Eaton Street Apartments will help revitalize the neighborhood and provide critical, quality affordable housing for low-income families

SOURCE:KeyBank

DESCRIPTION:

CLEVELAND, May 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ — KeyBank’s Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) team has provided a total of $49.7 million in financing to a joint venture among Koelbel and Company, Mile High Development and Longs Peak Advisors to support the new construction of Eaton Street Apartments, a 118-unit affordable housing development in Westminster, CO. Specifically, KeyBank provided a $24.8 million construction loan, a $14.1 million LIHTC equity investment and a $10.8 million Fannie Mae permanent loan. Jefferson County Housing Authority is a Special Limited Partner.

“KeyBank is dedicated to creating safe and decent affordable housing to the communities we serve across the country,” said Rob Likes, national manager of KeyBank’s CDLI team. “The ability to leverage our fully integrated platform to secure on- and off-balance sheet financing allows us to provide the best solutions for our clients’ individual needs.”

Eaton Street Apartments is a key component in the “Downtown Westminster” redevelopment plan and will be a mixed-use building with over 22,000 net rentable square feet of ground-floor retail space. Ninety-nine units will be reserved for households earning 60% or less AMI and eight units will be reserved for households earning 50% or less AMI. The remaining 11 units will target households earning 30% or less AMI and be supported by project-based Section 8 vouchers. Construction of the property began in 2018.

Beth Palmer and Sarah Geis of KeyBank’s CDLI team, along with Jeff Rodman of KeyBank’s Commercial Mortgage Group, arranged the financing.

Additional funding was provided by the City of Westminster, Jefferson County and the Colorado Division of Housing’s Colorado Housing Investment Fund (CHIF). Private Activity Bonds were issued by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Ron Lehr and Sam Adams of KeyBanc Capital Markets provided underwriting and remarketing services for the bond issuance.

About Key Community Development Lending/Investment

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

About KeyBanc Capital Markets

KeyBanc Capital Markets is a leading corporate and investment bank providing capital markets and advisory solutions to dynamic companies capitalizing on opportunities in changing industries. Our deep industry expertise, broad capabilities and unique ideas are seamlessly delivered to companies across the Consumer & Retail, Diversified Industries, Healthcare, Industrial, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Utilities, Power & Renewables, and Technology verticals. With over 800 professionals across a national platform, KeyBanc Capital Markets has more than $30 billion of capital committed to clients and an award-winning Equity Research team that provides coverage on over 700 publicly-traded companies. KeyBanc Capital Markets is a trade name under which corporate and investment banking products and services of KeyCorp and its subsidiaries, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC (“KBCMI”), and KeyBank National Association (“KeyBank N.A.”), are marketed. Securities products and services are offered by KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and its licensed securities representatives, who may also be employees of KeyBank N.A. Banking products and services are offered by KeyBank N.A.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $137.0 billion at March 31, 2018. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,200 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Tweet me:.@KeyBank is providing$49.7M to finance for #Colorado #affordablehousing development http://bit.ly/2GpZMLI

KEYWORDS: keybank, KeyCorp, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Key Community Development Lending/Investment, colorado, affordable housing

NeighborhoodLIFT program will offer homebuyer education plus $7,500 down payment assistance grants for all 33 New Mexico counties; special parameters for veterans, military, teachers, and first-responders

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

RIO RANCHO, N.M., May 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), NeighborWorks^® America and its network member, Homewise, today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT^® program will expand for all 33 counties in the state of New Mexico with a $4.6 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost homeownership.

“This investment by Wells Fargo to expand NeighborhoodLIFT throughout the state of New Mexico will make a meaningful difference for many families,” said Rio Rancho Mayor Greggory D. Hull. “New Mexico is a wonderful place to live, and I am thankful to Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks and Homewise for working together to expand this innovative program for our community.”

The 2018 New Mexico NeighborhoodLIFT program follows a similar LIFT event in 2015 that created 221 homeowners in Albuquerque, N.M., by offering homebuyer education plus down payment assistance grants in as part of a $4.7 million commitment by Wells Fargo. Overall, Wells Fargo has conducted 58 LIFT program events in the U.S. since 2012 that have created more than 17,550 homeowners.

Registration now open for homebuyer event in Albuquerque, N.M., June 1–2

The Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT program will begin with a free event June 1–2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Albuquerque Convention Center, located at 401 2nd St. NW in Albuquerque. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and to register, visit www.wellsfargo.com/lift or call (866) 858-2151.  Pre-registration is strongly recommended.

At the event, the first 100 homebuyers who participate each day will have an opportunity to reserve a $100 gift voucher to be awarded upon completion of homebuyer education. In addition, prospective homebuyers may participate in financial education sessions at the homebuyer event. Participating homebuyers can obtain mortgage financing from any participating lender, and Homewise will determine eligibility and administer the down payment assistance grants.

“The NeighborhoodLIFT program is another example of our commitment to New Mexico and our efforts to build better communities through sustainable homeownership,” said David Hockmuth, Wells Fargo New Mexico region bank president. “The program will help hardworking families and individuals get on the path to achieve successful and sustainable homeownership.”

To be eligible, annual incomes must not exceed 80 percent of the local area median income in the county where the home is being purchased. In addition, there are special parameters for veterans and service members, teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who may reserve $10,000 down payment assistance grants within eligibility requirements including earning up to 100 percent of the area median income.

Approved homebuyers will have up to 60 days to finalize a contract to purchase a home in New Mexico.

“This innovative public-private collaboration will create about 430 more homeowners in New Mexico,” said Gary Wolfe, regional vice president, western region, NeighborWorks America. “The required homebuyer education classes provided by certified professionals better prepare NeighborhoodLIFT homebuyers to achieve their goal of sustainable homeownership.”

To reserve the full grant amount, participants buying a primary residence with the NeighborhoodLIFT program must commit to live in the home for five years.

“We are excited to team-up with the NeighborhoodLIFT program for New Mexico families that will provide homebuyer education and down payment assistance to help them achieve sustainable homeownership,” said Laura Altomare, chief communications officer of Homewise. “The NeighborhoodLIFT program offers New Mexico families an affordable and accessible way to realize their homeownership goals.”

