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Shire Employees Show How They Are Taking Responsibility for the Environment on World Environment Day

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SOURCE:Shire Pharmaceuticals

DESCRIPTION:

Shire employees around the world held events during the first week of June to bring awareness and action for the environment in honor of World Environment Day on June 5.

The theme of Shire's World Environment Day event was Taking Responsibility for the Environment: Energy & Climate, Water and Waste, in support of the company’s Responsibility goals (see the infographic focused on Shire’s natural resource goals).

Employees were asked the question, “How are you taking Responsibility for our environment?” then posted their answers as pledges and selfies in various communications channels. Pledges came from across the globe and ranged from eating a plant-based diet, not using plastic straws, to riding a bike to work every day. Many sites also organized local activities including:

  • Los Angeles, California: Hosted an environmental fair showcasing local products and services to encourage composting, public transportation and energy conservation. The fair also included an interactive waste sorting exercise, LED bulb exchange and a sustainability lunch and learn.

  • Covington, Georgia: Volunteered with the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center and cleaned-up several local ponds to help maintain these natural resources for the local community.

  • Exton, Pennsylvania: Planted an honorary Korean Dogwood tree, hosted a month long paper reduction challenge, as well as a sustainability and recycling trivia challenge.

  • Vienna, Austria: Launched a campus bike sharing program for employees to move from building to building in a healthier, more sustainable way than driving.

  • Dublin & Dunboyne, Ireland: Provided each employee with a reusable mug to reduce office paper waste and launched a second hand book exchange.

  • Rieti and Pisa, Italy: Distributed seed packets to employees and created an educational sustainability corner.

To learn more about Shire’s Responsibility commitments and goals, please visit Shire’s Annual Responsibility Review 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 employees pledge to take responsibility for the environment from #sustainable decisions to #volunteering around the globe http://bit.ly/2HQmygt #worldenvironmentday

KEYWORDS: world environment day, Shire, Environmental Stewardship, Recycling, Conservation

   


Hormel Foods, Albertsons, Vons Donate SKIPPY® Peanut Butter to Thousands of Children in Need This Summer

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SOURCE:Hormel Foods Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

SAN DIEGO, June 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Hormel Foods Corporation, in partnership with Albertsons and Vons stores, donated 24,840 units of SKIPPY® peanut butter Tuesday to the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to support its School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive.

The Schools’ Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive targets children living in poverty that stop receiving free meals at school when school is out for summer and often face hunger at home. In many cases, families are forced to rely on the food bank to feed their children over the summer months.

“Hormel Foods is proud to partner with Albertsons and Vons to support hunger-relief efforts in the communities served by Albertsons and Vons stores,” said Aly Sill, brand manager at Hormel Foods. “The SKIPPY® hunger program highlights our long-standing relationship with Albertsons and Vons, and we are honored to work together and make a contribution for those in need.”

“We are very excited to work with Hormel Foods and the SKIPPY® brand to donate almost 25,000 jars of peanut butter to address the problem of child hunger over the summer months in the San Diego area,” said Shane Dorcheus, President of Albertsons Companies’ Southern California Division, which operates Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions stores throughout the region. “We hope this donation will help make the summer a little more enjoyable for individuals and families in need.”

“We are humbled and so incredibly grateful to the SKIPPY® brand and Albertsons and Vons for donating nearly 25,000 jars of peanut butter to support our School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive,” said James Floros, president and CEO at San Diego Food Bank. “This amazing donation will be a huge support for the Food Bank to boost our food supply as we provide vital hunger-relief services to local children and families in need. Peanut butter is gold in the food banking world because it is a remarkable source of protein for the children we serve. It is shelf stable and one jar can provide more than 12 sandwiches. On behalf of the Food Bank’s staff and family of volunteers, we extend our gratitude to the SKIPPY® brand and Albertsons for helping us feed children in need this summer.”

The makers of the SKIPPY® peanut butter created the hunger program this year. The program involves a partnership between Hormel Foods and grocery retailers across the country, and is part of the company’s philanthropic efforts that focus on hunger and education. In fact, in 2016, Hormel Foods donated $10.9 million in cash and product donations.

The donation was announced at the San Diego Food Bank’s Day to Donate LIVE Drive, hosted by Albertsons and Vons at the Murphy Canyon Vons location in San Diego.

ABOUT ALBERTSONS/VONS/PAVILIONS

ABS, Vons, Pavilions comprise the Southern California Division of Albertsons Companies, operating more than 300 stores throughout the region. Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2017 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave nearly $300 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans outreach.

ABOUT JACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and our North County Food Bank chapter comprise the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 26 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank serves, on average, 370,000 people per month in San Diego County. Through our North County Food Bank chapter and by partnering with more than 400 nonprofits with feeding programs, the Food Bank provides nutritious food to individuals and families in need in communities throughout San Diego County.

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS – INSPIRED PEOPLE. INSPIRED FOOD.™

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across 75 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin’s®, Columbus®, Wholly Guacamole®, Hormel® Black Label® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of “The 100 Best Corporate Citizens” by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the tenth year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future – Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ – focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and https://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

Tweet me:.@HormelFoods, @Albertsons, @Vons donate @SKIPPY peanut butter to thousands of children in need this summer http://bit.ly/2JWlrxK @SDFoodBank

KEYWORDS: NYSE:HRL, Hormel Foods, Albertsons, Vons, School’s Out Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive, SKIPPY®, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank

PNC Foundation Supports Cool Globes Exhibit in Pittsburgh

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Artwork Highlighting Climate, Environment Unveiled with Support from Heinz Endowments, PNC Foundation

SOURCE:PNC Financial Services Group

DESCRIPTION:

PITTSBURGH, June 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Today, Mayor William Peduto is excited to announce the grand opening of Cool Globes in Pittsburgh.  The nearly 30 large globe sculptures - described as “public art with a purpose”- will be on display in Market Square, PPG Plaza and Gateway Center through early October. Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet aims to raise awareness of and inspire viewers to take actions on climate change.

