from our business divisions, along with the corporate functions including finance, communications, marketing, legal and compliance.

Click here to continue reading on 2degrees

Tweet me:Six Ways To Engage Internal Stakeholders In Your Citizenship Strategy http://bit.ly/1jQLfNw @Barclays_cship via @2degreesnetwork

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Barclays, citizenship, Shared Value, Banks

SOURCE:Baxter International Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

For the first time, there are now four different generations working in the U.S. economy. Each generation brings certain preferences or “norms” for communication style and mode, how they make decisions, perspectives on workplace culture and environment and overall behavior. This mix of preferences is impacting the relationship between employer and employee, and how employees work together.

Business affinity or resource groups, such as Baxter’s Early Career Professionals, are helping to connect employees of different generations and advocate for varied and flexible development programs, technology platforms and other tools that engage and accommodate a wider range of employee preferences. The two co-presidents of the Early Career Professionals resource group at Baxter, Sydney Cope and Sarah Villarreal, and Baxter’s Vice President of Talent Management Irina Konstantinovsky recently shared their perspectives on the benefits and implications of a multi-generation workplace.

Question: What generational differences in the workplace do you see here at Baxter?

IRINA: The most exciting culture shift that the younger generations bring to the workplace is the focus on results rather than a static measure of effort or hours at work. This trend, combined with technological advances that enable us to be connected, and our need to operate successfully in a global environment creates the opportunity for a real shift in where, when and how we work. The lifestyle preference of the younger generation has influenced us to make changes in our workplace practices, like the “dress for your day” policy and exploring ways we can improve telecommuting and flexible work arrangements.

SARAH: A significant number of millennial employees live in the city, and as Baxter’s offices are located in the Chicago suburbs, our generation is spending a lot of valuable time commuting. Baxter has made significant strides in helping us make the most out of our commute, like enabling and encouraging use of public transportation and providing access to personal Wi-Fi hotspots or MiFi devices, so we can be productive to and from work and lessen the time we need to spend at the office.

SYDNEY: We’re also able to work remotely on occasion. This can be a huge benefit, since it allows us to work in an environment that fits best with our schedules and lifestyles without impacting productivity. With technology advances, it’s possible to communicate with people all over the world at all hours of the day, and whether at the office or at home you can still complete your work. And, by allowing flexible work hours that are best suited to a person’s schedule rather than a traditional nine to five workday, we can provide better coverage throughout the day and have more resources available at any given time.

IRINA: Baxter is definitely well aware of the differing values and needs of each generation of employees and we are working to develop best in class practices that allow us to collaborate and harness the power of diversity – be it generational, by ethnicity or cultural.  At the same time, we are focused on the core components that make a company a rewarding and attractive place to work for multiple generations, including meaningful and challenging work, collaboration and teamwork, developing skills and careers and receiving regular feedback. 

Question: Has a difference in communication styles among generations ever been a challenge for you? What advice do you have for bridging these differences?

IRINA: Communication styles do differ across generations, which can present challenges. I think many of us experience this daily at home. My daughter would much rather text, tweet or post a picture in Instagram than pick up the phone or send an email. Sometimes, she’d rather text me even when we are in the same place!  On top of that, when she writes a text I have to work through deciphering and make sentences out of letters such as G2G or IDK. 

I don’t think this is as acute in a workplace such as Baxter, where certain formalities like using complete sentences continue to be the norm. I’m sure some may find this to be an unnecessary formality. However, I do not see that changing just yet in the business setting and in a global company like Baxter. It’s a good example of the adjustments to “norms” that we all have to make.

SYDNEY: Compromise is definitely a key component of being able to communicate effectively with other generations. Millennials often prefer succinct types of communications, like email or instant messenger, rather than face-to-face conversations. I prefer having quick and concise conversations, whereas many of my colleagues from other generations enjoy more face time and are very conversational. I take the time to listen to a story about my colleagues’ kids or stop by to say hello when I have the time to give, but I still use other faster forms of communication on my busier days. It’s important to maintain relationships with your colleagues and consider their communication preferences.

SARAH: One of the challenges of our generation is being viewed as “young” while also trying to provide ownership and input on various projects. This becomes especially challenging when a millennial has direct reports from other generations. It’s important to gain a sense of trust and respect within the group first. This ensures your colleagues understand you’re willing to work with them rather than dictating what to do and how to do it. In that sense, it’s also essential to do extra research to be able to back up what you’re saying in order to really be trusted as a valuable member of the team.

Question: Do you feel employees understand how work is approached differently in different generations? How do employees accommodate these differences?

