Utah teen to receive $10,000 for his public service announcement on dangers of youth opioid misuse.

SOURCE:Discovery Education

DESCRIPTION:

Washington D.C., Thursday, June 14, 2018 /3BL Media/ – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA Educational Foundation and Discovery Education awarded Porter Christensen of Pine View High School in Utah (Washington County School District), the grand prize for the annual Operation Prevention Video Challenge. Christensen’s public service announcement entitled “Waiting to Die” elicits the visceral experience of opioid misuse while taking viewers inside the mind of one teen’s decision making.

Teenagers across the nation were invited to submit 30-60 second video public service announcements that capture their unique voice in order to communicate the opioid epidemic as a national crisis. In “Waiting to Die,” Christensen connects peer-to-peer by displaying self-talk that can lead to poor choices teens later regret. His character in the video urges viewers to “please don’t make the same mistake.”

“Having to operate the camera while being the actor is challenging, but incredibly satisfying when I see my finished product. I hope that through my writing, editing and music, my peers are able to comprehend the emotion I tried to convey,” said Christensen.

The second-annual video challenge is a part of a joint nationwide education initiative titled Operation Prevention that educates students about the science behind addiction and its impact on the brain and body. Available at no cost, the initiative’s resources help promote lifesaving discussions in the home and classroom.

“Teens are agents of change, and their actions speak volumes to peers. Together, we can work toward raising awareness, and most importantly, prevention, among our youth population,” said Acting DEA Administrator Robert W. Patterson. “Congratulations to Porter for lending his voice to an important cause and producing a powerful portrayal of the pain opioid misuse causes.”

The winning video was chosen by a panel of educators and judges at Discovery Education, the DEA and DEA Educational Foundation. The other winners include:

• Second Place: Palmer Williams of Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs, Georgia (Cobb County School District) will receive $5,000 for the video “One Bad Choice.”
• Third Place: Calvin Simon, Elijah Mitchell, Hassiara McNeal, and Jessica Ohlsen of Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Atlantic County, N.J. (Atlantic County Vocational School District) will receive $1,000 for their contribution titled “This Isn’t You.”
• People’s Choice Award: Garrett Miller, Ayanna Fourte, Robert Smith and ZaQuan Muhammad of Kenwood Academy in Chicago, Ill. (Chicago Public School District) earned the most votes in the People’s Choice Award category for “Don’t Do It.” Selected through a period of public voting online, the People’s Choice Award winners will receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

The prizes awarded to the first, second, third place and People’s Choice Award winners are provided courtesy of the DEA Educational Foundation.

The videos of the winners can be viewed at operationprevention.com/video-challenge. Winning public service announcements will be featured across DE and DEA digital and social media platforms.

“Porter’s ‘Operation Prevention’ video submission communicated an honest, connected and proactive stance on dangers of drug abuse,” said Kelly Thomas, fine arts teacher, Pine View High School, Washington County School District. “It’s vital that we raise conversations and inspire solutions in the fight against the opioid epidemic. He continues to use his art to help the world become a better place.”

“Congratulations to all challenge winners for starting an important conversation with teens across the nation. We’re humbled by the students, families and educators who have joined this tremendous effort to promote drug-free living in our communities and schools,” said Lori McFarling, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Discovery Education.

To learn more about Operation Prevention, visit operationprevention.com.

For more information about Discovery Education’s Streaming Plus services, digital content and professional development services, visit discoveryeducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @DiscoveryEd.

About the Drug Enforcement Administration

The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.

About the DEA Educational Foundation

Established in 2001, the DEA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preventing drug abuse. The foundation supports the DEA through advocacy, outreach, and educational programs.

About Discovery Education

As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.

Media Contacts

Charmion N. Kinder, Discovery Education

Charmion_Kinder@discovery.com

National Media Affairs, DEA

202-307-7977 phone

Tweet me:Utah #teen wins $10,000 prize for his video PSA on the dangers of youth #opioid misuse. http://bit.ly/2Mre2Z8 @DiscoveryEd @DEAHQ #OperationPrevention

KEYWORDS: discovery education, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Operation Prevention Video Challenge, opioid epidemic

SOURCE:Amgen Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

In Hong Kong and much of the broader East Asia area, the educational system is highly focused on exams. Teachers have their hands full just trying to prepare their students for the intense testing that occurs. Lab time is often reserved only for after school extracurricular activities. But some teachers are still pushing themselves and their students even further, bringing real-world biotech into their labs.

A year into ABE, the Hong Kong site is working hard to meet the huge appetite in secondary schools for biotechnology. “The enthusiasm of the teachers to join ABE is far beyond expectation,” says Dr. Victor Lau Kwok-Chi, the ABE co-site director in Hong Kong. “Teachers are already working very hard on their daily teaching work, so it is so surprising that many teachers are willing to spend two full days on ABE training and enormous time in implementing ABE labs at school afterward.” While time in the lab may not directly boost students’ exam performance, it brings meaning and interest to STEM, he explains, which incentivizes the program for teachers.

Indeed, says ABE Hong Kong Program Coordinator Poh Hiu-Ting, the response to the program is surprising in light of several challenges. “To bring the biotech labs to students, teachers have to rearrange their teaching schedules. They also had to revise the teaching materials into Chinese and share their resources with other ABE teachers,” she says. In addition, the teachers need to find lab technicians to prepare the lessons, most of whom do not have the background to prepare molecular experiments. Luckily, Hiu-Ting says, the lab technicians have been receptive to training: “They are eager to learn about the new technologies and committed to bringing the ABE labs to students with teachers.”

The ultimate goal, the Hong Kong ABE team says, is to harness this early excitement into sustained interest and engagement with biotechnology. “Our goal is to make ABE an integral, sustained part of the secondary biology curriculum in Hong Kong, so that every biology student here will have a taste of authentic biotech labs,” Dr. Lau Kwok-Chi says.

Students in Hong Kong are already reaping the benefits. Dr. Lau Kwok-Chi has loved seeing their reactions when they first observe bacteria glow under UV light. “Students also appreciated very much the ‘seriousness’ of doing ABE lab – wearing gloves, a lab coat, and goggles, and learning aseptic skills and the use of sophisticated equipment, which are all new experiences to them,” he says. “The ABE labs made them feel like a scientist doing real science, and these moments of excitement will help attract them to the field of science in the future.”

The Hong Kong government is now focusing on STEM education, allocating new funds to schools for STEM that have enabled some schools to purchase their own lab equipment. But schools in the region still lack a lot of flexibility in their lab arrangements, and most STEM activities are focused on engineering and IT. “Until now, biotechnology has been an untouched area due to its requirement of sophisticated equipment and expertise,” says Dr. Lau Kwok-Chi. “With ABE, we are successfully making biotechnology an important part of STEM activities at school.”

Tweet me:A conversations with the #BiotechExperience Hong Kong team: http://bit.ly/2sIef1K @AmgenFoundation

KEYWORDS: Amgen, Amgen Biotech Experience, Amgen Foundation, ABE, Hong Kong, China, STEM Education, science education, AMGN:AMGN

Andrea started on an unconventional career path, and now she uses her experiences, openness, and passion to help Nestlé employees thrive and build their careers.

SOURCE:Nestlé

DESCRIPTION:

By Andrea Walton, Manager of Human Resources at Nestlé USA

I was 15 when my first daughter was born with a radial club hand, a disability causing her arm to be angled incorrectly. After 36 hours of labor, I was no longer just a teenager. I was the mother of a special needs child.

I dropped out of high school to focus on caring for her and working to support our family. I went on to earn my GED, and after the birth of my second daughter began college coursework, eventually graduating with Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Urged on by my school counselor, I got my MBA, which opened the door to my first human resources job at a local credit union. I’ve since worked in a variety of Human Resources roles at different companies.

