SCE engineers host Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth students in a program on electricity and sustainability.

SOURCE:Edison International

DESCRIPTION:

Explaining electricity to a group of pre-teens could be a tough sell, but My-Quan Hong had a secret weapon: a red ball.

The Southern California Edison engineer asked three of the kids to pass the ball back and forth to demonstrate the flow of an electric charge and how opposite charges attract. When she asked a student to pass her the ball, she blocked it, showing how like charges repel.

It was a simple demonstration, but one of many that engaged 27 Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth middle schoolers and their parents during a recent day-long program about electricity sponsored by SCE’s Advanced Technology group. The Center for Talented Youth is a nationwide program for gifted youth to broaden their experiences and learning.

Read full story in Inside Edison.

Tweet me:Using a red ball to teach about electricity @EdisonIntl http://3bl.me/b9545k

KEYWORDS: Education, Energy, STEM, Edison International, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

by Vikas Vij

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

One out of nine people on the planet is chronically hungry, while the world faces a humongous challenge to feed an additional two billion mouths by 2050. Companies can turn this challenge into an opportunity by investing and innovating in crop science, livestock growth, water efficiency and supply chain management, to create a sustainable global food system.

Agribusinesses and other food companies as well as social entrepreneurs across sectors can contribute to a truly sustainable food system through promoting responsible consumer brands, supporting family farms, and expanding community markets. Consumer brands are a key vehicle for both educating people about sustainability and creating more robust value chains.

To continue reading, click here

Image Credit: Flickr via unitydrums

Vikas is a staff writer for the Sustainable Development news and editorial section on Justmeans. He is an MBA with 20 years of managerial and entrepreneurial experience and global travel. He is the author of "The Power of Money" (Scholars, 2003), a book that presents a revolutionary monetary economic theory on poverty alleviation in the developing world. Vikas is also the official writer for an international social project for developing nations "Decisions for Life" run in collaboration between the ILO, the University of Amsterdam and the Indian Institute of Management.

Tweet me:How Companies Can Invest in #Sustainable Food Brands http://bit.ly/1O50kD2 via @Justmeans #SocInn #SocEnt

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Business & Trade, Green Companies, Cause Global, Justmeans

SOURCE:TD Bank Group

DESCRIPTION:

December 16, 2015 /3BL Media/ - On December 14, 2015 TD announced that it is adding electric vehicle charging stations at seven locations in British Columbia, Canada. The stations will provide customers driving electric vehicles the opportunity to charge their vehicles while they do their banking. 

Visit td.com to read the full press release. 

About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (TD). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves approximately 22 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; Wealth and Insurance, including TD Wealth, TD Direct Investing, an investment in TD Ameritrade, and TD Insurance; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, and TD Auto Finance U.S.; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with approximately 8 million active online and mobile customers. TD had CDN$835 billion in assets on July 31, 2013.The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

Tweet me:TD provides #electric charging for customers' vehicles at seven locations across #BritishColumbia #Canada http://3bl.me/myfdnt

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Energy, electric vehicle charging, Canada, british columbi, TD Bank

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Twelve Major Leaguers from eight different clubs played in the 2^nd annual Sam Fuld SLAMDiabetes Tampa Classic Wiffle ball tournament at the University of South Florida on Dec. 12 to fund camps for children who have Type 1 diabetes.

Chris Archer, Jose Bautista, Chris Colabello, Slade Heathcott, Dan Jennings, Kevin Kiermaier, Andrew Miller, Matt Moore, Logan Morrison, John Ryan Murphy and Denard Span joined Fuld for the tournament.

“We were able to triple our fundraising from last year to a total of about $60,000 and we once again had a great turnout from players,” said Fuld, a veteran outfielder with the Oakland A’s who has Type 1 diabetes.

Fuld, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 10, started holding annual clinics in February 2012 to help show children that Type 1 diabetes shouldn’t limit them from achieving their dreams. He joined forces with SLAMIDiabetes (http://www.slamt1d.org/) at the invitation of its chief executive, Jeff Kolok, who proposed the charity Wiffle ball tournament in 2014 to help fund the camps.

“We expect to see continued growth in fundraising and participation in years to come and hope to have a significant positive impact in the Type1 diabetes community,” Fuld said.

The tournament consisted of 208 players on 16 teams playing at four fields. One of the teams was made up of front office staff from the Tampa Rays, for whom Fuld played from 2011 to 2013.

Tweet me:Major Leaguers @SamFuld5 @JoeyBats19 @ChrisArcher42 and more raise money for #T1D at @SLAMDiabetesNOW event bit.ly/1Qt2cMz

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Volunteerism & Community Engagement, type 1 diabetes, Sam Fuld, Major League Baseball, Jose Bautista, Chris Archer, Chris Colabello, Slade Heathcott, Dan Jennings, Kevin Kiermaier, John Ryan Murphy, Andrew Miller, Matt Moore, Logan Morrison, Denard Span, SLAM Diabetes, T1D, wiffle ball, tournament, Baseball

SOURCE:FCA US LLC

SUMMARY:

• Michigan stamping plant becomes the 12th FCA North American facility to achieve milestone award
• Award recognizes improvements in safety, quality and productivity
• Plant benefits from $166 million investment to increase capacity
• Achievement comes as plant marks 50 years of production

DESCRIPTION:

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., December 16, 2015 /3BL Media/ - The FCA US Sterling Stamping Plant has been awarded bronze status for its efforts to improve in World Class Manufacturing (WCM) and becomes the 12th North American facility to receive this designation.
 
