SOURCE:Shire Pharmaceuticals

DESCRIPTION:

At Shire, supporting patients is at the heart of being a champion for patients. Beyond discovering and developing medicines, we are committed to dramatically shortening the time to diagnosis for rare diseases, and we aim to support patients along the entire patient journey, from conducting clinical trials to enabling patients to better manage their care through the use of innovative digital technologies, and beyond.

As part of Shire’s first comprehensive Responsibility strategy, the company created nine Responsibility commitments across three pillars: Supporting patients, People and culture, and Sustainable operations. Within the Supporting patients pillar, Shire announced commitments to:

• Spearhead the effort to reduce the time to diagnosis for rare diseases

To meet this commitment, Shire is co-chairing the Global Commission to End the Diagnostic Odyssey for Children with a Rare Disease, in partnership with Microsoft and EURORDIS, to develop a roadmap to address key barriers to diagnosis with actionable solutions. The Global Commission is collaborating with a team of experts to develop solutions and put into action findings through various initiatives. In parallel, Shire is advancing several key initiatives that accelerate diagnosis for rare diseases. See https://globalrarediseasecommission.com/ for more information.
 

• Lead in clinical trial transparency

In order to continue to exceed disclosure requirements, lead in clinical trial transparency and maintain timely annual disclosure of 100% of applicable clinical trial data, Shire plans to share more data and results on historical studies, identify best practices, optimize systems to make clinical trial data more easily understandable, and enhance convenient clinical trial data accessibility. In addition, Shire plans to complete implementation of an automated centralized data-tracking tool for all studies registered, disclosed, redacted, and published across the organization.

• Provide the best experience for patients and those who care for them throughout their entire journey

We are committed to patient care by developing innovative new medicines, making existing medicines more readily available, and removing other key barriers to care. We are also committed to providing financial assistance programs and partnering with advocacy groups to provide patients with the tools and educational resources to better advocate for their own health. We are working to continuously innovate, improve service delivery and build patient relationship platforms that provide more personalized services and better patient engagement by sharing experiences from around the globe.

Through these commitments, we strive every day to raise rare disease awareness among key stakeholders and the public at large, empower patients, and make sure their needs are recognized.

To learn more about Shire’s Responsibility commitments and goals, please visit Shire’s Annual Responsibility Review 2017 at www.shire.com/who-we-are/responsibility or view our latest video on Responsibility.

For more information, please visit www.shire.com. Follow Shire on Social Media: Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Tweet me:.@Shireplc commits to patient support - #raredisease diagnosis, clinical trial transparency and patient experience - as part of #CSR strategy http://bit.ly/2JvlWmi

KEYWORDS: Patient Experience, clinical trials, Shire, rare diseases

SOURCE:Realized Worth

DESCRIPTION:

Not too long ago, LBG Associates and LBG Research Institute studied the challenges of pro bono from the nonprofit point of view. Since then, we’ve been wondering what companies have been doing with their pro bono programs that might help nonprofits overcome some of the challenges identified in that study. We also wondered what innovative or unique practices companies have come up with.

So we went to the source. We selected 12 companies with reputations for having solid pro bono programs. We interviewed both the company and one of its nonprofit partners. After the interviews, we had to admit that we hadn’t uncovered anything particularly innovative. But we did find a lot to be excited about. The result is the newly published report, “Pro Bono Today: What’s New, What’s Working.”

Check out somehighlights from the reporton the Realized Worth blog, from LBG Associates President, Dr. Linda Gornitsky. 

Tweet me:ProBono Today: What’s New, What’s Working, Realized Worth's latest guest blog and a new report from #LBGassociates https://buff.ly/2t2lnFw #CSR #ProBono #volunteer

KEYWORDS: Probono, Volunteering, LBG Associates, Realized Worth

Gardner emphasizes success, paves path forward

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

Sappi North America saw many successes in 2017 despite challenging market headwinds. To our employees, customers and other partners whose dedication contributed to those successes, I thank you.

Our focused strategy and continued investment in our assets and operations set the foundation for our business success, but the nimbleness of our team in responding to changing markets with new products, new services and new ways of doing business really made the difference. That same agility and focus will define our performance in 2018 and beyond, ensuring that we meet our business plan and set new standards of excellence. 

Safety

Safety remains our single most critical priority. In 2017, we achieved a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of 0.43, which is a 38 percent improvement over last year and well surpasses the top quartile of LTIFR performance for US paper mills (0.6). This past November, AF&PA awarded our Cloquet Mill its 2017 Sustainability Award for Safety recognizing its milestone achievement of over two million hours worked without a lost-time injury.

Employees

Investment in our people is key to our success. In 2017, employees received an average of 80 hours of training, and employee engagement, as measured by a bi-annual survey, saw signifi cantly improved results driven by higher participation and employee ambassador programs, enhanced communication, corporate volunteerism and training.

Environmental Stewardship

Since establishing rigorous fi ve-year goals in 2014 to focus our waste reduction and effi ciency efforts, we have already achieved a 2.0 percent reduction in energy intensity, well on our way to achieving a 5 percent reduction by 2020. Reduction in pulp mill raw material waste was even more impressive, with a 17.8 percent drop from the 2014 baseline, already well exceeding the 2020 goal of 10 percent. Paper mill waste reduction is a priority and we remain committed to a 5 percent reduction by 2020.

Business and Strategic Success

Return on Net Operating Assets, our measure of sustainable business success, was 4.7 percent in 2017; down slightly from the previous year, due in large part to very weak operating rates and price declines for the graphics business. Strong positive momentum was established by the fourth quarter, with increased profi tability from our dissolving pulp and packaging businesses, as well as improved graphics pricing benefi ting overall results.

Importantly, the strategic choices we made in 2017 will pay off in stronger returns in 2018 and beyond. Investment in building strong corporate and product brands is paying off in improved market position, while cost control strategies have established a sustained competitive advantage. The rebuild of Paper Machine 12 at Cloquet, the new Somerset woodroom and the ongoing rebuild of Paper Machine 1 at Somerset to make new packaging products all set the stage for our evolution to a high-growth, high-margin diversifi ed company.

Outlook for 2018 and Beyond

While there is no single formula for success, I fi rmly believe that our commitments on three fronts will go a long way in achieving sustained success.