Today, I have my dream job as a human resources manager at Nestlé: I get to help other people achieve their career dreams, no matter what life may throw at them.

My career path is unusual and certainly wasn’t easy, but here I am. I was able to succeed because of grit, hard work, and the support of great people along the way — including my mom, daughters, school counselor, and former managers. Now at Nestlé, I provide that sort of support to our employees, helping them flourish and connecting them to resources that will help them on their journeys.

For me, that starts with building strong relationships with people, grounded in honesty and authenticity. I’m open about my difficult childhood and the obstacles I had to overcome to get where I am today. I even wrote a book about my experiences. And because I’ve been through more than my fair share of hardships, I can empathize with employees as they deal with their struggles. I believe empathy is a vital trait for any human resources professional. During my time at Nestlé, I’ve had employees share details of ongoing health issues, family crises, and divorces to work together find resources to help them cope. They only do that because they trust me.

Often, my job is just to listen and provide comfort to someone during a time of need. But I also connect employees with the wealth of resources Nestlé has in place to assist them and hopefully make their lives a bit easier. With our Nestlé Parent Support Policy, for instance, a child’s primary caregiver can take 14 weeks of paid leave and 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for their newborn children. One employee used the program after he unexpectedly became the guardian of his infant grandson. The Nestlé Parent Support Policy helps many families navigate what can be challenging stages of life.

Through our Employee Assistance Program and WorkLife Services, employees and their families can access free short-term counseling sessions. We also offer educational materials and referral services to help employees navigate tough parenting or elder care situations.

We provide these benefits, and other supports, because we know Nestlé is only as good as the people who work here. Work is just one aspect of our very complex lives, and the best companies understand that employees will only be invested in the company if the company is invested in them. As our CEO Steve Presley says, “Nestlé’s recipe for success comes down to one thing: people.” If we want our employees — and our business — to succeed, we need to make sure they have the support and tools they need to do so. Our benefit programs do just that.

That’s why I love my job. By being kind and present, and connecting people with resources, I’m helping Nestlé employees to do what I was able to do — navigate life, and work, so they can thrive.

Tweet me:Learn how @NestleUSA is putting the ‘human’ in human resources http://bit.ly/2ydh5Rm

KEYWORDS: Nestle, Paid Parental Leave, Nestlé Parent Support Policy

SOURCE:Astellas

DESCRIPTION:

For the second consecutive year, Astellas employees used the company’s Volunteer Time Off program to volunteer at the 2018 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games where Astellas also supported the event by providing meals for the athletes. More than 50 employees, family and friends gathered at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and helped staff the information booth, access and family-point-of-contact areas and medal ceremonies to make the event as successful and rewarding as possible for athletes and their families.   

Approximately 300 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans competed in 11 sports during this year’s Warrior Games, representing the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Command. Athletes from the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada also were 2018 competitors. Teams included active-duty service members and a small number of veterans with upper-body, lower-body, and spinal cord injuries; traumatic brain injuries; visual impairment; serious illnesses; and post-traumatic stress.

“We anticipated an emotional and gratifying experience when we arrived in Colorado for the 2018 Warrior Games, and our time together far exceeded our expectations,” said Astellas Military Employee Resource Group (MERG) co-chair Stacie Cornfield, Sr. Exec. Rep., Hospital, and veteran of the Illinois Air National Guard. “We were excited to be part of this humbling and inspiring event.”

“Our support of the Warrior Games aligns with our Living Smart™ social responsibility platform to support our veterans and people with disabilities to lead more active, fulfilling lives,” said Collette Taylor, Astellas senior vice president, Human Resources and Facilities, and MERG executive sponsor. “Through our Military employee resource group’s commitment to veterans, they’ve worked to create the right environment at Astellas for these individuals to reach their full potential.”

Last March, the Defense Department honored Astellas with its top Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Award for its “exceptional support for national defense by adopting policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve.” In addition to supporting the MERG, the company provides its military employees 10 days paid military leave for active service, and has an 11,000 square foot “Heroes Garden” at its headquarters.

Former marine, Regional Sales Manager, Hematology and MERG Co-Chair Matt Mercer captured sentiments shared by the large Astellas team at the Warrior Games: “The past two days have been extraordinary and unforgettable. We will return to Astellas with gratitude for the opportunity to interact with these amazing athletes and their families, and with a renewed purpose to support active service members and veterans.”

To learn more, visit the Warrior Games website.

KEYWORDS: Department of Defense, warrior games, astellas

To drive social impact through business in India, Abbott invests not just in products but in dairy farmers themselves.

SOURCE:Abbott

DESCRIPTION:

Through partnership, Abbott is providing farmers – especially women farmers— with the training and support they need to produce better milk and grow their businesses. This shared value approach is delivering dramatic results – transforming the lives of farmers and their families, while strengthening our nutrition business.

To learn more, click herefor the full story.

Tweet me:Abbott's shared value approach is making a difference – one community at a time. Learn how Abbott’s dairy farming program in India is empowering families and growing their business too. https://abbo.tt/2HNnGSe #italladdsup #sharedvalue

KEYWORDS: Dairy, Shared Value, India, Abbott, farmers, NYSE:ABT

by Dr. Neel Shah, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School

SOURCE:Merck & Co., Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

As an obstetrician, my job is to focus on moms and babies. But one of my favorite parts of childbirth is the look on a new dad’s face at the precise moment he sees his baby for the first time. The physical connection between moms and babies begins sooner and more gradually than it does for dads. Moms feel their babies growing and wriggling months before they get to actually see them. For dads, the first physical connection is visual. Fatherhood goes from being abstract to very real in an instant. And that look is everything.

For people who are trying to start or grow their family, the whole period from pregnancy to birth to caring for an infant can be an amazing, exciting, and also deeply vulnerable time. In our focus on moms and babies we sometimes forget that the birth partner also has an important role to play in supporting the whole family. It’s worth mentioning that the partner may not always identify as a “dad” and may not be a dude. But for the purposes of this post I’m going to call out the gendered role of dads specifically, whose identity in American society appears to be silently shifting in parallel with the shifting identities, roles, and expectations of American mothers.

As context, the first televised depiction of childbirth aired in 1953 on I Love Lucy. It drew higher ratings that the inauguration of President Eisenhower—not because of the expectations of Ricky Ricardo, but because of the expectations of Lucy. They made clear that Ricky was thrilled to enter fatherhood—their baby was named “Little Ricky.” But no one seemed to expect Ricky to be primary source of postpartum support.

In 2018, expectations both are and should be different. During those early, difficult, bleary-eyed days after bringing the baby home, supportive, attentive partners can make the critical difference for a family—and even save the mother’s life. Across the United States maternal mortality has been steadily rising and most of those deaths occur outside the hospital, during those early days and weeks at home.

New moms see their obstetrician or midwife in this hospital before they go home and then usually again for a brief visit six weeks later. This is inadequate, as professional societies and other stakeholders have recently acknowledged. But here is where dads are so critical. While moms can always call if they are experiencing concerning symptoms—bleeding, headaches, depression, thoughts of self-harm—most moms are fully consumed by motherhood, often putting their own needs behind those of their baby. Dads can act as important advocates. In so many cases I’ve seen, postpartum complications were treated quickly and effectively because of her partner’s instincts. In these cases, both parents together identified that something was wrong but the role of the partner as a tireless advocate made the critical difference. I’m convinced that the national conversation about how important dads can be to providing and marshalling support is much too quiet.

One place these conversations are gaining volume is through a movement called March for Moms. This May we held a national rally in Washington, D.C., that drew together families from across the country alongside public leaders. We discussed the need for all of us to come together to prevent avoidable suffering in childbirth—and witnessed firsthand how important the voices and the support of our dads can be. This Father’s Day, let’s pledge to celebrate the fathers in our lives and elevate their presence as critical, and in some cases, life-saving sources of support.