The Sterling Heights, Mich., plant, which celebrated 50 years of production in 2015, earned bronze after a two-day audit on Dec. 15 and 16 during which it earned a minimum of 50 points in 10 technical and 10 managerial pillars by demonstrating clear WCM know-how and competence through employee-conducted pillar presentations and a review of projects that have been implemented across the shop floor.
 
In July, the Company announced that it would invest more than $166 million in three new press lines at the plant to meet increased product demand. The new press lines are expected to be at full production in the first half of 2016. Sterling Stamping is the largest stamping plant in the world and ships to customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Venezuela.

“Being awarded bronze after 50 years of service and in the middle of a significant expansion is a remarkable achievement,” said Brian Harlow, Vice President – Manufacturing, FCA North America. “The bronze designation recognizes the focus, dedication and commitment of our workforce to building on the achievements of the past while laying a solid foundation for the future.
 
“As the industry returns to pre-recession volumes, WCM has been a key factor in driving efficiencies throughout our operations, which have allowed us to meet that demand,” said Harlow. “The Company’s growth could not have been achieved without the support of our UAW partners. Our hourly employees have demonstrated that they are committed to keeping FCA US competitive with the best manufacturing facilities in the world.”
 
World Class Manufacturing is a methodology that focuses on eliminating waste, increasing productivity, and improving quality and safety in a systematic and organized way. WCM engages the workforce to provide and implement suggestions on how to improve their jobs and their plants, promoting a sense of ownership. WCM was first implemented by Fiat in 2006 and introduced to Chrysler Group as part of the alliance between the two companies in June 2009.
 
During an audit, zero to five points are awarded for each of the 10 technical pillars, which include safety, workplace organization, logistics and the environment, and for each of the 10 managerial pillars, such as management commitment, clarity of objectives, allocation of people, motivation of operators and commitment of the organization. A score of 100 would indicate World Class.
 
Two WCM-certified auditors from FCA – the Vice President of Manufacturing for CNH Industrial – IVECO and the Unit Manager at the CNH Industrial – IVECO Valladolid Plant – performed the audit.
 
In addition to Sterling Stamping, there are nine other facilities that currently hold the WCM bronze designation:

• Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant (Mexico)
• Saltillo South Engine Plant (Mexico)
• Trenton Engine Complex (Mich.)
• Warren Stamping (Mich.)
• Indiana Transmission Plant II (Ind.)
• Kokomo Transmission Plant (Ind.)
• Kokomo Casting (Mich.)
• Toledo (Ohio) Assembly Complex
• Toluca Assembly Plant (Mexico)

Windsor Assembly Plant (Ont.) and Dundee Engine Plant (Mich.) received the WCM Silver designation in March 2014 and May 2015, respectively.
 
Sterling Stamping provides stampings and assemblies, including hoods, roofs, liftgates, side apertures, fenders and floor pans for the Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Dart, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler 200, Jeep® Grand Cherokee, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot and Ram Truck. In operation since 1965, the plant employs nearly 2,300 people.
 
About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler, the innovative American automaker first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925; and Fiat, founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli.

FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FCAU” and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol “FCA.”

Follow FCA US news and video on:
FCA Content On Demand (COD): www.fcacod.com
Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com
Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com
FCA360: 360.fcanorthamerica.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChryslerGroup
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/chryslergroup/
Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fcacorporate
Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Streetfire: www.streetfire.net/uploaded/chryslervideo.htm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol
YouTube: www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo

Additional information and news from Chrysler Group LLC is available at: http://www.media.chrysler.com. 

Tweet me:.@FiatChrysler_NA US Sterling Stamping Plant Earns World Class #Manufacturing Bronze Award http://3bl.me/3my9p3 #recognition

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Business & Trade, World Class Manufacturing, FCA US LLC

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on BNA.com 
 

Companies are increasingly recognizing the value that providing service opportunities to employees brings to their business, the employees and communities across the globe. For many employers this often can mean more engaged employees, increased company morale and more positive brand recognition. Each company, however, will likely need a unique employee volunteer program to maximize participation and good works. By looking at what organizations are doing locally in D.C., employers can learn what type of program will best fit their company culture, size and passion for volunteering.

To learn more, download a complimentary copy of our new white paper, Employer Altruism: Benefits of a Successful Employee Volunteer Program .

