PNC’s 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report details the company’s environmental, social and governance priorities and highlights our progress against the goals we’ve set in these key areas.

SOURCE:PNC Financial Services Group

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:2017 @PNCBank #CSR Report details new #environmental goals, including reducing carbon #emissions and energy consumption by 75 percent by 2035 http://bit.ly/2vkX0Y7

KEYWORDS: PNC Bank

Hundreds of volunteers take part in urban planting initiative in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, California wildfires and invasive insects in Denver

SOURCE:Arbor Day Foundation

SUMMARY:

Part of Comcast Cares Day, Largest Single-Day Corporate Service Event in the Country

DESCRIPTION:

LINCOLN, Neb., April 17, 2017 /3BL Media/ - The Arbor Day Foundation and Comcast NBCUniversal are pleased to announce an urban planting partnership of more than 1,000 trees focusing on repairing communities damaged by disasters in Florida, Texas, California and Colorado, all states where Comcast has a significant number of employees, customers and community partners.

The plantings in Santa Rosa are in response to the recent California wildfires, while Miami and Houston are in response to the hurricanes that ravaged the community last fall. Denver, too is included due to the area’s recent battle with Emerald Ash Borer, which is killing millions of trees across North America. The events, happening simultaneously on April 21, 2018, are part of Comcast NBCUniversal’s larger Comcast Cares Day, the company’s annual celebration of a year-round commitment to volunteerism and a massive demonstration of the capacity of one company’s employees to serve and to make an impact in the communities where they live and work.

“We are grateful to have Comcast NBCUniversal as a partner in helping restore hope and beauty through trees in these areas affected by natural disaster,” said Dan Lambe, president, Arbor Day Foundation. “Because of the generosity of Comcast NBCUniversal and its employees, thousands of people across the United States will be able to start to gain some sense of normalcy through the process of building their communities. The trees will be planted to help clean the air, protect water resources, and restore habitat and beauty to forests that have suffered such great devastation."

These planting projects are part of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Tree Recovery program which aims to bring trees back to communities in the wake of natural disasters. The Comcast Cares Day project will put thousands of trees into area resident’s hands and will be planted by more than 250 Comcast NBCUniversal employees volunteering 1,500 hours in their communities alongside the Arbor Day Foundation and local tree planting nonprofits including: the California Urban Forestry Council, Citizens for a Better South Florida, Trees for Houston and Denver’s The Park People.

“We believe in improving the communities where we live and work through volunteerism and strong partnerships,” said Dalila Wilson-Scott, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at Comcast NBCUniversal.  “On day-one, we were providing much needed supplies and financial assistance in impacted communities, and now we are especially excited to join forces with the Arbor Day Foundation this Comcast Cares Day.”

###

About the Arbor Day Foundation
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. During the last 45 years, more than 300 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees.  More information is available at arborday.org. 

About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal.  Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand, and also provides these services to businesses.  It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the XFINITY brand.  NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.   

Tweet me:Hundreds of Volunteers Take Part in Urban Planting Initiative in Areas Affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, California Wildfires and Invasive Insects in Denver @arborday http://bit.ly/2qiCBhg

Contact Info:

Danny Cohn
Arbor Day Foundation
+1 (402) 473-9563
dcohn@arborday.org

KEYWORDS: Arbor Day Foundation, Comcast NBCUniversal, Trees, natural disasters, Urban Planting

Annual report highlights leading paper and packaging supplier’s strong performance on long-term goals

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

BOSTON, April 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, has released its 2017 Sustainability Report showcasing its industry leading sustainability performance. The report includes up-to-date information on the company’s progress against five year goals measuring environmental, economic and social responsibility commitments as well as providing insights into its continued technical innovation.

“Sappi North America is committed to a holistic approach to sustainability.  We believe that we best create sustained value for our customers, communities, employees and shareholders by committing to the right actions across our operations and company, from improving operating efficiencies, reducing waste, to investing in our employees and our mills," said Mark Gardner, President and CEO, Sappi North America.

"This year I’m pleased to report that we have been awarded Gold Recognition Level in sustainability performance by EcoVadis, an independent rating agency. We are gratified by their recognition of the excellence of our sustainability approach and performance, which places us among the top 4 percent of the roughly 30,000 companies surveyed annually.  I encourage all of our stakeholders to learn more about our significant investments by reading our 2017 Sustainability Report,” continued Gardner.

EcoVadis, an acknowledged leader in the third party evaluation of sustainability performance, takes an evidence based approach in its rating process, covering 21 criteria across four themes of Environment, Fair Labor Practices, Ethics/Fair Business Practices, and Supply Chain. Their methodology is aligned with international standards including the United Nations Global Compact, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and ISO 26000. 

Sustainability Goals

Sappi North America’s sustainability goals reflect commitments across social, environmental and financial metrics: People, Planet and Prosperity. Some of this year’s highlights:

• Sappi North America achieved a 38 percent improvement in safety performance across all of our operations, as measured by Lost Time Frequency Rate (LTIFR), an achievement which puts us well within the top quartile of all U.S. paper mills.  Our Cloquet Mill experienced over 2 million hours without a loss time injury, receiving a 2017 Sustainability Award for Safety from AF&PA for this achievement.
   
• Sappi North America is an industry leader in sustaining a low carbon footprint of just 0.33 (tonne/admt), with approximately 80 percent of our energy use from renewable or alternative fuels.
   
• 100 percent of our wood fiber is procured in accordance with the SFI Fiber Sourcing standard as well as the FSC controlled wood standard, with nearly 54 percent third party certified.

Sappi’s 2020Vision

In 2015, Sappi Limited established an aspirational vision for the future that was structured around concrete, measurable initiatives with clear baselines for performance. The goal to become a truly diversified wood fiber group, targeting a substantial increase in EBITDA through an expanded product portfolio, reflects Sappi’s confidence in its ability to evolve with the changing world; continually maintain and improve returns in mature markets; and deliver top-line growth in newer businesses.

Sappi North America employs over 2,000 individuals at its three mills, sheeting facility, Technology Center and supporting offices across the United States, and produces 1.17 million metric tons of paper annually. Its four diversified businesses include pulp, printing papers, casting and release and packaging and specialty papers.

To read Sappi North America’s 2017 Sustainability Report and learn more about its sustainability initiatives, please visit: https://www.sappi.com/sustainability-north-america.