“Cool Globes offers a message of hope and resiliency that is what Pittsburgh is all about," Mayor Peduto said. ‎"I encourage everyone to visit the globes and learn more about what you can do to help combat climate change.”

Each globe features a message on how both the public and businesses can help reduce and mitigate climate change every day through actions such as increasing energy efficiency in homes and businesses, purchasing products made with 100-percent post-consumer material, increasing recycling and greening urban landscapes.

“The conversation that ‘Cool Globes’ enlivens is perfectly aligned with Pittsburgh’s growing role as a climate leader,” said Andrew McElwaine, vice-president of Sustainability for the Endowments. “Our individual and collective efforts have a massive impact on the sustainability of our planet, and this innovative exhibit helps spread that message in a creative, informative and fun way. The Heinz Endowments are pleased to help underwrite this important body of work.”

The Cool Globes Pittsburgh exhibit is made possible in part thanks to Heinz Endowments and PNC Foundation and will feature three new globes from local artists: Katy DeMent, Ashley Kyber and Lindsay Wright.

“The Cool Globes exhibit is internationally recognized not only for its artistry but also for shining a light on the environment,” said Greg Jordan, PNC general counsel and chief administrative officer-. “The exhibit, and the globe we selected for installation at Triangle Park that represents green building, couldn’t be a more natural fit with PNC’s commitment to sustainability initiatives. We can think of no better place to showcase this exhibit and the work of local artists than our hometown.”

Cool Globes, Inc. was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2006. The exhibit premiered in Chicago in 2007, in partnership with the Field Museum of Natural History and Mayor Daley’s Office of Environment, with more than three million viewers. The exhibit went on to travel the world, exhibiting in four continents, with plaques translated into nine languages. Pittsburgh will be Cool Globes 20th exhibition city.

Cool Globes Founder, Wendy Abrams, explains, “It’s often difficult to talk about climate change in a positive light, given what is at stake. But this exhibit is about solutions and presents both hope and tangible actions.  It’s hard to use the words “fun” and “climate change” in the same sentence, but given the spectacular artwork of these artists, and the interactive nature of the exhibit, I think we’ve managed to do just that."

The Heinz Endowments

The Heinz Endowments seeks to help our region thrive as a whole and just community, and through that work to model solutions to major national and global challenges. The Endowments works to advance a sustainable future for our community and planet, successful learning outcomes for young people and their families, and a culture of engaged creativity for all citizens. For more information, visit Heinz.org

PNC Foundation

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $350 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.

 

Contact:

City of Pittsburgh

Keyva Clark

412-925-1990

keyva.clark@pittsburghpa.gov

 

PNC

Jason Beyersdorfer

(609) 651-5617

jason.b@pnc.com

@JasonB_PNC

 

Heinz Endowments

Scott Roller

(412) 281-5777

sroller@heinz.org

Tweet me:.@PNCBank Foundation Supports Cool Globes Exhibit in Pittsburgh, which aims to raise awareness of solutions to climate change http://bit.ly/2MBuqWJ

KEYWORDS: PNC Foundation, Artwork Highlighting Climate, environment, sustainability

Richard Crowther Appointed Food & Beverage Segment Leader

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SOURCE:Antea Group

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June 18, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Antea Group is pleased to announce that Richard Crowther, Senior Consultant based in Atlanta, has been appointed to lead our Food & Beverage Segment. With over 25 years of engineering and management experience in the utility and beverage industries, Richard specializes in sustainability program planning, energy and water efficiency improvements, EHS compliance, environmental liability management, carbon footprint reduction and large-scale energy management programs including alternative energy project development.

Since joining Antea Group in 2016 from Coca-Cola Refreshments, Richard has taken a leadership role with our energy management and facility optimization service lines where he has helped develop innovative solutions for energy/water efficiency and outsourcing services. Additionally, he has led multiple projects for food and beverage clients helping them to improve operational efficiency, reduce operational risk, increase compliance and operate more sustainably.

“I am looking forward to leading our talented and experienced team of professionals to serve our valued Food & Beverage clients. We know the industry is evolving as it faces increasingly challenging EHS compliance and sustainability issues across the supply chain but Antea Group is uniquely situated to partner with our customers for mutual success.”

About Antea Group

Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more at http://us.anteagroup.com.

Tweet me:Richard Crowther Appointed Food & Beverage Segment Leader by @AnteaGroup http://bit.ly/2JPP4AL

Contact Info:

katie.nordenson@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: food and beverage, sustainability, energy efficiency, water efficiency, EHS compliance, environmental liability, carbon footprint, energy management, alternative energy, antea group

Innovators Tackling Humanity's Biggest Problems Seek Solutions by Studying Nature

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"Biomimicry" is the study of living systems for clues to create human designs that are better for both people and planet.

