Kings to restore 6,000,000 gallons of water in California & provide fans a chance to win two LA Kings playoff tickets for recycling cans and bottles at STAPLES Center before last home game

SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

AEG’s LA Kings are partnering with Coca-Cola and STAPLES Center to restore double the amount of water used at STAPLES Center during Earth Month.

During a typical April at STAPLES Center, nearly three million gallons of water are used. With the help of Coke and STAPLES Center, the LA Kings will restore double that amount to critically dewatered ecosystems in California.

Prior to the remaining LA Kings home game at STAPLES Center, fans can enter for a chance to win two LA Kings playoff tickets by recycling aluminum cans and bottles at any entrance. For every 10 items recycled (per person), fans will be entered into a drawing to win two Kings’ playoff tickets.

Additionally, fans can make a free pledge to conserve water by texting KINGS to 474747 that will be matched with an additional 1,000 gallons of water restored to California ecosystems.

Tweet me:AEG’s @LAKings are partnering w/ @CocaCola & @STAPLESCenter to restore 2X the amount of water used @ #STAPLESCenter during #EarthMonth! Find out how you can help the #LAKings reach their goal of restoring 6M gallons of water to dewatered ecosystems in CA! http://bit.ly/2H0oJSr

KEYWORDS: AEG, LA Kings, STAPLES Center, Coca-Cola, earth month, Water Restoration, Recycling Drive

Public can vote online for People's Choice winner until April 24

SOURCE:Discovery Education

DESCRIPTION:

Silver Spring, MD, Tuesday, April 10, 2018 /3BL Media/ –  A short video message from teens to their peers to encourage safe driving habits might be all that is needed to avoid dangerous driving situations. That is the premise behind the Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge, which drew more than 1,300 entries from students across the country.

Toyota and Discovery Education invite the public to watch the ten finalist videos at teendrive365inschool.com/teens/video-challenge and VOTE for their favorite winner through April 24, 2018. This year’s top ten finalists come from Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

“Through these creative videos – some amusing and others more serious in tone – students help inspire safe driving habits,” said Al Smith, group vice president, Toyota Social Innovation. “Every year, we are amazed by the vast array of videos that students create and we thank them all for their submissions.”

In addition to the People’s Choice winner, several other prize winners will be chosen by a panel of judges comprised of community leaders, educators, communications experts and Toyota representatives. The first-place winner will receive $15,000 and the opportunity to work with a Discovery film crew to transform their video into a TV-ready PSA that will then air on a variety of Discovery, Inc. networks.

“We applaud Toyota's leadership in amplifying the national conversation about driver safety in schools – the power of peer-to-peer influence is effective and we know that immersive educational experiences work,” Lori McFarling, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Discovery Education is proud to partner with Toyota to address this critical need and to inspire teens to make smart choices behind the wheel.”

Last year’s grand prize went to Emi O. and Summer K. of Millington, Tennessee. Their video featured a safe-driving medley that communicated vital driving tips, including cautions about the dangers of texting and driving, the necessity to focus on the road while in motion and the importance of wearing seatbelts. The re-created PSA can be viewed HERE.

The full list of TeenDrive365 Video Challenge prizes, include:

• Grand Prize: $15,000 and the chance to work with a Discovery, Inc. film crew to reshoot the winning video as a TV-ready PSA;
• Second place prize: $10,000 scholarship;
• Third place prize: $7,500 scholarship;
• Fourth to tenth place prizes: Each receives $2,500 scholarship;
• Four regional prizes: Each receives $1,000 scholarship;
• People's Choice prize: $5,000 and a behind-the-scenes trip to a Discovery, Inc. network taping.

Visit TeenDrive365InSchool.com to learn more about the annual Teen Video Challenge to help promote safe teen driving. For more information about the TeenDrive365 Video Challenge or to watch winning videos from the 2016-2017 challenge, visit TeenDrive365InSchool.com or click HERE.

About TeenDrive365

TeenDrive365 is a comprehensive program designed by Toyota and Discovery Education to help teens avoid distractions and stay safe behind the wheel. The initiative offers a range of content, tools and resources designed specifically for educators and teens. Available at no cost to classrooms nationwide, these resources include: standards-aligned lesson plans for grades 9-12; activities that teach appropriate behaviors for young drivers and passengers; Heads Up! – an Interactive Road Distraction Challenge that allows teens to virtually experience some of the dangers of distracted driving; and a collection of online events, tools and social media elements that underscore how teens can make a difference by driving safely.

Tweet me:.#TeenDrive365 National Public Service Announcement challenge helps teens change driving behavior http://bit.ly/2JzsKM7 @Toyota @DiscoveryEd

KEYWORDS: discovery education, Toyota, TeenDrive365 Video Challenge

High School Students Invited to Apply Today

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

STAMFORD, Conn., April 10, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit, is accepting applications for the 2018-2019 National Youth Advisory Council through June 8.

Keep America Beautiful’s National Youth Advisory Council creates a framework for youth engagement, providing a unique opportunity for 10 high school students from diverse backgrounds across the nation to participate in a service-learning and leadership development program. Prior classes of the Youth Advisory Council have attended the Keep America Beautiful National Conference, which will next take place in Baltimore in early 2019.