About Sappi North America

Sappi North America, headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of our four diversified businesses – high quality Coated Printing Papers, Specialised Cellulose, Release Papers and Specialty Packaging – is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people and advantaged assets, products and services. Our high quality Coated Printing Papers, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are the key platform for premium magazines, catalogs, books and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Specialised Cellulose used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods, and one of the world's leading suppliers of Release Papers with our Ultracast, PolyEX, Classics and Neoterix lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries. Our Specialty Packaging products, such as LusterPrint and LusterCote, represent an important asset in the food packaging and labeling industries. Customers rely on Sappi for high technical, operational and market expertise; products and services delivered with consistently high quality and reliability; and, state-of-the-art and cost-competitive assets and innovative spirit.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 150 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at: www.sappi.com.

Tweet me:.@SappiNA has released its 2017 #sustainability report and received Gold Rating from @ecovadis http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

KEYWORDS: Sappi, EcoVadis, Sustainability Report, annual report, environment, JSE:SAP

SOURCE:Humana

DESCRIPTION:

Broward County organizations that connect residents to healthy food are invited to apply for grants “no smaller than” $500,000 from the Humana Foundation, the charitable arm of the health insurance giant.

Since 2015, Broward County has been among the communities targeted by Humana Inc.’s “Bold Goal” initiative for programs and spending aimed at improving residents’ overall health. Others are Louisville, Ky.; San Antonio, Texas; New Orleans, La.; Knoxville, Tenn.; plus the Tampa Bay and Jacksonville regions in Florida.

The program’s goal is to improve the health of these communities 20 percent by 2020.

In a news release, the foundation announced it planned to make “strategic community investments” of at least $500,000 each to organizations in its Bold Goal communities that ensure that people have daily access to healthy food and are making the social connections they need to improve and sustain positive health outcomes.

Types of organizations eligible for the investments include, but are not limited to, mobile or stationary feeding centers for the homeless or the disadvantaged, food co-ops or pantries, nonprofit farmers’ markets, and community gardens that teach people how to grow food.

“We’re open to any and all of these kinds of proposals,” a foundation representative said. “If an applicant has a solid theory of change that can help show how their proposed solution will result in systemic change leading to positive health outcomes related to food security, social connection, and healthy days, the Humana Foundation is interested in hearing about it."

Applicants should address both social connection and food security and the effects both have on health, the foundation’s website states.

Making at least $500,000 available to individual organizations is a new strategy of awarding fewer but larger grants for “maximum input,” said Walter Woods, CEO of the Humana Foundation.

By contrast, eight South Florida nonprofits shared $735,000 from the foundation in 2017. They were Broward Regional Health Planning Council; The Education Fund; Florida International University; Foot Print to Success Clubhouse; Health Foundation of South Florida’s Florida Health Networks; Hispanic Unity of Florida; Memorial Foundation; and United Way of Broward County.

Organizations that receive a “strategic community investment” from the foundation will have an opportunity to receive continued funding for up to two years based on results achieved in the first 12 months, the foundation said.

Requests for applications will be accepted from an organization or consortium of organizations no later than April 27, the release said. After reviewing the requests, the foundation will select a group of finalists to undergo a more detailed application process in May.

The request for application can be submitted through the foundation’s website at Humanafoundation.org/investments.

KEYWORDS: humana foundation, Broward County, Food Insecurity, Social isolation, NYSE:HUM

Nation’s largest community improvement program delivers environmental, economic and social benefits to local communities

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

STAMFORD, Conn., April 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, led by its network of more than 600 affiliates and other partners across the country, will rally tens of thousands of volunteers at events across the country on and around Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, as part of its annual Great American Cleanup.

In its 20th year, the 2018 Great America Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program with an estimated 60,000 events occurring from spring through fall in more than 20,000 communities across the country.

The Great American Cleanup will engage more than 5 million volunteers throughout the country to help renew parks, trails and recreation areas; clean shorelines and waterways; remove litter and debris; reduce waste and improve recycling; and plant trees, flowers and community gardens, among other activities to inspire a new generation of community stewards.

“Earth Day allows us to celebrate and reflect on the invaluable work that Keep America Beautiful, its affiliates and all the dedicated volunteers have done for 65 years and counting,” said Helen Lowman, president and CEO, Keep America Beautiful. “Working together, we continue to advance our fight to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities and we’re proud of all the events that support these collective efforts. On Earth Day and every day, we encourage everyone to join us in our mission and take part in a local community improvement event.”

On April 19, Keep American Beautiful is headed to Dallas, Texas, to kick off this year’s Earth Day events by partnering with EarthX, the world's largest environmental expo, conference and film festival, for EarthXRecycling, a one-day EarthX / Keep America Beautiful conversation. Environmental, recycling and community stakeholders will come together for “How We Can Help Consumers #BeRecycled and #BuyRecycled,” a series of panel conversations about ways businesses, government, NGOs and others can help consumers recycle. Learn more at http://www.earthx.org.

Great American Cleanup Earth Day Events

Highlighted below are just a few of the many Great American Cleanup Earth Day events taking place throughout the country via Keep America Beautiful affiliates:

Keep Phoenix Beautiful - Earth Day Phoenix 2018: Keep Phoenix Beautiful will celebrate Earth Day on April 21 from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at Steele Indian School Park with Exhibitors, mini eco-classes, and more!

Keep Pinellas Beautiful - Great American Cleanup – Memorial: Keep Pinellas Beautiful is partnering with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium for a rewarding day of community improvement, engagement, and beautification on Sunday, April 22. from 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Keep Jackson Beautiful - Keep Jackson Beautiful Month: Keep Jackson Beautiful will host a series of Great American Cleanup events on Saturday, April 21. Activities include removing litter and debris, recycling, cleaning vacant lots, edging and cleaning curbs and gutters, and planting trees and flowers.

Keep Rockland Beautiful - Great American Cleanup Events: Keep Rockland Beautiful has local cleanups taking place throughout April in support of the Great American Cleanup and Earth Day. Residents will remove tons of litter from streets, parks and waterways to make their communities throughout Rockland County, New York, cleaner, healthier and more beautiful.

Keep Virginia Beautiful - Earth Day 2018: Explore ways to make our world a better place with Keep Virginia Beautiful on April 21 from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. This free family-friendly event will have exhibitors, a green market, a “zen” zone, children’s activities, festival foods, music and more!