The content of this blog is solely the responsibility of the author and does not represent the official views of Merck. Merck for Mothers is known as MSD for Mothers outside of the United States and Canada.

Dr. Neel Shah, MD, MPP, FACOG, is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Harvard’s Ariadne Labs, and co-founder of the March for Moms.

Tweet me:READ: Prof @HarvardMed, Dr @neel_shah on celebrating fathers as life-saving sources of support in the latest @MerckforMothers #blog http://bit.ly/2MtjgU6 #endmaternalmortality #FathersDay @Merck

KEYWORDS: Merck, merck for mothers, harvard medical school, March for Moms, Dr. Neel Shah, Fathers day 2018, maternal health, Maternal Mortality

by Karen Walker, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer

SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Cisco has a long history of using technology to connect the world and change lives for the better. Our brand is all about the connections that make anything possible—and it continues to come to life in new and exciting ways.

The stories are many: Together with Dimension Data, we were able to reduce rhino poaching by 96%in South Africa. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, we partnered with NetHope to restore connectivity to 250,000 people. And every year, we inspire girls around the globe to get excited about technology with our Girls Power Tech program. In 2017 alone, our employees mentored 5,763 girls and devoted 15,000 hours.

Cisco Networking Academy is yet another way we are empowering possibilities.

Networking Academy is committed to educating the next-generation of talent with the technology skills needed to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges. In FY17, more than 1.3 million people enrolled across 180 countries, and 24% were female. Some countries had female participation rates over 40%, such as Peru, United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria.

There are so many amazing success stories that have come out of Networking Academy. Chiara Pietra of Buenos Aires gained hands-on networking experience that fueled a passion for IT she didn’t even know she had. Soso Luningo of South Africa channeled a hard life to land her IT job with the directive, “Just tell your boss to hire me and I’ll tell you what VLANs are.” And Rebecca Baca of New Mexico went from struggling single mom to senior network engineer who now gives back by hiring other students to work on her team.

Although distance, language, and custom separate these women, their stories have a common thread of empowerment. Women stepping up with confidence and acquiring the skills they need to thrive in the tech industry.

True to the Cisco brand, this program is building the innovative connections that make a positive impact in the world. Read more about Chiara, Soso, Rebecca and many others and be inspired.

Tweet me:.@Cisco inspires girls around the globe to get excited about #technology with Girls Power #Tech program http://bit.ly/2LMJekj #girlsintech @CiscoCSR #STEM @CiscoNetAcad

KEYWORDS: Girls in Tech, Girls in STEM, cisco csr

The cast of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, NBC’s Will & Grace and celebrities including Halsey, Iggy Azalea and More Unite for Pride Month.

SOURCE:eBay

DESCRIPTION:

eBay for Charity, a platform that easily connects buyers and sellers with the causes they care about, announced its partnership with GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy group, to launch a campaign in celebration of Pride Month this June.

From Monday, June 11 at 8 a.m. PDT – Thursday, June 21 at 8 a.m. PDT shoppers can visit eBay.com/GLAAD to enter a truly unique sweepstakes as well as bid on exclusive auction items and experiences donated by their favorite celebrities. 100% of proceeds from this campaign will benefit GLAAD, a nonprofit whose goal is to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance by working with content creators in film, television, music, digital, and more, as well as the news media, to ensure fair and accurate LGBTQ representation.

“In partnership with our employee-led Communities of Inclusion like United in Pride, which focuses on the LGBTQ community, we are committed to making our workplace safe, inclusive and free of judgment and discrimination for everyone at eBay,” said Damien Hooper-Campbell eBay’s Chief Diversity Officer. “By partnering with GLAAD through this charity campaign, it is yet another way we’re able to help advocate, educate and celebrate diversity of the LGBTQ community within eBay and beyond.”

See below for details on the sweepstakes and auction items/experiences:

Lunch with the Real Housewives

The cast of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is offering the chance for one lucky fan to dine in housewife style for the day and join them for a VIP lunch. GLAAD supporters and Housewives fans alike can enter via a sweepstakes by donating either $10, $25, $50 or $75 at eBay.com/GLAAD. Shoppers who enter the sweepstakes by donating a value higher than $50 will receive a PINTRILL pin at no charge. See below for more information on the PINTRILL pins.

Support GLAAD like a Celeb

Some of GLAAD’s biggest celebrity supporters including Debra Messing, Iggy Azalea, Halsey, and more, have united to celebrate Pride Month by donating unique auction items/experiences, including:

• Cast Autographed This Is Us "Pilot" Script

• Two VIP Tickets and a Meet & Greet with Halsey

• Will & Grace Photo with the Cast

• Signed Costume from Iggy Azalea

• One-on-One Lunch or Dinner with Yara Martinez

• Two tickets and Meet & Greet with Melissa Etheridge

• Wynonna Earp Blue Devils Cheerleading Uniform

• VIP Meet & Greet Pass with Betty Who

• Two Tour Costumes signed by Adam Lambert

• NY Giants Quarterback Eli Manning Autographed Poster

• Two Tickets to Broadway's Acclaimed Kinky Boots

• Alice and Olivia SUGAR BABIES Embroidered & Beaded Handbag by Stacey Bendet

Show Your Pride

Lastly, eBay for Charity has partnered with PINTRILL to design two limited-edition Pride-themed pins that will be available exclusively on eBay for Charity for $15 each. The designs include a “Love Is Love” pin and a “Rainbow” pin.

For more information about this campaign, please visit eBay.com/GLAAD. For more information about GLAAD, please visit GLAAD.org.

About eBay for Charity

eBay for Charity enables members of the eBay community to connect with and support their favorite charities when they buy or sell in the U.S. and abroad. Sellers can donate up to 100 percent of the proceeds to a charity of their choice, while buyers can add a donation to their purchase during checkout. To date, nearly $810 million dollars has been raised for charity by the eBay community. Visit eBay’s For Sellers, For Nonprofits and My Causes pages to learn more about how you can work with eBay to support a good cause.

About GLAAD

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.

Tweet me:.@eBay4Charity partners with @GLAAD and celebrities to celebrate #PrideMonth & the #LGBTQ community http://bit.ly/2HQqiyK @eBay

KEYWORDS: Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, NBC’s Will & Grace, Halsey, Iggy, Pride Month, eBay, glaad, Wynonna Earp, ebay for charity

by Margaret Henry, Director, Sustainable Agriculture at PepsiCo

SOURCE:PepsiCo

DESCRIPTION:

Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of participating on a panel, ‘Building Brand Value While Mitigating Your Water Risk,’ at the Sustainable Brands 18 Conference in Vancouver.

The topic of water and its impact on society is personal for me as I was born on a dairy farm in Kentucky and know firsthand how diligently farmers must work to conserve resources and grow the food we all enjoy. At PepsiCo, we focus on working with our farmers to find ways that “sustainability” benefits everyone who grows, makes and eats everything from Doritos to Naked Juice, Quaker Oats to Lays Potato Chips, and Pepsi to Tropicana.

 A few of the key points I enjoyed discussing with the great folks at Sustainable Brands included:

• Our commitments go deep:  PepsiCo is going above and beyond the vast majority of “sustainability” commitments by not only working on our own operations, but also working hand in hand with the farmers who supply us to make progress together on issues that matter to communities worldwide
• We are working on mitigating water risk not only in our own operations, but in our supply chain: We are committed to improving our water efficiency by 15% in our direct supply chains for all of our high water risk areas. That means working with farmers on how they make decisions, what equipment they use and what varieties they plant to ensure that we are working towards the long term health of watersheds and all of the communities that reside within them
• We work hand in hand with farmers: Our work on water builds from our work on overall sustainability. For us this means meeting farmers where they are on the issues that matter most for the economics of their farm, while working with them on the positive and negative environmental implications of the farm, and the opportunities for social gains to their communities 

PepsiCo is, at heart, an agricultural company and a company whose products are consumed when communities come together. We cherish this role and are committed to being part of the solution when challenges arise. For agricultural communities this can mean facing difficult realities from 100 year floods and droughts now happening every other year, to the rising average age of farmers, to increasing soil loss and water pollution. At PepsiCo, we fully realize that our future is tied to the future of our farmers and communities and we are working together to confront shared challenges head on and make tomorrow brighter and better.