Keep America Beautiful is seeking to infuse the voice of today’s youth into its programming, building on the model of youth leadership seen in Keep America Beautiful’s local and state community-based affiliates. Participants will contribute to and inform Keep America Beautiful on programs while acting as ambassadors and leaders for youth service in their communities.

All applicants will have an opportunity to serve with the Youth Advisory Council network and create local youth councils. The National Youth Advisory Council will provide participants with the opportunity to:

• Engage in creative work with a national nonprofit organization focused on ending littering, improving recycling, and beautifying America’s communities;
• Partner with like-minded youth with unique perspectives from across the country;
• Inform Keep America Beautiful on programs, while learning about approaches for engaging youth in community service;
• Act as service-learning ambassadors in their community by playing a leadership role in engaging youth in service.

“The Keep America Beautiful National Youth Advisory Council provides students with an opportunity to build upon their interests in community service and sustainability,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Helen Lowman. “As important is our interest in hearing what they have to say because members of our Youth Advisory Council can be our partners in strengthening Keep America Beautiful’s programs and resources to help reach more students nationwide.”

To learn more about Keep America Beautiful’s Education programs, visit kab.org/our-programs/education.

About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Celebrating its 65th Anniversary in 2018, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision.

Behavior change – steeped in education, research and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.

###

Tweet me:.@kabtweet invites high school #students to apply for #KeepAmericaBeautiful Youth Advisory Council. Applications open through June 8! http://bit.ly/2v3YGVx #DoBeautifulThings

Contact Info:

Tom Morales
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3044
tmorales@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork

Janessa Rivera
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3064
jrivera@kab.org

KEYWORDS: Keep America Beautiful, Youth Advisory Council, community service

SOURCE:Nestlé

DESCRIPTION:

Nestlé today announced its ambition to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or re-usable by 2025. Its vision is that none of its packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfill or as litter. Nestlé believes that there is an urgent need to minimize the impact of packaging on the environment.

Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said, "Plastic waste is one of the biggest sustainability issues the world is facing today. Tackling it requires a collective approach. We are committed to finding improved solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle. Our ambition is to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025."

The company focuses on three core areas: eliminate non-recyclable plastics; encourage the use of plastics that allow better recycling rates; and eliminate or change complex combinations of packaging materials

Read the commitment

Read the press release

Tweet me:.@Nestle aims at 100% #recyclable or #reusable packaging by 2025 http://bit.ly/2IGyn9R #sustainability

KEYWORDS: VTX:NESN.VX, Nestle, sustainable packaging, plastic waste

Annual Impact Report outlines ClearBridge Investment’s efforts in public company engagement over the past three decades

SOURCE:Legg Mason

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, April 10, 2018 /3BL Media/ – ClearBridge Investments, LLC has published its 2017 Impact Report, “Making an Impact through Active Equity Ownership.” ClearBridge has been engaging with public companies to campaign for improvement on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues for more than three decades. This report outlines the evolution of ESG investing at the firm and how, as active shareholders, ClearBridge measures its impact on the companies it owns across its strategies.

Link to the report: https://www.clearbridge.com/content/dam/clearbridge/news-assets/2018/PDF/blog-esg-engagement-report-mar2018.pdf

Key Statistics Found in the Report:

• $124.3 billion assets for which ESG risk and opportunities are analyzed

• 658 proprietary ESG-rated companies

• Over 1,000 meetings directly with publicly traded companies each year

• 334 companies where we are a top 20 shareholder

• 7 years is the average period we own a company [1]

• 10 years ClearBridge has been a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment

Does ESG really impact the bottom line?

ClearBridge Investments’ Portfolio Managers and Analysts have met with publicly traded companies over 1,000 times in the past fiscal year, consistent with its practice of keeping an open line of dialogue with the firm’s portfolio companies. An example of its typical engagement is an IT hardware company in which ClearBridge has been a shareholder for the past nine years. An initial discussion on sustainability reporting led to the company measuring and reporting carbon emissions data and setting five-year targets to reduce emissions by 30%. The company also recognized the need to address water consumption and eventually achieved 100% water recycling in its Shanghai manufacturing plant, the first facility of its kind to reach such a milestone. In addition to the environmental impact, this decision resulted in over $2 million in water utility cost savings, a direct impact to the bottom line.

“By examining various facets of public companies’ business and engaging with company management teams on material issues, ClearBridge can drive positive change on a global scale while also contributing to financial returns,” said Mary Jane McQuillen, Head of ESG Investment and Portfolio Manager at ClearBridge Investments. “By not merely using ESG as an overlay, but rather as an integral part of our entire investment process, we believe public equity ownership can be a powerful tool to influence companies to drive change.”

“This report outlines the important role our ESG considerations play in our fundamental research process across the firm,” said Terrence Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of ClearBridge Investments. “Over the past 30 years, ClearBridge has been committed to communicating the benefits of including ESG factors in portfolio construction and investment selection. Investors are taking greater care to make sure the companies they invest in are acting as corporate stewards – and we know that this report will serve as a great tool in that process.”

The impact report can serve as a resource to learn about ESG issues most relevant to the sector analysts that guide company engagements and how ClearBridge promotes awareness of these issues in the institutional investor community.