I Love a Clean San Diego - Creek to Bay Cleanup: Join I Love A Clean San Diego and volunteers to remove debris from San Diego County on April 21 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to join a cleanup site with low volunteer numbers.    

Keep Indian River Beautiful -  Earth Day Festival and Community Cleanup: Volunteers can visit Keep Indian River Beautiful at a booth during the Sebastian Earth Day Festival to receive a cleanup location and supplies.

Find a local Keep America Beautiful affiliate using the Affiliate Search Map at kab.org.

In addition to events organized by Keep America Beautiful’s network of community-based affiliates and partner organizations, volunteers are encouraged to organize events in their own neighborhoods – right on their own block – and then celebrate the hard work afterward … creating a national #cleanYOURblock Party! Take the first step to a more beautiful future by creating your own #cleanYOURblock fundraising team or by signing up for a Great American Cleanup event near you and joining a local team. Additional resources can be found here.

National Sponsors of the 2018 Great American Cleanup include Altria, Dow, The Glad Products Company, Lowe’s, McDonald’s and Niagara Bottling.

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:Make Earth Day everyday with @kabtweet! #KeepAmericaBeautiful #volunteers unite for Great American Cleanup #EarthDay events across the country. http://bit.ly/2qGdNiJ #cleanYOURblock #DoBeautifulThings

Contact Info:

Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3014
lkaufman@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, Great American Cleanup, earth day, EarthX, Altria, Dow, The Glad Products Company, Lowe’s, McDonald’s, Niagara Bottling

SOURCE:Duke Energy

SUMMARY:

April 18 is National Lineman Appreciation Day to celebrate lineworkers and their role in powering the lives of millions of people across the country

DESCRIPTION:

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Lineworkers have jobs unlike any other – they chase storms, climb poles and know the ins and outs of the energy grid – and, with the demands of the job, are always on standby when severe weather strikes.

On April 18, we celebrate our lineworkers' role in powering the lives of millions of people across the country for National Lineman Appreciation Day. Their jobs are no easy feat and not for the faint of heart.

Whether they are scaling a 40-foot pole or sky-high in an elevated bucket truck, lineworkers ensure power flows to vital infrastructure such as hospitals and water treatment facilities and to our everyday conveniences at home. And, safety always remains the top priority.

"Our lineworkers consistently demonstrate unwavering support for our customers and communities," said Lloyd Yates, executive vice president customer and delivery operations and president Carolinas. "Their heroic efforts on the front lines – often in difficult circumstances – are tremendous, and they deserve to be honored for their work that families and businesses throughout America rely on."

Duke Energy's team of lineworkers battled storms, hurricanes and high winds the past year. Hurricane Irma caused more than 2 million power outages in Duke Energy service territories, and crews tackled restoration in the hurricane's aftermath.

Duke Energy crews also joined the U.S. utility industry effort to help restore power to the island of Puerto Rico, the U.S. territory hit hard by Hurricane Maria last year. Crews worked on the island for nearly two months – away from their families – in harsh terrain left in the wake of the hurricane to help restore normalcy to residents of Puerto Rico.

While more traditional aspects of the job such as climbing poles and towers remain, technology has enhanced the profession. Today, drones can be used to assess damage and string lines in areas with limited access following severe-weather events. New portable technology used by lineworkers in the field helps better inform customers on the status of outages including the cause, crew updates and the estimated time of restoration.

Like most professions, lineworkers use their own lingo, with tools nicknamed knucklebusters and goat faces, the gear that along with our lineworkers keeps the grid running for millions of people every day. Learn more about lineman lingo: https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/test-your-knowledge-of-lineman-lingo

More than 5,000 lineworkers are part of the Duke Energy family. They, along with thousands of contract lineworkers, are responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining equipment and more than 300,000 miles of power lines in Duke Energy's service territories – that is enough to wrap around the Earth 12 times. The 300,000 miles of power lines serve over 7 million customers – representing a population of more than 24 million people.

Those who wish to honor lineworkers and their families are encouraged to use the hashtag #ThankALineman in social media.

For more information about Duke Energy's lineworkers, follow @DukeEnergy and visit facebook.com/DukeEnergy.

To view a letter from a lineman's wife expressing her appreciation for her husband's job serving the community, visit https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/after-32-years-i-m-still-proud-to-be-a-lineman-s-wife. 

To view a video of what a day in the life of a lineworker is like, visit http://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/video:-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-lineworker.

Duke Energy
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
Meghan Miles
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
meghan.miles@duke-energy.com 
Twitter - @DE_MeghanM

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy celebrates employees during National Lineman Appreciation Week http://bit.ly/2Hb5q5x #ThankALineman

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, National Lineman Appreciation Week

Governance is a fundamental determinant of long-term performance, as is a company’s environmental and social track record, making it a reliable proxy for wider sustainability.

SOURCE:Legg Mason

DESCRIPTION:

By Martin Currie

As bottom-up investors, our process starts at the company level. We subject all candidates for inclusion in our high-conviction portfolios to rigorous fundamental analysis and peer review. ESG analysis is embedded in this assessment, influencing key assumptions such as the cost of capital, revenues and expenses. From this we can seek to estimate a company’s intrinsic value.

Governance is a fundamental determinant of long-term performance, as is a company’s environmental and social track record, making it a reliable proxy for wider sustainability.

Our approach is backed up by research showing a clear link between a firm’s integration of material sustainability factors and enhanced shareholder value. Ultimately, the best gauge of success is how a fund performs relative to its peers – and ESG can play a key role in achieving investors' goals.

Identification: We start with a list of factors we may consider as part of our fundamental analysis. The level of research and engagement varies depending on region, sector and, critically, the materiality of the issues in question. The overarching aim is to assess the extent to which ESG factors will contribute to/detract from the long-term value of a firm.

Governance: We value transparency and clear, accountable structures, paying attention to the extent to which a company demonstrates alignment with the interests of long-term investors. Primary issues include board leadership, diversity and independence; management remuneration; shareholder rights; succession planning; and accounting and audit standards.

Environmental: Knowing how a company manages potential environmental issues helps us understand how it prepares for regulation and disclosure requirement changes. Concerns include pollution, water usage, climate change (emissions), energy efficiency and resource management.

Social: How a company treats its people, customers and other stakeholders can give valuable insight into its culture – a good proxy for long-term business success. Material issues in this area can include data protection and privacy; equality and diversity; community relations; human capital management; product safety and liability; and supply-chain management.