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

By Megan Schuknecht

Alessandro Bianciardi wanted to help get fresh water to communities that needed it the most -- rural farmers in areas that were hardest hit by climate change-induced drought. So when he and his team of engineers and designers at the company Planet set out to create a more affordable, scalable and radically sustainable solar still, they went right to the source of the most effective R&D process they knew of -- nature itself.

The Planet team, including CEO Alessandro Villa and product developer Alessandro Zecca, is part of a new crop of social entrepreneurs who are incorporating biomimicry, or nature-inspired design, in order to take their innovations to the next level. Biomimicry is based on a simple idea -- that living systems can provide clues for how to create human designs that are better for both people and planet. It’s a pathway to innovation that’s leading social entrepreneurs to find new solutions to tough issues like energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, food systems, transportation, water management and more.

Read the full story on Entrepreneur.com

Tweet me:Innovators Tackling Humanity's Biggest Problems Seek Solutions by Studying Nature #Biomimicry @Entrepreneur https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/megan-schuknecht @BiomimicryInst @JanineBenyus @AskNatureTweets

Contact Info:

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

Erin Connelly
Biomimicry Institute
+1 (415) 800-1407
erin.connelly@biomimicry.org

KEYWORDS: biomimicry, Biomimicry Institute, Entrepreneur, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Megan Schuknecht

Women Can Soar When the Mentored Become Mentors

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SOURCE:Deloitte

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By Tamika Tremaglio

This is graduation season, and along with the nearly four million postsecondary degreesbeing 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.

Tweet me:The need for #womenleaders to commit to #mentorship is more important than ever. http://bit.ly/2LYdYzw @Deloitte

KEYWORDS: Deloitte, Mentoring

Q&A With Canary Wharf: Reporting Helps to Inform, Inspire and Influence Responsible Business

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SOURCE:GRI

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A major property developer in one of the world’s most vibrant cities, Canary Wharf aims to embed sustainability in the heart of its business. The company has included non-financial information in their corporate reports since 1987. We spoke to Martin Gettings, Group Head of Sustainability at Canary Wharf, about how sustainability reporting helps them to tell compelling stories and inspire others.

Martin Gettings: “We use sustainability reporting to keep our stakeholders informed on the actual activity we do as a business – to communicate it loudly and transparently and through this, we aim to inspire our people, peers and partners to come together to make sustainability real."

“Sustainability reporting helps maintain our focus on impacts and impact measurement throughout the year, particularly for those things, which are historically difficult to measure. It also serves as a good benchmark against our peers and other organizations, for us as a business and for our stakeholders.”

How has reporting helped Canary Wharf form its approach to sustainability?

“Sustainability reporting has helped with prioritization and focus on both reporting and action. Assessing our material issues for the purpose of reporting helped us realize that both our own priorities and those of our stakeholders lie within the activities and impacts of our core business. For instance, creating vibrant communities is at the heart of our mission and is fundamental to our stakeholders, making this one of our most material issues. 

“For us, sustainability is integrated and engrained within every part of the business, and is central to everything we do. It is not just an additional layer of commitment, it is essential for us to be competitive as a business and to achieve our mission. Therefore, while sustainability reporting has driven us towards more concise and accurate data collection, and reporting in some areas; in other ways it is more about casting what we are doing in a different light. This has helped create a more internal drive towards excellence in reporting.”

Could you tell us a few examples of Canary Wharf’s major sustainability impacts?

“Our positive impact on the community is a considerable one. For example, Canary Wharf Group has helped generate £1.59 billion of business for companies based in East London, and in 2016, over 40 per cent of our purchasing was with local businesses. We are also the first property and construction company, in London, to be a Living Wage employer. In terms of our environmental impacts, we have achieved 100 per cent zero carbon electricity since 2012, and, for the past 8 years, zero waste to landfill from our managed areas. During this period, we also diverted around 40,000 tons of waste from landfills.”

How does sustainability reporting connect with Canary Wharf’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

“It needs to be in absolute alignment. As a business, our sustainability reporting is materiality-driven and our commitment to Sustainable Development Goals is based on our understanding of our sustainability impacts and opportunities. Therefore, the two are very closely connected.”

What is your vision for the future in terms of sustainability and reporting?

“Since our beginnings we have been reluctant to shout about the good work we do, preferring just to get on and do it. But through our on-going corporate responsibility and sustainability reporting we are starting to see the value of telling our story, to inform, inspire and positively influence our audience and interested parties. Our vision for the future of sustainability reporting is that business and citizens merge seamlessly into a single point of responsible activity, fully transparent, accessible, understood, engaged and challenged by all. GRI is helping us all achieve this.”
 
With the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards, companies are able to unlock the transformative power of transparency, while contributing to the sustainability agenda and increasing trust. Click here for more impact stories from GRI's network.

Tweet me:Taking pride in its #sustainability achievements, @CanaryWharfGrp uses #SustyReporting to focus on impacts and impact measurement to continuously improve. Click here to read full @GRI_Secretariat Q&A with the Group Head of Sustainability @martingettings: http://bit.ly/2JM6TRh

KEYWORDS: GRI, global reporting initiative, GRI Standards, impact stories, GRI20, sustainability reporting, Corporate Responsibility, csr

Timberland Earns Gold Halo Award for Efforts to Reintroduce Organic Cotton Farming to Haiti

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SOURCE:Timberland

DESCRIPTION:

At the recent Engage for Good Conference in Chicago, Timberland received the Gold Halo Award for Best Environmental Campaign of the Year, for its partnership with the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) and their shared work, “Planting Seeds for Haiti’s Future.” The outdoor lifestyle brand also had the opportunity to share the story through a keynote address to a sold-out crowd of some 525 attendees.   