# # #

About ClearBridge

ClearBridge Investments is a leading global equity manager with $137 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2017. The Firm is committed to delivering long-term results through authentic active management, as we have for more than 50 years, and continues to offer investment solutions that emphasize differentiated, bottom-up stock selection to move our clients forward. Owned by Legg Mason, ClearBridge operates from headquarters in New York and offices in Baltimore, London, San Francisco and Wilmington.  ClearBridge has been a signatory to the United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investing since 2008.

About Legg Mason

Guided by a mission of Investing to Improve Lives,^TM  Legg Mason helps investors globally achieve better financial outcomes by expanding choice across investment strategies, vehicles and investor access through independent investment managers with diverse expertise in equity, fixed income, alternative and liquidity investments.  Legg Mason’s assets under management are $767 billion as of December 31, 2017.  To learn more, visit our web site, our newsroom, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. 

All investments involve risk, including loss of principal.  Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Any information, statement or opinion set forth herein is general in nature, is not directed to or based on the financial situation or needs of any particular investor, and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, or a recommendation with respect to any particular security or investment strategy or type of retirement account. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies should consult their financial professional.

©2018 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC. Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC and ClearBridge Investments are subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED | NO BANK GUARANTEE | MAY LOSE VALUE

Tweet me:.@Clear_Bridge Impact Report Highlights #ESG Integration and Engagement http://bit.ly/2qiJVJM

KEYWORDS: esg, Principles for Responsible Investment, NYSE:LM, legg mason, ClearBridge Investments

SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

On 5 April 2018, GRI and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) signed an agreement to foster effective sustainability performance and communication among listed companies. This partnership will see the two organizations collaborate to conduct workshops, seminars and training among representatives of listed companies. 

​This development comes as part of a larger wave in which investors are growing more and more aware and involved in the environmental, social and governance issues related to their investments. So far 34 stock exchanges provide guidance to companies listed in them so they can report on their impacts, and 12 more are underway to doing so. 

The Colombo Stock Exchange is one of the latest exchanges to address these issues and has partnered with GRI to best service its listed companies. As Aditi Haldar, GRI Director, South Asia pointed out, "This collaboration between GRI and the CSE is a partnership to strengthen integrity and robustness of the market that will contribute to thriving business and society. The leadership of CSE will be an example to many other capital market institutions".

Offline collaboration

To kickstart the partnership, representatives from listed companies had the opportunity to participate in workshops to learn why and how organizations prepare sustainability reports. They also got more information on GRI, and how its standards can help companies and organizations better understand and manage their environmental and governance impacts. Staff at the Securities Commission of Sri Lanka and the Colombo Stock Exchange received a separate training  to better understand the business case for Environment Social Governance reporting and what is the role of the stock exchange and market regulator to promote ESG disclosure amongst listed companies.

And to ensure that these trainings are most effective, GRI will also facilitate regional peer-to-peer learning possibilities with other stock exchanges. This will give participants the opportunity to test and improve their knowledge, and to share it with others who face the same questions. 

In a related development, the CSE also recently launched a publication titled 'Communicating Sustainability: Six Recommendations for Listed Companies', to assist listed companies in addressing environmental, social and governance factors in their capital market communication. GRI will also provide input to the CSE on the development of a comprehensive ESG guidance document in-line with GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. 

All in all, this is the very auspicious start of a strong partnership that will help report preparers throughout the region best understand and use the GRI Standards for their ESG disclosures.

For more information on this partnership and on GRI's activities in the region, you can contact Rubina Sen.

Tweet me:Strengthening #ResponsibleInvestment in South Asia, @GRI_Secretariat and Colombo Stock Exchange will deliver #ESG guidance for companies based on #GRIStandards. http://bit.ly/2HdC7An

KEYWORDS: GRI, GRI Standards, ESG Guidance, sustainability reporting, South Asia

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

SUMMARY:

Fast Company announced the winners of its World Changing Ideas Awards, which honor businesses, policies, projects, and concepts that offer innovative solutions to the issues facing humanity. The Ray’s smart road dot was selected for recognition as a World Changing Ideas finalist. 

DESCRIPTION:

April 10,2018 /3BL Media/ - Fast Company has announced the winners of its World Changing Ideas Awards, which honor businesses, policies, projects, and concepts that offer innovative solutions to the issues facing humanity. The Ray’s smart road dot was selected for recognition as a World Changing Ideas finalist. All of the finalists are highlighted in the May issue of the print magazine.

Now in its second year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcases 12 winners and more than 200 finalists. A panel of eminent judges selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 1,300 entries in 12 categories, from Food to Energy to Developing World Technology. Honorees include big-name brands like Microsoft and Walmart, nonprofits like the Anti-Defamation League and Unicef, government programs from Los Angeles and Ontario, and innovative startups like Aerofarms, Aspiration, and Matternet. The 2018 awards featured entries from across the globe, from India to Brazil to Rwanda.

The Ray was selected for its creation of never before seen, life-saving technology: a smart road dot. Standard, reflective road dots are deployed commonly across the country and around the world and are usually interspersed with lane lines and markings. The Ray’s smart road dot will use color to communicate critically-important data to drivers in real-time, such as the presence of “black” ice, heavy fog, an accident up ahead, or erratic drivers. The smart road dot has solar-powered LED lights with a backup battery, and autonomous functions enabled by a mesh network that acts in real-time and real-place with data generated from the road surface.