Integration: ESG factors are integrated into our analysis and decision-making process. We make qualitative and quantitative assessments of issues that are material to long-term performance.

Materiality is a concept we use frequently. In simple terms, it refers to the strength of the relationship between an ESG factor and corporate performance. Some of this is common sense: carbon risk is clearly more material to oil & gas firms than to IT-services, for which data protection and cybersecurity are likely to be more material. Other instances may be less intuitive.

To make the best use of our research time, we have created hierarchies of these material issues, industry by industry. We can gauge whether managements are focusing on the right areas. The challenge is to translate this information into numbers for modeling key financial variables.

Active Ownership: As an active manager of long-term, concentrated portfolios, we place a significant emphasis on stewardship. Engagement is a key element. We are motivated by a firm belief that this both helps protect, and enhance the risk-adjusted return on, our clients’ capital. We build strong relationships with investee companies and engage in a constructive manner.

While we typically engage in private (250 companies in 2017), most often on governance issues, we also join collaborative efforts, particularly when likely to be more effective than acting alone (19 major 2017 collaborations). Our decision to pursue collaborations also takes in the specific nature of the issues, and the degree of alignment with the other investors.

The nature of our active engagements from 2017 breaks down as:

• Governance Only: 64 percent

• Environmental Only: 17 percent

• Social Only: 10 percent

• Overlapping ESG Issues: 9 percent

Voting Activity: A key component of stewardship, when proxy voting on behalf of our clients, we consider the long-term economic impacts. Many themes continue to be important, particularly remuneration: there is a broad push to increase transparency and bring incentive plans in greater alignment with the long-term interests of shareholders.

“Overboarding” has been a common concern, with many directors still taking on unrealistic numbers of commitments. Meanwhile, the long-standing issue of board structure has kept cropping up, particularly regarding independence and diversity.

With pressure around climate change (“carbon risk”) disclosure increasing – unsurprisingly focused on the fossil fuel sector – we remain supportive of many initiatives. As always, we review all meeting proposals case-by-case, with our clients’ best interests at the heart.

For the most part, we vote with management – but the exceptions can prove important.

Total number of shareholder meetings attended: 685

• Meetings at which we voted in line with management: 454 (66 percent)

• Meetings at which we voted against management on at least one resolution: 231 (34 percent)

Total number of resolutions voted upon: 7,541

• Resolutions voted in line with management: 7,029 (93 percent)

• Resolutions voted against management: 542 (7 percent)

Categories for votes against management:

• Director related: 43 percent

• Compensation: 21 percent

• Governance & control: 21 percent

• Business matters: 10 percent

• Other: 5 percent

Geographical breakdown:

• Pan-Asia: 40 percent

• Europe: 25 percent

• United States: 21 percent

• Rest of the world: 12 percent

• Middle East & Africa: 2 percent

Martin Currie is an international equity specialist and a subsidiary of Legg Mason.  The firm’s opinions are not meant to be viewed as investment advice or a solicitation for investment.

©2018 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC. Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC is a subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc.

Tweet me:ESG Can Play a Key Role in Achieving Investors' Goals http://bit.ly/2HFmbXH

KEYWORDS: Martin Currie, legg mason, esg, NYSE:LM

SOURCE:Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

DESCRIPTION:

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation’s commitment to address health disparities in cancer outcomes and care was represented at the Biden Cancer Initiative event at AACR. In 2016, the Foundation joined the Cancer Moonshot initiative and donated $25M to grantee projects to expand community-based cancer care resources and patient engagement and support programs for racial and ethnic minorities, rural, low income and vulnerable populations in the U.S. Grantee projects are being implemented in over 25 states across the country.

Tweet me:Bristol-Myers Squibb recognized for $25M commitment to Cancer Moonshot http://bit.ly/2JPxtt3 @AACR @BMSnews

KEYWORDS: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cancer Moonshot, American Association for Cancer Research, Biden Cancer Initiative

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

When a military service member is wounded, ill, or injured, these changes place tremendous stress on families and caregivers. Supportive family members and caregivers are an integral part of a warrior's successful recovery.

According to a Harvard study, the costs of care for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans over the next 40 years could reach $4 trillion to $6 trillion. Some families have to work to adjust to a new normal when they give up paid employment to become unpaid caregivers. This changing environment represents a major shift in the quality of life and economic stability of these families. The need is great and growing for both wounded warriors and their families.

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is dedicated to helping active duty military personnel and veterans, as well as providing supportive services for veterans' families and caregivers by providing assistance to the family and caregivers of warriors living with physical and/or mental health conditions to ensure they receive their full range of benefits, participate in veterans programs, or receive peer support. 

Family support members supported by WWP can be found across the country in big cities and in small towns. However, most of the time their neighbors and members of their community don’t know that they are there or know that they are carrying such a heavy burden on their own.

Thanks to generous donors, WWP is able to serve warriors and their family members by connecting them with one another and their communities.

Donors can give back to WWP through:
WWP’s website, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org, or by hosting a workplace giving campaign at your place of work or fundraisers in your community https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/give-back/become-a-proud-supporter.

Here are some ways your donation to WWP can help active duty military personnel, veterans, and their supportive caregivers:

• $100 - a warrior can receive career training and coaching, free of charge.
• $250 - $500 - pays for a community outreach event for a group of wounded veterans, which help combat isolation and foster camaraderie among other local warriors.
• $1,000 – covers the cost of a 6 month gym membership for a wounded service member.
• $2,000 to $5,000 - pays for the travel, accommodations, and participation of a warrior at an adaptive sports or mental health event.

Support Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) through your employee giving program:

As a donor, you can support WWP by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program. Federal employees can choose Wounded Warrior Project in your Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) by designating your gift to CFC#11425. Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As WWP's workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work - through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities @WWP: Our Country’s Active Duty Military Personnel, #Veterans, and Their Supportive Caregivers Need Our Help https://impact.ac/2JUn1Aw #WorkplaceGiving

KEYWORDS: America’s Charities, workplace giving, employee giving, Corporate Social Responsibility, charity vetting, payroll deduction giving, Fundraising, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), injured soldiers, Veterans

National Grid lends a hand in projects in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island

SOURCE:National Grid

DESCRIPTION:

WALTHAM, Mass., April 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Earth Day is April 22, and hundreds of National Grid employees will volunteer in communities across the three states the company serves in the coming weeks. Each year National Grid commits to sponsor Earth Day events throughout its service territory in Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.