Since February 2012, LIFT programs have helped create more than 17,550 homeowners in 58 communities. A video about the NeighborhoodLIFT program is posted on Wells Fargo Stories.

About Homewiseand NeighborWorks America

Homewise is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 245 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.homewise.org, or http://www.neighborworks.org/ to learn more. 

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,200 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2017 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Media Contacts: 

Mike English, 505-765-5054          
Mike.English@wellsfargo.com
@MikeEnglishWF

or

Alfredo Padilla, 213-253-3379
Alfredo.Padilla@wellsfargo.com
@APadillaWF

Tweet me:$4.6 million commitment by @WellsFargo announced to help eligible #homebuyers buy & reside in a #NewMexico home

Contact Info:

Mike English
Wells Fargo
+1 (505) 765-5054
Mike.English@wellsfargo.com

Alfredo Padilla
Wells Fargo
+1 (213) 253-3379
Alfredo.Padilla@wellsfargo.com
@APadillaWF

KEYWORDS: homeownership, homebuyer education, Down Payment Assistance, NYSE:WFC, Wells Fargo & Company

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

Imagine spending a year and a half not knowing if the bed you slept in one night would be the bed you sleep in the next night.

That’s reality for the more than 430,000 children in foster care in North America, but the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption knows that these children can have a bright future. More than 117,000 children living in foster care need to be adopted right now.

Children like Mason who were put in the foster care system at birth are receiving the gift of family because of the work we are doing throughout the US and Canada.

Mason is now four years old and thriving in his loving home.

Please help us make a difference in the lives of children waiting to be adopted from foster care.

Learn more at davethomasfoundation.org or click here to GIVE NOW

Tweet me:More than 117,000 children living in #fostercare need to be #adopted right now. You can help @DTFA find them their #foreverfamilies http://bit.ly/2GfaPr2

KEYWORDS: Dave Thomas, foster care, adoption, Recruiter, forever family, Wendy’s

LA Kings / AEG to bring BluEco Liquid Crystalline Turbex™ System to arenas and teams worldwide enhancing the NHL’s Greener Rinks Initiative

SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ – AEG, the world’s leading sports and entertainment company, and its National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, the LA Kings, have formed a joint venture with BluEco Technology Group to introduce a revolutionary new BluEco Liquid Crystalline Turbex™ (LCT™) environmental technology for arenas and public facilities.  The BluEco LCT System produces pure water while cleaning indoor air and significantly reducing energy costs for arena and facility operators and owners.  Additionally, the BluEco LCT improves spectator and player comfort in a wide variety of venue climates and provides material operational cost reductions to teams and arena management.

AEG and BluEco will further the NHL’s Greener Rinks mission by bringing the technology to professional and community facilities across the globe. The announcement was made today by AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman, AEG Sports’ Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Cheeseman and President of BluEco Technology Group, Scott Morris. 

The proprietary BluEco Liquid Crystalline Turbex technology is a molecular level environmental air-flow management system.  This innovative processor produces the highest quality of water while at the same time efficiently managing the interior air-flow, cleansing the air from particulates, and allowing for significant energy savings.  The formulated ice has fewer impurities and a clearer, harder, more dense surface.  Additionally, the technology eliminates an arena’s reliance on the municipal water systems to create and maintain its ice sheet.  The BluEco LCT System was piloted at STAPLES Center during the LA Kings’ 2017-2018 season. 

Said Beckerman: “Through our partnership with BluEco, we have introduced an innovative technology that addresses the two most critical issues facing hockey franchises and venue owners: the quantity of water needed to create ice sheets and the quality of the ice that forms.  We are excited to launch this new system in conjunction with the NHL which shares our vision and commitment to sustainability. For more than a decade, AEG has been dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint and water usage, which is especially important in water-stressed areas like Los Angeles. Our mission is to facilitate the adoption this game-changing advancement with other teams and arenas, making an impact on hockey and conservation.”

“Innovative technologies like BluEco allow our Clubs to ‘test and learn’ around creative solutions that will not only result in greater efficiencies, but can represent sustainable access to our sport,” said Kim Davis, Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth and Legislative Affairs at the NHL. “These types of solutions will ultimately provide a gateway for the broader community rink industry to ensure that our game is accessible and an enjoyable family experience, and that our sport thrives for future generations.”

As a result of the BluEco LCT system pilot program that launched during the LA Kings most recent hockey season, STAPLES Center saved hundreds of thousands of gallons of water over the entire season and has also lowered the carbon footprint of one of the busiest and well-known arenas in the world. 

“BluEco is thrilled to be partnering with AEG and the LA Kings in this venture,” said Morris.  “By joining forces with these gold standard organizations, we have a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate, at the highest levels, that arenas and public facilities can, in fact, provide a better and healthier indoor environment while also saving a significant amount of money.  The results have proven beneficial to the customer, the fan base, and just as importantly, to our environment.”

“Our partnership with BluEco positions us on the forefront of an innovative technology that we plan to bring to arenas around North America and globally,” says Cheeseman.  “By strategically and efficiently managing indoor air-flow, we no longer need to run air-conditioning at low temperatures to maintain quality ice, thereby delivering fans a better arena experience.  Additionally, the BluEco LCT system is not only cheaper to run but makes our existing HVAC system more efficient and less energy consuming.  
While the BluEco LCT System has been developed specifically for hockey and the creation of ice sheets in venues, there are broader applications of the technology for any large indoor public facility that require water production and/or optimal energy management and efficiencies, such as data centers, warehouses, laboratories, cold storage facilities, golf courses, among other opportunities.

B-roll of the BluEco LCT System and video soundbites from Luc Robitaille, President of the LA Kings, Kelly Cheeseman, Chief Operating Officer, LA Kings and Scott Morris,  CEO, BluEco can be found https://tinyurl.com/AEGBluEco.

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About the BluEco Liquid Crystalline Turbex™ (LCT) System: 
The BluEco Liquid-Crystalline Turbex (LCT) technology is a proprietary molecular level environmental air-flow management system.  This innovative processor produces the highest quality of water while at the same time efficiently managing the interior airflow, cleansing the air from particulates, and allowing for significant energy savings. The formulated ice has fewer impurities and a clearer and harder surface.  Additionally, the technology eliminates an arena’s reliance on the municipal water systems to create and maintain its ice sheet. The BluEco LCT system is an extremely efficient stand-alone “plug and play” system and does not require integration with ducting or replacement of existing systems.  