The next decade will see a tremendous shift in the way we drive and the technology in our vehicles. The Ray’s smart road dot ensures that the future road is advanced – not just our cars. And perhaps even more important, the smart road dot will level the information playing field between connected and autonomous cars, and “classic” cars. And unlike other smart, connected technologies, the smart road dot will shine in rural and ex-urban communities that are all too often left behind in smart city developments.

This innovation marks a shift in how we think about technology development. The smart road dot is one of the first instances of the public, private, philanthropic partnership model (P4) being used to bring to market new, life-saving technology. The Ray is the sole owner of the intellectual property and the holder of all patents.

John Picard, Vice President of The Ray, is co-lead on this project. "What we've done is game-changing," said Picard, "No one expects the road itself to be smart. And not only that but through color, we've given the road a way to communicate to all drivers. Real-time Information is key with the smart road dot and it's going to save lives."

The Ray and its UK-based consultants at Innovia Technology produced the first prototype of the smart road dot in 2017. The Ray will continue in 2018 to improve all aspects of the unit design to produce a version two prototype, ready for pilot testing and deployment.

Retired Boeing executive Alan Anderson serves as co-lead on this project and as Treasurer of The Ray. “Having spent my career in the commercial airplane business where there were no passenger fatalities in 2017, it is difficult for me to imagine that we lose 40,000 lives a year in automobile accidents,” said Anderson. “Technology has added distractions to driving, resulting in constantly increasing death rates; it’s time to apply technology to solve the problem. The smart road dot is an opportunity to add intelligence to our roadways, making them part of the solution. We need to always remember that zero isn’t just a goal – it’s achievable.”

About The Ray

The Ray is a proving ground for the evolving ideas and technologies that will transform the transportation infrastructure of the future, beginning with the corridor of road that is named in memory of Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), a Georgia native who became a captain of industry and was recognized as a leader in green business when he challenged his company, Atlanta-based Interface, Inc., to reimagine the enterprise as a sustainable company—one that would pursue zero environmental footprint. Chaired by Ray’s daughter Harriet Langford, The Ray is an epiphany of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Learn more at www.theray.org.

About the World Changing Ideas Awards

World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners and finalists based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With a goal of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start work on solving the problems that affect us all.

Tweet me:.@TheRayHighway has been named a finalist for the @FastCompany 2018 World Changing Ideas Award. https://bit.ly/2GN4S5S

Contact Info:

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

Anna Cullen
The Ray
+1 (404) 405-2685
anna@theray.org

KEYWORDS: Ray C. Anderson Foundation, The Ray, Fast Company

IBM’s Corporate Service Corps collaborates to solve China’s emerging healthcare challenges

SOURCE:PYXERA Global

DESCRIPTION:

The healthcare system in China is undergoing major reforms to improve access and affordability for its 1.3 billion citizens. The country faces a rising and increasingly unmet healthcare demand due to an aging population, an expanding middle class, growing urbanization, an emerging prevalence of lifestyle diseases, and progress towards universal healthcare insurance coverage.

The Chinese government is embracing the role of technology in its efforts to develop the healthcare market and relieve pressure on overburdened infrastructure, particularly in Hangzhou, the scenic capital city of Zhejiang province near Shanghai. Since 1991, when a large portion of the city was designated a national development zone for hi-tech industrial development, Hangzhou has positioned itself as the “Silicon Valley” of China. Of particular significance is the city’s focus on developing cutting-edge healthcare technologies.

Leading companies have certainly taken notice of Hangzhou’s potential for technological advancement, not only for the tremendous business implications, but also for the opportunity to contribute to deepening social impact on a broad scale. One such company keen to leverage its strengths for good is IBM, which stands at the intersection of social innovation and technology. The company offers an array of solutions and consulting services for healthcare organizations from optimizing healthcare systems and providing data-driven insight for decision making to using artificial intelligence to accelerate discovery and drive meaningful outcomes.

To support China’s ambitious healthcare goals, in October and November 2017, IBM sent a team of 15 passionate and talented employees representing nine IBM country offices to Hangzhou to participate in the company’s Corporate Service Corps (CSC) initiative. The CSC is a Global Pro Bono program designed to develop employee leadership skills while addressing social challenges in underserved markets. In this particular month-long engagement, the employee cohort subdivided into five teams of three pro bono consultants, each assigned to address the particular needs of a local host organization confronting critical health challenges.

Continue Reading on PYXERAGlobal.org...

Tweet me:In Hangzhou, the ‘Silicon Valley’ of China, medical tech orgs are getting a boost from #GlobalProBono consulting @citizenIBM. Read: https://bit.ly/2q3yqVN via @PYXERAglobal #IBMCSC #China #CSR

KEYWORDS: China, collaboration, Global Health, global pro bono, IBM, Impact & Innovation, Partnership, Tri-Sector Partnership, PYXERA Global

SOURCE:Atlas Copco

DESCRIPTION:

Atlas Copco, a leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions, recently donated new brewing equipment to support Colorado State University’s (CSU) Fermentation Science and Technology Degree Program. The oil-free air compressors, nitrogen generator, receiving tanks, electronic water drains and air filters will be used to keep the University’s campus brewery running efficiently and support research that requires specific anaerobic environments.