These efforts help to beautify local communities and promote environmental awareness. Activities include painting and picking up trash and debris at the YMCA in Coventry, Rhode Island; raking and planting flowers at the MSPCA in Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts; an LED light bulb exchange program in upstate New York; and mulching and planting trees in the town of Patchogue, New York, where National Grid is modernizing the natural gas system. National Grid employees encourage customers to join in the local projects. Click here to find an event near you.  

“Each year, I am impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm that our employees bring to Earth Day activities in our communities,” said Dean Seavers, President, National Grid US. “It’s an opportunity for us all to celebrate taking care of our environment and, as a local energy company, reflect on the importance of delivering clean, affordable energy to benefit generations to come.”  

National Grid also asks customers to spread environmental awareness by sharing tips, activities, and photos on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using #GridGoesGreen and #EarthDay2018. For more information on National Grid’s commitment to sustainability and volunteering, please visit https://www.nationalgridus.com/Our-Company/Community-Presence/.

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company that supplies the energy for more than 20 million people through its networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain. 

National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Read more about the innovative projects happening across our footprint in The Democratization of Energy, an eBook written by National Grid’s US president, Dean Seavers. 

For more information please visit our website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram.

###

CONTACT:
Media Relations – 781-907-3980

Tweet me:.@nationalgridus employees to celebrate #EarthDay2018 by #volunteering to restore communities across several states #GridGoesGreen http://bit.ly/2Hbhic3

KEYWORDS: NYSE:NGG, National Grid, earth day

SOURCE:CSR International

DESCRIPTION:

April 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ - “Unless we go to Circular it's game over for the planet; it's game over for society”. These are the opening words of the world’s first feature-length documentary film on the circular economy, called Closing the Loop, due for public release on Amazon Video on Earth Day, 22 April 2018. Going “circular” refers to the necessary change from our current take-make-waste linear economy to a borrow-use-return circular economy (sometimes also referred to as the zero-waste or cradle-to-cradle economy).

The film is directed by a two-time Telly® Award and Emmy® Award winning filmmaker Graham Sheldon and presented by global sustainability expert, Prof. Dr Wayne Visser. And despite its dire warnings – John Elkington, famous for coining the “triple bottom line” of sustainability says in the film: “if we continue with the linear economy, we are, to use a technical term, totally screwed” – it is an optimistic film about innovative solutions.

In support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (especially Goal 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production), the documentary explores five key strategies for achieving circularity – reduce, reuse, recycle, renew and reinvent – by showcasing examples from Europe, Latin America and Africa and featuring insights from experts from the likes of the World Economic Forum and the Universities of Cambridge and Harvard.

The featured cases include:

• Barloworld – a South African industrial conglomerate, with the second-largest Caterpillar equipment remanufacturing plant in the world
• Biogen – a UK renewable energy company Biogen, which generates all its energy and bio-fertiliser from food waste
• Dutch Awearness - a pioneer in circular textiles from The Netherlands, including workwear and suits that can be recycled 8 times
• Interface – a U.S. carpet manufacturer Interface, with an ambitious Mission Zero strategy for eliminating negative environmental impacts by 2020
• Novamont – an Italian bio-plastics company, renowned for making the Lavazza compostable coffee capsule
• REDISA – a South Africa tyre recycling project, which empowers numerous entrepreneurs along the used tyre beneficiation value chain; and
• Quito City - with solutions ranging from Tetrapak up-cycling and zero-waste car assembly to sustainable farming and eco-tourism in the tropical cloud-forests

In addition to these featured cases, the film also captures the views of business practitioners like Mike Barry, Director of Sustainable Business (Plan A) for Marks and Spencer and Christopher Davis, International Director of Corporate Responsibility and Campaigns for The Body Shop.

The key takeaway message from Closing the Loop is that moving to a circular economy is not only essential and urgent, but also entirely possible, if we take inspiration from the pioneers, such as those featured in the film, and scale up similar business models, product innovations and customer solutions around the world.

It will not be easy – and there is no “one size fits all” approach, as the varied experiences across three continents show – but the circular economy revolution is imperative. As presenter Dr Visser puts it: “If we don't solve this one problem [i.e. moving from a linear to a circular economy], everything else we do, no matter how well-intentioned it is, will be like shifting deck chairs on the Titanic.”

More information about the film and upcoming screening events can be found at: www.closingtheloopfilm.com.

Screenings are already being planned for Belgium, Cambodia, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, Laos, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, The Azores, UAE, UK and USA, with more to follow.

Permission to arrange free screenings events

Can be obtained by contacting Dr Wayne Visser via the website.

Trailer

https://vimeo.com/254754265

Official website

www.closingtheloopfilm.com

About the Presenter: Prof. Wayne Visser

Prof. Dr Wayne Visser holds the Chair in Sustainable Transformation and is Professor of Integrated Value at Antwerp Management School. He is also Fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. His work as a strategy analyst, sustainability advisor, CSR expert, futurist and professional speaker has taken him to 74 countries in the past 30 years to work with over 150 clients. Dr Visser has been recognised a Top 100 thought-leader in trustworthy business and a Top 100 global sustainability leader. Some highlights of Wayne’s work include co-producing the climate change documentary Sinking Nation and authoring 28 books – including for example Sustainable Frontiers: Unlocking Change Through Business, Leadership and Innovation.

About the Director: Graham Sheldon

A two-time Telly® Award and Emmy® Award winner, Graham Sheldon resides in Southern California USA, where he works as a producer, DP and writer in the television and videogame industries. Throughout his career, Sheldon has produced dozens of documentary projects in Turkey, Croatia, Ukraine, Peru, Cuba, and across the continental United States -- including Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. Some highlights of Graham's work include Sinking Nation, Echoes from Chernobyl, Cuba: An Island Apart, The Agency: Inside the CIA, and his Emmy award winning expose on migration: Crossing Borders. He attended Indiana University and double majored in Telecommunications and Theatre.