Tweet me: Employer Altruism and Employee Volunteer Programs @bloomberg @bloombergbna #bbna http://3bl.me/v5gczg

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Media & Communications, Employee Engagement, employees, students, learning, workforce, csr, Corporate Social Responsibility, working, job, career, loyalty, Washington DC, United States, Bloomberg

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

As part of its commitment to develop the next generation of artists and visionaries, 21st Century Fox distributed grants to 16 under-funded music programs at schools across the U.S. this fall. The effort kicked off last March to commemorate the end of FOX's groundbreaking music series Glee, which over the course of its six-season run sparked renewed interest and participation in school arts programs. Working with the Give a Note Foundation, a longtime partner of 21st Century Fox, the company organized grant presentation ceremonies at recipient schools, celebrating the faculty and staff that make these programs possible and giving the students the opportunity to showcase their talents. Since 2011, 21st Century Fox businesses have donated more than $1 million in grants to nearly 90 arts programs across the country.

"Glee has inspired us all to fight for what we believe in and has been truly influential in driving support for music and the arts in schools," said Jane Mell Balek, Chief Operating Officer, Give a Note Foundation. "We are proud to work with 21st Century Fox to honor the show's legacy with a new grant program that will allow us to reach even more schools across the country."

Over the summer, the company worked closely with the Give a Note Foundation to identify school music programs in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Montana, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Houston, and Seattle. The grants gave a large boost to these programs, many of which have struggled for years to find adequate funding. In some cases, the grants served as the music budget for the entire school year, and others saved programs on the verge of getting cut completely.

"A lot of kids don't have that exposure to any kind of activity or fun or brightness in their life, and music gives that to them," said Stephanie Manuel, a teacher at University Park Create Arts School in North Carolina, a Title 1 school that received a grant providing the year's entire music budget. "We're going to use [the money] to start a recorder program, because music is not funded at the elementary level. I figure this will be a great way to get them started."

The initiative draws on the company's long history of releasing programming that celebrates the freedom of expression that music and the arts provide. "At Fox, we are incredibly proud of our support for shows like American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Empire, and of course, Glee, which has inspired countless people to sing, dance, and get that creativity flowing," said FOX5 anchor Lauren DeMarco, who spoke on behalf of 21st Century Fox when the recipient schools were announced at the National Association for Music Education's (NAfME) National Leadership Meeting in Washington, D.C., in June.

"Over the course of time and educational reform and budget constraints, the school district just hasn't been able to provide the resources that it used to," said Scott Sheehan of NAfME. "These [grants] are going to have such an impact for these students and these teachers."

Many of the teachers at recipient schools agreed, describing the grants as a means to give students more opportunities to explore their creativity.

"This grant will enable us to show the heartening benefits of investing in music education by sharing exciting performances of our students around our City Beautiful," said Earl Vennum, music director at Castle Creek Elementary in Orlando, Florida. "In addition, our students will be able to see high school and professional performances, inspiring them to a finer level of artistic accomplishment."

Learn more at impact.21CF.com. 

Tweet me:.@21CF supports music education, awards grants to 16 schools: http://bit.ly/1k0XaIO @21CF_Impact @GiveANote

KEYWORDS: Education, Business & Trade, 21st century fox, fox, glee, give a note foundation, Charity, Donation, Grants, grant program, arts education, Music, Schools, american idol, so you think you can dance, empire, national association for music education

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on Bloomberg.com

“Tech entrepreneurship is close to my heart,” said Michael R. Bloomberg as we welcomed more than 150 members of the NYC technology community for the inaugural Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series.

After sharing stories about the company’s early beginnings and how tech entrepreneurship played a major role in its success, Bloomberg introduced the new speaker series and first participant Y Combinator President Sam Altman.

Tom Giles, executive editor of Bloomberg Media’s  global technology team, interviewed Altman and learned that when it comes to the venture capital gains tax debate, his viewpoint is “investors like him should pay more.” In fact, Altman said he donates the extra cash from the tax break.

Altman also discussed   Y Combinator’s growing commitment to tech industry diversity through initiatives like their Females Founders Conference and offering special office hours for underrepresented groups in tech.

Giles didn’t let Altman leave the stage before having him offer advice to early startup founders. Addressing the pitfalls many of them face primary – Altman said – was how some founders spend too much time on socializing, networking and trying to raise money, as opposed to actually focusing more energy and time on building the best possible product and company. Founders often confuse networking for actual work.  Altman called this a “high class problem” – but one that ruins companies. “We try to intervene whenever we see this occurring,” he stated. “But sometimes it is too late.”

Dan Huttenlocher, dean and vice provost of Cornell Tech, closed out the session by stating: “We’re very excited to grow our relationship with Bloomberg LP and to be working in partnership on this series. It presents the Cornell Tech community with a unique opportunity to listen to, ask questions of and learn from leading global technology figures.”

Editor’s Note: The next “Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg” event will take place on January 13th with Groupon Co-Founder Brad Keywell.

Tweet me:Inaugural #CornellTech @ #Bloomberg Speaker Series Welcomes #YCombinator http://3bl.me/cmpyqc @bloomberg @cornell

KEYWORDS: Technology, Education, Cornell, roosevelt, island, CTO, generator, students, Computers, Hacking, hackathon, Bloomberg, New York, New York City, Brooklyn

SOURCE:Freeport-McMoRan

DESCRIPTION:

The Morenci Mine in Arizona received a Bat Conservation Action Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), presented in partnership with Bat Conservation International for outstanding bat preservation and education efforts.