“Supporting education and developing future leaders has long been a commitment at Atlas Copco,” said Craig O’Neil, account manager for western region of the U.S. at Atlas Copco. “Our recent donation gives CSU students access to the state-of-art equipment to ensure they can produce the highest quality beer possible.”

Colorado State University celebrated the grand opening of the Lory Student Center on April 9, 2018, at the school’s on-campus Raskeller Brewery. The brewery opened last year on the lower level of the student union and serves beers produced by the CSU Fermentation Science and Technology program.

“Atlas Copco’s generous donation allows our program advisors the opportunity to demonstrate exactly how brewing technology operates,” said Jeff Callaway, associate director of fermentation science and technology at Colorado State University. “Having the equipment in our campus brewery and classroom also allows our students to gain a better understanding of different compressor types and how they work to support brewing applications.”

About Atlas Copco

Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. The Group serves customers with innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. Atlas Copco develops products and services focused on productivity, energy efficiency, safety and ergonomics.  The company was founded in 1873, is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 180 countries. In 2016, Atlas Copco had revenues of BSEK 101 (BEUR 11) and about 45,000 employees.

Tweet me:.@AtlasCopcoUSA donates #brewing equipment to @ColoradoStateU ‏#FermentationScience and Technology program http://bit.ly/2v248bL

SOURCE:VMware

DESCRIPTION:

Women of Silicon Valley brought together industry trailblazers last month to share their stories on the importance of female role models within the tech sphere. A significant discussion at the conference centered around creating strategies for addressing the gender gap, measuring the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion policies, and the need to push this topic to the forefront of business cultures. VMware had the opportunity to speak with conference presenter Jennifer Tacheff, vice president of partnerships and growth at Women Who Code, on her career journey and what it means to her to get more women involved in tech. Follow Jennifer on Twitter and learn more about her in the Q&A below.

Can you tell us a little about your career journey? What inspired you to pursue your current role at Women Who Code?

TACHEFF: As vice president of partnerships and growth, I’ve helped to scale the company to serve over 137,000 members around the globe. We are the largest and most active of organizations in the world for technical women, and our daily impact is beyond incredible. I’ve worked in the education space in the past, and I understand that girls coming out of high school and college need role models and leadership to aspire to. If over 50 percent of women leave tech at the mid-career level, they’re not getting to the executive levels to bring about change. That’s where Women Who Code comes in.

What has been your most transformative learning experience and your most successful undertaking within your career thus far?

TACHEFF: My most transformative learning experience was receiving the YBCA Equity Fellowship award. I met with industry leaders, artists, and activists for over a year to not only plan an exhibition but to essentially attempt to better understand problems surrounding equity, which was simultaneously challenging and humbling. My most successful undertaking was raising $20 million for the Girls Center that offered a beautiful, expansive space for 8,000 families served per year. We also brought in world renowned chefs to teach in the teaching kitchen, programmers and tech leaders to mentor in our coding space, and held a college shower for our graduates.

In your opinion, what’s the single biggest change that needs to happen in order to encourage more women to pursue technical careers?

TACHEFF: We need to promote, amplify, champion, and support women leaders. You can have all the beautiful policy and rhetoric in the world, but if you don’t have role models embodying the culture in leadership positions, there is an inherent disconnect.

How do you think society as a whole can move the needle to get more women into leadership positions?

TACHEFF: I believe society is ready for women leaders, and the needle is slowly moving. Companies are helping to set standards from a visibility standpoint on leadership. Look at your existing leadership makeup and make conscious decisions to hire more women and underrepresented groups. Learn more about your own biases and gaps in understanding; every person has them. Make actual commitments publicly and boldly to bring more women on your board, executive teams, and director roles. The profits, strategy, and environment will be positively impacted.

If you could only give one piece of advice, what would you tell someone just starting their career journey?

TACHEFF: Know your worth. You cannot empower others if you’re coming from an underpowered place—so make sure you get paid at or above industry standard. Lastly, pay it forward!

Continue the conversation with Women Who Code and VMware on April 28 at WWCode CONNECT 2018 and on May 22 at Women Transforming Technology (WT2).

Tweet me:Q&A with Jennifer Tacheff, vice president of partnerships and growth at @WomenWhoCode, on her career journey and what it means to her to get more women involved in tech. http://bit.ly/2qounmX @vmware

KEYWORDS: VMware, Women of Silicon Valley, Jennifer Tacheff, Women who code, Leadership

SOURCE:FCA US LLC

SUMMARY:

• Unique opportunity for suppliers, Tier II and below to engage purchasing and engineering leadership at SAE
• Exclusive to FCA US at SAE International’s WCX™18

DESCRIPTION:

April 10, 2018 /3BL Media/ - In conjunction with SAE, FCA US will set up “Pitch Pit” April 10 – 11, 2018. There, in private meetings with FCA US purchasing and engineering representatives, suppliers who might not otherwise have such an opportunity will tout their innovations and products in an energetic setting.

The activity is a first for SAE’s annual engineering showcase, now in its 112th year. Pitch Pit is exclusive to FCA US.

“The motivation behind Pitch Pit is consistent with our continuous pursuit of innovations that exceed the expectations of our customers,” said Scott Thiele, Chief Purchasing Officer, FCA.

“This departure from our conventional purchasing protocols can only energize the process of finding the best available technologies,” added Thiele.