About AEG
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. With offices on five continents, AEG operates in the following business segments: AEG Facilities, which is affiliated with or owns, manages or consults with more than 150 preeminent arenas, stadiums, theaters, clubs and convention centers around the world including STAPLES Center, The O2 Arena, the Sprint Center and the Mercedes-Benz Arenas; AEG Presents, which is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music and special events and world-renowned festivals; AEG Real Estate, which develops world-class venues, as well as major sports and entertainment districts like STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE; AEG Sports, which is the world’s largest operator of sports franchises and high-profile sporting events; and AEG Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating and other strategic partnerships. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands, AXS.com ticketing platform, AXS cable television channel and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 100 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com.

About BluEco:
BluEco is on the cutting edge of environmental “green” technology.  BluEco’s revolutionary eco-friendly system can produce large quantities of pure water while efficiently managing air-flows at the molecular level, thus reducing energy costs in the world’s premier venues and facilities resulting in a tremendous reduction in a business’ carbon footprint.  The BluEco system is a stand alone “plug and play” system which seamlessly integrates into venues without the necessity of replacing existing HVAC systems, is extremely efficient and operates in all climates.  More information can be found at www.BluEco.Green

Media Contacts:
Michael Roth, AEG
mroth@aegworldwide.com
310-308-7684

Mike Altieri, LA Kings
maltieri@aegworldwide.com
310-717-8903

Eric Kuo, Rubenstein Communications
ekuo@Rubenstein.com
212-843-8494

Tweet me:.@aegworldwide & @LAKings bring BluEco Liquid Crystalline Turbex™ System to arenas and teams worldwide, maximizing #energyefficiency & improving in-venue climate while enhancing #NHL’s Greener Rinks Initiative! http://bit.ly/2wJeI84

KEYWORDS: AEG, LA Kings, BluEco Liquid Crystalline Turbex™ System, NHL, Greener Rinks Initiative, STAPLES Center, energy efficiency

Dinners hosted by Rick Bayless with Evan Robinson, Tom Douglas, Kevin Fink, Stephen Stryjewski, and Roberto Santibañez with Susana Trilling will raise funds during June, National Pollinator Month

SOURCE:Whole Foods Market Foundations

DESCRIPTION:

AUSTIN, Texas (May 17, 2018) /3BL Media/ – Today, Whole Kids Foundation announced the Give Bees A Chance Campaign to showcase the vital role that honey bees play in our food and gardens. The month-long fundraising effort to support the Honey Bee Grant Program, which provides educational honey beehives to schools and nonprofits, will take place during June, National Pollinator Month.

Recent studies by the United States Department of Agriculture show continued losses in honey bee colonies. Threats to the honey bee colonies included pests, diseases, starvation, poor weather, and insufficient foliage. Beyond the honey bee, things get even more dire. According to the Xerces Society, nearly one-fourth of America’s bumble bee species are at risk for extinction.

“We are launching Give Bees A Chance because kids are often taught to be afraid of bees, but the role they play in our ecosystem is imperative and deserving of our respect and protection,” said Nona Evans, president and executive director, Whole Kids Foundation. “One of the best ways we can teach kids about bees is through educational beehives at their schools, where they get an up-close look into the world of pollination.”

Whole Kids Foundation invites anyone interested to support the campaign by donating online at www.wholekidsfoundation.org/givebeesachance.

Five top chefs from across the country are joining forces with Whole Kids Foundation and hosting fundraising dinners for the Give Bees A Chance Campaign in their respective cities.

Participating chefs include Rick Bayless, winner of Top Chef Masters and Culinary Hall of Fame inductee, with Evan Robinson, 12-year-old contestant on MasterChef Junior Season 5; Tom Douglas, James Beard Award winner and expert in Pacific Northwest cuisine; Kevin Fink, a 2016 Food & Wine Best New Chef winner and owner of Emmer & Rye, a Bon Appétit 2016 50 Best New Restaurants in America winner; Roberto Santibañez, chef and owner of Mi Vida in Washington D.C. and Fonda restaurants in NYC, with Susana Trilling, cookbook author, PBS-TV host, and a renowned authority on Oaxacan cuisine; and Stephen Stryjewski, winner of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Best Chef South and owner of Cochon, a Beard finalist for Best New Restaurant in 2007 and recently named one of the 20 most important restaurants in America by Bon Appétit.

“The humble bee is far more vital to our food system than many of us realize. That's why the decline in the bee population is so alarming to me, both as a chef and someone who just plain loves to eat,” said Chef Rick Bayless. “Our Frontera team wants to help. Partnering with the Whole Kids Foundation — and cooking alongside Chef Evan — will help install more learning beehives in places where kids have access to them.” 

Dates and locations:

• Kevin Fink (Austin) – June 3 at Emmer & Rye
• Roberto Santibañez and Susana Trilling (Washington D.C.) – June 5 at Mi Vida
• Rick Bayless and Evan Robinson (Chicago) – June 12 at Frontera Cookbook Library & Test Kitchen
• Stephen Stryjewski (New Orleans) – June 15 at Cochon Restaurant
• Tom Douglas and Jackie Cross (Seattle) – June 21 at Tom Douglas’ Hot Stove Society

For more information on purchasing tickets, visit Wholekidsfoundation.org/givebeesachance.

“We are honored to work with such impressive chefs to bring philanthropic food opportunities to these culinary hubs,” said Nona Evans, president and executive director, Whole Kids Foundation. “Each of them is not only a celebrated local talent, but an advocate for providing our kids with opportunities to learn about how food is grown in harmony with nature.”

The goal for this inaugural campaign is to raise $100,000 that will be used to fund 50 honey beehive grants nationwide, providing educational opportunities around biology, agriculture, ecology, nutrition and business for students across the nation.

As an integral part of this year’s campaign, organic produce growers Cascadian Farm Organic and Wholesum Harvest are lead sponsors, pledging a combined total of $50,000, equating to about 25 educational beehive grants.  Both of these organic farms are committed to preserving our food systems and rely on the role pollinators play in the production of many of their crops.