The WHC partners with organizations dedicated to restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat on corporate lands. Freeport-McMoRan has been a member for many years and now has 18 sites with WHC-certified habitat enhancement, conservation education and wildlife management programs.

Morenci received the Bat Conservation Action Award for efforts to protect Mexican free-tailed bats and Townsend's big-eared bats that inhabit caves near the mine site. These include protecting the caves as a roosting spot by installing specially designed bat-compatible gates at historic mine openings that keep humans out while allowing the bats free movement, educating employees and the public about the importance of the bats in the ecosystem, and partnering with Graham and Greenlee County schools to develop student curriculum.

For information about Freeport-McMoRan’s environmental commitments, please see http://www.fcx.com/sd/env/index.htm

Visit the 2014 Working Toward Sustainable Development Report for more information on all of their social, economic and environmental efforts.

Tweet me:Freeport-McMoRan Receives Wildlife Habitat Council Award http://3bl.me/2vcfhq #BCI #WHC #FCX

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Environment and Climate Change, Conservation, whc, Freeport-McMoRan, Morenci, Bat Conservation International, Preservation

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

1 in 7 Americans face hunger and the rates of hunger in our nation are holding steady at all-time highs. If we don’t address the issue, those numbers could rise – even if they continue to hold steady, this has detrimental implications for the future health and prosperity of our entire nation.

Daniel and Maricruz, featured in this video are among the 48 million people in the U.S. who struggle with hunger, along with access to other basic needs. 

>> Click here to learn how Feeding America is helping families like Daniel and Maricruz, and see how far $1 donation can go towards helping solve hunger in our nation.

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities: US #Hunger rates are holding steady at all-time highs. How $1 donation to @FeedingAmerica helps http://bit.ly/1Qs8QTh

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, America's Charities | Business & Trade | Child Hunger | Employee Engagement | Feeding America | Food Insecurity | Fundraising | Philanthropy | cause marketing | corporate philanthropy

Bloomberg Law Supporting Qualified Washington, D.C. Residents and Businesses in Need of Legal Services

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on bna.com

ARLINGTON, Va., December 17, 2015 /3BL Media/ — Bloomberg BNA today announced it will be providing complimentary access to Bloomberg Law to the DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF). Bloomberg Law, a leading all-in-one technology platform for the legal industry, will provide its suite of products with no charge to DCALF, which offers affordable, high-quality legal services to Washington, D.C. residents who do not qualify for free legal aid, as well as small businesses and nonprofits in the District. An independent nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status, DCALF is a collaboration launched by Georgetown University Law Center, Arent Fox LLP, and DLA Piper LLP.

“We are excited to offer DCALF complimentary access to Bloomberg Law to support the firm in its mission of helping those in Washington, D.C. who would otherwise be unable to afford high-quality legal services,” said David Perla, President of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg BNA’s Legal Division. “When DLA Piper brought this unique collaboration to our attention, we recognized immediately that it was an important initiative we wanted to get behind.  Our support of DCALF aligns with our mission of making a difference in those communities in which we live and operate.”

“Technology and information are the lifeblood of any law firm operating today, and DCALF is no different,” said Sheldon Krantz, director of the DCALF and adjunct professor at Georgetown Law. “Bloomberg BNA’s generous support provides us with access to Bloomberg Law, one of the best legal technology resources available, as we carry out our mission to provide ‘low bono’ legal services of superior quality to our clients.”

DCALF will officially open its doors on Tuesday, December 15. Georgetown Law is providing 15-month fellowships and a cost-free LL.M. degree to six of its graduating students to work at DCALF, a commitment that will continue for each of the next three academic years. Arent Fox is providing space for the firm and physical and technological support. DLA Piper is taking the lead in training the new lawyers and establishing the firm’s policies and procedures. The three organizations collectively will provide more than $1 million in financial and pro bono support annually over the next three years. 

For more information on the D.C. Affordable Law Firm, please visit www.dcaffordablelaw.org. Information on Bloomberg Law is available here.

Tweet me:#Bloomberg #BNA Supports #DC #Affordable #Law Firm by Providing Access to #BloombergLaw At No Cost @bloomberg http://3bl.me/k3z594

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Philanthropy, law firms, Information, database, Legal services, Donation, pro bono, Washington DC, Bloomberg, bloomberg law, Government, Georgetown, law school, low bono, dcalf

CEMEX, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Weber Shandwick share perspectives Thursday, January 14 at 11 a.m. ET

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

SUMMARY:

3BL Media Best Practices Webinar:
Trends in Sustainability Reporting
Thursday January 14, 11 a.m. ET

REGISTER HERE

DESCRIPTION:

With more than 7,000 organizations now producing sustainability reports – up from just 30 in the early 1990s  – CSR and communications professionals are striving to track meaningful data and share it in a manner that engages stakeholders.