The meetings will take place in a secure setting on the exhibit floor at Detroit’s Cobo Center. Suppliers, who have exhibits, will have 30 minutes to explain how their innovations address consumer needs in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

“SAE is excited to work with FCA to help deliver the first ever Pitch Pit,” said Jim Forlenza, Group Director, Engineering Events, SAE International. “Pitch Pit embodies the continuing evolution of WCX by fostering networking platforms that lead to new conversations, new ideas and new business opportunities.”

FCA US also holds its annual MatchMaker event where it brings more than 3,000 minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses to its headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, to connect FCA US leadership and buyers with potential suppliers. The trade show has generated more than $3 billion in new business opportunities for participating companies since 2000.

Tweet me:.@FiatChrysler_NA invites #automotive suppliers to take their best shot in “Pitch Pit” ... learn more: http://bit.ly/2JAjK9B #WCX18

KEYWORDS: auto supplier, Automotive, FCA US LLC, NYSE:FCAU

By Richard Feloni

SOURCE:CECP: The CEO Force for Good

DESCRIPTION:

• Unilever CEO Paul Polman spoke at the CECP's CEO Investor Forum in February about the need for prioritizing long-term value.
• He said that while he's seen progress over the last decade, he has yet to have an investor ask him on an earnings call about topics like sustainability or diversity.
• He said his 10-year plan has been for the purpose of keeping Unilever healthy and relevant for years to come.
• This post is part of Business Insider's ongoing series on Better Capitalism.

Read the complete article on Business Insider

KEYWORDS: CECP, Leadership, sustainability

SOURCE:JetBlue Airways

DESCRIPTION:

In the days following Hurricane Maria, first responders from different departments answered Puerto Rico’s call for help. Many first Responders from the mainland U.S. flew to Puerto Rico without hesitation to help Puerto Rican authorities assist the island’s residents during their dire time of need.

As Puerto Rico’s largest airline, JetBlue was honored to express our gratitude. Last week, JetBlue joined our business partners at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and Aerostar to hold a ceremony in appreciation of these first responders, both from mainland US and from Puerto Rico. JetBlue honored the NYPD, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police and Orlando Police. We also be recognized PRPD, K-9 Units, and Aerostar for their service and assistance.

After hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last year, JetBlue made a commitment to assist in the island’s rebuilding and recovery efforts with its 100x35JetBlue initiative. Puerto Rico is home to nearly 500 JetBlue crewmembers who support the airline’s operations in its focus city of San Juan, as well as in Aguadilla and Ponce. The 100x35JetBlue recovery initiative launched shortly after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. A nod to the island’s dimensions, 100x35JetBlue outlined 100 days and 35 ways – and beyond – of caring for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Tweet me:.@JetBlue honors first responders for their work in #PuertoRico http://bit.ly/2v2cTlW #100x35JetBlue

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:JBLU, Jetblue, Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria, 100x35JetBlue, nypd, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, Orlando Police, Aerostar, PRPD, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport

Cute furry robots like Paro seal and My Special Aflac Duck are the latest way to help people suffering from cancer, diabetes, depression and dementia.

SOURCE:Aflac

DESCRIPTION:

This is part of CNET's "Tech Enabled" series about the role technology plays in helping the disability community.

A hospital room has an odd duality. When my mom occupied one, it was both the best place for her to get better and the last place she'd ever see. She spent months in that light-gray room battling complications from kidney and heart disease.

My family and I did everything we could to make her feel comfortable, but we couldn't bring her the thing she wanted most: our family cat Capucine.

Read the full article on CNET.com.

Tweet me:.@CNET - Cute furry robots like Paro seal and #MySpecialAflacDuck are the latest way to help people suffering from #cancer, #diabetes, #depression and #dementia. http://bit.ly/2uM8YJJ @Aflac @Sproutel

KEYWORDS: Aflac, My Special Aflac Duck, CNET

Samsung awards schools from Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina with $150,000* in technology

SOURCE:Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., April 11, 2018 /3BL Media/ - With months of ideation, research, creation and pitching behind them, three schools have been named national winners in the $2 million* Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. – a nationwide competition that challenges 6^th through 12^th graders to use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) to address real-world issues and inspire change in their local communities.

The winning schools of Ashland Middle School in Ashland, Ky., Cavallini Middle School in Upper Saddle River, N.J. and Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Winston-Salem, N.C. provided unique solutions to critical issues affecting our nation – opioid addiction, sports concussion detection and natural disasters. These schools were chosen as the three national grand prize winners after pitching their projects to a panel of judges in New York City. These students and teachers succeeded through intense rounds of the contest, winning hundreds of thousands in technology along the way. First selected as one of 255 state finalists (5 per state) in November, then one of 51 state winners (including Washington, D.C.) in December, and then one of 10 national finalists in March, these three schools ultimately progressed to achieve the title of 2018 national grand prize winners.

“Each year that passes with the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, we are more impressed and awe-struck with the creative, strategic talent that our students and teachers possess,” said Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. “Our hope has always been to inspire confidence in today’s youth and provide the tools they need to pursue a career in STEAM. The national winners this year are testament to the possibility and promise of the next generation to answer some of today’s real issues. We are proud to bring awareness to their inspiring work.”