Since 2010, Timberland has worked with the SFA to reforest Haiti through an innovative agroforestry model.  Timberland’s initial investment established tree nurseries in five different communities in Haiti.  Smallholder farmers were invited to provide the labor for the nurseries in exchange for high quality crop seed, basic hand tools, and training to improve the efficiency of their own farmlands.  By 2015, the SFA had engaged over 6,000 farmers who had planted close to five million trees.  Participating farmers also experienced a 40% average increase in their crop yields and a 50-100% increase in income.  This increased income, in turn, enabled the farmers to send 3,400 more children to school, as free education is limited in Haiti and out of reach for most families.

Timberland is now working to transition from a being a sponsor to a customer of the SFA, by bringing cotton farming back to Haiti after a 30-year hiatus.  The partners plan to expand the tree nursery network to engage more communities and farmers, plant more trees, and have participating farmers dedicate a portion of their land to organic cotton, which the brand will ultimately use in its products.  The potential scale of the SFA’s cotton production is significant, with projections that, over the next five years, the farmers will plant an additional 25 million trees and will be able to produce approximately 15,000,000 pounds of organic cotton lint each year.  To ensure the sustainability of the program, Timberland has invited other brands to invest in the program and, to date, Vans and Patagonia have both stepped forward to support the effort as investors and potential customers. 

“We’re humbled and grateful to be recognized with this year’s gold Halo Award for our work in Haiti,” said Atlanta McIlwraith, Timberland’s senior manager of community engagement and communications, who presented the keynote address and accepted the award on behalf of Timberland and the SFA. “The investment we’re making demonstrates a new way for corporations to engage in communities and created shared value.  It was an honor to share the model at the Engage for Good conference, and to be inspired by the work of many other amazing cross-sector partnerships.”

McIlwraith’s presentation, which shared best practices and lessons learned throughout the evolution of the Haiti agroforestry initiative, can be seen here.  To learn more about Timberland’s commitment to create responsible products, protect and restore the outdoors and serve communities worldwide, click here.

Tweet me:.@Timberland Earns Gold Halo Award for Efforts to Reintroduce Organic Cotton Farming to Haiti http://bit.ly/2liWOkg

KEYWORDS: NYSE:VFC, Engage for Good Conference, Timberland, Gold Halo Award, Smallholder Farmers Alliance

 


PNC Financial Services Named Among Fatherly’s 50 Best Places to Work for New Dad

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SOURCE:PNC Financial Services Group

DESCRIPTION:

Fatherly’s annual “50 Best Places to Work for New Dads” ranking is a celebration of corporations committed to helping men manage their dual roles as providers and caregivers. 

PNC is a particularly appealing employer for parents in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, where the company provides 20 days of onsite backup childcare. These centers also offer seasonal “camps” when schools are typically closed, as well as up to eight weeks of full-time “transitional” childcare to parents returning to work after welcoming a new child.  PNC also has a flextime policy to help parents out of sticky situations.

Click here to continue reading

Tweet me:.@PNCBank recognized among @FatherlyHQ 2018 “50 Best Places to Work for New Dads” http://bit.ly/2MBpwZP

KEYWORDS: 50 Best Places to Work For New Dads 2018, pnc financial services, csr, parents, flexible workplaces

The Bellona Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc Sign Agreement to Continue Improving Sustainable Cruise Tourism

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The Bellona Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc have signed an agreement of cooperation where the parties agree to work together to continue improving environmental and sustainability impact.

SOURCE:Carnival Corporation & plc

DESCRIPTION:

June 19, 2018 /3BL Media/ - The Bellona Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company with nine global cruise line brands, have signed an agreement of cooperation where the parties agree to work together to continue improving environmental and sustainability impact. The newly formed cooperation is based on the two parties’ shared vision of an even more sustainable cruise industry in a future zero emission society.

The recently adopted International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, together with an increasing focus on continuing to improve the cruise industry’s environmental impact in local communities and destinations, will provide an important framework for joint cooperation. Setting an aspirational goal of zero emissions in port and during operations in pristine areas will help to force breakthrough approaches in technology and operations to reach that goal. 

“Sustainable operations is a top priority for our business, and as the world’s largest cruise company, our global cruise line brands have taken and continue to take a leadership role for sustainable tourism,” says Michael Thamm, Group CEO, Costa Group & Carnival Asia for Carnival Corporation. “We are deeply committed to protecting the environment, and that includes the oceans and seas in which our vessels sail and the communities in which we operate. Working together with leading environmental NGOs such as The Bellona Foundation will help us to achieve our vision to provide our guests with extraordinary vacation experiences while meeting and often exceeding our environmental commitments.”

“We are grateful and highly motivated to be able to work together with a leading industry player like Carnival Corporation & plc,” says Frederic Hauge, founder of The Bellona Foundation. “Bellona is committed to meet and fight the climate challenges through identifying and implementing sustainable environmental solutions in close cooperation with the industry. Our cooperation with Carnival Corporation will enable us to increase our impact in developing and promoting sustainable solutions for the rapidly growing cruise sector as well as international shipping.”

The agreement's overall purpose is to contribute to and promote sustainable operations in the shipping industry. The arrangement will focus on solutions, regulations and legislation favoring the use of environmentally friendly vessels for the benefit of the environment, local destinations and the travelers.