1. Taking the long view. If we are low cost now, what will it take to remain low cost and competitive in the future? Do our lines of business and products anticipate new patterns of demand and consumption? Are our employees trained and empowered only to meet the pressures of today, or are we inspiring them to create and innovate? These are the hard questions for any business, and the answers must be grounded in focused actions based on rigorous analysis and debate.

2. Establishing and maintaining trust with our customers and our communities. It’s becoming increasingly important to demonstrate that our ethical commitments to honesty, integrity and reliability don’t start and stop at our door, but extend to all of our important supply partners. Sappi North America has been committed for years to third-party certifi cation systems to ensure that our pulp and wood supplies are sustainably managed; we also invest in ISO and other certifi cation programs to ensure we meet customer expectations beyond mere legal compliance.

3. Being open to change. No strategy can anticipate every risk or challenge. The ultimate mark of a successful company is to have the courage to admit when a plan isn’t working, or that actions simply aren’t enough of the right things. Being open to change, being quick to respond, listening to customers and collaborating on creative solutions, all are the hallmarks of a truly sustainable company.

In Closing

Let me once again thank all of you who share our vision and work alongside us to achieve our goals. The year ahead will be full of challenges but also opportunities to reach more customers in markets new to us, and to serve existing customers in more relevant ways. As always, it will be a team effort, and I know I can count on the best team in the industry to make it happen.

Mark Gardner

President and CEO, Sappi North America

Tweet me:.@SappiNA's President and CEO Mark Gardner emphasizes company's sustainability successes in 2017 #sustainability report: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

KEYWORDS: Sappi, paper, manufacturing, Mark Gardner, sustainable investment, Sustainability Report, JSE:SAP

After a hurricane, every second counts. That's why Abbott is helping community food banks and clinics prepare proactively.

SOURCE:Abbott

DESCRIPTION:

It’s not enough to be reactive when hurricanes strike— for hurricane season, the best defense is a good offense. Advance preparation ensures that aid can be delivered more quickly, ultimately saving more lives.

That’s why Abbott is working with Feeding America® and Direct Relief to supply ‘disaster relief packs’ – kits with nutrition and healthcare products— at food banks and clinics to serve as the first wave of aid before traditional relief can make its way to those hit by hurricanes. This is especially important in areas that are still recovering from last year’s hurricanes, such as the Southern U.S. coast and the Caribbean. For more information:

• Click here to read more about Abbott’s partnerships to advance hurricane preparedness efforts.
• Click here to see a news story highlighting Abbott's partnership with Feeding America and Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans

Tweet me:For the 13th consecutive year, @AbbottNews is working with @FeedingAmerica and @DirectRelief to prepare disaster relief packs for food banks and clinics in areas at risk of hurricanes #HurricaneStrong Learn more: https://abbo.tt/2iF5iDS

KEYWORDS: disaster relief, Disaster preparation, hurricanes, Abbott

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

21st Century Fox is launching a new campaign in partnership with The Trevor Project at the latter’s annual signature TrevorLIVE event, which raises funds to expand crisis services program and save the lives of LGBTQ youth across the United States.

The #LoveSimonTruth campaign encourages audiences to tell a truth about themselves that they feel inspired to share after watching Twentieth Century Fox’s hit movie Love, Simon, which follows a high school student figuring out how to tell his friends and family that he’s gay while falling in love for the very first time. For every post on social media that uses the hashtag, 21CF will donate $1 to The Trevor Project, up to $150,000. 21CF is also a presenting sponsor of TrevorLIVE, which will be hosted by Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy and honoring Fox Writers Lab alum and creator of Twentieth Century Fox Television’s The Chi Lena Waith, Dominic Barton, and Love, Simon’s Greg Berlanti for their commitment to fostering an accepting environment for LGBTQ youth.

The #LoveSimonTruth campaign had a soft launch on June 8 at 21CF Impact Week, the company’s annual nationwide week of service. The 21CF offices in New York invited nearly 200 local high school students to the Paley Center for Media for a special screening of Love, Simon followed by a panel discussion with Executive Director Amit Paley and Chief Growth Officer Calvin Stowell of the Trevor Project, Trevor Project volunteer Sarah Schweppe, and non-binary trans femme model and disability rights activist Aaron Philip. After the screening and panel, students took Love, Simon-inspired photobooth pictures with their classmates and shared their own truths with the hashtag.

Love, Simon is available to watch at home on digital, DVD, and Blu-Ray now.

Tweet me:Everyone should be free to live their truth. Share your #LoveSimonTruth and @21CF will donate $1 to support the life-saving work of @TrevorProject in the LGBTQ community http://bit.ly/2HHrp3I

KEYWORDS: NYSE:FOX, The Trevor Project, 21st century fox, #LoveSimonTruth campaign, love simon, Greg Berlanti, LGBT Youth

By Karla Pope

SOURCE:CBRE Group, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Bringing the outside in, today’s workspaces are increasingly mirroring the lush green landscapes of the great outdoors.

From cascading fountains to botanical-rich workspaces, companies big and small are creating natural, park-like environments. More than aesthetically pleasing, greened indoor workspaces are good for people and for business.

These calming spaces are designed to reduce stress, enhance overall wellness and boost productivity and efficiency. Plus, they offer financial benefits for property owners and developers.

We look at the myriad of ways nature can improve workspaces and serve as good investments for landlords.

BLOSSOMING WITH WELLNESS BENEFITS

Employees’ wellbeing is crucial to the success of any business. Incorporating greenery like plants into workspaces is a good way to keep them happy and healthy. Plants aren’t just pretty to look at; they also provide remarkable health benefits. For starters, they’re natural air purifiers. Bringing them into office spaces can reduce toxins—essentially becoming a great air filtration source. As the NASA Clean Air Study points out, plants can trap air pollutants in its tissue providing cleaner air for employees.

It’s important for developers to keep in mind that adding plants can be an attractive, practical and cost-effective way to improve air circulation. Plus, thanks to their natural filtration system, sprucing up the space with plants can also prevent the spread of nasty germs and viruses that keep employees home sick, reducing productivity.