Tweet me:Margaret Henry, Director of Sustainable Agriculture @PepsiCo, shares key insights on water, agriculture and societal impact. Read here: http://bit.ly/2LM7GCt

KEYWORDS: sustainable agriculture, Pepsico, NYSE:PEP

SOURCE:World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

DESCRIPTION:

by Maibo Malesu, Theme Leader, Water Management, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

For the past month Kenya has had torrential rainfall. This followed devastating droughts in parts of the country. The Conversation Africa’s Moina Spooner asked Maimbo Malesu how the country can make better use of the rains.

What is rainwater harvesting and how does it work?

Rainwater harvesting is the capture, storage and use of rainwater. The beauty of it is anybody can do it and it can be adapted to local context. Each design can be customised to suit the needs of the user.

There are several types of rainwater harvesting systems, but there are three main ones:

In-situ rainwater harvesting refers to the capture of rainwater where it falls. This system is useful in agricultural production systems where micro-catchments are used. For example, Zai pits. These are small permanent micro-basins, excavated on the ground where you want to plant a crop. They prevent water from running off the surface and causing erosion. Instead, water accumulates and plants can be grown in them.

Another route to go are run-off catchment systems. This is when rainwater running off ground surfaces is channelled through channels or trenches and collected in storage structures like tanks, ponds, pans, sand dams and earth dams.

When looking at Kenya’s national rainwater harvesting schemes, the government favours runoff harvesting systems – in the form of dams – because they can serve a larger population. The cost per capita is lower with large dams and they are multi-purpose; they can generate hydro power generation, supply water and be used for recreation. But the water distribution system is expensive and difficult to maintain. For example, 40% of treated water in Nairobi is lost through leakages from old pipes, illegal connections and outright theft.

Then there are roof catchment systems. These involve capturing rainwater from roof tops and storing it either above or below ground tanks made from plastic, bricks, concrete or ferro-cement.

How does Kenya stand with rainwater harvesting – is it doing so nationally and at household level?

In terms of water storage per capita per year, in Kenya it’s about 500 cubic metres per capita, but should be 1,500 cubic metres per capita. This is a minimum figure which takes into account all requirements for domestic needs including food and clothing. In the US it’s about 5,000 to 6,000 cubic metres per capita storage per year. In Ethiopia it’s about 67.

In the capital Nairobi water security – in terms of meeting demand and storage capability – is very low. The city has to meet a demand of 770,000 cubic metres a day and the current supply is 550,000 per day. But only half gets to the public. About 40% is lost.

The amount that Kenya harvests is very low. There are a number of different actors who are working on this. For example the Kenya Rainwater Association is responsible for work on research and policy. But most rainwater harvesting activities don’t move past the pilot stages.

Currently at the World Agroforestry Centre – through the billion dollar alliance – we are promoting farm pond technology for agribusiness and dryland farming systems. So far there are plans to construct 250,000 across Kenya, ensuring that smallholder farmers are storing 250 cubic metres at any one time. This looks set to increase as the government wants to promote adoption of 1,000 cubic metres of farm ponds.

We are also developing charts to determine the size of storage for different parts of Kenya in partnership with the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology. If you know the size of the roof and location, using the graphs, one can determine what tank size is needed.

What are the major challenges the country faces in harvesting rainwater?

The first is financing: smallholder farmers often can’t afford to invest in rainwater harvesting. For instance, the whole system – from storage to irrigation and pumping is expensive. A 250 cubic metre system, providing irrigation for three months on a one acre piece of land will cost USD$3,000.

The second issue is capacity: farmers don’t have the technical know-how to place and build rainwater harvesting structures.

The third challenge is policy: stronger support is needed from national and local governments. For example, rooftop rainwater harvesting is prohibited in Nairobi because it was seen as competing with the Nairobi water company, which earns income from selling water. Laws should be passed that allow people to harvest rainwater at the domestic level.

Fourthly, there’s a lack of market knowledge. Farmers need to be better informed where they can sell their crops for good prices so that they’re confident they can recoup the cost of investing in water harvesting.

And finally there are technical challenges such as the design, operation and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems.

Are there any countries in Africa that Kenya could learn from?

The World Agroforestry Centre has been promoting rainwater harvesting in sub-Saharan Africa through a southern and Eastern Africa network. It’s made up of national rainwater harvesting networks in over 12 countries.

Cross country learning within this type of network is extremely valuable. For example, in terms of small-holder and domestic systems, not dams or larger infrastructure, Kenya is a leading country. But it more or less ends at the pilot level. Meanwhile Ethiopia provides valuable lessons in watershed management, which uses approaches (like making sure agriculture happens in the right areas) to ensure all the water drains into one common area and that it doesn’t take the soil with it.

This is very important as it reduces the risk of flooding. In Kenya there’s a lot of soil in river systems which means the speed of the water increases, soil is deposited downstream and the risk of flooding increases in the lower parts of the landscape.

If Kenya were to take into account these good practices it would not only ensure the country has sufficient water to meet its needs in the dry periods, but it also ensures that when it does rain, the risk of damage and flooding is less.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Tweet me:Kenya's recent devastating #droughts were followed by torrential #rainfall. The Conversation Africa's Moina Spooner asked @MalesuM of the #WorldAgorforestryCentre how the country can make better use of the rains. http://bit.ly/2kX1cFm @TC_Africa @ICRAF

KEYWORDS: World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), rainwater harvesting, Kenya

SOURCE:Astellas

DESCRIPTION:

Throughout the fall and winter, Astellas sponsored a total of 62 Changing Tomorrow Day volunteer events for field-based employees across the United States to unite and support families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses (RMH) to be near their hospitalized children. Many of the volunteers cooked meals from scratch to provide comfort and nutrition to the patients’ families, while other teams helped clean the houses to meet the needs of each RMH chapter.

This is the third year that Astellas has coordinated the volunteer program to support Ronald McDonald Houses. In FY17 alone, employees helped prepare more than 2,600 homemade meals. In addition to the volunteer hours, Astellas donated $500 to each house where employees volunteered, totaling $28,500 in donations.

In total since 2015, field-based employees have prepared 8,300 meals for patients’ families across 105 Ronald McDonald Houses. Astellas has donated more than $153,000 to these houses where employees volunteered.

One of the unique benefits of the Ronald McDonald House program is that it offers field-based, community-oriented Astellas employees the opportunity to lead a local Changing Tomorrow Day activity in their area. Employees sign up to lead the event and are responsible for scheduling the date, recruiting team members to participate, purchasing the meal supplies and leading the team in preparing and serving the meal. The events serve to not only support local communities with a focus on patients and their caregivers, but bring teams closer together that may not see each other often.

Participant feedback is overwhelmingly positive and more than half of the leaders sign up to lead again each year.

“It is rewarding to help people in need in this way, particularly during the holidays,” said Sam Weber, professional representative I, PCP & Specialty, who was part of a cross-functional team to prepare a hearty meal for the guests of the Portland RMH, for the third consecutive year. “The guests were so appreciative, and the RMH staff was so impressed that Astellas encourages similar community service opportunities across the country.”  