IRINA: The stereotype is that younger generations are generally entitled, technology savvy, overly eager, critical, superficial and more focused on enjoying life. Younger generations may perceive older colleagues to be less flexible, or slow to learn.  

These are definitively stereotypes. Yet, there is tremendous power in understanding differing approaches and strengths of each generation. Older workers have invaluable knowledge and experience, and younger workers have a willingness to try new things and approaches. This combination of skillsets could be quite powerful and advantageous if we find productive ways to engage all. Think about the power of harnessing the best of multiple generations to drive innovation and make rapid and disciplined decisions together. 

One of the characteristics of top talent is the ability to continuously learn and improve – inclusion is about learning, understanding and appreciating differences. When such differences and diversity are embraced, it leads to better ideas and solutions. I believe this is a journey in which differences will continue to challenge our perspectives.  Generations at work are a way to understand that new challenges and opportunities are ahead, and can help us all learn and grow. I’m eager to learn what’s in the alphabet after (Gen) Z!

SARAH: Employees recognize these differences, but whether they appreciate why they’re different is another story. That’s something that’s great about having a business resource group here at Baxter that’s solely focused on early career professionals. It gives us a chance to talk about challenges we see and provides solutions to resolve them. The discussion within and ideas from the group allows us to better connect with our colleagues all around Baxter.

SYDNEY: Different generations also approach problem solving in different ways. For instance, millennials are generally more comfortable working in teams, whereas other generations tend to work more individually. As an adjustment, it can be nice to come together as a team after working on a project individually. By mixing different styles, we can drive more efficient workplace practices and innovative results for our company.

Tweet me:Baxter employees share their thoughts on working with and benefiting from four different generations in the workplace http://3bl.me/n9kxpn

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, baxter international inc., inclusion, employees

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Jose Bautista, Gio Gonzalez and Jim Johnson provided the support as Action Teams across the country spread holiday season cheer.

This past weekend, Bautista joined the Action Team volunteers from George Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, Fla., at the Metropolitan Ministries of North Tampa where they were sorting donated food and presents for the underserved in the community.

“It was great to see the young leaders from GSHS come out and donate their time and efforts to support this great cause. They are truly learning important values along with getting a great education at that institution. Giving back to the community is something dearly important to me as well so I was honored to be invited to attend,” said the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder.

A week earlier, Gonzalez was a surprise guest In Arlington, Va., where captains from Bishop Ireton in the District of Columbia held a holiday-themed dinner and tree-trimming party for Volunteers of America’s homeless and residential program. 

Johnson joined Action Team Captains from Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto, Fla., who hosted a Christmas party for the town’s Habitat for Humanity on Dec. 12. The volunteers decorated and performed music for the attendees. 

Captains from iSchool High in Montgomery in Conroe, Texas held a service project on Dec. 4 called “Cookies for Courage” in which they organized a school-wide effort to make and deliver cookies and holiday cards for all of the firemen serving their community. The Captains baked in the afternoon after school and delivered the goodies to their local firehouse the next morning.

The Captains from Mundy’s Mill High School in Jonesboro, Ga., assisted with wrapping gifts for their church’s Toys for Tots program on Dec. 12.

“We had a great time wrapping gifts for those in need. It was nice to see our youth with a heart to serve,” said Tanzania Daniel, Mundy’s Mill Action Team Volunteer Coordinator.

To read more on how our Action Team Captains have been giving back this holiday season click here.

Tweet me:#ActionTeam capts + @JoeyBats19 @GioGonzalez47 & #JimJohnson spread #holiday cheer at #volunteer events http://bit.ly/1MfjQeT @_ActionTeam

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Education, Action Team, holiday, Major Leaguers, Jose Bautista, Gio Gonzalez, Jim Johnson, Captains, holiday season, George Steinbrenner High School, Bishop Ireton, Manatee School for the Arts, iSchool High, Mundy's Mill High School

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on Digiday

Every weekday Betty Liu heads to the Bloomberg offices before the sun is up. By 7:30 a.m. she’s in a makeup chair getting her hair blown out and eyelashes curled. She only has two hours to catch up on the latest from the European and Asian markets, prep questions for her interviews, and read through her scripts. Liu is scheduled to go live on Bloomberg TV at exactly 10 a.m.

Liu is comfortable offline and in the anchor seat as well, even when she is the only female minority on set, which is often. She said growing up as a Chinese immigrant in Philadelphia exposed her early on to a diverse range of people.

“I connect to people from every single background and it doesn’t just have to do with billionaires and millionaires, but I connect to all races and all dimensions. I bring that back to my upbringing,” Liu said.