In fact, a recent report by the University of Twente, VU Amsterdam and CBRE found that implementing greenery into the workplace design has substantial benefits. The study of 124 employees at CBRE’s Amsterdam office found that adding plants to the office floor energized 76 percent of the workers surveyed. Seventy-eight percent of employees reported a boost in happiness, while feelings of healthiness improved in 65 percent.

PLANTING EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY

Plants aren’t the only natural way to bring wellness into the office. Enhancing workspaces with water features can add peace and calmness to employees, giving them a sense of serenity. Whether it’s the beauty of a man-made waterfall that brings visual interest or the noise-cancelling sounds of a trickling fountain, indoor water elements can create a soothing work environment and reduce stress.

For office spaces in dry climates, the presence of running water can also provide moisture. Droplets from fountains and water features evaporate into the air, providing just the right amount of humidity—eliminating stale air and promoting an overall healthy environment and tranquil ambiance.

It’s no secret that when employees feel good, they work better. Less stress translates to heightened concentration and mindfulness, ultimately improving task performance.

CASHING IN ON CURB APPEAL

For larger offices with outdoor spaces, inspiration can be drawn from water features and eye-catching greenery—not only boosting employee moods and performance levels, but also attracting foot traffic and adding to curb appeal.

Properly landscaped office exteriors can suggest an impressive interior, creating interest to passersby and potential employees.

For developers, that’s key. In today’s competitive job market, with millennials projected to make up 75 percent of the workforce by 2025, employers and developers must work to ensure they’re providing prospective employees with the most attractive workspaces—both indoor and outdoor. Since studies indicate that work environments are a big concern for employees, landscaping can potentially play a defining role in attracting and retaining top talent.

Additionally, beautiful, well-maintained exteriors can entice higher-caliber tenants, resulting in lucrative rents. Potential tenants are far more likely to sign secure, long-term leases with property owners who maintain and invest in the appearance of their buildings.

GOING GREEN

Offices are where many people spend most of their day. That’s why it’s imperative that employers and developers acknowledge and embrace the benefits of incorporating greenery and water features into their workspace designs. Enhancing work environments with wellness and beautifying elements are a win-win for employees, employers and property owners.

Tweet me:.@CBRE highlights how incorporating greenery and water in workplace design is a win for both employees and employers http://bit.ly/2sTLgbk

KEYWORDS: NYSE:CBRE, CBRE, Workplace Design, employee wellness, office design, plants

New pilot program features top collegiate sports teams, celebrated sports nutritionist Leslie Bonci, celebrity chef Andy Williams

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

GAITHERSBURG, Md.,  June 13, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Sodexo, a food and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life, announced today a new pilot program called The Circuit designed to equip college athletes with the proper nutrition, game-ready facilities and opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

The pilot, which runs through June, will be available through the athletic programs at four universities and colleges, including West Virginia University in Morgantown, University of Tampa in Florida, William and Mary University in Virginia, and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. 

The program includes new training table menus, fueling stations and travel meals, as well as partnerships with celebrated nutrition consultant and author Leslie Bonci and 35-year culinary veteran and athletic performance expert Chef Andy Williams, who will create menus and food offerings to support the needs of athletes.

“It has been informative for Gonzaga to be part of The Circuit pilot and understand the journey of our student athletes through their day,” said Bill Drake, Director of Performance and Wellness, Gonzaga University. “From performance during the NCAA tournament, to summer training and conditioning, it’s great to have the support of a partner who is looking at each athlete’s needs from game day to training day and beyond.”

“College athletes are often faced with the challenge to deliver success in the classroom and the playing field simultaneously, which can be mentally and physically exhausting,” said Kevin Rettle, vice president of global offer development for Sodexo Universities. “We wanted to create a program to help athletes make choices that will help sustain them on and off the field.”

There are three components to The Circuit. The first part of the program focuses on food that fuels athletes’ training in pre-, during and post-season, including healthy meals for the road, on campus and refueling snacks. Secondly, the program ensures that all sporting facility and management needs are ready for play from cleaning and maintenance to overseeing all grounds, turf, courts, pools and equipment year-round. The last component of the program supports the professional growth and career aspirations of athletes with opportunities ranging from class planning to personal development to internships.

To develop The Circuit, Sodexo combined its 50 years of experience feeding athletes of all ages with experts Sports Nutritionist and author Leslie Bonci and Chef Andy Williams. Bonci is a nutrition consultant and sports dietitian for the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Carnegie Mellon University. Williams, a 35-year culinary veteran and professional Chef, teaches and coaches athletes on fueling properly on and off the field to maximize performance. He has worked with NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, Major League Baseball’s Carlos Gonzalez and Golf Pro and Three-time PGA Tournament Winner Chris DiMarco.

“With The Circuit,  the on-site culinary team becomes an integral part of the training team, understanding that food is fueland an important part of performance and recovery,” says Bonci. “The philosophy of The Circuit differentiates itself from other nutrition programs by integrating throughout the student athlete’s daily life.”

Sodexo provides food services at more than 625 colleges and universities and employs 47,449 across the U.S. Sodexo Universities focuses on optimizing each clients’ physical, social and academic environment to help create the best possible student experience. For more information, visit sodexoinsights.com.

About Sodexo North America

Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily.  The company employs 133,000 people at 13,000 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. In support of local communities across the U.S., the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $30 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger.  To learn more about Sodexo, visit SodexoInsights.com and connect with us on Facebook and @SodexoUSA on Twitter.

Tweet me:.@sodexoUSA fuels college athletes for game day and beyond http://bit.ly/2JPWfvT

Contact Info:

Dasha Ross-Smith
Sodexo, Inc.
+1 (301) 987-4893
Dasha.Ross-Smith@sodexo.com

KEYWORDS: food, Fuel, Sports, students, Athletics, OTC:SDXAY, Sodexo, The Circuit

Recycle Rally awards total of $110,000 to winning schools that collected the most beverage containers.

SOURCE:PepsiCo

DESCRIPTION:

PepsiCo’s 2017-2018 Recycle Rally program encouraged participating schools to start recycling, bringing in more than 160 million recycled beverage containers from the 4,000 schools enrolled in the program.