“Our Meals from the Heart program offers an amazing opportunity for our community to come together and create a meal for families so that they can focus solely on the well-being of their hospitalized child,” says Lisa Mitchell, Vice President, Programs and Services, Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. “We are so grateful for the wonderful partnership with Astellas whose employees have generously donated their time, money and culinary skills to help families for the past three years. Through their compassion and support, the Astellas team has relieved hundreds of families from the burden of preparing a meal and has given them time to relax and regroup so they are refreshed for their child.”

Living SMART™ is the Astellas approach to preparing communities today for what can happen tomorrow. The Living SMART framework brings together the strength of the charitable Astellas USA Foundation and our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work to find the areas where we can make the most impact to improve lives. Astellas USA Foundation and Astellas CSR collaborate to create a positive impact on society through three overarching focus areas: health and well-being; Science WoRx (STEM education); and disaster response. To read more about Living SMART, see the Astellas Americas Corporate Social Responsibility Report Card.

KEYWORDS: Ronald McDonald House Charities, astellas, Changing Tomorrow Day

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

On any given night, nearly 6,500 people are homeless in Southern Nevada, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Nevada ranks eighth in the nation for the rate of homeless persons – the smallest region among the metropolitan areas ranking in the top 10 for homelessness. Of that population, more than 60 percent of all homeless people in Nevada are unsheltered, living on the streets in encampments, cars, or other places not meant for human habitation. Las Vegas/Clark County ranks fifth among large metropolitan areas with the highest rates of unsheltered homeless.

These statistics demonstrate that homelessness is one of our corporate headquarters’ most significant and chronic challenges. Even more alarming, Southern Nevada leads the nation in youth homelessness incidence rates. According to the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, Southern Nevada is facing a youth homelessness crisis, with the compounded problem of high incidence rates and a service delivery system that is ill-equipped to handle the caseload. According to HUD data, youth make up a much larger segment of the overall homeless population in Southern Nevada than the national average – with youth accounting for 24.7 percent of Southern Nevada's over homeless population in 2016, compared to the national average at 6.54 percent. In addition, the State of Nevada ranks first in the rate of unaccompanied homeless youth living unsheltered.

Three years ago, Las Vegas Sands made a long-term commitment to positively impact these disturbing numbers. Through Sands Cares, the company has undertaken a multi-year, multi-faceted engagement to drive change through three key strategies: providing immediate relief to the homeless population; helping find long-term solutions to the problem; and increasing awareness and advocating for homelessness support among the broader community. In 2017, Las Vegas Sands supported those strategies by allocating nearly $1 million to fight homelessness, with a major emphasis on impacting the youth homelessness problem. Highlights of Las Vegas Sands' homelessness engagement included partnerships with nonprofit service providers such as Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, HELP of Southern Nevada, and many others. Special initiatives included introducing the community’s first mobile shower unit to help homeless people get a “Fresh Start” to their days, as well as establishing the region’s first community-wide Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit to engage local officials and leaders, service providers, and public institutions in deep learning about the issue and kicking off a coordinated and comprehensive regional plan to fight youth homelessness.

Bringing the Homelessness Commitment to Life

Delivering on its strategies to provide immediate relief to people living on the streets as well as to be an advocate for change, Las Vegas Sands worked with community partners in 2017 to establish two innovative programs designed to have a long-term impact on the homelessness problem in Southern Nevada.

Intersections: The 2017 Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit

Las Vegas Sands teamed with the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth to host Intersections, the first annual Southern Nevada Youth  Homelessness Summit.  With support from the UNLV  Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las  Vegas Review-Journal, the inaugural Summit showcased the issue through a myriad of presentations and interactive sessions featuring the state of youth homelessness, a compelling first-hand account of life on the streets from a former homeless youth, a private screening of a new hard-hitting documentary film on youth homelessness and interactive    focus group sessions exploring the intersections between youth homelessness, and other problems such as human trafficking, education, immigration, and LGBTQ issues.

“Homeless youth get lost in a system that is currently better at addressing the outcomes of their situation – for example, crime, substance abuse, trafficking, pregnancy, and truancy – instead of the root cause of not having the fundamental support system of a reliable home,” said Arash Ghafoori, executive director of Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. “We can impact many of these issues if we solve the underlying problem of getting kids off the streets, and that’s why we worked with Las Vegas Sands to establish the Youth Homelessness Summit.”

Attended by more than 300 local leaders and service providers, Summit 2017 kicked off a year-long planning process to create the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness. This comprehensive regional action plan will be unveiled at the 2018 Summit and will guide community efforts to impact the significant youth homelessness problem in the coming years.

Fresh Start Mobile Showers

When facing the problem of finding the basic necessities of food and shelter, getting a shower to stay clean and healthy seems like an unattainable luxury. One of the most pressing needs for the homeless population is to take care of their hygiene needs, and in 2017 Las Vegas Sands and Clean the World stepped up with a new community program to ensure the availability of hot showers while lifting the spirits of people living on the streets.

Introduced to the community in July 2017, the Sands Cares Fresh Start Mobile Showers travels to various locations that serve the homeless population four days a week, offering hot showers, along with resources for food, emergency shelter, clothing, and medical care. In the first six months of operation, Fresh Start provided more than 3,100 showers to more than 500 new and returning clients.

“Having access to regular hygiene is a fundamental part of good health and well-being, but it’s also part of personal dignity – it can create a turning point in someone’s life,” said Shawn Seipler, founder and chief executive officer of Clean the World. “That’s our vision for Fresh Start – to give people the opportunity to start their day in a new direction.”

To learn more about CSR programs and initiatives at Las Vegas Sands, view the 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Overview.

Tweet me:.@LasVegasSands is committed to providing immediate relief for the #homeless population in Southern Nevada, as well as finding long-term solutions to #homelessness. http://bit.ly/2LIcMPQ #CSR #SandsCares

KEYWORDS: Las Vegas Sands, homelessness, Fresh Start Mobile Showers, youth homelessness, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY), HELP of Southern Nevada

SOURCE:Tyson Foods

DESCRIPTION:

LOGANSPORT, Ind., June 15, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Tyson Foods announced today a $151,000 donation to Food Finders Food Bank to help fund a mobile food pantry and leverage access to federal funding for food programs. The company also donated a truckload of protein totaling 29,640 pounds, the equivalent of 118,560 servings. 

With the purchase of a refrigerated box truck, the food bank’s mobile pantry will be able to increase the number of annual meals provided to the surrounding Logansport area. The grant will also help subsidize first-year costs on a SNAP Outreach Coordinator who will enroll residents in federal feeding programs. 

“Food Finders is grateful to Tyson Foods for its commitment to help the hungry in the counties that surround their Logansport plant,” said Katy Bunder, president and CEO of Food Finders. “The partnership between Food Finders and Tyson Foods will bring additional mobile pantries to the community and allow us to conduct SNAP outreach with one on one registration assistance.”

The Food Finders Food Bank delivered over 9 million pounds of food to 120 hunger relief agencies in the region last year. This grant is expected to allow the mobile pantry to increase total number of meals by over 475,000 per year. Also, with help from the SNAP Outreach Coordinator, a net increase of over 700 approved SNAP applications - equivalent to nearly 900,000 meals - is expected for 2018. 

“We’re proud to support Food Finders Food Bank and appreciate its dedication to providing hunger relief for Tyson Foods communities,” said Debra Vernon, senior director of corporate social responsibility for Tyson Foods. “From SNAP outreach to the mobile pantry, the food bank is addressing hunger in a variety of ways and this investment will help impact even more lives.”

Tyson Foods has three facilities in Indiana and employs more than 3,000 in the state, and more than 80 family farmers in the state grow chickens for its operations. The company also purchases cattle, pigs, grain, diesel and other utilities in Indiana and estimates its annual statewide economic impact at more than $619.2 million. 