Contact persons

Carnival Corp & plc:

Roger Frizzell, Chief Communications Officer, Carnival Corporation & plc
rfrizzell@carnival.com

Mike Flanagan, LDWW Group
mike@ldwwgroup.com

The Bellona Foundation:

Jan Kjetil Paulsen, Senior Advisor Maritime & Shipping
jkp@bellona.no
tel: +47 975 22 100

Hanne Lovstad, Director of Market & Communications 
hanne@bellona.no​
tel: +47 967 00 000 

The Bellona Foundation

The Bellona Foundation is a highly acknowledged international NGO. Founded in 1986, Bellona is today involved in extensive national and international environmental work, with offices in Oslo, Brussels and St. Petersburg/Murmansk.

Bellona holds professional competence across a wide range of sectors and has gained international attention within several disciplines.  The foundation is one of few NGOs worldwide that has systematically attended all UN Climate Change Conferences (COP) meetings from the accredited inside, since the start in 1987.

Norway holds a strong position in shipping and maritime technology, hence the maritime sector is a core focus area for Bellona. Bellona’s work in the maritime sector spans across technologies, infrastructure, policies and regulations and bilateral dialogues with leading industry players.

Bellona has also over the last years been heavily engaged in the public debate on sustainable tourism. Zero emissions in the fjords, in port and at the destinations is an integral part of Bellona’s vision.

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the world's largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of 10 dynamic brands that include nine of the world's leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard, as well as Fathom, the corporation's immersion and enrichment experience brand.

Together, the corporation's cruise lines operate 103 ships with 234,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 18 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2018 and 2023. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

In 2017, Fast Company recognized Carnival Corporation as being among the "Top 10 Most Innovative Companies" in both the design and travel categories. Fast Company specifically recognized Carnival Corporation for its work in developing OceanMedallion™, a high-tech wearable device that enables the world's first interactive guest experience platform capable of transforming vacation travel into a highly personalized and elevated level of customized service.

Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.fathom.org, www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com, www.aida.de, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.pocruises.com.au, and www.pocruises.com.

Tweet me:.@CarnivalPLC and The Bellona Foundation have signed an agreement of cooperation based on the shared vision of an even more sustainable cruise industry in a future zero emission society. http://bit.ly/2K0XmJu

Contact Info:

Claire West
+1 (214) 208-3718
claire@ldwwgroup.com

KEYWORDS: environmental impact, #Sustainable, local communities, zero emissions, #Environmental Sustainability, Global Sustainable Tourism, Activists and NGOs, environmental commitment, climate challenges, Environmental solutions, Sustainable Operations, #water, #environment, NYSE: CCL, NYSE: CUK, The Bellona Foundation, Carnival Corporation

"My, How Far We've Come"

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Taproot Foundation celebrates 10th anniversary of Matt O'Grady Day

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Each year on June 19, the Taproot Foundation celebrates Matt O'Grady Day, an organization-wide holiday honoring the wedding anniversary of former National Director of Expansion Matt O'Grady. This day also recognizes a major milestone of the civil rights movement - the legalization of gay marriage in California.
 
On this 10th anniversary, Taproot invited Matt O'Grady to reflect on the movement, the last 10 years, and the value of an inclusive company culture.

“Sweetheart, give me a kiss!” With that simple, universal, public display of affection, my husband Steve Van Landingham and I committed a felony. We were standing on the steps of the Supreme Court building in the Federal District of Washington DC. It was April 23, 1993. We had gotten married an hour earlier, in a mass wedding ceremony blocks away in front of the IRS building. Part of the national March on Washington for LGBTQ Rights, the ceremony had doubled as a protest against the prohibition of same-sex marriage. In the Federal District, same-gender kisses were a no-no.

Fast forward 11 years to 2004. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom pulled an audacious stunt and instructed City staff to begin handing out marriage licenses to same sex couples. The resulting frenzy of weddings was quickly shut down by a court, but four years later, the California Supreme Court ruled the state’s ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. The frenzy resumed, and we jumped at the chance to make our marriage legit.

June 19, 2008. Days earlier, San Francisco’s City Hall had been turned into the Gayest wedding chapel in the country, and officials were cranking out about 400 ceremonies a day. Steve and I had our place in line and invited about 100 friends, family, and—fatefully, it turned out—everyone in the Taproot Foundation’s San Francisco office, where I was their VP of National Expansion. At the top of the grand staircase, Supervisor Bevan Dufty officiated, and our mothers witnessed, beaming like car headlights.

Only later did I learn that Aaron Hurst, Taproot’s Founder and CEO, had heard of this (he was in New York then) and found it unfair that the rest of the Taproot’s staff across the country didn’t get to join in the celebration. He also saw a golden opportunity to take a step in his ongoing effort to shape the culture of the Taproot Foundation for the long term. He declared June 19 to be “Matt O’Grady Day” at the Taproot and gave every staff member the day off with pay. Then he wrote Matt O’Grady Day into the employee handbook as an annual holiday, which has been celebrated ever since.

Of course I was honored when I learned about this. Flabbergasted at first, then honored. It’s the highest honor I’ve had in my career, and doubtless will remain so. But I also quickly realized what Aaron was up to, and he confirmed it when we discussed this a few days later. Matt O’Grady Day isn’t so much about me as it is about the monumental step forward society took in that amazing, unlikely, dizzying series of events. Aaron made a bold statement that it’s that kind of societal change we were after at Taproot, albeit through different, less political means. He wanted people to read about Matt O’Grady Day on Taproot’s website and think “wow, that’s a place I’d really like to work.” Or volunteer. Or find the pro bono services my organization needs.