Recycle Rally, formed under Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo and its Performance with Purpose initiative, aims to increase the recycling rate of beverage containers by encouraging recycling habits in K-12 students.

Click here to continue reading on RecyclingToday.com. 

Tweet me:.@PepsiCo Recycle Rally program brings in 160 million recycled containers. Read more: http://bit.ly/2sRvVIo

KEYWORDS: Recycling, NYSE:PEP, Pepsico, sustainability, Recycle Rally, Schools

SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

GRI’s mission to empower decisions that create social, environmental and economic benefits for everyone, can only be fulfilled if everyone is represented. That is why multi-stakeholder representation is at the core of all of our activities, and our governance. And to make this inclusiveness more tangible, there is a yearly opportunity for different constituencies to become part of our governance bodies. 

Members of these governance bodies are experts in their field who are also deeply interested in shaping the future of sustainability reporting. 

We are currently seeking senior individuals of integrity and high reputation to join the committees listed below for a term of 3 years, from 1 January 2019. The nomination period will be open from 4 June to 3 August 2018.   

The dedicated members in GRI’s governance bodies provide counsel and guidance to help GRI carry out its mission. For the past two decades, our governance bodies have helped us pioneer sustainability reporting, and to develop the world’s most trusted and widely used reporting guidance. More recently, GRI transitioned into a global standards-setting organization, launching its first set of Sustainability Reporting Standards. GRI’s governance bodies were instrumental in this endeavor. 

Click below to find out more about the roles, current members and the details on the nomination process and forms to apply.

GRI Board of Directors 
The Board of Directors is the final decision-making authority at GRI. 

Stakeholder Council
The Stakeholder Council is the formal stakeholder policy forum within the GRI governance structure, and advises the Board on strategic issues.

Independent Appointments Committee
The Independent Appointments Committee appoints members to GRI’s standards-setting governance bodies.

“By joining GRI’s governance structure, you will take an active part in shaping the world’s leading sustainability reporting standards and interact with a global community of sustainability experts bringing a wide diversity of views to the table", said Eric Hespenheide, Chairman of the GRI Board of Directors

We warmly encourage all our stakeholders worldwide to review the opportunities to get involved and spread the word as widely as possible.

For more updates from GRI, subscribe here to our monthly newsletter. 

Tweet me:The mission of @GRI_Secretariat of empowering decisions that create social, environmental and economic benefits for everyone can only be fulfilled with diverse representation. Now you have a chance to join one of the GRI governance bodies: http://bit.ly/2ydxjtE #sustyreporting

KEYWORDS: GRI, global reporting initiative, GRI Standards, GRI governance, multi-stakeholder, sustainability reporting

By Tamika Tremaglio

SOURCE:TriplePundit

SUMMARY:

This post was sponsored by Deloitte as a part of a larger editorial package. It went through our normal editorial review process.

DESCRIPTION:

This is graduation season, and along with the nearly four million postsecondary degrees being handed out, new graduates are getting a lot of good advice from commencement speakers and loved ones.

Allow me to add one more piece of advice, and it’s a simple one to remember: Keep building your network of mentors, advisors and sponsors. The people who gave you good advice about the right professional track, coursework and summer jobs and internships are often the same people who can help you as your professional life gets launched.

This can be particularly true for women. Though they far outnumber men studying on college campuses, research shows they are less likely than men to get meaningful advice and mentoring over the course of their school and professional careers.

And don’t just set yourself up to receive advice. Give it. Some of the best mentors are those who know the power of ongoing guidance as you build a career, navigate the job hunt and then the workplace, evaluate the kinds of bosses you work for, and do everything else they don’t teach you about in a college classroom.

There’s plenty of evidence on the benefits of mentoring in school and after you graduate. The 2016 Gallup-Purdue Index, a survey of more than 11,000 respondents with bachelor’s degrees or higher credentials, found strong connections between mentorship and employee engagement, long-term well-being, and overall engagement in the college experience. Mentorship played a big role in the success of career planning, respondents said. Graduates surveyed also suggested it was less important who students had as mentors than whether they had been mentored in the first place.

But this is a two-way street. It’s typically not enough for women to seek out mentors; they should also seek to become mentors.  My own interest in mentoring goes back to lessons from my father, who insisted it was important to lift as you climb. As a result, I make an intentional effort to mentor young people on a regular basis.

The need for women leaders to commit to mentorship is more important than ever. In a survey of more than 1,000 professionals in North America about their experience with mentoring, three-quarters of respondents said their most meaningful mentoring relationship was either “very important” or “extremely important” to career development.

Along gender lines, women were more likely to report that mentoring had profound effects on their careers. The survey also showed that people tend to pick mentors of the same sex.

Nevertheless, this is not only relevant to women. In my role leading Deloitte’s Greater Washington marketplace, we are proud to champion the Mentoring Matters Coalition and the United Way to reach young people across the National Capital Area.  We also have a deep mentoring relationship with organizations like the Posse Foundation and BUILD that prioritize diversity and inclusion in their mentoring missions.  Personally, I’ve learned that the best advice often comes from a network of mentors who you admire because of their skills – no matter their gender or ethnicity.

If I had to write a letter to my younger, graduating-self, I’d tell her to look for people to emulate and toss out any feelings that I didn’t belong because of my gender, my race or any other defining characteristic. And I’d say this, too: Give back and mentor others, because it can be a great way to discover how far you’ve grown. You might be amazed at what you can learn about yourself, and what you can help others learn about themselves.

This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the “Deloitte” name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

Copyright © 2018 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.

Image credit: Adobe Stock

Tweet me:READ: @DeloitteUS's @tltremaglio advises #women to keep building their network of #mentors after #graduation and throughout their careers http://bit.ly/2JNVTpD #womeninbusiness #thoughtleadership

KEYWORDS: Mentors, Mentoring, Deloitte, triplepundit, Tamika Tremaglio

SOURCE:Northern Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Our interns have arrived! Our 10-week program is designed for interns to learn more about our organization and industry by gaining hands on experience participating in partner and client meetings, working on key projects and task, delivering presentations to upper leadership and more! We are looking forward to a great summer!