Because Whole Foods Market covers all the foundation’s operational costs, 100 percent of every dollar donated directly supports the Honey Bee Grant Program.

Since 2011, Whole Kids Foundation has granted 240 educational honey beehives with support from The Bee Cause Project, which provides resources to schools, including free curriculum on honey beehives. For more information on the Whole Kids Foundation Honey Bee Grant program and how to apply this fall, visit wholekidsfoundation.org/schools/honey-bee-grant.

About Whole Kids Foundation

Whole Kids Foundation, a Whole Foods Market foundation, is based in Austin, Texas, and operates as an independent, nonprofit organization. By empowering schools and inspiring families, the foundation aims to help children reach optimal health through the strength of a healthy body fueled by nutritious food. For more information, visit www.wholekidsfoundation.org. For ongoing news and updates, follow Whole Kids Foundation on Facebook or Twitter at @WholeKidsFnd.

Tweet me:Whole Kids Foundation partners with Top Chef talent on #GiveBeesAChance Campaign to raise funds for educational #beehives for #schools and #nonprofits. http://bit.ly/2k32IVX @WholeKidsFnd @BravoTopChef #NationalPollinatorMonth

KEYWORDS: Whole Kids Foundation, Give Bees A Chance, Honey Bee Grant Program, National Pollinator Month, food security, Top Chef

by Victoria Glazar, Verizon Corporate Social Responsibility

SOURCE:Verizon

DESCRIPTION:

For many middle school teachers, taking part in a one-to-one initiative, where every student has a digital device for learning, has led to an existential search. In a technology-driven, student-centered learning environment, what does it mean to be a teacher? Back when many teachers were in training, the role of the teacher was clear: to impart facts to students. Teachers gave lectures at the front of the classroom, and wrote information on the board. And students copied that information down to commit it to memory. In contrast, we’re now in a world where the universe of facts is at the student’s fingertips. In this world, the challenge is dealing with the enormity of information that’s engulfing students, and the teacher’s role is less about giving students information, and more about helping them manage and use it. This role evolution is part of the learning curve that teachers in Verizon Innovative Learning are experiencing. They’re pioneers on this new frontier of education.

Take Michael, an eighth-grade Language Arts teacher at Lamar Middle School in Irving, Texas. In 2016, he was one of Lamar’s 55 teachers and 842 students who received tablets with data plans as part of the Verizon Innovative Learning program, administered by the Verizon Foundation and nonprofit Digital Promise. The program’s objective is to put this powerful tool for individualized 24 X 7 learning in students’ hands, and give teachers a tech-infused curriculum and comprehensive training to help them make the most of it in the classroom. Michael said the tablets enabled him to implement personalized, student-paced learning, which radically changed his role. He found he needed to spend some time and thought on what to do with himself in the classroom, realizing he no longer needed to stand at the front of the class and lecture. "I'm no longer a teacher; now I’m a facilitator," he said. 

Michael’s Digital Learning Coach at Lamar, Alissa Womack, said she hears this from teachers a lot. “They’re not used to students working at their own pace and staying on task to this extent,” she said.

Change is a challenge, Womack said, but it’s one that teachers are embracing. “My first reaction when someone brings this up is ‘Isn’t it amazing?’ We all recognize that, even though it’s not easy going outside our comfort zone, we would never want to go back.”

As Digital Learning Coach, a position provided as an integral part of the Verizon Innovative Learning program, Womack’s role is to help teachers adapt to their changing roles, and to realize the full potential of technology in the classroom. She says that entails a number of changes in the way teachers teach, including planning lessons and differentiating instruction.  “I understand it can be scary, but I always reassure teachers that once they get familiar with it, it’s going to be easier.”

Teachers are not the only ones learning to adapt. Students are taking on a more active role in the learning process, helping teachers to learn functionality and collaborating with them to discover more ways to put the tablets to use. “Students have more ownership. That not only makes them more engaged, it also brings out their creativity,” Womack said. “It’s exciting to see our students and staff bloom in their creative and innovative use of technology.”

Tweet me:Teachers in #verizoninnovativelearning schools are pioneers on a new frontier of learning. http://bit.ly/2KsDvQ3

KEYWORDS: NYSE:VZ, Verizon

SOURCE:Smithfield Foods

DESCRIPTION:

SMITHFIELD, Va., May 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Smithfield Foods, Inc. released the Food Safety and Quality section of its 2017 Sustainability Report, which provides robust information about the company’s leading approach to producing safe, high-quality products. This section focuses on programs and achievements that underscore a culture of food safety, and highlights new product offerings that reflect Smithfield’s transformation into a world-class consumer packaged goods and protein company. 

“We’re focused on making high-quality food that continues to earn the trust of our consumers while meeting an increasing desire among the public to know more about how our products are made,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods. “Demonstrating transparency about our products, and what goes into making them, is key to our success.” 

Smithfield’s 2017 Sustainability Report provides in-depth information about innovations, programs, and achievements in food safety and quality, including:

• A revitalized food safety initiative that builds upon the company’s philosophy that all employees have a role to play in making safe, high-quality foods.
• Investments of more than $50 million in capital projects that enhance food safety and quality as well as production efficiency.

• Investment of $25 million in a new line of meal kits sold at retail stores to meet evolving consumer demands for complete meal solutions.
• Reformulated best-selling products with all-natural ingredients and the introduction of a new product category of fresh, never frozen, meatballs.

“Smithfield has a strong companywide culture of absolute food safety responsibility, which aims to assure that food safety and quality is owned by every person, every day,” said Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. “We continue to strengthen our culture through top-level commitment, day-to-day best practices, ongoing improvements, and innovative processes.”  

The Food Safety and Quality section is the third of a multiphase release of Smithfield’s 2017 Sustainability Report, following Animal Care and Environment that were released earlier this month. Smithfield will publish its Helping Communities and People sections next week, along with the full report.

To view a video about Smithfield’s food safety and quality program, click here.