About Tyson Foods 

Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp® and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 122,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit WWW.TYSONFOODS.COM.

About Food Finders

Since 1981, Food Finders Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, has worked to provide full service programs that meet the nutritional needs of thousands of hungry families in North Central Indiana. The food bank operates programs to cost-effectively secure donated and purchased food, provide food to families in need, and educate the community about the efficient use of food resources. Food Finders distributes more than nine million pounds of food annually; throughout the 16 counties it serves. For more information or to make a donation, contact Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. at (765) 471-0062 or visit WWW.FOOD-FINDERS.ORG.

Tweet me:.@TysonFoods donates $151,000, truckload of protein to @FoodFinders Food Bank http://bit.ly/2Ms2VyU

Contact Info:

Derek Burleson
+1 (479) 290-6466
derek.burleson@tyson.com

Kier Crites Scherger
+1 (765) 471-0062ext. 219
kcrites@food-finders.org

KEYWORDS: NYSE:TSN, Tyson Foods, Feeding America, Food Finders Food Bank

SOURCE:Duke Energy

SUMMARY:

• 2018 education and workforce development grants to benefit 16 organizations
• Funding will support innovative programs across Palmetto State

DESCRIPTION:

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 14, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Duke Energy has been powering South Carolina for more than a century, and continues to empower the minds of its students and the workforce of the future by investing in innovative education programs and initiatives.

Emphasizing the importance of workforce development, literacy  and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Duke Energy recently awarded more than $660,000 in grants to 16 programs across the Palmetto State.

The grants are administered through the Duke Energy Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to communities served by Duke Energy, with a focus on "K to Career" educational and workforce development initiatives, the environment and community impact.

"Our 'K to Career' grants go to a diverse group of organizations across our state that are dedicated to training the workforce of the future and giving our young people the skills they will need to lead our state in the years to come," said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, South Carolina state president for Duke Energy.

Recipients this year include:

• AIM: To support workforce training programs that help equip individuals with the necessary skills to earn a livable wage and develop self-sufficiency.

• Anderson Districts 1 & 2 Career and Technology Center: To support programs designed to educate students in robotics design, programming and use in industry.

• Clemson University Women in Science/Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention (PEER): To provide continued support to programs that provide camps for minority engineering majors, and to provide camps, encouragement and support to women pursuing careers in science and math.

• Francis Marion University: To support the expansion of the university's engineering program to include mechanical engineering.

  "Duke Energy continues to be one of our strongest industry partners, and we're delighted that they've chosen to support the development of our mechanical engineering program," said Francis Marion University President Fred Carter. "This type of donation enhances the opportunity for students throughout this region to receive an incomparable education in a dynamic field, at a reasonable cost."

• Northeastern Technical College: To help ramp up the college's electrical technician program to help meet the need for electrical technicians in Chesterfield, Marlboro and Dillon counties.
• Public Education Partners: To continue and expand an innovative program that provides a pathway into the teaching profession for people with bachelor's degrees in math and science.
• Roper Mountain Science Center: To expand STEM-based learning labs to students in Anderson, Pickens and Spartanburg counties.
• South Carolina Robotics Education Foundation: To help students develop STEM skills by expanding FIRST Tech Challenge robotics teams to Title 1 schools throughout Duke Energy's service territory.
• South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities: To provide scholarships for STEM majors at independent colleges and universities in Duke Energy service areas.
• South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind: To support the Really Cool for My School Book Club, a literacy initiative that helps to foster the love of reading for students by supplying large print and braille books to take home.

  "The Duke Energy Foundation's support of our Really Cool for My School Book Club enables us to continue to provide a critical component of our literacy initiative here at the school," said Ann Akerman, the CEO for the S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation. "Ensuring that children have accessible reading materials including large print and braille is imperative to a child's ability to learn to read. Together we are providing important resources to ensure a solid foundation for tomorrow's leaders."

• Spartanburg Community College: To address regional workforce development issues in Cherokee County for individuals who have barriers to employment.
• Tri-County Technical College: To support hands-on training in partnership with School District of Oconee County for students in engineering and mechatronics.
• United Way of Pickens County: To continue and expand the successful "Camp iRock" summer literacy program.
• Upcountry History Museum: To support hands-on literacy adventures that will take visitors on a journey around the world as they explore faraway places and cultures through beloved classic stories.
• Upstate Warrior Solution: To support workforce development for Upstate veterans by teaching them skills that will allow them to enter the civilian workforce at a livable wage.
• Youthlink: To support afterschool programs with an explicit goal to provide students with project-based STEM experiences for economically disadvantaged and underrepresented elementary and middle school students.

The Foundation annually funds more than $33 million to communities throughout Duke Energy's seven-state service area. In 2017, the company donated more than $2 million to nonprofit organizations in South Carolina.

About Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of communities where its customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $33 million annually in charitable gifts.

The Foundation's education focus spans kindergarten to career – particularly science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – as well as early childhood literacy and workforce development. The Foundation also supports environmental projects and community impact initiatives, including arts and culture.

Duke Energy employees and retirees actively contribute to their communities as volunteers and leaders with a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. Duke Energy is committed to building on its legacy of community service. For more information, visit duke-energy.com/foundation.

The Duke Energy Foundation is part of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK).

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing its energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2018 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' 2018 "America's Best Employers" list.

More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: 
Ryan Mosier 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Tweet me:Emphasizing the importance of #workforcedevelopment, #literacy and #STEM, @DukeEnergy recently awarded more than $660,000 in grants to 16 programs across S.C. http://bit.ly/2t8cfPP #KtoCareer

KEYWORDS: workforce development, Duke Energy, literacy, South Carolina

Pathway outlines how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050

SOURCE:National Grid

DESCRIPTION:

WALTHAM, MA,  June 15, 2018 /3BL Media/ – National Grid, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned utilities, today released the “Northeast 80x50 Pathway,” a blueprint for drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 (“80x50”). The Pathway is the first of its kind in the Northeast.

National Grid’s goal is consistent with the states they serve - New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The Northeast 80x50 Pathway includes in-depth modeling and analysis addressing the three most carbon-intensive sectors in the Northeast- heating, power generation, and transportation.

“For National Grid, climate change isn’t a political question, but scientific fact, and we believe that innovation and a diverse set of stakeholders at the table will enable us to reach the clean energy future that we all want,” said Dean Seavers, US President of National Grid. “Combatting climate change will require inclusive discussions that span multiple organizations and industries, and we hope the Northeast 80x50 Pathway serves as a launching point for those conversations.”

The Pathway calls for three big shifts in our energy systems by a mid-term goal of 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 in order to achieve the long-term goal of 80% by 2050:

• Heat - A transformation of the heat sector, by doubling the rate of efficiency retrofits and converting nearly all of the region’s 5 million oil-heated buildings to electric heat pumps or natural gas; and
• Power Generation - Accelerating the zero-carbon electricity transition, by ramping up renewable electricity deployment to achieve 67% zero-carbon electricity supply;
• Transportation - A transformation of the transport sector, by reaching more than 10 million electric vehicles on Northeast roads (roughly 50% of all vehicles)

Beyond the 40% reduction target for 2030, the Pathway finds that in order to achieve the 80% target by 2050, the Northeast will require deeper and more sustained technological innovation on both the grid side and customer side of the meter, coupled with ambitious policy.

In National Grid service territory, the legal basis for the 80x50 targets includes the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) (2008), New York Executive Order No. 24 (2009), and the Resilient Rhode Island Act (2014).

National Grid worked alongside Siemens Power Technology International’s leading experts on climate change and energy sector emissions to develop the Pathway. The company will be engaging with various stakeholders in the coming months and years to reach the 80x50 goal.

To see the full version of National Grid’s Northeast 80x50 Pathway, please visit http://bit.ly/80x2050.  

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, like us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram.