Aaron was spot on. Ever since, Matt O’Grady Day has been a defining feature of the Taproot Foundation and what it stands for as an organization. Over the years I’ve had many staffers and volunteers tell me they read about Matt O’Grady Day and were instantly drawn to getting involved.

My husband and I considered both of our weddings to have been monumental. But our 2008 wedding in City Hall carried special weight, for the respect and dignity it bestowed on our loving relationship, by our friends in attendance, by State of California, and by our mothers. But even we thought it was over the top celebrating both weddings. So we decided to combine anniversaries – the year of the first with the day of the second. And so today we celebrate the 10th annual Matt O’Grady Day, and our 25th wedding anniversary.

My, how far we have come. In less time than it takes some couples to fall in love and get married, American society has progressed from treating relationships like Steve’s and mine as felonious to fully recognized nationwide. Wedding cakes notwithstanding. The long arc of history does bend toward justice. Matt O’Grady Day is a celebration of this advance, and a celebration of what it means to be a Taproot staff member. Now I’m just waiting for it to be declared a national holiday. Any takers?

Matt O’Grady was a Taproot staff member from 2004 through 2010. He now serves as a nonprofit management consultant and interim CEO. He and his husband are still happily married and living in San Francisco.

About the Taproot Foundation
Taproot Foundation, a national nonprofit, connects nonprofits and social change organizations with skilled volunteers who provide their expertise pro bono. Taproot is creating a world where organizations dedicated to social change have full access—through pro bono service—to the marketing, strategy, HR, and IT resources they need to be most effective. Since 2001, Taproot’s skilled volunteers have served 6,000 social change organizations providing 1.6 million hours of work worth over $180 million in value. Taproot is located in New York, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles and is leading a network of global pro bono providers in over 30 countries around the world. www.taprootfoundation.org

Tweet me:See why @TaprootFound celebrates this one wedding anniversary --> http://bit.ly/2y2YFCI

Contact Info:

Taproot Foundation.org
pr@taprootfoundation.org
@taprootfound

KEYWORDS: Taproot Foundation

 

Symantec Recognized as One of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies for Fourth Consecutive Year

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The Civic 50 honors Symantec for its commitment to and investment in communities

SOURCE:Symantec

DESCRIPTION:

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 19, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), the world’s leading cyber security company, today announced that it has been named an honoree of The Civic 50 by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The Civic 50 sets a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the communities in which they do business.

The Civic 50 winners were announced at Service Unites 2018, Points of Light’s annual conference on volunteering and service in Atlanta, where leaders from across sectors gathered to discuss social innovation, civic engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

“The Civic 50 truly highlights the commitment of community and civic engagement of America’s leading brands,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “Points of Light believes that people drive change in addressing society’s growing and most profound challenges. The business community plays an important role in creating and delivering innovative solutions that drive social good in the communities where they live and work.”

The Civic 50 honorees are public and private companies with U.S. operations and revenues of $1 billion or more, and are selected based on four dimensions of their U.S. community engagement program including investment, integration, institutionalization and impact.

“The core of Symantec’s business – helping to ensure the security, availability and integrity of our customers’ information – requires a culture of global responsibility,” said Cecily Joseph, vice president of corporate responsibility at Symantec. “We’ve long been committed to using our time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in our local communities, and we are incredibly proud to see our efforts recognized by Points of Light.”

The Civic 50 survey was administered by True Impact, a company specializing in helping organizations maximize and measure their social and business value. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform The Civic 50scoring process. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate involvement in communities.

To learn more about The Civic 50, to see a full list of the winners and to access the highlights, trends, benchmarking data and best practices from the 2018 Civic 50, please visit www.Civic50.org. 

About Symantec

Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC), the world’s leading cyber security company, helps organizations, governments and people secure their most important data wherever it lives. Organizations across the world look to Symantec for strategic, integrated solutions to defend against sophisticated attacks across endpoints, cloud and infrastructure. Likewise, a global community of more than 50 million people and families rely on Symantec’s Norton suite of products for protection at home and across their devices. Symantec operates one of the world’s largest civilian cyber intelligence networks, allowing it to see and protect against the most advanced threats. For additional information, please visit www.symantec.com or connect with us on FacebookTwitter, and LinkedIn.

About Points of Light

Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in more than 200 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages four million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

Tweet me:The #Civic50 honors @Symantec for its commitment to and investment in communities http://bit.ly/2M6dMhc @PointsofLight #socialimpact

KEYWORDS: True Impact, Points of Light, civic 50, Symantec

  

Dell Accelerates Toward 2020 Legacy of Good Goals

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Report Focuses on Sustainable Design and Tech Applications that Improve Human Condition

SOURCE:Dell

SUMMARY:

News summary

  • 37 million people in rural India to receive improved health screenings from cloud-based analytics solution Digital LifeCare
  • 1.2 million students in Ethiopia to have access to technology in three-year period, courtesy of Dell’s partnership with Ethiopian Ministry for Education and Camara Education
  • 73 million pounds of recycled materials used in new Dell products since 2013
  • New e-waste tracking program and 360-degree virtual reality supply chain tour extends Dell’s commitment to transparency
  • Plastic straws to be removed from Dell global facilities, saving 50,000 straws per month in the U.S. alone

DESCRIPTION:

ROUND ROCK, Texas, June 19, 2018 /3BL Media/ –Dell Inc. released its annual 2020 Legacy of Good update today, continuing the company’s long-term commitment to society, team members and the environment. The report summarizes efforts during fiscal year 2018 (Feb. 4, 2017 – Feb. 2, 2018). The report and corresponding activities are rooted in Dell’s acknowledgement of its responsibility to realize a sustainable and prosperous future.