Tweet me:22 April #EarthDay marks the public release of the world's first feature-length documentary on the #CircularEconomy presented by global #sustainability expert @WayneVisser & directed by #EmmyAward winner Graham Sheldon. For info or to arrange a screening: http://bit.ly/2JWt6N8

KEYWORDS: Documentary, circular economy, earth day, zero-waste, CSR International, sustainability, Recycling

Learn from industry leaders and protect your business

SOURCE:International SOS Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

The International SOS Foundation announces its Global Duty of Care Summit, taking place in Chicago on 17 May 2018.  Speakers will include security, healthcare and compliance leaders from American Airlines, Chubb, Everbridge, GoDaddy, Harris Corporation, Hostage US, Johnson & Johnson, Walgreen Company, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, The World Bank Group, KPMG and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).

Now in its second year, this one-day business conference is tailored specifically for stakeholders involved in mitigating health and travel security risks of a mobile workforce.  The 2018 agenda, based around the theme of Empowering Sustainability and Resilience, will address key issues in managing global mobility programmes.  This includes issues such as the gig economy, data privacy, geopolitical influences and wellbeing.

Laurent Fourier, Director of the International SOS Foundation, comments, 'The participation of industry leaders from around the globe at the Summit will provide access to a wealth of expertise and insight. Our focus is sharply on today’s key issues in Duty of Care, in order to keep the workforce safe and protect business continuity and sustainability.  The collaborative environment will provide the opportunity for a high level of engagement between all speakers and delegates.  With the benefit of the best practice insight and practical advice at the Summit, we strive to enable organisations worldwide to be empowered to improve their own processes and programmes for sustainability and resilience.'

Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property & casualty insurance company, is the Gold sponsor of the Duty of Care Summit & Awards. James Walloga, Executive Vice President of the Accident & Health North America Division at Chubb, says, 'We recognise the principles underlying Duty of Care are rapidly becoming top of mind for senior executives and risk managers.  Now, more than ever, it is important for organisations to take a proactive approach toward implementing best practices to deliver on their Duty of Care obligations.  It is not only a matter of compliance, but a critical component of successful business performance.  We are excited to help drive this agenda forward.'

The Summit will be followed by the 2018 Duty of Care Awards ceremony, recognising organisations and individuals who drive excellence in the mitigation of travel, health and security risk and contribute to effectively protecting workers overseas.    

For more information on the 2018 Duty of Care Summit and speaker profiles, click here.

To secure tickets for this exclusive Summit at the special Early Bird price of $589, or $749 for a Summit and Gala Awards Dinner ticket, go to https://2018_duty_of_care_awards_summit.eventbrite.co.uk.

About International SOS Foundation

Established in 2011, the International SOS Foundation ― Ambassadors for Duty of Care www.internationalsosfoundation.org  – has the goal of improving the safety, security, health and welfare of people working abroad or on remote assignments through the study, understanding and mitigation of potential risks. The escalation of globalisation has enabled more individuals to work across borders and in unfamiliar environments; exposure to risks which can impact personal health, security and safety increases along with travel.

The Foundation is a registered charity and was started with a grant from International SOS. It is a fully independent, non-profit organisation. For more information on Duty of Care and the International SOS Foundation, please visit http://www.internationalsosfoundation.org/

Notes to Editors

¹To learn more about the 2018 Duty of Care Awards, click here.

For further information, contact: Suzanne Withers, Head of Group PR, International SOS, T: 0208 762 8494, E: suzanne.withers@internationalsos.com

Tweet me:Join @IntlSOS_Fdn's Global Duty of Care Summit on May 17th to learn from top speakers at @AmericanAir, @JNJNews, @KPMG & more at this exclusive global #riskmanagement conference http://bit.ly/2JWFP1Z #DoCSummit

KEYWORDS: International SOS Foundation, Global Duty of Care Summit, sustainability, Health, Duty of Care, risk management

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on bloomberg.com/careers. 

Design is a core component of our culture, and so is sustainability. Every decision we make around our building design takes into consideration operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

To date, Bloomberg has 36 office spaces that are environmentally certified: 17 of our spaces have achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum (the highest rating), another 18 have achieved LEED Gold (the second highest rating), and 1 received a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of “Outstanding,” the system’s highest rating.

Buildings with LEED or BREEAM certifications have been designed and constructed to reduce energy and water usage, promote better indoor air quality and reduce the environmental impact of construction materials and waste.
To read the full story, click here. 

To read more about Bloomberg's 2017 Impact, click here

Tweet me:Why 36 of Bloomberg's offices are leading with LEED and BREEAM @bloomberg #bloombergimpact #sustainablebusiness http://bit.ly/2qGmytN

KEYWORDS: LEED, BREEAM, Buildings, Bloomberg, Sustainable Operations, Sustainable Business, bloomberg impact, Bloomberg Impact Report

SOURCE:World Environment Center

SUMMARY:

English Version

DESCRIPTION:

El Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, en conjunto con: World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), y RioSlum Studio, anunciaron el lanzamiento del concurso “El Poder de Crecer”. En el podrán participar ONG de los países miembro de la Red de Innovación e Impacto, la fecha límite para participar en el certamen es hasta el 27 de abril. 

“El Poder de Crecer, seleccionará organizaciones sin fines de lucro para que trabajen en conjunto con los miembros actuales de la Red de Innovación e Impacto con el fin de que puedan acelerar la innovación y la creación de empleos en microemprendimientos de Centroamérica en los sectores de agricultura, agroindustria y textil, así como también para que puedan fortalecer la capacidad exportadora y generar prosperidad económica”, señaló Ernesto Samayoa, Director para Latinoamérica de WEC.

Hacer clic aquí para leer más en Mercados y Tendencias.

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Sobre el Poder de Crecer

El Poder de Crecer: Concurso Impulsado por La red de Innovación e Impacto crea alianzas entre organizaciones con objetivos similares para apoyar a microempresas y organizaciones miembros de La Red. El Poder de Crecer seleccionará candidatos innovadores para que unan fuerzas con miembros de La Red (alumni) con el fin de: acelerar la innovación y la creación de empleos en microempresas centroamericanas en los sectores de agricultura, agroindustria y textil; construir capacidad de expansión de las microempresas hacia nuevos mercados regionales e internacionales, con un enfoque en el mercado estadounidense; y, generar prosperidad económica para toda Centroamérica. Los ganadores recibirán un paquete completo de asesoría, hasta USD 43,000 para promover su solución propuesta y acceder a una alianza con una organización miembro de La Red de Innovación e Impacto con el fin de trabajar juntos hacia el mismo objetivo. Visita powertogrow.wec.org para conocer más y aplicar.