Continue reading here >>

Tweet me:How @Bloomberg anchor @BettyWLiu uses social media to build her brand http://bit.ly/1m4945Y

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, Media & Communications, women, diversity, news, Bloomberg, Betty Liu, Social Media

by Gina-Marie Cheeseman

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

Despite the El Nino weather pattern that is bringing much needed rain to California, experts say it will likely not be enough to lift the state out of drought. So, water conservation will be on the radar for the foreseeable future. 

Agriculture in California is a sector that is being most scrutinized for its water use. The reason is that it uses 80 percent of California’ water supply. And almonds are one crop that is getting a bad rap for high water use. However, there are crops or agricultural uses in the Golden State that use much more water than almonds do. Alfalfa and cattle are the state’s two biggest agricultural users of water, according to statistics compiled by Blaine Hanson from University of California, Davis’ Department of Land, Air and Water Resources.

To continue reading, click here

Photo: David Strand

Gina-Marie Cheeseman is a central California-based journalist who writes about sustainability, environmental issues, and healthy living. With a degree in journalism and a passion for social responsibility, she writes for a number of online publications. She believes that collaboration between the public and private sectors can help solve many problems facing the planet and its people. Mashable.com named Cheeseman as one of the “75 Environmentalists to Follow on Twitter.”

Tweet me:Are Almonds Really Water Villains? http://bit.ly/1O0MqSo via @Justmeans #WaterEfficiency #sustainable food

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Environment and Climate Change, Justmeans

By Kirsten Gappelberg, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mary Kay

SOURCE:Mary Kay

DESCRIPTION:

Time flies when you’re having fun and the 2015 holiday season is upon us! This is my favorite time of year because it’s filled with fun family gatherings, cooking, shopping (a personal favorite of mine) and of course, gift-wrapping. With all the leftover shopping bags, wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift packaging, etc. the trash fills up a little faster than normal. Did you know that household waste increases by more than 25 percent from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day? And in the U.S., annual trash from gift-wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons!

These are statistics we think about all year long at Mary Kay, and we’re making strides to be more sustainable and green.  For example, our global manufacturing facility achieved zero landfill site status in 2012. Why is this important? Well, that means when this facility is producing Mary Kay’s awesome skin care and color cosmetics – for the world – we’re recycling 90 percent or more of the waste! 

Mary Kay China has an amazing wastewater treatment system that cleans all of the wastewater generated from manufactured products for our Chinese consumers. The water produced from this treatment system is so clean that is used to fill a koi fish pond located just outside of the facility on the Mary Kay China campus. Impressive, right?

Our distribution centers across the U.S. have been using bio-peanuts since 2006 to ship product orders. These things are pretty phenomenal. Not only do they ensure that millions of Mary Kay color cosmetics and skin care products arrive safely and undamaged, they are also 100 percent biodegradable – they dissolve in water! And in one year, Mary Kay uses enough bio peanuts to fill 100,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

We’re proud of our sustainable efforts and continue to work towards improving our environmental performance. And guess what? You can help, too! Maybe you put Mary Kay® products on your holiday wish list or you’ve bought some for your friends and family. Recycle your Mary Kay flip-top caps and color refill cases, by sending them here, and for every 10 we receive we’ll plant one tree in the U.S. with the help of our friends from the Arbor Day Foundation. 

Tweet me:#MaryKay is doing their part to be green all year. http://bit.ly/mkgreen

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Trees, Mary Kay, Arbor Day Foundation

Funding to Provide 3D Printers and Design Technology for New Sustainable Living Program at Environmental Charter High School

SOURCE:EcoMedia

DESCRIPTION:

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ – The Southern California Honda Dealers have teamed up with Environmental Charter Schools, a charter school network educating students in South Los Angeles, to help launch a new sustainable living program for high school students. Through its participation in CBS EcoMedia’s EducationAd program, the Southern California Honda Dealers have provided funding for 3D printers, 3D scanners, tablets and other design technology needed to launch this new experiential learning program.

Environmental Charter Schools is a growing network of green public schools in South Los Angeles. Its mission is to create and deliver vibrant, innovative, interdisciplinary learning opportunities using the environment to engage students and connect them to the wider world.

Funding provided by the Southern California Honda Dealers will allow Environmental Charter Schools to purchase all of the classroom technology needed to launch a new Tiny Home experiential learning program. The goal of the Tiny Home program is to improve student understanding of math and science concepts by presenting a student-centric learning opportunity incorporating art, technology, and interdisciplinary creativity. Students will use computer-aided design technology to design and build their “tiny structures” project.