Dell’s purpose as a company is to drive human progress through technology. One of the ways the company brings that to life is through its Legacy of Good commitment – to put Dell technology and expertise to work where they can do the most good for people and the planet. For Dell that means investing in innovation that reduces environmental impact, supports a transparent supply chain, ensures an inclusive future workforce and advances underserved communities.

“The Legacy of Good program reflects what’s possible when people and technology come together with purpose,” said Christine Fraser, Chief Responsibility Officer, Dell. “Our customers, partners and teams care about this work now more than ever, and we will continue to seek innovative ways to deploy our resources, design out waste, celebrate inclusion and address the greatest need.”

Applying technology to the greatest need

As a global business, Dell believes collaboration is the way to address many of the challenges facing the world today. This year Dell, in collaboration with Government of India and Tata Trusts, launched Digital LifeCare, a cloud-based analytics solution that will improve health screenings for nearly 37 million people over the age of 30 in 150 districts across India and help the government track health trends across the country.

Approximately two-thirds of the population in India lives in rural areas, and the Digital LifeCare app allows healthcare workers who do not have medical degrees to see patients and follow interactive modules that ensure all patients receive the same level of care. Full details are available in the report here. It also provides important data for the government of India to analyze health trends across the country.

Sustainable design and innovation

Dell believes transitioning to a circular economy is critical to enable human progress in the future. The company’s deep supply chain expertise, design strategy and global electronics recycling infrastructure puts the company in a unique position to advance a circular model. Dell has pioneered sustainable design innovation in a multitude of areas, including:

  • Closed-loop recycling: In the reported period, Dell brought closed-loop plastics recycling to its enterprise portfolio in Europe, recycling more than 35,000 lbs. of plastic from e-waste into new enterprise products. Global recycling programs including Dell Reconnect, in partnership with Goodwill® Industries, and the Asset Resale and Recycling Services have now recycled more than 20 million pounds of plastics and gold to make new computer parts. Cumulatively, Dell has used 73 million pounds of recycled material in new products since 2013, keeping the company on track to meet a 2020 goal of 100 million pounds.
  • Gold reclamation: At the same time, Dell closed the loop on gold, upcycling used gold from e-waste into new motherboards in the Dell Latitude 5285 2-in-1 and into a jewelry line, The Circular Collection, in partnership with Bayou with Love, founded by Nikki Reed. A Trucost study found the gold reclamation process led by Dell partner Wistron Green Tech has a 99% lower environmental impact than traditionally mined gold. The program received the Best of People’s Choice Award at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
  • Global e-waste tracking: This year, Dell is piloting the use of global tracking technology to monitor the responsible recycling of used electronics. In addition to piloting its own electronic tracking program, Dell has partnered with Basel Action Network to deploy trackers across Dell’s consumer takeback programs. The use of multiple tracking methods enables greater visibility and transparency as Dell looks to ensure compliance with the high standards held for its U.S. recycling partners. Results will be reported in approximately 12 months following the pilot period.  
  • Intercepting ocean-bound plastics: Dell’s XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop ships in packaging made with recovered ocean-bound plastics. The packaging, which received a Best of Innovation Award at CES, will begin shipping on the broader XPS line and commercial product portfolio later this year. To scale the work, Dell in partnership with the Lonely Whale created NextWave, a consortium of companies dedicated to scaling use cases for ocean-bound plastic materials in manufacturing while creating economic and social benefits for stakeholders. NextWave hopes to divert 3 million pounds of plastics over five years, the equivalent of keeping 66 million water bottles from washing out to sea. As part of Dell’s NextWave commitment, the company will remove plastic straws from global facilities.

Investing in a transparent and diverse supply chain

Dell is committed to maintaining an innovative, diverse, ethical and transparent supply chain that ensures good working conditions and a sustainable approach for their suppliers around the world. Highlights include:

  • A new virtual reality experience that allows users to look around an actual supplier factory, see the living conditions for workers at the factory and observe an engagement session featuring customers and workers. The 360-degree videos are available on Dell’s supply chain site.
  • More than $3 billion invested annually with women- and minority-owned suppliers and small businesses in the past six years.
  • More than 200,000 workers in the company’s supply chain are monitored through the company’s weekly working hours monitoring program.
  • In China, Dell has improved its ranking from No. 3 to No. 2 overall in IPE’s Green Choice Alliance’s Corporate Information Transparency Index.
  • Dell publishes reports on key supply chain sustainability topics twice a year, available here.