Connect with Northern Trust on LinkedIN

Click here to learn more about CSR at Northern Trust

Tweet me:Northern Trust Summer Interns Learn Hands on Training #NorthernTrust #Internship #NTCareers @NTCSR http://bit.ly/2y6xMhn

KEYWORDS: northern trust interns, csr, Summer Interns, hands on training

From Bacon Cheeseburger to Baconator, you can thank Sugardale

SOURCE:The Wendy's Company

DESCRIPTION:

by Elizabeth Drake

Believe it or not, when Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s in 1969, bacon wasn’t on the menu. That’s right – our beloved Baconator® wasn’t introduced until 2007 – a whopping 38 years after our founding – followed by the popular Son of Baconator® in 2012. Now, you probably thought bacon was always on the menu because the bacon we use encompasses everything that’s good about Wendy’s – fresh and flavorful. But the moral here is that quality takes time, and finding a quality partner can take even longer. And when you know, you know.

Though it took us a while to create those two bacon-topped culinary masterpieces, Dave – always a leader in quick-service restaurant industry innovation – was thinking about putting bacon on hamburgers long before Baconator made bacon-lover’s dreams come true. 

Dave had friends at Fresh Mark, the parent company of Sugardale Foods that’s been making bacon for almost 100 years. Fun fact: Sugardale representatives personally delivered the first eight cases of bacon directly to Dave at a Wendy’s in downtown Columbus, cooked it with Dave and tested it on a hamburger in 1982. Did you also know 1982 is the year we introduced our first bacon cheeseburger? For 36 years now, Sugardale has supplied our bacon, and they’re great partners to our international business, as well.  And, just like our hamburgers are made from fresh, never frozen beef*, our bacon is made from fresh pork bellies that Sugardale cuts and packages for team members to cook daily in our restaurants.

But to Wendy’s, Sugardale is more than just bacon. Sugardale is also a proud supporter of our brand charity of choice, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Sugardale has supported the Foundation since its inception in 1992 and continues to us help find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care by sponsoring Wendy’s annual Frosty 5K Run for Adoption, various golf tournaments, and our annual Wendy’s Convention. Like we said: when you know, you know, and Dave’s instincts were right on with this partnership.

Sugardale has also created and donated 10 custom, hand-made Swarovski crystal purses – designed to honor the Wendy’s brand – to be auctioned off as part of an annual fundraiser. The purses alone have raised over $500,000 for the Foundation, to which Dave would have said, well done!

In 2016, Sugardale hit the road and brought their bacon food truck (you read that right – bacon food truck!) to our Restaurant Support Center in Dublin, Ohio.  They’re here today for the third year in a row with their very own Sugardale hot dogs and a toppings stand (yep, bacon and Wendy’s chili are both offered as toppings) to serve lunch and fundraise for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  Who doesn’t love a hot dog lunch for a good cause?

Thank you, Sugardale, for all you do for Wendy’s and for children in foster care.  We hope our partnership brings many more bacon-topped treasures to Wendy’s fans for years to come!

* Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada.

Tweet me:.@Wendys partner @SugardaleFoods has supported the Dave Thomas Foundation for #Adoption since 1992 http://bit.ly/2JJ10nK @DTFA

KEYWORDS: Wendy's, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA), Sugardale Foods

Living Product Challenge is the Gold Standard for Regenerative Manufacturing

SOURCE:International Living Future Institute

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:5 manufacturers are celebrating 10 Living Product certifications at NeoCon 2018, bringing the total number of Living Product certifications to 20. Congrats to @mohawkgroup, @grouptarkett, @crossvilleinc, @metroflor_, @shannon_floors, and @plantsolutions! #neocon50

KEYWORDS: International Living Future Institute, living product challenge, Regenerative Manufacturing, NeoCon 2018, Living Product certifications, ILFI

SOURCE:KeyBank

DESCRIPTION:

CLEVELAND, June 13, 2018 /3BL Media/ —KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided $14.2 million in construction financing for the renovation of Riverview Manor and Piotr Stadnitski Gardens in Buffalo, NY. The project will be developed in partnership with Smith and Henzy Advisory Group and MDG Design + Construction and is supported by existing project-based HUD Section 8 vouchers.

“KeyBank is deeply committed to expanding affordable housing across the country,” said Rob Likes, national manager of KeyBank’s CDLI team. “We are proud of our collaboration with organizations like MDG Design + Construction and Smith and Henzy Advisory Group to answer the affordable housing demand, especially the growing need for seniors housing.”

The two-building property is comprised of 210 one-bedroom units for seniors. Riverview Manor, a 12-story building, was built in 1977 and underwent renovations in 1989. Stadnitski Gardens, an 11-story building, was built in 1978. Both buildings are serviced by elevators.

“This project provides site-wide upgrades that will significantly improve the lives of Riverview Manor’s senior community and allow them to continue to comfortably and affordably age-in place. Keeping senior residents in their homes and providing minimal disruption to their daily lives is a priority,” said Michael T. Rooney, Sr., principal of MDG Design + Construction. “We are proud to work alongside our dedicated partners as we bring our expertise in preserving and developing high-quality, affordable housing to Buffalo for the first time.”

Kyle Kolesar of Key’s CDLI group arranged the financing. Additional funding was provided by Alliant Capital and New York State HFA.

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 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 CDLI is proud of this collaboration with MDG Design + Construction and Smith and Henzy Advisory Group to answer the #affordablehousing demand, especially the growing need for #seniorshousing. http://bit.ly/2JPPj1P @Key_B2B

KEYWORDS: #affordablehousing, Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI), #KeyBankCDLI, seniors housing, #seniorshousing, affordable housing, NYSE:KEY, keybank, Riverview Manor, Piotr Stadnitski Gardens

As technology progresses, so does drone use

SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

For nearly a century, unmanned aerial vehicles – or drones – were primarily tools for the military, but in the last decade, the use of drones for civilian tasks has skyrocketed. Industries from real estate to agriculture and retail to entertainment are using the technology to work faster, safer and in new ways.

The energy industry is no exception. Duke Energy started using drones in 2015 to inspect wind and solar sites, and the ways the company can use the technology grows each year with tasks becoming more complex. For example, in February 2018, Duke Energy drone operators engineered a way to help string power lines in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

Jacob Velky, manager of the Duke Energy Unmanned Aerial System group, said the company has trained about 30 employees to use drones, and they hope to double that by the end of 2018. The drones have infrared and high-zoom sensors that can complete a range of jobs.