To read the full Food Safety section of the report, please visit smithfieldfoods.com/foodsafety.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield^®, Eckrich^®, Nathan’s Famous^®, Farmland^®, Armour^®, Farmer John^®, Kretschmar^®, John Morrell^®, Cook’s^®, Gwaltney^®, Carando^®, Margherita^®, Curly’s^®, Healthy Ones^®, Morliny^®, Krakus^® and Berlinki^®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

###

Contact:

Diana Souder

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

(757) 357-1675

dsouder@smithfield.com

Tweet me:Food safety starts on the farm, where @SmithfieldFoods has rigorous systems in place to raise healthy animals. It continues at the processing plants, where they follow meticulous and exacting procedures. http://bit.ly/2GtJPEj #foodsafety

KEYWORDS: food safety, Smithfield Foods, quality, csr, 2017 Sustainability Report

SOURCE:MetLife Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Naffie Baldeh was 27 when she decided to go back to school. A single mother in the South Bronx, she’d been in and out of community colleges over the years as her family obligations and financial circumstances allowed.

Now, though, she was determined to try again. Pushing towards a liberal arts degree at Hostos Community College in the Bronx, Baldeh worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a pharmaceutical technician, followed by classes until 8 in the evening, sometimes staying awake until 5 the next morning as she studied and cared for her infant son. She was feeling the strain that comes with being a low-income student as her financial responsibilities—childcare, housing, the cost of school itself—competed with her academic ambitions.

Statistically, students like Baldeh are among those to leave school without a degree, often with significant debt. Fortunately, Hostos is like many other community colleges across the country seeking to help hard-working students reach graduation. The school’s Empowering Student Parents (ESP) program anticipated Baldeh’s needs and set her up with local childcare providers, assisted in helping her build her credit score and gave her access to workshops focused on budgeting and personal finance. “They helped me out a lot,” Baldeh says, “because they connected me with resources not only within the school, but also with what’s in my community.”

To read the full article and watch the video, visit the Mutlipliers of Prosperity website. 

Tweet me:From #MultipliersofProsperity: @MetLife Foundation and @CFSInnovation are helping low-income students graduate and improve their financial health http://bit.ly/2L7SPTn #FinHealth

KEYWORDS: Multipliers of Prosperity, metlife foundation, Community College, WSJ.CustomStudios, Student Loan Debt, Financial Health, Financial Inclusion

SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

A growing issue for Duke Energy and many businesses is the gap between demand for skilled STEM workers and available talent to fill open positions. One of the ways the company is closing the gap is through our investments in education and workforce development.

During 2017, our Duke Energy Foundation invested more than $33 million in charitable support for local organizations, many of which are implementing innovative programs to attract and train STEM professionals. Workforce development starts as early as possible – a reason why investments in quality education span kindergarten through career.

In central Florida, Duke Energy is working to bolster the area’s existing skilled workforce by investing in Lake-Sumter State College’s (LSSC) energy technology programs.

Graduates of these programs enter the workforce in high-paying and in-demand jobs. These career specialties are critical to the energy industry as utilities work to maintain and upgrade the electric grid in Florida and throughout the country. In 2017, the company announced a $110,000 gift to support LSSC, and already Duke Energy has hired graduates of these programs to fill critical roles at the company.

In North Carolina, Duke Energy is successfully partnering with the Urban League of Central Carolinas to provide a test prep class for students interested in becoming entry-level electrical lineworkers. This eight-week Duke Energy Construction Skills and Trade (CAST) test prep course is an opportunity for job seekers to gain entrance into well-paying line technician, solar, construction and other utility positions.

These are just a few of the many workforce development programs the company is investing in across its service footprint – building a talent pipeline that will power regional economies for years to come.

To learn more about how Duke Energy is building a smarter energy future, download the 2017 Sustainability Report

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy invests $33M in #STEM and #workforcedevelopment #education programs to train future energy workers http://bit.ly/2KlIuSl

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, Lake-Sumter College, workforce development, Urban League of Central Carolinas, lineworkers, technicians, construction, Technology

SOURCE:Blackbaud Corporate Solutions

DESCRIPTION:

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good podcast, Rachel Hutchisson speaks with Catherine LaCour, chief marketing officer at Blackbaud, about how organizations can strengthen the social economy to build a better world. The conversation kicks off with an explanation of what the social economy is, and how greater participation and greater effectiveness are the hallmarks of a strong social economy. Rachel and Catherine talk about how social good organizations can leverage the power of data, individual impact and radical collaboration to strengthen the social economy, and gives examples of how each of these three steps are being done well. Catherine also details the role that the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play in the social economy and how they are providing an outcomes-based roadmap to all organizations.

After listening to the episode, sign up to join the conversation about how private, public  and social sector organizations can work together to strengthen the social economy at http://hi.blackbaud.com/social-economy. 

Blackbaud's Champions for Social Good podcast, hosted by Rachel Hutchisson, vice president 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 organizations have a greater impact, visit https://www.blackbaud.com/. 

Tweet me:How can organizations leverage data, individual impact and radical collaboration to strengthen the social economy? @CatLaCour & @RachelHutchssn discuss on Champions for Social Good podcast: https://blkb.co/2k1zaI7 via @blackbaud

KEYWORDS: Social Good, Partnership for the Goals, NASDAQ:BLKB, Blackbaud Corporate Solutions

How a team approach financed and constructed a new school in remarkable time.

SOURCE:PNC Financial Services Group

DESCRIPTION:

The potential health impact on young children in Flint, Michigan is serious. Two years ago, lead in the city’s water supply reached toxic levels and the drinking water was declared unsafe. At high levels, exposure to lead can affect almost every system in the human body. For young children, especially, it can contribute to learning and behavior problems, slow growth and physical development, and lead to hearing and speech problems. Lead exposure also has been associated with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A Duke University study found that exposure to lead can have a negative impact on children’s lives for decades.

Community leaders and agencies in Flint came together to coordinate a long-term response effort and to develop short- and long-term plans to help those people impacted. One of the solutions is to promote early childhood education as a way to combat the effects of lead exposure.

Fast-Tracking a New School

Responding to the need to make universal early childhood education available for Flint’s children, regardless of income, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and the C.S. Mott Foundation proposed the construction of an early childhood education center to care for children exposed to the worst of the city’s lead-tainted water.