Join 3BL Media for a webinar, Trends and Best Practices in Sustainability Reporting, on Thursday, January 14 at 11 a.m. ET.  The event is free and appropriate for professionals engaged in sustainability and social impact work inside corporations, nonprofits, agencies or public entities around the world.

REGISTER HERE

“With the recent introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ink barely dry on the landmark Paris climate change agreement, attention has never been more focused on transparency and sustainability in the private and public sectors,” said Dave Armon, CMO of 3BL Media, who will act as moderator for the webinar. “This event will provide an overview of GRI’s focus in 2016 and include examples of how leading corporations are communicating about their sustainability efforts in an engaging way.”

Presenters include Martha Herrara, CSR Director for CEMEX; Nikki McKean-Wood, director corporate & stakeholder relations for GRI; and Catie de Montille, Vice President of Weber Shandwick’s Social Impact practice.

About 3BL Media
Founded in 2009, 3BL Media is a corporate communications platform exclusively for the distribution of corporate social responsibility and sustainability news and content. Founded in 2009, the company works with corporations and non-profits to distribute multi-format media assets through social, traditional and new media channels. 3BL has grown organically and through acquisition, operating a network of focused, authoritative sites including CSRwire, Justmeans, SocialEarth, Ethical Performance and ReportAlert. Content issued by 3BL Media clients also appears on hundreds of thousands of Bloomberg and Reuters terminals.

Contact: Dave Armon of 3BL Media, 866.508.0993, ext. 123, or darmon@3blmedia.com

Tweet me:.@3BLMedia Webinar w/ @CEMEX @GRI_Secretariat & @WeberShandwick on best practices in #sustainability reporting http://3bl.me/bqqavy

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Webinar, 3bl media llc, CEMEX, Weber Shandwick, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

1,800 Brand-New Books Distributed to the Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern's literacy programs

SOURCE:EcoMedia

DESCRIPTION:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Dec. 17, 2015, /3BL Media/ – California Resources Corporation (NYSE: CRC), an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company, has joined nonprofit social enterprise First Book to deliver books to children in need across Kern County. Through its participation in CBS EcoMedia’s EducationAd program, California Resources Corporation has provided funding for 1,800 brand new books to be distributed to the Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern’s literacy programs for underserved children in the Bakersfield Area.

First Book provides new books and educational resources to educational programs serving children from low-income families. By working with a network of over 160,000 community-based schools and programs, First Book helps elevate the quality of educational tools for kids in need. With help from partners like California Resources Corporation, First Book hopes to reach every one of the nearly 30 million kids that live in low-income households in the United States.

Books provided by California Resources Corporation will support the Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern’s A.S.T.R.O. (A Shoulder To Read On) Reading Program. This program was developed to assist youth who are reading at or below grade level improve their literacy skills and foster a love of reading.  The program encourages peer reading and support for students to build confidence in a safe environment.

To celebrate California Resources Corporation’s one year anniversary and this generous gift, a special A.S.T.R.O. reading party was held where volunteers from California Resources Corporation presented the brand new books and read with the children. Hosts of the event included representatives and volunteers from California Resources Corporation and staff and Board Members from the Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern.

 “The majority of CRC’s employees live in the Central Valley.  At CRC, our employees proudly reflect Kern County’s values and are deeply committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work.” commented Bob Barnes, CRC EVP Northern Operations.  “Education is a key priority for CRC and we are proud to support the Housing and Opportunity Foundation’s county-wide launch of the “A Shoulder To Read On” program that will provide much needed educational resources to youth in need throughout Kern County.”

“We are excited for this partnership and the opportunity to expand our literacy programs to sites throughout Kern County.  This contribution speaks to California Resources Corporation’s ongoing commitment to education and to our families in Kern County.  The children are excited to have access to new books that they can enjoy on an ongoing basis.” Norma Rojas-Mora, Executive Director of the Housing and Opportunity Foundation.

About California Resources Corporation
California Resources Corporation is the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production company in California on a gross-operated basis. The Company operates its world class resource base exclusively within the State of California, applying integrated infrastructure to gather, process and market its production. Using advanced technology, California Resources Corporation focuses on safely and responsibly supplying affordable energy for California by Californians.

About First Book
First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 125 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada. By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. For more information, please visit them online or follow their latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern
The Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose purpose is to raise funds from the general public to support programs and activities that benefit residents of the Housing Authority of the County of Kern, as well as other low-income residents in Kern County.

It is the mission of the Foundation to assist low-income individuals become self-sufficient and improve their quality of life through support, education, and empowerment.