Here are some of the ways Duke Energy is using the technology:

Examine equipment with thermal imaging
Flying a drone with an infrared camera over a solar site eliminates time-consuming electrical testing and helps technicians identify faulty equipment within seconds of takeoff. Eric Stone, who supervises solar operations for Duke Energy Renewables, said the technology saved more than 260 hours of work since they began using it in 2017.

Technicians have used handheld thermal imaging devices for years, but drones provide an overall view of the field in shades of purple to yellow based on heat signatures. Hotter panels appear more yellow than surrounding panels. These bright spots indicate that the panels are not efficiently converting solar energy to electrical energy. A single yellow panel usually indicates a faulty panel that needs to be replaced. However, if a string of panels appears yellow, it’s probably an easily fixed electrical issue.

“That’s where the real wins come in,” he said. “It could just be a matter of a technician going out there, and in 30 minutes plugging up some wires to get back all of the energy that we were missing before.”

In addition to solar plants, drones are able to inspect power poles and substations with thermal imaging.

Assess storm damage
Helicopters remain the primary tool for damage assessment after major storms because they can travel faster and farther than drones, but operators can use drones to perform detailed inspections especially in densely populated areas where a helicopter can’t go.

Duke Energy first used drones for storm damage assessment following Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Crews were not able to drive through the Carolinas’ flooded roads, but with drones, the team could inspect power lines and vegetation. Since then, the team used drones after 2017’s Hurricane Irma to find safe paths for crews to access equipment. “Instead of having crews walk or drive around a swamp in Florida,” Velky said, “we can fly a drone.”

Attract new businesses
Drones can provide a unique perspective for businesses scouting locations. Keith Gabriel, who works with Duke Energy’s economic development team, became licensed to operate drones so he could help local governments highlight undeveloped land and attract new companies, jobs and revenue to Duke Energy’s service area.

He recently flew a drone over the North Carolina Data Campus in Catawba County, N.C., where Apple, Facebook and Google have operations, to help give prospective tenants a clearer view of the land’s potential including characteristics like buildable area, nearby amenities, highways and access roads.

Inspect towering equipment
Across the energy industry, drones are making it easier and safer to inspect many tall structures. Instead of climbing a power pole (some are more than 300 feet tall), using a bucket truck or helicopter, or standing at the bottom with a camera or binoculars, a drone can fly to the top and take pictures from multiple angles. Drones are also able to zoom in on equipment, which makes it easier to see small defects like cracks on a wind turbine or porcelain insulator.

Recently in Ohio, a team was able to do a drone inspection of a transmission tower and right of way spanning the Ohio River.

Jim Meyer, who worked on the project, said the drone provided an inspection that could have taken days or weeks if lineworkers had to climb the 17 towers.

“We were able to use the drone to inspect the equipment more closely, too,” Meyer said.

Duke Energy uses drones to inspect wind farms as well, reducing the need for technicians to climb wind turbines and rappel down the blades.

Track construction 
Drones can assist in construction from beginning to end. The Duke Energy team can use high-resolution photos and video of a potential site to identify any sensitive areas like wetlands or to produce 3D renderings that give engineers elevation data to determine things like how much dirt needs to be moved. As construction progresses, drones can help document the process at regular intervals. 

“This 3D modeling wasn’t available in an affordable way before drones,” Velky said. “The renderings can help enhance the engineering and project team’s awareness and identify potential issues.”

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy employees trained in #drone technology to assess storm damage, inspect #wind and #solar sites, and more: http://bit.ly/2y8sRfZ

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, drones, wind, engineering

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

June 14, 2018 /3BL Media/ - This week, The Ray and WheelRight have upgraded the unique WheelRight drive-through tire safety station to include tire sidewall reading. The WheelRight system previously allowed for tire pressure and tread depth readings, but this additional capability contains all the critical information necessary to describe the tire and identify a suitable replacement. By adding this additional capability, drivers will be able to obtain information about tread depth and pressure specific to their vehicle, identify how much usable life is left on the tire, and where to find a suitable replacement. 

The tire sidewall reader is comprised of two towers adjacent to the side of the vehicle in which cameras and lights are housed. As a vehicle passes through, the lights and cameras are triggered, capturing up to 20 images of the rotating tire. Within seconds, these images are subsequently processed using sophisticated computer imaging software to automatically "read" the information embossed on the side of the tire. This data will include the name of the manufacturer and the United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) code.

More than 40,000 drivers die in accidents on U.S. roads and highways each year, a 20 percent increase since 2011.  U.S. DOT data points to underinflated tires as a cause of crashes that can result in fatalities and injuries. The International Tire and Rubber Association cites tire underinflation as the “single most common” factor in tire failure.

“Saving lives is the most important thing we can do on The Ray,” said The Ray’s founder and President, Harriet Langford, “the WheelRight system couldn’t be easier to use, and it keeps us safe while reducing vehicle-related pollution. By reading the tires’ sidewalls, we’re giving drivers more information that is even easier to understand so that they can make decisions that are good for their safety and good for their wallets. Now that’s a win-win.”

The Ray’s drive-through tire safety station, WheelRight, reads the tire pressure and tread depth of over 2,500 cars every year, of which 18 percent are underinflated. Those drivers contributed an extra 54,000 tons of CO2, and used an extra 6,000 gallons of gasoline every year. This is a multifaceted problem that has driver safety, air quality, fuel economy and even national security implications.

“We’ve had WheelRight installed for over a year, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive - and we’re just one installation.” said The Ray’s Executive Director, Allie Kelly, “Imagine the impact of tire safety stations across the country at freight depots, school bus parking lots, and bus transit systems!”

"Yet again, The Ray is the first in the USA to showcase our next development on the road to achieving Drive Thru tire check. The addition of our tire sidewall reader will allow us to develop further safety critical tire information to alert drivers of damaged tire sidewalls," said John Catling, founder of WheelRight. “The Ray is a vitally important project as it provides drivers at the Visitor Information Center with a unique opportunity to use this new environmental technology before it becomes more generally available.”