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest was created in 2010 to encourage innovation while addressing the technology gap in classrooms across the country. Each year, the competition inspires more active, hands-on teaching and learning among schools nationwide. Since 2001, Samsung has provided more than $60 million in technology to public schools in the United States. Over the past eight years, Samsung has received more than 17,000 entries for the competition, empowering youth to problem-solve and create with the support of their teachers, peers, schools and communities at-large.

The three national winners will receive $150,000* in Samsung technology products such as LED TVs, laptops and tablets for use in the classroom. This year’s winners include:

Ashland Middle School in Ashland, Ky.

Because local first responders called to the scene of a drug overdose are only armed with rubber gloves and tongs, the students of Ashland Middle School developed a solution to safely pick up and dispose of hypodermic needles. The students created a device that could be used by first responders and local authorities to pick up dangerous used needles and other drug paraphernalia.

"Technology is a great tool, but if you're not using it to help people, it's just a toy," said Isaac Campbell, a student from the Ashland Middle School team.

View their project video here: https://youtu.be/FNSY_4tc1M0

Cavallini Middle School in Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Reported concussions reached upwards of 3 million in 2017, and it’s estimated that half of all concussions are unreported or undetected. After a classmate suffered a concussion during football season last year, students at Cavallini Middle school developed sensors to be worn on football helmets to accurately and quickly identify potential concussions and help prevent any further brain damage through early detection.

“Our sensor, powered by a lithium-ion battery, uses two accelerometers along with a processor to calculate concussions through hits to the body. This data is collected in the app and sent to the coach on the sidelines,” explained Jake Carlin, a student from the Cavallini Middle School team.

View their project video here: https://youtu.be/k-KqgVXNask

Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Winston-Salem, N.C.

After learning that strong summer storms are the primary cause of flooding in the U.S., Thomas Jefferson Middle School students developed a water sensor system that deploys water barriers when rising water levels reach 6 inches.

“Our Assistant Fire Chief let us know that, sadly, many communities do not have enough barriers to cover their flood prone zones, so they have to send out first responders to close streets when they should be out saving lives,” said Jake Grvber, a student from the Thomas Jefferson Middle School team.

Once the barriers are deployed, the system uses Wi-Fi to send a signal to emergency personnel. The information is then sent to the mobile map app, Waze, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to alert drivers of the conditions. View their project video here: https://youtu.be/6xiN25q2IMY

To learn more about the contest, please visit: ​www.samsung.com/solve.

*Estimated Retail Value

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovative leader in consumer electronics, mobile devices and enterprise solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA is pushing beyond the limits of today’s technology and providing consumers and organizations with a portfolio of groundbreaking products in appliances, home entertainment, Internet of Things, mobile computing, smartphones, virtual reality, wireless infrastructure and wearables, in addition to offering leading content and services related to mobile payments, 360-degree VR video, customer support and more. Samsung is a pioneering leader in smartphones and HDTVs in the U.S. and one of America’s fastest growing home appliance brands. To discover more about Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com. For the latest Samsung news, please visit news.samsung.com/us and follow us @SamsungNewsUS.

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KEYWORDS: Samsung, solve for tomorrow

SOURCE:Avery Dennison

DESCRIPTION:

Once again, Avery Dennison has been recognized for putting our values into action. We have the honor of being included in Newsweek’s 2017 “Green Ranking” of global, publicly traded companies. Avery Dennison ranks #168 among the U.S. 500.

The U.S. 500 list includes the 500 largest publicly-traded companies headquartered in the U.S. by revenue as of December 31, 2016. Each was assessed and ranked on its sustainability performance using key environmental performance indicators (KPIs), which include:

• Energy
• Greenhouse Gases
• Water
• Waste
• Green Revenue Percent Range

You can read more about the ranking methodology here. Avery Dennison is proud to be recognized for our sustainability efforts and focus on the long-term health of our business, planet and communities.

Tweet me:Avery Dennison Receives a Top ‘Green Ranking’ from Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-green-rankings-2017-methodology-739761 @AveryDennison #sustainability

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

SUMMARY:

The NextGen Committee of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation has issued a call for proposals for one $90,000 grant to fund work in the 2019 calendar year for currently existing or new programs that would measurably reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

DESCRIPTION:

April 11, 2018 /3BL Media/ - The NextGen Committee of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation has issued a call for proposals for one $90,000 grant to fund work in the 2019 calendar year for currently existing or new programs that would measurably reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, measured by metric tons (or “tonnes”) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), either by preventing the emission of those gases or by sequestering gases presently in the atmosphere.

Tweet me:Foundation's NextGen Committee issues RFP for $90,000 grant for new/existing programs to reduce GHG emissions in the atmosphere. https://bit.ly/2qjya5S

Contact Info:

Grant Administrator
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
nextgengrants@raycandersonfoundation.org

KEYWORDS: Ray C. Anderson Foundation, emissions reduction, NextGen Committee

By Dean Richmond, Area Manger, Network Process & Quality, AT&T Technology Operations

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

AT&T Editor’s note: This month is National Volunteer Month. We are shining the spotlight on our employees who spend time volunteering for causes they care about. Our employee volunteers make our company and our communities stronger. We are honored to share their efforts to make a difference.

On December 18, 2008, my family was on a long drive home from NYC from what would ultimately be my daughter Lauren’s last doctor appointment. Lauren had been fighting a brain tumor for more than 5 years. After this visit, she began to think about everything she wanted to do – become the first female president, get a perfect score on her SATs, and go to Harvard Law School. And so she began to develop an idea to grant children their final wishes.