###

CONTACT: Media Relations – 781-907-3980

Tweet me:The @nationalgridus #80x50Pathway calls for three big shifts in our energy systems: accelerating the zero-carbon electricity transition; transformation of the transport sector; transformation of the heat sector http://bit.ly/2yehdQD

KEYWORDS: National Grid, greenhouse gas emissions, sustainability, Northeast 80x50 Pathway, zero-carbon electricity transition

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

Recently, the world witnessed the power and determination of Gen Z after they inspired over 1.2 million people in over 450 rallies in the U.S. (not to mention countless rallies worldwide) to march for gun control. Despite their young age, this generation is concerned about the state of our world, and 94 percent feel that companies should step up to address social and environmental issues. Now, one brand is harnessing this empowered group’s engagement to advocate for a variety of issues that matter most to them.

Coca-Cola launched the “Dear Future [Community] Challenge” inviting Gen Z and young Millennials to be changemakers and better their communities. The beverage giant has identified 15 communities across the U.S. where the company has bottling centers and other community stakeholders to partner with locals and address their concerns. Individuals ages 18-24 can submit proposals on how to strengthen these areas, and for residents outside those selected locations, there is a national competition. To help bring their ideas to life, winners will receive a $30,000 grant from the company as well as support and guidance from former Coca-Cola Scholar Foundation recipients and other community partners. Caren Pasquale Seckler, Vice President of Social Commitment for Coca-Cola North America, explains the engagement approach saying, “We really want to write the next chapter together with ‘Dear Future’ by engaging consumers and doing something together, [as well as] engaging all of our local partners in identifying all of the issues that are truly meaningful to them.” 

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:Coca-Cola Partners with Gen Z and Millennials to Make an Impact on Issues that Matter Most: http://bit.ly/2LRTzLK

KEYWORDS: Coca-Cola, Dear Future, Grants, scholarships, Cone Communications, Gen Z

In partnership with Keep America Beautiful, hundreds of Pernod Ricard employees worked to reinvigorate and revitalize local neighborhoods and parks across the country

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

Pernod Ricard USA, a leading premium spirits and wine company, recently collaborated with Keep America Beautiful and for Pernod Ricard USA's eighth annual Responsib’ALL Day.

One day each year, Pernod Ricard USA employees celebrate Responsib’ALL Day by collectively investing volunteer hours in their home communities to show their commitment and contribution to society and to demonstrate “good times from a good place.”

Pernod Ricard USA team members volunteered in 10 communities across the United States with employees collaborating with community leaders and local Keep America Beautiful and partners, including Keep Massachusetts Beautiful, I Love A Clean San Diego,  Keep Oakland Beautiful, Keep Miami Beautiful, Grow NYC, Citizens Committee for New York City, New York City Housing Authority, and Family Centers of Stamford -- to beautify local parks and recreation centers.

“At Pernod Ricard USA, we see Responsib’All Day as an investment in shared prosperity—that when we work collaboratively in our community, we all live together, better,” noted John Tran, Director of Sustainability & Responsibility. “We bring good times from a good place.”

Continue reading here.

Tweet me:#FF @kabtweet Affiliate Stories: #KeepAmericaBeautiful affiliates & partners work with Pernod Ricard USA employee volunteers to rejuvenate local #neighborhoods & #parks across the country on annual Responsib’ALL Day. http://bit.ly/2tbTvim #DoBeautifulThings

Contact Info:

Larry Kaufman
Keep America Beautiful
lkaufman@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork

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

KEYWORDS: Pernod Ricard USA, Keep America Beautiful, Responsib'All Day

SOURCE:AT&T

SUMMARY:

New 300 MW Power Purchase Agreement and Wind Technician Scholarship Program Announced at Wind Energy Center Groundbreaking in Webb County, Texas

DESCRIPTION:

During a groundbreaking ceremony in Webb County, Texas for the first AT&T-backed wind farm project, AT&T announced a new agreement to purchase 300 megawatts (MW) of wind energy.

It also announced a scholarship program for students interested in pursuing careers as wind turbine technicians, one of the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S.¹

Delivering renewable energy

AT&T’s new power purchase agreement with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will deliver 300 additional megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from two new wind farm projects in Wilbarger and Hardeman Counties, Texas. The new agreement builds on AT&T’s previous investments backing two wind energy centers in Webb and Duval Counties in Texas and Caddo County, Oklahoma.

Together, these agreements will deliver 820 MW of wind power, and constitute one of the largest corporate renewable energy purchases in the U.S.²  The projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking more than 530,000 cars off the road or providing electricity for more than 372,000 homes per year.³

“We’re going big on renewable energy. It’s a clean, abundant, renewable source of home-grown power,” said Joe Taylor, vice president of global tech optimization and implementation, AT&T. “As one of the world’s largest companies, our investments can help scale this critical energy source for America’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Creating jobs and community benefits

AT&T’s investments in renewable energy will help to create jobs and economic benefits. NextEra Energy Resources estimates the AT&T-backed wind farm projects will create as many as 1,000 construction jobs in Texas and Oklahoma. The projects are also estimated to generate nearly $190 million in property tax revenues for local communities and more than $167 million in lease payments to landowners.⁴

“We are pleased to work with AT&T to expand the reach of renewable energy and provide a significant economic boost to local communities, both in Texas and Oklahoma,” said Kevin Gildea, NextEra Energy Resources’ vice president of development. “Wind energy is helping drive the clean energy economy, providing new and exciting job opportunities in rural communities as well as millions of dollars in additional revenue with which to help enhance schools, roads and other essential services.”

Supporting students

AT&T-backed wind energy centers will also benefit students and local communities. During the groundbreaking event, AT&T announced a $50,000 contribution to Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to create the AT&T Wind Energy Scholarship fund. The fund provides financial assistance for students earning a TSTC wind energy degree or certificate and is open exclusively to students from counties with AT&T-backed wind farms (Webb, Duval, Wilbarger and Hardeman Counties). NextEra Energy Resources has committed to interview graduates of the TSTC program for future wind technician positions, as they become available, as well as internship opportunities.

The scholarship complements a new wind energy program being established at Webb County Consolidated Independent Schools (WCISD) and supported by NextEra Energy Resources. Webb CISD is one of the few high schools in the nation to host its own wind technician program.⁵ NextEra Energy Resources also contributed a wind turbine gear box to the school to help students with hands-on training.

“We welcome the opportunity to educate, expose, and equip our students with dynamic skill sets stemming from the benefits of a career in renewable energy,” said Beto Gonzalez, superintendent of Webb Consolidated Independent School District. “We are grateful to both NextEra Energy Resources and AT&T for their generous contributions to establish one of the nation’s first high school wind energy programs and for creating a new and exciting career path for our students.”

AT&T’s renewable energy program is a key component of its 10x Carbon Reduction Goal and is part of the company’s larger commitment to the environment. Since 2010, AT&T has put into place more than 65,000 energy efficiency projects resulting in annualized savings of $427 million.⁶  Learn more about AT&T’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility at att.com/csr.

--------------------------------

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Wind Turbine Technicians, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm

²Business Renewables Center (2017). BRC Deal Tracker. http://businessrenewables.org/corporate-transactions/

³EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

⁴Estimates provided by NextEra Energy Resources.