This capability is an expansion to the WheelRight system installed in December of 2016 through a partnership between The Ray, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). WheelRight’s sidewall system has been installed at two Esso (ExxonMobil) gas stations in Stuttgart, Germany. The Ray will be the first installation in the United States. The expansion took place the week of June 4th and is open to the public for use, free of charge.

Tweet me:#WheelRight Tire Safety Station on @TheRayHighway Now Includes Sidewall Reading as well as tread depth and tire pressure. http://bit.ly/2t2q2Hs #RidetheRay

Contact Info:

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

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

KEYWORDS: WheelRight, The Ray, highway safety, tire pressure, tire tread depth, Ray C. Anderson Foundation

By Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation

SOURCE:TriplePundit

SUMMARY:

This post was sponsored by P&G as a part of a larger editorial package. It went through our normal editorial review process.

DESCRIPTION:

With all the global issues we face today — including poor air and water quality, climate risk, deforestation, poverty, and hunger — more and more corporations are taking a proactive step to become part of the solution. And they are turning to trees to make a difference.

Companies are drawn to tree planting and forests because there is an emotional and intuitive connection between trees and sustainability. Trees and forests also have the power to address some serious climate risk issues and that has caught the eye and attention of investors. Planting trees is a simple, elegant and serious strategy to combating the biggest challenges facing companies, their employees, their supply chains, their customers and the world today. And it is scalable.

Tree planting is a proven approach to solving challenging problems on a worldwide scale. Because trees provide the necessities of life itself — and the beneficiaries of trees are people. They filter pollutants out of the air and water while protecting us from dangerous heat and flooding. They lower urban temperatures, reduce energy use and sequester carbon to slow the rate of climate change. Resources from forests help to keep people out of extreme poverty. Green environments encourage physical activity, improve cognitive ability and reduce stress. And trees foster community engagement and connectivity in a unique and positive way.

Tree planting in action

Efforts are underway through the Arbor Day Foundation and other like-minded conservation organizations such as the National Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and many others to plant trees throughout the U.S. and around the globe. These efforts are happening strategically in National Forests, rain forests and the cities and towns that make up our urban forest.

The reasons for planting vary greatly. Oftentimes, we replant in forests and communities after natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, invasive insects or disease. Other planting projects are located in areas that were previously cleared due to mining, past unsustainable forest management or land use change. Regardless of the reason, the goal is always the same: improve tree canopy cover and inspire sustainable forestry practices.

Procter & Gamble Family Care is one of the many corporate partners the Arbor Day Foundation works with regularly. Most recently, this partnership has focused on tree planting projects to improve urban forests. Their support has helped to revitalize lower-income neighborhoods, create welcoming community spaces and help residents enjoy all the life-giving benefits trees provide. It’s exciting to see an organization of this size focus in on making a measurable impact for their employees and their customers.

The compounding effect

There is a compounding effect of so many corporations getting involved in tree planting, as each tree makes a measurable difference. One tree can grow to remove an average of 11.56 pounds of chemical air pollution and .317 pounds of particulate matter, capture 160 pounds of carbon, and intercept 71 cubic meters of water runoff.* Research tools created with the Arbor Day Foundation’s public and private partners enables us to quantify the value of trees based on the type, location and size. This is an effective way for organizations to tell a more complete story about the impact they are making through their work planting trees. These numbers tell a powerful narrative to employees, investors, customers and the world. In addition, these trees can make a positive impact on many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals designed by world leaders to improve conditions on our planet by 2030.

Involvement with tree planting organizations also helps companies enhance employee and community engagement connections. Corporations are creating unique opportunities to plant trees in neighborhoods with low canopy cover, distribute trees after a community has been devastated by a natural disaster or revitalize a nearby barren space into healthy forestland. This type of outreach and community investment creates goodwill among employees and customers as the trees transform the neighborhoods in which they live, work and play. It further creates a defining link to the broader sustainability efforts of companies.

The Time for trees

If ever there was a time to plant trees, now is that time.  More and more companies have come to the realization that this is the time for trees. The time to harness the natural solutions of trees and forests to solve some of the biggest challenges they have ever faced.

We are proud to be advancing this dialogue and working with companies to bring new innovations and strategies to sustainability and business challenges through trees.

Tomorrow is relying on what we do today. Let’s make every tree count.

* U.S. Forest Service analysis based on native-species trees planted in Pennsylvania with a 97 percent annual survival rate, three percent mortality every year, for 100 years.

Image credit anna chara via Flickr Creative Commons 

Tweet me:READ: @DanLambe of @ArborDay Foundation on how companies can harness the power of #trees to advance #sustainability goals http://bit.ly/2LO5Ele via @TriplePundit @ProcterGamble

KEYWORDS: Procter & Gamble, Arbor Day Foundation, triplepundit

by Victoria Glazar, Verizon Corporate Social Responsibility

SOURCE:Verizon

DESCRIPTION:

As you walk the linoleum tiled hallway of FDR Middle School, a 1950s-era middle school in a once thriving manufacturing town northeast of Philadelphia, passing the rows of lockers set into green cinder block walls, a sign marked Wood Shop comes into view. If you attended junior high school any time before the ‘90s, you have an expectation of what you’ll see when you enter the room: a table saw, jig saw, miter saw, maybe a lathe or two. Except for the lingering scent of sawdust, this is far from the wood shop you remember.

Turning into the room, you see that one wall is painted a cheery orange. Exposed beams and duct work give the large open space a contemporary industrial feel. A wall of windows floods the space with natural light. On another wall hangs a modern art piece composed of antique woodworking tools, paying homage to the space’s origins. And around the room, students are engrossed in their work. Near the entrance, students are navigating a virtual reality landscape. Further inside, three students are huddled around a 3D printer, and in another area two students are leaning over a laser cutter. Three students are fitting Little Bits parts together to build an electronic gadget. In a studio set within the space, two students are recording a video. This is a Verizon Innovative Learning lab.

The lab’s purpose is to provide students with a wide range of resources, both next-gen technology and low tech materials, that allow them to tinker, explore and build. It employs a specialized curriculum developed by Arizona State University in collaboration with Verizon Innovative Learning, which is helping to prepare students for success in the digital economy. Research has shown that maker-centered learning helps students develop ingenuity and flexibility, as well as self-confidence and a sense of community. “We’re building a culture where creativity thrives, and this space is the nucleus,” said FDR Middle School Principal Kevin Boles. “Creativity,” he added, “is one of the most important skills for future workers.”