The SoCal Honda Dealers are excited to partner with Environmental Charter Schools and provide a Random Act of Helpfulness for their students. For the Guys in Blue, it’s their job to be helpful, and they’ve helped students all year - from new jerseys for an entire school, to help with school supplies for various teachers and their classes. The Helpful Honda Team surprised students at Environmental Charter High School by stopping by to unveil the new classroom technology. Students were thrilled to see all of the new high tech pieces of equipment arrive just before the holidays.

“We are so grateful to the Southern California Honda Dealers for their generous support! The Tiny Homes technology equipment enables us to put sustainable living design tools directly into the hands of our students so they can start shaping their communities now,” said Mandy Breuer, Principal of Environmental Charter High School. “Our students will be the next scientists, engineers, and urban designers and so equipping them with these real-world tools allows us to develop a sustainability-minded workforce who will go on to become change-makers in their own communities and who are making important choices to reduce the environmental footprint in their cities now. Southern California Honda Dealers is making all this possible with their donation.” 

About Southern California Honda Dealers Association

Launched in January 2007, Helpful Honda is an inspiring multi-layered program representing over 50 dealers from various cities across Southern California.  A collaborative effort with the Southern California Honda Dealers Association, creative agency Secret Weapon Marketing, and media company Horizon Media, Helpful Honda serves to create a unified voice through an evergreen message: Helpfulness. Since its inception, the program has demonstrated this message in various ways, such as: providing assistance at homeless shelters with warm meals and care packages; sending Helpful tanker trucks to surprise motorists with complimentary gas; distributing reusable shopping bags at local farmers markets; scheduling umbrella escorts during rainy days; and visiting hardware stores and supermarkets to carry groceries and unload purchases for shoppers.  Now residents can request help simply by tweeting #HelpMeHonda and the Guys in Blue may just show up to lend a hand.

About Environmental Charter Schools

Since its inception in 2000, Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) has been providing students with a unique learning experience that utilizes environmental service learning to inspire students to find authentic meaning in their studies. The result is students who are prepared for college, motivated to continue their learning, and desire to positively contribute to their community.

The neighborhoods served by ECS have crime rates that are twice that of the national average, low levels of educational attainment, and high levels of poverty.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.

EcoMedia was founded in 2002 by social entrepreneur Paul Polizzotto. The company's mission is to harness the power of the advertising dollar to make tangible, quality of life improvements in communities nationwide. In 2010, after successfully partnering on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia was acquired by CBS Corporation, exponentially scaling its reach across television, radio, interactive, and publishing media.

Through EcoMedia's patent-pending EcoAd, as well as EducationAd, WellnessAd, Viewers to Volunteers and Volunteering with the Stars advertising programs, national brands and local businesses provide millions of dollars in financial support to some of the nation's most effective nonprofit organizations, funding critical veterans’, education, health and wellness, and environmental projects nationwide.

EcoMedia's innovative and proprietary business model has fundamentally altered the advertising and nonprofit landscapes, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.

EcoMedia has earned numerous awards and recognitions for its work, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors Award for Excellence in Public Private Partnerships (2009), Edison Awards for Social Innovation and Social Impact (2012, 2013), and the Starlight Children's Foundation's “General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Leadership Award,” which honors individual and organizational leaders who are doing extraordinary work to advance the common good and strengthen their communities. 

Please visit ecomediacbs.com, like us at Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

By participating in EcoMedia's EcoAd, WellnessAd, EducationAd, and Viewers to Volunteers advertising programs, EcoMedia's advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities. EcoMedia's advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.

Press Contact:

Theresa Schieber

Theresa.schieber@ecomediacbs.com

212-975-3471

Tweet me:.@HelpfulHonda funds design technology & launches new #STEM program for students at @EnviroCharter w/ @EcoMediaCBS. http://3bl.me/byzsyp

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Events, Conferences & Webinars, Helpful Honda, Southern California Honda Dealers, Environmental Charter Schools, Random Act of Helpfulness, Los Angeles, CA, Technology, sustainable living program, EcoMedia

By Carol Baroudi

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

Ads for “free computer recycling” make my skin crawl. Free, of course, sounds good to most people. But as with most “free” offers, there’s a catch.

The catch in this case might not be obvious to the office or facility manager charged with simply getting rid of everything. Office moves happen, and the logistics and organizational details may well fall to someone with little or no background in IT or IT asset disposition. And, unbeknownst to many, a simple office move may result in significant risk to the organization.