Sobre La Red

El Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos ha estado financiando al World Environment Center (WEC) y sus aliados, Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel), y RioSlum Studio, con el  fin de seleccionar organizaciones que están acelerando el desarrollo de negocios sostenibles y promoviendo el crecimiento económico sostenible en América Latina y el Caribe. El Programa, La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La Red), se creó en el 2014 y reúne a 30 soluciones innovadoras de 11 países en la región.

Sobre el World Environment Center

WEC es una organización sin fines de lucro neutral, independiente, global, que fomenta el desarrollo sostenible a través de las operaciones de sus empresas miembros y en alianza con gobiernos, organizaciones multilaterales, organizaciones no gubernamentales, universidades y otras partes interesadas. La misión de WEC es promover los negocios y su valor social fomentando soluciones a problemas relacionados con el desarrollo sostenible.

Sobre Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée

Baastel está reconocido por sus servicios de calidad en Monitoreo y Evaluación (M&E), Gestión Basada en Resultados (GBR), planificación estratégica, gestión de proyectos y programas y construcción de capacidad individual e institucional en estas áreas. La reputación sobresaliente de Baastel en la industria se ha estado construyendo sobre un historial de éxitos nacionales e internacionales y experiencia respaldada por la atención al detalle, calidad, transparencia y neutralidad.

Sobre RioSlum Studio

RioSlum Studio ofrece servicios de desarrollo de marca y mensajes, diseño y estrategia de comunicación para empresas audaces con una visión atrevida. Construimos marcas cautivadoras que evocan emoción, exigen atención y atraen negocio. Lanzamos RioSlum Studio para asegurar que todas las empresas, desde startups de un empleado a corporaciones globales, tengan acceso a los servicios de desarrollo de marca y comunicación de alta calidad que necesitan para llamar la atención a nivel global.

Tweet me:Si te lo perdiste: Mercados y Tendencias: Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos lanza concurso “El Poder de Crecer” via @revistamyt https://tinyurl.com/y9knrvz3 #elpoderdecrecer @StateDept @WorldEnvCenter http://bit.ly/2HaY0Ud

Contact Info:

Lucia Furlan
RioSlum Studio
+502-57425129

KEYWORDS: Centroamerica, World Environment Center

SOURCE:World Environment Center

SUMMARY:

Versión en español

DESCRIPTION:

The US State Department, together with World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), and RioSlum Studio, announced the launching of the “Power to Grow” Challenge. The Challenge is open to NGOs operating in the member countries of La Red de Innovación e Impacto, with April 27^th as the application due date.

“Power to Grow will select non-for profit organizations to work with current members of La Red de Innovación e Impacto in order to accelerate innovation and job creation for micro-enterprises of Central America, specifically in the agriculture, agroindustry and textile sectors. Another main goal will be to strengthen their exporting capacity and generate economic prosperity”, as mentioned by Ernesto Samayoa, Director of Latin America at WEC.

Click here to read more on Mercados y Tendencias.

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About Power to Grow

Power to Grow: The Innovation Challenge Fueled By La Red de Innovación e Impacto aims to support micro-enterprises by creating partnerships between mission-aligned organizations and current La Red member companies. Power to Grow selects innovative organizations to join forces with La Red companies (Alumni) towards: accelerating innovation and job creation opportunities for Central American micro-enterprises in the agriculture, agro-industry, and textiles sectors; building capacity of micro-enterprises to expand to new regional and international markets, with a focus on the U.S. market; and, generating economic prosperity across Central America. Awardees will receive a comprehensive support package, up to $43,000 to promote their solution, and partnership with a current member of La Red de Innovación e Impacto working towards the same goal. Visit powertogrow.wec.org to learn more and apply.

About La Red

The U.S. Department of State has funded the World Environment Center (WEC) and its partners, Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel), and RioSlum Studio, to select organizations who are accelerating business development and promoting sustainable economic growth in Latin America. The Program, La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La Red), was established in 2014 and is a collection of 30 innovative solutions from 11 countries in the region.

About World Environment Center

WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC’s mission is to promote business and societal value by advancing solutions to sustainable development-related problems.

About Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and building individual and institutional capacity in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the field is built on a record of international and national successes, and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality.

About RioSlum Studio

RioSlum Studio offers branding, design, messaging, and strategy services to daring companies with bold vision. We build compelling brands that evoke emotion, demand attention, and attract business. We launched RioSlum Studio to ensure all companies, from one-person startups to global corporations, have access to the high-quality branding and communications services they need to command global attention.

Tweet me:ICYMI: Mercados y Tendencias: US Department of State launches “Power to Grow” Challenge via @revistamyt https://tinyurl.com/y9knrvz3 #elpoderdecrecer @StateDept @WorldEnvCenter http://bit.ly/2Hx0b3H

Contact Info:

Elysa
Neumann
+1 (774) 275-4836
press@wec.org

KEYWORDS: Centroamerica, sustainability, World Environment Center

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Later this week, tens of thousands of Comcast and NBCUniversal employees, and their friends and families, along with hundreds of nonprofit organizations, will join hands to drive positive change in the communities we serve during the 17th annual Comcast Cares Day.

Many volunteers will paint schools and community centers, clean parks and playgrounds, and sort and stock food and clothing to be shared with children and families in local communities.

Some volunteers will also give back in a more direct way – fielding questions and offering solutions to nonprofit executives about preparing budgets, long-term financial strategies, marketing tips and goals, and more.

For the second consecutive year, our Comcast Cares Day projects will include the opportunity for nonprofits to meet with our corporate professionals to help solve some challenges in areas including human resources, finance and marketing/communications.

“We love to talk about what we do, and we love to feel we are valuable,” said Rebecca Wright, vice president of human resources for Studio Operations at NBCUniversal in Los Angeles. Wright has helped organize a free consulting workshop for 12 local nonprofits whose leaders on Comcast Cares Day will tap into the business expertise of NBCUniversal professionals. The nonprofit leaders will rotate from table to table, meeting with different professionals and discussing their organizations key challenges.

Beyond benefiting the nonprofits, Wright said, “Our employees get to learn a little bit about consulting and what that looks like, and to build their skills through that process.”

Watch the video above to learn about our Comcast Cares Day consulting workshop held last year in New York City.