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:CA Resources Corp gives 1,800 books to Housing & Opportunity Fdn. of Kern's literacy prog's w/ @FirstBook @EcoMediaCBS.http://3bl.me/8temzq

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Events, Conferences & Webinars, California Resources Corporation, First Book, Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern, bakersfield, A Shoulder To Read On reading program, CA, Education, Reading party, CBS EcoMedia

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Sam Altman, President of Y Combinator, sits down with Bloomberg's Tom Giles to discuss the core issues affecting today's startups in this inaugural speaker series, hosted by Bloomberg in conjunction with Cornell Tech. For R&D / Tech Jobs http://bit.ly/bbgtech

Tweet me:#YCombinator #SamAltman Dispenses #StartUp #Advice at Bloomberg's #Cornell #Tech Event @bloomberg http://3bl.me/2swa66

KEYWORDS: Education, Technology, generator, Hacking, hackathon, learning, students, New York, Cornell, College, event, speaking, Speaker Series, ted talk, TED, tech campus

SOURCE:NetSuite Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

When a colleague attended the Amazon Web Services conference in Las Vegas in 2012, he was struck when he looked around at a session entitled “AWS Security” and noticed that among the roughly 500 people in the room, there was not a single woman.

What made it even more striking to Chris Blum, our Chief Security Architect at NetSuite, was when he heard the fact that the cybersecurity job market is currently suffering a severe workforce shortage that is expected to last years, as the profession grows at less than 36 per year.

Blum passed along that anecdote at a recent Girl Geek dinner hosted by NetSuite at its San Mateo headquarters, a very different environment than the one at AWS.

“Women are nearly absent from the cybersecurity industry and there are not enough people to fill the jobs,” Blum said. “At the current growth rates, it will take three years to bring gender parity to the cybersecurity workforce if 55 percent of all new hires into the industry per year are women.”

That grim statistic is the very kind of thing Girl Geek dinners are attempting to address. They are the result of one girl geek who got frustrated about being one of the only females attending technical events and being asked to justify why she was there by her male counterparts. That has evolved into dinners and networking events around the world.

At the San Mateo event, Blum’s session, as well as one about trends in omnichannel commerce led by Rebecca Nathenson, the director of commerce product management at NetSuite, really resonated with attendees.

“I really appreciated the focus on security and technology, so many other events focus on the softer topics,” wrote one attendee in a follow up questionnaire. “It was very interesting.”

“I loved the presentation on omnichannel commerce,” wrote another. “Just the right mix of technical and business. I also loved the vibe of the NetSuite women. I feel like I need events like this where I can get a brief glimpse into the culture of a company, and while no place is perfect for women yet, I could see that you are light years ahead of my current company.”

NetSuite elected to sponsor a dinner as part of our commitment to innovation and women in tech roles at NetSuite. As we see it, a commitment to diversity means more than a panel discussion on women in technology at a user conference. It demands ongoing commitment. The Bay Area Girl Geek Dinner is part of our ongoing commitment to diversity led by the Women in NetSuite (WIN) program that has helped drive a new maternity policy,helped promote more women into leadership positions at NetSuite and created extra opportunities for learning and networking.

The Girl Geek dinner was a terrific opportunity to focus on another of our core initiatives – recruitment. We’re committed to bringing in talented women to bring more diversity to the NetSuite workforce.

Because, as research from Catalyst and Leanin.org has shown, diversity matters. Fortune500 companies with the highest representation of women board directors attained significantly higher financial performance than those with the lowest representation. Companies with the highest percentage of women board directors outperformed those with the least across equity, sales and invested capital, according to the research. And that’s just one small data point demonstrating the value of diversity. We know there will be more and we expect to see those results at NetSuite.

For more on NetSuite, visit our NetSuite careers page.

Tweet me:Girl Geek Dinner Serves up NetSuite's Commitment to Diversity http://bit.ly/1mb5U0s

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, Business & Trade, Geek Girl Dinner, Women in Technology, #DiversityLeadership, netsuite

Green Builder® magazine honors sustainable building project award winners for 2015

SOURCE:Green Builder Media

DESCRIPTION:

December 18, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Green Builder Media, recently announced the winners of its 8^th Annual Green Home of the Year Awards. Nine projects were selected to represent this year’s best green homes. This year’s homes upped the ante on overall sustainability and several of the winners have achieved net-zero energy or are net-zero ready.

This year’s Grand Overall Winner, Rainier Vista Community, is located in Seattle and began as a 15 home partnership between Dwell Development and the Seattle Housing Authority in 2010. The project expanded to 36 additional homes over the next five years. All 42 homes are designed for zero-energy living and are 5-Star Built Green certified.

The goal of the project was to create a community within the bustling Columbia City neighborhood that brings together likeminded individuals who value community, sustainability and modern design. The homes are arranged in micro-blocks: clusters of six to eight homes around an outdoor common area, which includes a community garden and informal gathering spaces. The pedestrian-friendly location near the Light Rail Station and the retail and dining district in Downtown Columbia City help further reduce the community’s carbon footprint.

“Every year we think we have maxed out the possibilities with the current crop of entries, until we get the new set of entries the following year,” says Green Builder Media President, Ron Jones. “I have to say that I am completely blown away by the judges selections for this year’s awards and amazed by the diversity of project types, geographic locations, selections of materials/products/systems, and architectural styles. The masterful combining of creativity and building science so beautifully and convincingly demonstrated in these projects should inspire everyone, everywhere in the shelter industry to emulate these extraordinary designers and builders.”