⁵NBC News April 14, 2018 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/workers-are-climbing-wind-turbines-middle-class-n865221

⁶AT&T. CSR Website. FAQ - Energy Management (2017). http://about.att.com/content/csr/home/frequently-requested-info/environment.html

Tweet me:.@ATTimpact: "@ATT Expands its #RenewableEnergy Program with @NextEraEnergyR" http://about.att.com/content/csr/home/blog/2018/06/at_t_expands_itsren.html #ATTimpact

KEYWORDS: wind power, Clean Air, AT&T, jobs, community, scholarships, NYSE:T

Christopher and Brian Mace share their family’s foster care adoption journey with the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program

SOURCE:The Wendy's Company

DESCRIPTION:

by Elizabeth Drake

It’s easy to look at the Mace family and see something extraordinary. A same-sex couple who has adopted five children from the foster care system, all while devoutly serving the United States military and bearing the strain of multiple re-assignments. From background checks, court sessions, disclosure meetings and more, Christopher and Brian Mace have gone to extraordinary lengths to create a forever family for their five children: Eira, Kota, Steven, Dallyn and Kinley.

However, woven throughout the Mace family fabric is a familiar reminder for us all this Father’s Day. A great father is recognized for the devotion he shows his children. Whether that’s attending every baseball game and dance recital or helping overcome mental illness and instability - devotion isn’t defined, it’s felt. And without a doubt, the Mace children feel and know that devotion: it’s love. Love that knows no boundaries and isn’t defined by conventional means.

We sat down with Christopher and Brian to talk about their journey with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) program and how it’s helped shape and complete their family.

Can you take us through your decision to adopt?

Brian and I got married knowing that we wanted to have kids and a large family. The issue we ran into is that we are a same-sex couple, and we didn’t have the knowledge to make this dream come true at the time. However, we knew we couldn’t give up and continued to push to find a solution. After a few classes, some paperwork, a few background checks and a home study, we were finally qualified and ready to expand our family. Soon after getting married, we were blessed with the opportunity to adopt Eira and set off on an incredible journey to create our family.

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids has obviously played a big role in your life. Can you share how the recruiters assisted you in your adoption of Kota and Steven?

We first met Kota and Steven through Wendy’s Wonderful Kids adoption recruiters. At the time, they were two boys who desperately needed kind and loving homes. Today, they are our sons. What’s special about the WWK relationship is that it doesn’t end after the adoption is finalized. Since Steven, we have adopted two adorable little girls, Dallyn and Kinley. Dallyn and Kinley did not have WWK recruiters, but Kota and Steven's WWK recruiters were with us along that journey and helped make the transition seamless.

What stood out most about working with the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program?

What impressed us the most about the WWK program is that the hearts the recruiters have are so big and they’re willing to help both the kids and the families succeed. It doesn’t matter if it’s putting a face to a file, attending court sessions, conducting home visits or just being someone to confide in about the challenges you’re facing as an adoptive parent - anything you can think of, they can help with.

What are some challenges you had to overcome as a family while going through the adoption process?

Some kids in the foster care system have a hard time finding a forever home. It’s not because they are bad kids, or there aren’t any good homes. It’s because they have a file, and in that file is a history of everything they've ever done. In the adoption community, this file is called a disclosure.

When we were introduced to Steven, he was 10-years-old and had never experienced a family of any kind. He grew up shuffled around various homes and on top of that emotional strain, he’s developmentally delayed and had developed some mental illnesses. His disclosure was complicated and heavy, and that was enough to scare off many potential families. Steven was finally assigned a WWK recruiter to help find a special family that would love and care for him. Steven is an amazing kid, and in just two years of having a family, he has come so far! He no longer takes an abundance of medications and although he is still developmentally delayed, he has grown from a goal of counting to five and identifying three different colors to being able to read and do multiplication.

How will you be celebrating Father’s Day?

Father's Day is sneaking up on us, and we are very excited for it. The two of us and the five kids will be settling in to our new home, but the kids tell me we are going to go eat at a five-star restaurant - except they need my credit card to pay!

To learn more about Wendy's, visit The Square Deal Blog.

Tweet me:Christopher and Brian Mace share their family’s #FosterCare #Adoption journey with the #WendysWonderfulKids program. http://bit.ly/2yh6Taw @Wendys @DTFA

KEYWORDS: Wendy's, Wendy's Wonderful Kids, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA), Foster Care Adoption

By Nigyar Makhmudova

SOURCE:Mars, Incorporated

DESCRIPTION:

I was inspired this week when I attended the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit with other FMCG leaders in Singapore.

I saw how determined these leaders are to advance human rights.

As business leaders, we know that the actions we take today help determine whether or not the world will be a better place tomorrow.

Savvy business leaders use at least three approaches to help advance human rights:

• Inspire and unleash the positive energy that is in all people
• Connect the cause to universal values
• Engage others and drive change together

Many are aware of the challenges in the fish supply chain in Thailand where the risk of forced labor and other human rights issues are relevant across the sector. In late August, 2016, we launched an Action Plan to guide our efforts as we seek to advance respect for human rights in our Thai fish supply chain. We have operated in Thailand since 1994. We are investing by building a new factory and R&D facility in Thailand. We believe strongly that Thailand has a bright future, and we are thrilled to be a part of that future.

Grant Reid, President of Mars, Incorporated, spoke powerfully on the topic of forced labor at the Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment and Employment this week in Singapore – an event co-sponsored by CGF and the Institute on Human Rights and Business. Grant called for businesses around the world to step-up their efforts on forced labor:

“Two years ago, The Consumer Goods Forum issued our global resolution to fight forced labour. We remain steadfast in this commitment, and this is a Call to Action to accelerate the tangible steps we are taking as an industry, matching our commitment with concrete results and improvements in the lives of vulnerable people. We need to increase the pace of change on this critical issue”.

Mars alone cannot solve human rights challenges. It takes a team effort. That is why we’re committed to joining with other stakeholders. And, it is why economic investments aren’t the only ones we’re making in Thailand. In keeping with our conviction that what we do today can make the world a better place tomorrow, we are taking steps to understand the relevant human rights issues in our fish supply chain and, where relevant, to play a proactive and collaborative role in addressing them. 

I visited Thailand last year to learn more about these issues and to help play some small role in catalyzing positive change. While there, I met with our Mars team to discuss our human rights approaches and I also met with our counterparts in the Royal Thai Government who are working to proactively address this challenge. I was pleased to learn that the Royal Thai Government is prioritizing urgent action to protect vulnerable workers in this industry. My visit confirmed: the greatest resource we can tap is people. When people come together to do good, there is an unstoppable momentum that builds. Creating this momentum by inspiring and unleashing the positive energy in people is the single most important thing we can do as leaders.

We can do it, in part, by connecting with each other on the basis of shared values. Humans all over the world instinctively know what it means to treat each other with care. It’s knowledge we have to draw on as we work to make the world a better place.

Of course, we can’t be so naive to believe that emotional connectedness will sustainably solve the issues we face. Ronald Reagan famously said, “Trust, but verify,” which, by the way, was originally a Russian proverb, “Doveryai, no proveryai.” It’s a proverb we too must follow. That’s why we have invested in experts, both internally at Mars and with external partners who can help us to ensure we are making the positive impact we intend.

We must remember the old saying: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go in a group. When it comes to human rights, we need to do both. That can only happen if we effect a broad change. So, we need to engage everyone we can: Associates, suppliers, business partners, government and civil society stakeholders, and local communities. This is the approach we are taking to our work on human rights in the fish industry in Thailand. To follow our progress on this crucial issue, visit our website.

I hope our experience facing into this challenge can help to motivate others in our industry to do the same. Indeed, we must all face into these realities and ensure that we are part of the solution.

After all, making a better world is the ultimate “all hands” effort. Our reach as business leaders positions us to contribute in a special way. What an inspiring opportunity to make a difference!

Tweet me:“Making a better world is the ultimate ‘all hands’ effort.” – @MarsGlobal’s Nigyar Makhmudova, Global President of Pet Nutrition, reflects on the recent @CGF_The_Forum and how Mars is working to advance human rights throughout its supply chains. http://bit.ly/2leod6Q

KEYWORDS: Mars Incorporated, Thailand, Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit, Human Rights, Fish supply chain