Tweet me:.@ComcastNBCUCI join hands with #nonprofits for 17th annual #ComcastCaresDay http://bit.ly/2HCXIVg #volunteering

KEYWORDS: nbcuniversal, comcast, comcast cares day, Nonprofits

SOURCE:Blackbaud Corporate Solutions

DESCRIPTION:

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good podcast, Rachel Hutchisson, vice president of Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy at Blackbaud (@blackbaud), speaks with Daryl Brewster, CEO, and Carmen Perez, Director of Data Insights at CECP (@CECPtweets), about the continued evolution of companies being a force for good in solving societal problems. Daryl talks about CECP’s core belief that a company’s social strategy determines company success, and how its flagship research report, Giving in Numbers, helps inform corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies for companies across the US and around the world (including at Blackbaud, as noted by Rachel!). Daryl and Carmen dive into key insights from CECP’s most recent Giving in Numbers report, the largest in-depth research and analysis of corporate societal engagement with data from over 250 of the world's largest companies, including: a substantial increase in corporate investment in culture and arts over the last few years; deeper integration of business and employee programs; and a rise in the number of companies offering employee choice for matching donations and volunteering. Carmen also highlights how the Giving in Numbers report can uncover some very interesting industry-specific insights, such as how subsections of the healthcare industry are on opposite ends of aggregate changes in corporate giving. Rachel, Daryl and Carmen also discuss some global trends in CSR, and how companies around the world can learn from each other to make a greater impact. Listen now!

Blackbaud's Champions for Social Good podcast, hosted by Rachel Hutchisson, VP of Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, brings together thought leaders and practitioners in the social good movement to share learnings, educate and inspire change across the sector. Subscribe to the Champions for Social Good Podcast on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast player.

To learn more about Blackbaud, the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good, and about how we are helping companies advance their social impact, visit www.blackbaud.com/corporations. 

Tweet me:Companies are more deeply integrating business and employee programs – how is this changing #CSR? Daryl Brewster and @CarmenJSPerez of @CECPtweets talk with @RachelHutchssn on the newest episode of the Champions for Social Good podcast http://bit.ly/2J2Yjg0

KEYWORDS: Blackbaud Corporate Solutions, NASDAQ:BLKB

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

Today, Booz Allen Hamilton launched the Booz Allen Foundation with an initial pledge of $5 million to support the foundation’s purpose, to “Empower People to Change the World.” The foundation will employ technology and innovation to solve challenging social issues and build community resilience.

The foundation’s primary areas of focus include enhancements to global health, support for veterans and military families, youth and education programs, and continued support of the charitable initiatives of Booz Allen employees. Its first grant of $129,000 went to the American Red Cross in support of disaster relief as a matching gift to Booz Allen employee donations.

This month, a study conducted by Ipsos and Booz Allen Hamilton found that fewer than half of Americans surveyed believe they have the basic information they need to prepare for a disaster. As part of its mission, the Booz Allen Foundation will consider opportunities to assist in the recovery from declared disasters.

“We wanted to find a way to galvanize an even broader set of problem-solvers around Booz Allen’s purpose to empower people to change the world,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Horacio Rozanski. “Establishing an independent foundation to complement our ongoing corporate philanthropy is a great way to widen the circle and apply smart minds and advanced technology to build more resilient communities. We are excited that the foundation’s areas of focus include issues the people of Booz Allen have long cared about: veterans and military families, health care, and youth and education.”

Read more about the Booz Allen foundation here. Learn more about Booz Allen’s social impact here.

Tweet me:Booz Allen Foundation will use #technology and #innovation to advance social good: http://bit.ly/2vmgpaQ @BoozAllen

KEYWORDS: Booz Allen Hamilton, Health, Veterans, military families

SOURCE:SiMPACT Strategy Group

DESCRIPTION:

LBG Canada companies may range in size, but they all understand that employee volunteering can enhance their community impact.

Join LBG Canada and advance your volunteering efforts. Get in touch! 

For more information, please visit: www.lbg-canada.ca.

#CIMatters #NVW2018

-30-

About LBG Canada

LBG Canada is a network of corporate community investment professionals from many of Canada's leading companies, who work together to apply, develop and enhance the use of the LBG Model and measurement framework in Canada. Participation in LBG Canada encourages companies to focus on strategy, measurement and reporting to demonstrate the business value achieved through investment in community. LBG Canada is facilitated by SiMPACT Strategy Group.

Tweet me:#LBGCanada companies may range in size, but they all understand that employee volunteering can enhance their community impact. http://bit.ly/2HCTcGi #NVW2018 #CIMatters

KEYWORDS: National Volunteer Week 2018, LBG Canada, employee volunteering, Community Investment, csr, Corporate Social Responsibility, Simpact strategy group

Data-driven decisions make a difference for CARITAS Rwanda

SOURCE:PYXERA Global

DESCRIPTION:

Think globally; act locally. This is the mentality CARITAS Rwanda embraces to achieve its mission. As one of Rwanda’s largest international NGOs, CARITAS manages nearly 30 percent of healthcare facilities in the country, each treating a range of health issues from HIV to malaria. The organization firmly believes that all interventions should address issues raised by the community, which is why it relies on CARITAS community volunteers and Community Health Workers, a government-funded national health program that places trained health workers in every village, to collect and report paper-based health data. Without their reporting support, CARITAS would not have accurate data at a scale sufficient to understand its target market.

Dr. Prince-Bosco Kanani, Director of Rwanda Catholic Health Services at CARITAS Rwanda, recognized this reliance, along with the increasing need to manage its own digital database to inform decisions. His wish for support in this area was fulfilled soon thereafter when the Global Health Corporate Champions (GHCC) agreed to send a team of pro bono consultants to collaborate to develop a solution. The challenge of accessing reliable and updated health data is not exclusive to CARITAS. Overcoming such an obstacle for NGOs in Rwanda’s health sector has broad implications as it relates to making informed, evidence-based decisions.

Continue Reading on PYXERAGlobal.org...

Tweet me:Data-driven decisions make a difference – read how the Global Health Corporate Champions worked w/ @CaritasRwanda to move from reactive to proactive healthcare decisions. @GSK, @SAP4good, & @WEComms http://bit.ly/2q8ie6y via @PYXERAglobal @GHFPII #GlobalHealth

KEYWORDS: dow chemical company, GHCC, GHFPII, Global Health, global pro bono, Preventable Disease, africa, sustainable development goals, SDGs, USAID, CARITAS Rwanda, PYXERA Global