One of several learning labs that Verizon is creating in under-resourced middle schools, FDR’s lab came about as a result of a unique collaboration in which every one of the contributors went well beyond their regular job description.  It started with the Verizon Foundation’s education program team. As part of its due diligence, the team visited labs and makerspaces at leading universities such as Harvard, MIT, NYU and UVA to ensure that the Verizon Innovative Learning lab would be of world-class caliber. “We went to see all the best labs, the truly cutting-edge,” said Phil Puthumana, education program manager. “We analyzed what they offered, removed what was not relevant or dangerous and aged it appropriately for middle school students. What we ended up with is a customized state-of the-art innovation lab.” In addition, the team recruited the architects and designers of Verizon’s Next Gen retail stores to create a layout that is ergonomic and student-friendly.

Andreas Karales, Associate Creative Director of Design for Verizon, took on the project enthusiastically, even though it was in addition to his regular day job. “I thought it was great that Verizon was creating this opportunity for kids and I wanted to be a part of it,” he said.

“We carried over a lot of what we learned while creating the new human-centric space for Verizon customers. One important element was a collaboration table, which, in the store serves as a comfortable place for customers to meet and talk with Verizon reps,” said Andreas. Working on the early blueprints, Andreas knew that the collaboration table would be an important element of the lab, as well. Little did he know, however, what a conversation piece it would become.

Andreas said the process of building the lab was a bit non-typical. “We didn’t have a dedicated general contractor, but relied on volunteers from the school’s facilities team. It created a different kind of schedule than we’re used to, and of course, it was a different kind of budget than we’re used to. A mandate of the project from the beginning was to do the most with the least, so I was always on the lookout for ways to cut costs.”

That’s why he was delighted to find a table at Verizon’s downtown New York City offices that was a prototype from the Next Gen store design. Verizon was willing to donate the table, and so, all that had to be done was to transport it to the school. Simple enough, Andreas thought. He would rent a van, coordinate a few colleagues to help load, and drive the table over himself.

“It turns out, it’s not that easy to find a rental van that can hold a table that’s 10 feet long,” he said. After some effort, he did find a long bed cargo van. With the van waiting at the Verizon building’s loading dock and his helpers at the ready, Andreas called for the freight elevator, which he had reserved in advance. And then they waited.

“At that point I got a call from building maintenance. The freight elevator was broken and there was no estimate of when it would be fixed,” he recalled. “So I had to cancel everything and wait for word that the elevator was back in service.”

Word came a few days later, and the move was back on. Andreas and some of his colleagues -- architects and designers by trade -- became furniture movers for the day, hauling the enormous table 80 miles from lower Manhattan to Bristol Township, PA. These makeshift movers supplemented the project’s unorthodox crew, which included Principal Boles, who refinished the floors himself, Verizon employee volunteers, who helped construct the art piece, students, who pitched in in many ways, and school faculty and staff, who did whatever was necessary.

It was worth it, according to Andreas. “I’m really happy with the way everything turned out. All the late nights and effort put into this will have boundless returns,” he said. Project manager Phil Puthumana agreed. “We are all proud of what Verizon and the school community have been able to create here for students. We can’t wait to see the great inventions that will come from it.”

Tweet me:Students at F.D.R. Middle School in Bristol, PA use next-gen tech to tinker, explore and build at first-of-its-kind #verizoninnovativelearning innovation lab. http://bit.ly/2kZ1ewt

KEYWORDS: #STEM, NYSE:VZ, Verizon Innovative Learning, Arizona State University

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

On April 10, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Las Vegas District Office hosted an “Opioid Youth Summit” for all high schools in Clark County at The Venetian. One thousand high school sophomores, who were selected as student leaders from each school, filed in to hear several speakers discuss opioid safety.

Speakers included Dr. Miriam Adelson, founder of the Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse Treatment and Research; Andy Abboud, senior vice president of Government Relations at Las Vegas Sands; Daniel W. Neill, assistant special agent in charge at the DEA; Adam Laxalt, US Nevada Attorney General; Ed and Cyndi Yenick, parents of Michael Yenick; Ryan Leaf, former NFL player; and Criss Angel, Las Vegas entertainer.

The goal was to educate high school students on opioid safety by facilitating an open conversation that will inspire them to share the knowledge among their peers. Guest speakers shared personal accounts of opioid abuse, accounts of loved ones who succumbed to opioid addiction, and delved into the science of addiction and brain development. By bringing together guest speakers with different backgrounds and stories, the DEA focused on the importance of community members working together to fight this epidemic.

“The whole purpose of this program today is for you to sit back, listen, and absorb this information,” Neill said to the students. “I want you all to be ambassadors. Go out and talk about opioid abuse because 175 people die a day of opioid abuse.”

With the support of community leaders, school officials, and featured guest speakers, students joined in on the fight against opioid abuse and addiction by pledging to become ambassadors. Students were presented with a challenge coin to help serve as a reminder of their oath and educate their peers on the dangers of opioids, as well as seeking assistance when needed.

Tweet me:The US DEA's Las Vegas office recently hosted an Opioid Youth Summit for 1,000 high school student leaders @VenetianVegas http://bit.ly/2LeeUiX @DEAHQ

KEYWORDS: The Venetian, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Opioid Youth Summit, Opioid Abuse and Addiction

Deepwater wins battle to supply US state with 200MW of offshore wind

SOURCE:National Grid

DESCRIPTION:

National Grid Ventures added: "We are excited for the continued growth of the offshore industry in the US and are proud to advance a clean energy transition for the good of customers, local communities and the environment for generations to come.”

Click here to continue reading

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.

Tweet me:"We are excited for the continued growth of the offshore industry in the US and are proud to advance a clean energy transition for the good of customers, local communities and the environment for generations to come.” http://bit.ly/2Mo9hPL @nationalgridus ventures

KEYWORDS: national grid ventures, National Grid, sustainability, renewable energy, wind power, 200MW of offshore wind