Judges evaluated the entries on comprehensive criteria, including siting, the depth of building science employed, materials sourcing and reuse and overall resilience. All winners will be showcased in the December 2015/January 2016 issue of Green Builder magazine. The other projects that received honors include:

• Bellingham Power House - Bellingham, WA (Best Alternative Construction)
• Brookline Residence - Brookline, MA (Best Inspired Green Design)
• Reclaimed Modern - Seattle, WA (Best Infill Project)
• Below Zero - South Glastonbury, CT (Best Mainstream Green)
• The Beach House at Truesdale Lake - Lewisboro, NY (Best Renovation)
• Rainwater Ranch - Burnet, TX (Best Resilient Design)
• Birch Case Study – Bellingham, WA (Best Building Science)
• House for a Writer in Bohemia - Czech Republic (Best Affordable Green)

This year’s judging panel included some of the most forward thinking individuals in the building industry.

• Bill Rectanus is the vice president of Homebuilding Operations for Thrive Home Builders (formerly New Town Builders) and is responsible for the implementation of their “High Performance Building Initiative.”
• Sam Hagerman is the co-founder and co-owner of Hammer and Hand, a construction company dedicated to inciting evolution in building through service, craft and science.
• Steve Byers is the CEO of EnergyLogic which serves a variety of clients in the residential and light commercial energy efficiency and sustainability spaces helping to “make buildings better.”

About Green Builder Magazine

Green Builder® magazine is the building industry’s leading magazine focused on green building and sustainable development. Green Builder offers practical, cost-effective information to a community of the most advanced building professionals across the country. The magazine’s nationally award winning editorial team blends top-quality visionary content with sophisticated design to generate an unforgettable publication that addresses the most important issues of our time.

About Green Builder Media

Green Builder® Media, LLC is the leading media company in North America focused on green building and sustainable living.  With a comprehensive suite of print and digital media solutions, demonstration projects, case studies, online training, and live events, Green Builder Media assists building professionals in preparing themselves for the new green economy and helps homeowners understand how to live more sustainably.

Tweet me:.@greenbuildermag announces winners of 2015 #GreenHome of the Year Awards. http://3bl.me/p8m8g9 #GBHOTY

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Energy, green home, Green Builder Media, Green Builder magazine, Dwell Development, Green Home of the Year Awards, sustainable building, building science, green awards

SOURCE:Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

DESCRIPTION:

Take advantage of the best rates on registration for the 2016 International Corporate Citizenship Conference, which expire at midnight tonight. Join 600+ of your corporate citizenship peers on March 20-22 in Atlanta, Georgia as we discuss the growing challenges facing our world today. Global issues like climate change, data security, and health and wellness impact even our smallest communities. And efforts made at the local level can go a long way in achieving global progress. Let’s work together to make a better world.

Save $500 by registering today. In Atlanta, you'll hear from leaders and thinkers from top companies. Since the Conference only allows corporate citizen practitioners you can expect honest dialogue and free discussion. Register today and:

• Take part in seven general sessions and be inspired by keynote speakers.
• Join your peers for two networking breaks, two receptions, an on-site volunteer event, and a number of industry summits.
• Choose from the 26 breakout sessions to learn about the issues most pressing to you and your industry.

We hope you’ll join your peers and colleagues in Atlanta this spring to chart the next steps toward progress at home and around the world.  

>> Click here to Register.

Tweet me:Help drive positive change around the world. Last Day to Save $500 on #BCConf16 Conference registration. http://3bl.me/h83pt4

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Environment and Climate Change, 2016 International Corporate Citizenship Conference, corporate citizenship conference, CSR Conferences, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

Onsite Volunteer Focus Drives Employee Involvement and Engagement

SOURCE:Time Warner Cable

DESCRIPTION:

When my husband and I first started dating, before I worked at TWC, I used to vent to him about how disconnected I felt in my former job. “I just want to be engaged,” I told him one day. He immediately turned white and his jaw dropped.

Clearly we had different interpretations of what “engaged” meant. He imagined me planning our wedding after only a few weeks of dating. But I was talking about my desire to feel a connection between the work I was doing and my company’s role in the community.

We laugh about that moment to this day.

While definitions of “engaged” vary, we know that engaged employees are the lifeblood of any successful company.  They have strong relationships with leaders, invest in their own career development and enjoy a supportive work environment.  But that’s not all.  Engaged employees cite a wide variety of reasons why they feel positive about their work and employer; such as recognition, compensation, communication and other intrinsic rewards.  More and more, we are seeing that highly engaged employees are the ones with a sense of purpose; those who truly understand the connection between the work that they do and their company’s impact on the world. 

At Time Warner Cable, we’ve learned that employee volunteers are amongst our most highly engaged team members.  Our research shows that they are far more likely to remain with TWC than those who do not volunteer, and are twice as likely to recommend TWC as a place to work.  When organizations can show that volunteerism contributes to engagement and retention, it means that “doing good” also helps the bottom line.  Everybody wins when employees volunteer. With this insight, our Community Investment team made a strong commitment to ramp up the number of employee volunteer experiences so that significantly more employees had a chance to volunteer in 2015 vs. 2014. 