The new $15 million facility was constructed in a fast-tracked, year-long effort and opened its doors to students in December 2017. About 200 children, ranging in age from two months to five years, attend the center. They receive lessons designed to promote cognitive development in hopes of countering the effect of high lead exposure. The center runs under the Educare learning model, an approach recognized as one of the nation’s most effective early childhood programs, preparing financially disadvantaged children for success in kindergarten and beyond. Their approach extends beyond the classroom to help children, families and communities thrive.

It Takes a Team

The 36,750 square-foot Educare Flint facility could not have been completed in such a short time frame without the help of a financing and construction team dedicated to the cause. Part of that financing included an investment by PNC Bank of about $5.6 million in New Markets Tax Credit equity for the project.

For more than 15 years, the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program has been driving economic development, creating much-needed jobs and essential community services, and generating new opportunities in distressed and low-income urban and rural communities throughout the U.S. PNC participates in approximately 20 to 30 NMTC transactions per year and has invested nearly $1 billion to date in NMTC equity across the country.

“The NMTC program is a powerful and highly versatile tool that we have used for a wide variety of projects to benefit our low-income communities,” said David Gibson, manager of tax credit portfolio investments at PNC Bank. "Participating in the program reinforces PNC’s Main Street approach and our commitment to the communities and customers we serve."

This innovative Federal program has given a fresh start to underserved neighborhoods by encouraging private investment. The NMTC program is designed to attract flexible capital from investors, like PNC, that is used as the critical last piece of financing, making projects like Educare Flint feasible in areas where they otherwise simply could not happen.

For the Genesee Intermediate School District, which operates Educare Flint, the project has breathed new life into an older infrastructure. “Educare Flint is the first new school building constructed in our district in over 20 years,” said Dr. Lisa Hagel, GISD Superintendent. The district’s school age population has declined dramatically over the years. As a result, our older school buildings have continued to be used in lieu of building new ones. “The Educare Flint facility is an amazing place where the needs of our youngest children can be met for years to come,” said Hagel. “It is a model for the entire community.”

Learn more about PNC’s New Markets Tax Credits »

Tweet me:“The NMTC program is a powerful and highly versatile tool that we have used for a wide variety of projects to benefit our low-income communities,” said David Gibson, manager of tax credit portfolio investments @PNCBank http://bit.ly/2wRImIo

KEYWORDS: Early Childhood Education and Health, water crisis, PNC, csr, Schools, low-income communities, PNC’s New Markets Tax Credits

SOURCE:CITGO Petroleum Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

LAKE CHARLES, La., May 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ - This past April, CITGO was honored to receive the Special Olympics Louisiana 2017 Outstanding State Corporate Benefactor Award, noting the company's historic and dependable support of Southwest Louisiana (SWLA) Special Olympics. As a proud partner of SWLA Special Olympics for more than 30 years, CITGO was also presented with a SWLA Special Olympics Sponsor Recognition plaque.

"Special Olympics is a great organization that offers opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities that allow them to participate and compete in athletic activities throughout the year," said Jerry Dunn, Vice President and General Manager of the CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex. "Our local Special Olympic athletes make the community proud. Not only by representing our region and competing at the SWLA Special Olympics Spring Games, but also by being ambassadors for the organization and positively impacting our communities on a daily basis."

Celebrating 50 years of service, Special Olympics Louisiana is dedicated to providing year-round sports opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization positively impacts the lives of more than 15,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the state who participate in more than 100 competitions.

CITGO is proud to support Special Olympics programs through monetary and time donations throughout the company's operating regions. At the corporate level, CITGO is a global bronze sponsor of Special Olympics, supporting the annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run's Truck Convoy and the Unified Schools national program. This year, CITGO is proud to serve as a Bronze Sponsor for the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Unified Cup, taking place in Chicago during the month of July, to celebrate five decades of transforming lives through the joy of sport.

About CITGO Lake Charles 
CITGO has been part of the Louisiana community for more than 70 years. The company's operations in the state include a refinery, products terminal and several miles of pipeline. The CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex was strategically built in 1944 to supply fuel for U.S. military forces that protected the Gulf Coast from German U-Boats during World War II. Today, the CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex is the sixth-largest refining facility in the United States. As the largest of the three CITGO refineries, the Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex consists of a modern, deep-conversion facility with a crude oil refining capacity of 425,000 barrels per day (bpd). The facility employs approximately 1,100 regular full-time employees and approximately 800 contractors in Southwest Louisiana. The state of Louisiana has approximately 100 independently owned CITGO retail stations.

About CITGO 
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.citgo.com.

Tweet me:CITGO Honored with Special Olympics Louisiana Outstanding Corporate Benefactor Award http://bit.ly/2rLwKku

Contact Info:

Bryant Madden
+1 (202) 973-5303
bmadden@levick.com

KEYWORDS: Citgo, Special Olympics, SWLA Special Olympics

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

Technology platforms support a growing range of employee giving and engagement programs as companies expand their mix of community service and involvement initiatives, which are part of their broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and strategy. According to America’s Charities’ Snapshot 2015 report, “More than 80% of employers said they use technology to allow employees to give money; 65% use it to record volunteer hours; and 69% use technology to allow employees to sign up for volunteer events.”

And having a good online giving solution matters when it comes to whether an employee gives or not. Right behind paid time off to volunteer and employer matching gifts, “an easy-to-use online platform” is the third most important component of an employee giving program according to more than 1,500 employee donors surveyed in America’s Charities latest report, Snapshot 2017: What Employees Think about Workplace Giving, Volunteering, and CSR.

But one of the top challenges that coordinators continue to face is how to administer all of this.

As one survey respondent stated in Snapshot 2015:

“We are looking for a technology solution that is ‘all things employee engagement’ embodied into one tool that is easy to manage and streamlines the employee experience.”

Executing a multifaceted employee giving and engagement program can seem like an overwhelming process. But it doesn’t have to be. 