She spent that long drive mapping out her final wish—the seed for what would become the ELLE Foundation, an organization dedicated to creating memories of joy for children with cancer and granting final wishes for children battling a reoccurrence. Less than a week later, Lauren left us to return to heaven.

Tweet me:.@ConnectToGood "Lauren’s Last Wish—the ELLE Foundation" https://soc.att.com/2HtdAaA #ATTimpact #NationalVolunteerMonth

KEYWORDS: AT&T, national volunteer month, ELLE Foundation, Cancer, wishes, Children, volunteer, richmond, Grants

SOURCE:Duke Energy

SUMMARY:

• $700 million investment addresses growth in the region and accommodates customers' energy demand now and in the future.

• Project benefited 150 companies, created more than 600 temporary construction jobs and contributed $12 million to local subcontractors.

DESCRIPTION:

GREENVILLE, S.C., April 11, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Duke Energy's new 750-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant at the W.S. Lee Station in Anderson County, S.C., began serving customers on April 5, 2018. The energy generated from this unit helps power the lives of customers in South Carolina and North Carolina.

Construction of the $700 million plant started in March 2015.

Customers rely on energy today more than ever, and that demand will continue to increase during the next 15 years. Building highly efficient natural gas plants is part of Duke Energy's balanced approach to modernizing the fleet, maintaining a diverse fuel portfolio, managing costs and providing reliable and increasingly clean energy to power the lives of customers now and in the future.

"Investing in a smarter, more efficient energy future through projects like the new W.S. Lee plant is more than just good business – it's an investment in our state that helps attract jobs and industry and make our economy and communities stronger," said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Duke Energy state president for South Carolina. "This project represents a long-term commitment to South Carolina – a $700 millioninvestment in the station, environment and surrounding communities."

Environmental benefits
Combined-cycle natural gas units generate energy more efficiently and release significantly lower emissions than coal-fired units. For example, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and other emissions are expected to drop by 87 percent overall in comparison to the station's previous coal-fired operation.

Duke Energy closed two coal-fired units at the W.S. Lee Station in 2014 and converted a third coal unit to natural gas in 2015.

The company no longer operates any plants in South Carolina that use coal as fuel.

Economic benefits
The W.S. Lee project has benefited more than 150 companies locally, in South Carolina, across the U.S. and around the world.

During the height of construction, the project created more than 600 temporary construction jobs and provided about $12 million in work to local subcontractors.

For more about how the project benefited the local community, watch this short video: Power plant = jobs for South Carolina county.

In all, crews poured about 23,000 cubic yards of concrete – enough to fill eight Olympic-size swimming pools – placed 436 miles of cable and wire and installed 29 miles of underground pipe and conduit.

Community commitment
Since 1951, Duke Energy's W.S. Lee Station has helped power the economic growth in Anderson County and the surrounding communities of Belton, Williamston, Pelzer and West Pelzer.

That local commitment to the region continues through community involvement by the site's 45 employees, who take pride in giving back to the towns and neighborhoods where they live.  

Since 2016, the company and its employees have contributed $425,724 to local communities near the station through Duke Energy Foundation grants and event sponsorships. Duke Energy employees have also volunteered 1,705 hours serving local nonprofit organizations.

The new combined-cycle unit is also expected to generate about $4.4 million in tax revenue in 2019 for Anderson County.

Other details
In addition to the new combined-cycle natural gas plant, the W.S. Lee Station has a 180-megawatt natural gas boiler and two dual-fuel 42-megawatt simple-cycle units.

The North Carolina Electric Membership Corp. owns 100 megawatts of the unit's energy capacity.

Fluor Corp., another company with deep roots in the Upstate, was the combined-cycle natural gas plant's engineering, procurement and construction contractor.

The unit receives natural gas through a new dedicated pipeline that branches off the transcontinental mainline. Crews installed the new 1-mile pipeline and associated metering and compression equipment on existing Duke Energy Carolinas and Piedmont Natural Gas rights of way.

Duke Energy Carolinas
Duke Energy Carolinas owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas, renewables and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides approximately 19,700 megawatts of owned electric capacity to about 2.5 million customers in a 24,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Heather Danenhower 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Tweet me:New #naturalgas plant in SC expected to lower #emissions by 87% http://bit.ly/2qhC9zY @DukeEnergy #cleanenergy #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, South Carolina, natural gas, Emissions, sustainability

SOURCE:CBRE Group, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Watch as our Phoenix office embraces a new way of working through Workplace360, CBRE’s global workplace initiative designed to promote flexibility, mobility and productivity through tech-enabled, 100-percent free-address and paperless offices. Spread across three floors of Building IV at The Esplanade in Phoenix, the new 75,000-square-foot space is leading the way in terms of workplace strategies that impact employee performance, productivity and talent recruitment.

About CBRE Group, Inc.

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2017 revenue). The company has more than 80,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate investors and occupiers through approximately 450 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

Tweet me:.@CBRE's new Workplace360 office in Phoenix improves flexibility, mobility and productivity for employees http://bit.ly/2GyiMwH

KEYWORDS: CBRE, Workplace360, Phoenix, productivity, paperless office, flexible work environment, office design, NYSE:CBRE