TWC is the only major cable operator to offer up to 12 hours of paid time off annually for employees to volunteer, but it’s not always easy for people to find the time to do so. This is especially true for our front-line employees, who are working various shifts on the phone or in the field as technicians. Recognizing that employee engagement is not only something for HR to focus on; the Community Investment team found new ways to bring employees and volunteerism together.

First, TWC’s leaders got involved and developed community projects for their teams to do together. Working side-by-side, team members found a new sense of fellowship around a common community goal. Next, we brought volunteerism to the office, with meaningful onsite projects, like making baby blankets for families in need or disaster kits for the American Red Cross.  Maximizing leadership involvement was important to growing volunteerism, but the evolution of onsite opportunities was a game changer. Once it became simple and easy for employees to take an hour, walk down the hall and make a real difference, the momentum around volunteerism built. “In my 13 years at TWC I have never felt the impact that our volunteer efforts had like I did at the Stop Hunger Now onsite volunteer event,” said Mateo Vasquez, Lead Tech, Western NY. “The unifying spirit and camaraderie this one event had will go a long way. Many of us left feeling like we did – and were a part of – a great thing.”

This shift to volunteering at the office meant that even more of our colleagues had the opportunity to feel a community connection. Since 2014, the number of TWC employees volunteering has doubled and together we’ve logged more than 40,000 hours of volunteer time in 2015 alone. Whether it is in the community or at the office, making sure employees have opportunities to make a difference in the community, will make a difference in your organization. Even if it means bringing volunteer projects to them!  Because, in addition to helping others, they are connecting on a whole different level with their colleagues…driving that valuable feeling of shared purpose and commitment.

Now that's what I call “engaged”!

To see what I’m talking about, watch the video above from our 2015 Weeks of Service, which saw TWC employees from across the country donate their time and efforts to community causes – both inside of the office and in the community.  Employee engagement on display…

Tweet me:Do you want to be ENGAGED? @TWC redefines volunteerism with onsite projects: http://3bl.me/v83d69 #TWCVolunteers

Contact Info:

Jennifer Reed Holick
Director, Community Investment - Time Warner Cable
+1 (518) 640-8967
Jennifer.Holick@twcable.com

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Diversity and Human Resources, Time Warner Cable, Employee Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility, Community Investment, Retention, bottom line

SOURCE:MetLife Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Originally published on the Multipliers of Prosperity platform.

Presented by MetLife Foundation in collaboration with WSJ. Custom Studios, Multipliers of Prosperity takes a look globally at the challenges we face in confronting the issues of financial inclusion. The program dives deep into what’s working, questions what isn’t and finds the possible fixes. Most importantly, the program chronicles the triumphs of people who have taken the steps toward financial stability and the providers who have helped them reach those goals. We explore how financial stability is created, the kind of finance models that have succeeded, and innovative new channels and technology that make for smart solutions. 

Financial health varies greatly around the world and cannot be understood simply by looking at traditional economic data, such as income and access to financial tools. Even in the United States, where median income is higher and access easier than in the developing countries, financial health is adversely affected by a number of factors, such as mortgage defaults. In this infographic, we take present data from three countries—the United States, India and Indonesia—to reveal that financial health is a challenge around the world.

Tweet me:Comparing the data from 3 countries yields insights into financial health #FinancialInclusion @MetLife Foundation http://3bl.me/ryxk6g

Contact Info:

Nandika Madgavkar
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Responsibility for MetLife, Inc.
+1 (212) 578-5707
nmadgavkar@metlife.com

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Microfinance, MetLife, Financial Inclusion, Multipliers of Prosperity

by Sangeeta Haindl

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

Wealthy European investors are beginning to see the long term value in sustainable funds. They are increasingly looking to Socially Responsible Investments (SRI's), a form of investment that is dynamic and a solution. SRI's combine financial objectives with social, ethical and environmental issues. Between June 2012 and June 2013, the U.K. saw ethical assets increase by 30 percent, gaining the second largest market in Europe, according to new analysis by evaluation agency, Vigeo. The appetite for green, social and ethical funds in Europe has grown considerably in spite of a tough economic climate, and has continued to show good growth over the course of 2015.

To continue reading, click here

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Sangeeta Haindl writes on women and children; social innovation; social enterprise and social entrepreneurs. She is the founder of Serendipity PR, in London, U.K., where she works with high-profile brands and organizations in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors, winning awards for her work from the communications industry. She is chairman of and director of London's leading conscious well-being organisation, Alternatives, which hosts leading speakers such as Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch and many other well-known names. She describes herself as a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Conscious Explorer; enjoying helping others, paying it forward and being a mum.

Tweet me:Socially Responsible Investment Gaining Ground In Europe http://bit.ly/229O3b8 via @Justmeans #SRI

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Vigeo, SRI, Europe, France, UK, Ethical Funds, Venture Philanthropy, funding, Cause Global, best practices, Green Companies, Social Entrepreneurship, nonprofit organizations, social innovation, Social investment, Justmeans