>> Continue Reading

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities: Looking for All Things #EmployeeEngagement Embodied into One, Easy-to-Use #EmployeeGiving Tool? You can stop looking and start implementing now: https://impact.ac/2IMfAxI #Snapshot2017

KEYWORDS: America’s Charities, workplace giving, employee giving, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, charity vetting, payroll deduction giving, Fundraising, #SDGs, Snapshot Report 2017, employee volunteer management tool, employer matching gifts programs

Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

SOURCE:University of Michigan: Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

DESCRIPTION:

Erb Faculty Member Andy Hoffman dives into the future of business sustainability through the lens of enterprise integration and market transformation.

Read Andy Hoffman's latest article recently published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review or enjoy the abridged version here http://myumi.ch/JgpzA

The Erb Institute is the University of Michigan’s business-sustainability partnership between the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability. We work with business leaders to help them improve company competitiveness through enhanced social, environmental and economic performance. Our degree programs prepare students to be future business leaders for sustainability, while our research and executive education prepare current business leaders for what’s next in sustainability.

Tweet me:WATCH: Why should #sustainability solutions come from business? Business = Power. How is your business part of the solution? http://myumi.ch/JWyn9 @erbinstitute @HoffmanAndy #markettransformation @MichiganRoss @SSIReview

KEYWORDS: Erb Institute, university of michigan, Andy Hoffman, Enterprise Intergration, Market Transformation, Sustainable Business

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

BATON ROUGE, La., May 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ — The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) announced recipients of its inaugural Diversity Star Award at its sold-out Diversity in Business luncheon. Civil Solutions Consulting Group received the award for the small business category, and Republic Services of Baton Rouge received the award for the large business category.

BRAC created the Diversity Star Award with a goal of highlighting exceptional business practices taking place in the Capital Region that leverage the value of diversity in organizations. The award seeks to honor and recognize regional businesses that have championed diversity and inclusion at their businesses or in the community.

Continue reading on BRAC.org

Tweet me:.@RepublicService receives inaugural #Diversity Star Award from @BRAC_BatonRouge https://bit.ly/2GvPBWg

KEYWORDS: Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Republic Services, Louisiana

by Sayem Reza

SOURCE:Scotiabank

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:A team of @RyersonU ‏#students has been named 2018 @Scotiabank #YouthEmpowerment Challenge National Champion by @Enactus_Canada http://bit.ly/2rTqdUP

KEYWORDS: Ryerson University, Scotiabank, Enactus Canada, youth empowerment, Canada

SOURCE:Mohawk Industries

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, May 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Mohawk Group’s new flagship location in the Fashion District of New York City expresses the company’s commitment not only to stylish and innovative floor coverings but also to sustainable and wellness design. Designed by Gensler, the 13,000-square-foot showroom in Manhattan features an open layout that integrates distinctive company branding, inviting workspaces and meeting spaces, and new display techniques to uniquely and effectively showcase a revolving lineup of featured commercial flooring products based on Mohawk Group’s latest collections.

Clean lines, biophilic design, ample natural lighting and a modern, yet comfortable aesthetic pay tribute to the showroom’s setting in the heart of the city. Within the core of the installation, vignettes framed by black steel cubes invite customers to learn more about the inspiration behind Mohawk Group’s highlighted collections. The cube concept manifests itself throughout the space, including the meeting rooms.

“This beautiful space showcases our commitment not only to a better customer experience, but also to the importance Mohawk places on corporate social responsibility and employee health and wellness,” said George Bandy Jr., vice president of sustainability and commercial marketing. “Visitors and colleagues alike get to experience the aesthetic and biophilic merits of this breathtaking environment and leave feeling refreshed and inspired. Our desire to achieve multi-faceted certifications like WELL and LEED challenge us to do better every day, not just in product manufacturing, but in the way that we support our associates and customers as well.”

Mohawk Group is currently seeking WELL and LEED certifications for the new showroom. The WELL Building Standard, created by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), focuses exclusively on the ways that buildings, and everything in them, can improve comfort, drive better choices and generally enhance, not compromise, the health and wellness of their users. To help achieve this certification, Mohawk Group is implementing specific employee-focused initiatives, including establishing indoor herb and plant gardens, and serving organic fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks, while also offering complimentary gym memberships to employees.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance and sustainable design of a building. LEED buildings save energy, water and resources; generate less waste; and support human health. As part of this certification process, Mohawk Group specified daylight harvesting light sensors with energy efficient LED lighting, low-flow faucets, and products that were either Red List-free with a Declare Label or had an Environmental Product Declaration and/or Health Product Declaration.

“Mohawk Group partnered with our team to create an elevated and multi-functional space that focuses on product education, accessibility and interactive touch points for its clients and sales team,” said Jean Anderson, NCIDQ, IIDA, principal and design director at Gensler. “The immersive and compelling new showroom ingeniously connects clients and designers to intuitively experience the Mohawk Group brand.”

As a leading global architecture, design and planning firm, Gensler has designed over 110 million square feet of LEED certified space to date. A recipient of USGBC’s Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence, Gensler has designed more than 700 LEED certified projects. It has made Interior Design magazine’s “Top 100 Giants” list for 35 consecutive years.

The showroom includes easily accessible storage areas for architect folders and flooring samples for both commercial hard and soft surface. Offerings from the company’s hospitality brand, Durkan, are also highlighted in and around the showroom. Mohawk Group’s innovative Visual Interactive Studio (VIS) is located on-site, providing 2-D floor perspectives, 3-D room scenes and high resolution renderings of designer’s unique flooring creations, culminating in a fully immersive virtual experience. The flagship space’s color palette and overall design concept will inspire and influence the company’s other showroom spaces as well.

The new showroom reinforces Mohawk Group’s position as a leader in the commercial flooring industry, reflecting the company’s commitment to believe in better design, innovation, sustainability, project solutions and operational excellence. Mohawk Group’s New York sales team will be based out of the space year-round.

The Mohawk Group showroom is located on the sixth floor of 125 W. 25th St., New York, NY 10001.

About Mohawk Group

Mohawk Group, the world’s leading producer and distributor of quality commercial flooring, delivers industry-leading style, cutting-edge innovation, unmatched service and superior sustainability. As the commercial division of Mohawk Industries, Mohawk Group has a heritage of craftsmanship that spans more than 130 years. The company’s enduring family of brands—Mohawk, Karastan and Durkan—are widely regarded as the most trusted names in the commercial flooring business. Together, these brands function beautifully, delivering the perfect flooring solution for all markets and price points. Rounding out its esteemed product offering, Mohawk Group also offers a full spectrum of hard surface flooring products and installation accessories that exceed the most rigorous performance standards. For more information, visit MohawkGroup.com.