When companies move or simply close a facility, they often uncover a lot of stuff nobody wants. Many organizations have closets – sometimes warehouses – full of obsolete or broken technology devices. The order to vacate makes this somebody’s problem.

So the move manager pays somebody – anybody – to take it away. Now! The problem is that if you don’t pay for properly documented disposal, the disposal firm is likely maximizing its profit by dumping your old IT devices with a third-party scrap business that does little or no processing. So even if your closets are empty, your problems have only just begun.

First, let’s worry about all the data you just dropped into unscrupulous hands. Even if the device is broken and you can’t immediately read the data, that doesn’t mean the data can’t be accessed. If your financial records or customer information was printed on paper, would you casually give those files to a stranger who might sell it? Of course not. But that’s what you just did when you dumped your old electronics. When you offload your IT, you really need to work with a professional contractor to make sure the data is truly eradicated – not just erased.

Another worry has to do with your brand. Often equipment can be traced to its owner, so wherever the equipment winds up, unless you’ve been very diligent about it, it may well be traced to you. If you simply hand it over “for free,” whether it’s found in a landfill (where electronics are banned), or online for sale (complete with your data), or shipped abroad (with your data, and where children often work at electronics dumps), your company could be exposed for dumping e-waste, and your brand will be at risk.

Properly handling electronics at their end of life also costs money. Paying workers a livable wage, protecting workers with health and safety measures, complying with industry standards to ensure proper operations – all these things cost money. So if you’re not paying for these services, a safe assumption is that you’re not getting these services. And you may be violating your own company’s code of conduct and agreements with your own workforce.

None of this sounds free to me.

Arrow’s Value Recovery business can help you with proper IT asset disposition, and protect your data and your brand with the best possible environmental outcomes. Questions? Drop me a line at cbaroudi@arrow.com.

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

Tweet me:Use caution in IT asset disposition, "free" often has a cost. @Carol_Baroudi @ArrowGlobal http://3bl.me/waphqq #ITAD

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Business & Trade, Arrow Electronics, Carol Baroudi, ITAD

By AT&T

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

2015 was a big year.

It’s the year the Internet of Things (IoT) got some ink in the dictionary. It’s the year IoT and the technology that fuels it began truly transforming our daily lives and environment. And it’s the year AT&T established a major goal using that technology to enhance the world we all share.

Last month, AT&T set a goal to enable carbon savings 10 times the footprint of our company’s operations by 2025. We will accelerate technology’s role in reducing carbon emissions, while enhancing the efficiency of our network– 25 million connected devices strong – and delivering sustainable customer solutions.

We’re going full-steam ahead (pun not intended) over the next decade to explore solutions that help our world, so it’s both necessary and encouraging to take a look back at the strides we’ve made so far. Check out how the IoT connections AT&T has made this year are helping us build a better tomorrow.

Connected Businesses.
Businesses can connect factory equipment, global shipping containers, farm gear, industrial ovens, fleets or remote workers. IoT helps reduce operational costs and saves time and resources.

For example, Maersk is using AT&T’s IoT technology to track shipping containers and keep perishable contents at the desired temperature.

AT&T M2X.
Sensor technologies like M2X connect devices through a cloud-based data storage service. It lets companies collect and analyze data, and improve performance – from trucks to turbines to freight containers.

It also helps utilities and cities detect water leaks and reduce water waste. This year, we teamed up with IBM and Mueller Water Products to create a new solution to help cities conserve water.

Connected Cities.
We launched a Smart Cities Organization with committed resources and IoT expertise. We’re connecting utility grids, smart meters, water management systems, lighting and city infrastructure to increase efficiency and decrease waste of resources.

Indeed, a big year.

Tweet me:.@ConnecttoGood "A Look Back as we Race Forward" http://soc.att.com/1NTxEl1 #ATTimpact

KEYWORDS: Technology, Environment and Climate Change, AT&T, IoT, Internet of Things, 2025, 25 million, connected businesses, Maersk, M2X, IBM, Mueller Water Products, Smart Cities Coalition, connected cities, Infographic, carbon footprint

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

The Philadelphia and King of Prussia, PA divisions of Republic Services collected toys for the Toys for Tots program.

Republic is dedicated to supporting and being a good neighbor in the communities in which we live and work. This includes investing back into our communities through customer engagement, philanthropic giving, volunteerism, infrastructure investments, and operating in over 240 markets at the highest standards.

Tweet me:Philadelphia divisions of .@RepublicServices collected toys for @ToysForTots_USA | Read: http://3bl.me/a9yq3r

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, Republic Services, Toys for Tots