Contact:
Luke Chaffin
762-204-5607
luke_chaffin@mohawkind.com

Tweet me:.@MohawkGroup’s new flagship showroom in #NewYork showcases #sustainable and #wellness design http://bit.ly/2kbXEih #greenbuilding #builtenvironment

KEYWORDS: mohawk group, New York, mohawk flagship showroom, build environment

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Here at the Taproot Foundation, we've learned a lot over the years about what makes a corporate pro bono program successful, and one thing has been proven true time and again: the most impactful programs are those that are uniquely tailored to fit a given company. With this in mind, we’ve developed a handy framework for helping companies hone in on their own unique opportunities to make an impact in the social sector through pro bono service.

The Pro Bono Sweet Spot is a framework that recognizes that the corporate sector is rich with diversity across a variety of characteristics, such as organizational culture, skills and expertise, attitudes towards volunteering, and more. Long story short, each company is unique, and therefore needs a tailor-made pro bono program in order to maximize its distinct opportunity for impact.

The Pro Bono Sweet Spot framework asks companies to consider four key factors – unique at each company – that will affect their programs’ impact. A company’s pro bono sweet spot is the area where the social impact they want to have, their available skills and expertise, the business objectives that matter most to them, and any contextual information or constraints overlap. This approach has the power to take corporate pro bono to the next level.

FIND YOUR COMPANY'S SWEET SPOT TODAY. DOWNLOAD THE FRAMEWORK HERE >

Tweet me:What makes a corporate #probono program successful? Find out in @TaprootFound’s new tool—The Pro Bono Sweet Spot http://bit.ly/2I8iCMr

Contact Info:

Advisory Services
Taproot Foundation
advisory@taprootfoundation.org

KEYWORDS: Taproot Foundation, Pro Bono Sweet Spot

SOURCE:Consumers Energy

DESCRIPTION:

DETROIT, MI, May 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Consumers Energy and DTE Energy today said they are accelerating plans to produce cleaner energy in Michigan, targeting at least a 50 percent Clean Energy Goal by 2030– achieved through a combination of investments in at least 25 percent renewable energy, and the remaining through energy efficiency.

In the past year, both DTE Energy and Consumers have announced plans to reduce carbon emissions by more than 80 percent in the coming decades. Leveraging the already aggressive framework established in Michigan’s 2016 bipartisan energy law, the state’s two largest energy companies are advancing their plans to invest in Michigan. This is in conjunction with an agreement by Clean Energy, Healthy Michigan (CEHM) to place aside a ballot proposal to increase the state’s renewable portfolio standard.

Michigan’s two energy companies have been cited as industry leaders in their commitment to transform the way they produce energy: retiring coal plants and increasing wind and solar generation.  Both DTE and Consumers will demonstrate how they will achieve the 50 percent Clean Energy Goal by 2030 in their respective Integrated Resource Plans.

DTE Energy Chairman and CEO Gerry Anderson and Consumers Energy CEO Patti Poppe released the following statement:

“We appreciate that Tom Steyer and the sponsors of Clean Energy, Healthy Michigan have taken the time to understand our commitment to carbon reduction and how Michigan’s energy plan puts the tools in place to achieve this goal in a thoughtful and affordable manner. Our two companies are overwhelmingly in favor of renewable energy and are focused on bringing additional energy efficiency opportunities to our customers. We will continue to work within the framework put forward by our legislature and regulators to build on our environmental initiatives to benefit all residents of the state.”

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading.  As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

About Consumers Energy

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For further information, members of the media may contact:

Stephanie Beres, DTE Energy, 313.235.5555

Megan M. Brown, Consumers Energy, 517.788.6538

Tweet me:.@ConsumersEnergy and @DTE_Energy are accelerating plans to produce #CleanerEnergy in #Michigan, targeting at least a 50 percent Clean Energy Goal by 2030 http://bit.ly/2rXL6PR

KEYWORDS: Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, Clean Energy Goal

SOURCE:Gildan Activewear

DESCRIPTION:

For the third consecutive year, Gildan has been recognized with a Distintivo ESR® 2018 award presented during the 11^th Latin American Conference of Socially Responsible Companies.  The award is given to companies that meet designated standards in the strategic areas of corporate social responsibility. Gildan received the distinction this year for its CSR activities in the Dominican Republic.

Presented on May 15^th by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Cemefi) and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility (AliaRSE), the Distintivo award recognizes companies in Latin America which voluntarily and publicly undertake the commitment to implement socially responsible management and continuous improvement as part of their culture and business strategy.

One of Gildan’s main focuses in the Dominican Republic is the implementation of the Eco-Schools program, an international program of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that aims to empower students to lead change by engaging them in fun, action-orientated and socially responsible learning. Each school follows a seven step change process and empowers students to lead processes and actions wherever they can.

The Eco-Schools program in the Dominican Republic is implemented by IDARD - Instituto de Derecho Ambiental de República Dominicana, a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting environmental education and the implementation of good environmental practices. Gildan has been supporting the program since 2008 and currently sponsors nine schools in communities where it operates. 

In 2017, students, teachers and volunteers planted 67,591 trees and vegetable plants in the community and recycled 3,888 pounds of waste from their schools. Following these impressive results, the participating schools earned an international Green Flag from the UN, an internationally acknowledged symbol for environmental excellence.

Additionally in the Dominican Republic, during 2016-2017 Gildan implemented 11 volunteer activities such as tree planting, site cleanups, etc. that involved over 675 employees and their families contributing over 3,200 hours of their time.

You can discover the latest projects in Corporate Social Responsibility in the countries where Gildan operates by visiting www.genuinegildan.com

Tweet me:Gildan awarded Distintivo award for 3rd consecutive year for it's environmental activities in the Dominican Republic @gildancorp http://bit.ly/2wJyhNy

KEYWORDS: NYSE:GIL, Distintivo ESR® 2018 award, Gildan Activewear, Latin American Conference of Socially Responsible Companies