Enabling the workforce

The only way to ensure that the innovation we put in place today carries through to tomorrow, is by engaging everyone in today’s workforce and ensuring the next generation is equipped with the skills to thrive in an increasingly tech-centric world:

  • The company continues to build a flexible work environment that serves a diverse set of work styles. More than 58% of Dell team members used Dell’s remote work opportunity at least one day per week. The company was also ranked No. 9 on Top 100 Companies with Remote Jobs in 2018.
  • Dell is proud to score a 100 on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for the 14th year in a row.
  • Dell was named a World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere® Institute for the fifth year in a row.
  • Dell’s Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) was 44, when team members were asked how likely they would be to recommend their company as a place to work. The industry has a benchmark of 20 for high-performing companies (Bain & Company).
  • Enabling an inclusive workforce, more than 28% of team members belong to an Employee Resource Group (ERG). Dell hosts 13 groups with 338 chapters across 60 countries.
  • More than 1 million people have gained access to technology and technology skills through Dell strategic giving programs this year. The company has helped a total of 11.2 million people since 2013.
  • Since 2014, $50 million has been committed to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives focused on underserved youth.
  • Dell donated a $650,000 grant to benefit more than 400,000 youth and 3,000 educators in 422 locations in Ethiopia. The entire project, through a partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry for Education and Camara Education, will deliver more than 30,000 PCs to more than 1,000 schools, benefitting 1.2 million students between 2016 and 2019. The $12 million innovation project will also include more than 16 million hours of information and communication technologies education training to more than 3,000 teachers and school leaders.

To learn more about Dell’s commitments, including in-depth case studies and greater details on the company’s goals, please visit www.legacyofgood.dell.com.

Additional resources

About Dell Inc.

Dell Inc., a part of Dell Technologies, provides customers of all sizes – including 98 percent of the Fortune 500 – with a broad, innovative portfolio from edge to core to cloud. Dell Inc. comprises Dell client as well as Dell EMC infrastructure offerings that enable organizations to modernize, automate and transform their data center while providing today’s workforce and consumers what they need to securely connect, produce, and collaborate from anywhere at any time.

CONTACT

Media.Relations@Dell.com

Copyright © 2018 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell, Dell EMC and the Dell logo are trademarks of Dell Inc in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. 

Tweet me:.@Dell shares achievements toward their #2020goals in new #sustainability report http://bit.ly/2K2fLCf #corporateresponsibility

KEYWORDS: Dell, Legacy of Good

Tupperware Brands Associates Stand Together in Honor of Pulse Victims

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Tupperware unites in honor of the LGBTQ+ community

SOURCE:Tupperware Brands

DESCRIPTION:

To honor the two-year anniversary of the tragedy at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the T.E.N. (Tupperware Equality Network) Resource Group engaged associates in honoring the victims and contributing to community healing.

On Saturday, June 9th, many associates participated in the 4.9k CommUNITY Rainbow Run that benefited the OnePULSE Foundation.

Additionally, Tupperware Brands held a Pulse Remembrance event on its campus on Tuesday, June 12, at 9:49am at the Gaylin Olsen Friendship Fountain. Associates lit candles and shared messages of love and hope.

To learn more about Tupperware Brands and how we "do right by others", visit our website.

About Tupperware

Tupperware Brands Corporation is the leading global marketer of innovative, premium products across multiple brands utilizing a relationship-based selling method through an independent sales force of 2.9 million. Product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand and beauty and personal care products through the Avroy Shlain, Fuller Cosmetics, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, and Nuvo brands.

Tweet me:.@TupperwareWW unites in honor of the #LGBTQ+ community on the anniversary of #PulseNightclub shooting http://bit.ly/2JMKMKE

KEYWORDS: Tupperware Brands, Pulse nightclub, orlando, OnePULSE Foundation

    

KitchenAid's 'Day of Caring' Gets Extended to the World

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By Tony Wittkowski

SOURCE:Whirlpool Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Mike Maxwell spent his Wednesday out of the office, caked in mud.

And yet, the global senior category leader for KitchenAid couldn’t have been happier.

Maxwell was taking part in the ninth annual Day of Caring, where hundreds of KitchenAid volunteers ventured out to help several nonprofit organizations for a day.

Read More

Tweet me:KitchenAid brand's recent Day of Caring now extended to entire globe: http://bit.ly/2I1Bvg0

KEYWORDS: NYSE:WHR, whirlpool corporation, KitchenAid, day of caring


American Express Ranks #1 on Fatherly’s List of The 50 Best Places to Work for New Dads

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The 4th annual report celebrates the leading family leave policies of American companies

SOURCE:American Express

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, June 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ –American Express announced today that it has been ranked #1 on the 50 Best Places to Work for New Dads by Fatherly, the leading digital media brand for dads. American Express is one of just 50 companies included on the annual report highlighting the best paternity benefits offered by companies in the United States.

 “American Express is committed to building a culture of health through our leadership, company policies, and work environment – it’s our signature cause,” said David Kasiarz, Senior Vice President, Global Total Rewards and Medical, American Express. “To see that so many of our fathers feel supported in taking their full leave, and have used the time to form even stronger bonds with their families is a wonderful thing.”  

“Since Fatherly began compiling this report we’ve seen companies offering new fathers increasing amounts of paid parental leave. While this is a very promising trend, we wanted to dig even deeper this year to unearth programs that help parents after those first few months,” said Andrew Burmon, Editor-In-Chief, Fatherly. "The companies on this year’s list have clearly demonstrated that they are dedicated to supporting families.”

Together with the nation’s leading experts on family leave and workplace policy advocacy, the National Partnership for Women & Families and The Families and Work Institute, Fatherly evaluated the policies and programs extended to new parents. Additionally, and as a departure from years past, Fatherly’s methodology weighed not only the total amount of paid leave offered for new parents but also recognized exceptional programs that both directly, and indirectly, benefit fatherhood.

American Express provides United States-based regular full-time and part-time employees with 20 weeks of paid parental leave. In addition, to ensure employees feel supported from the moment they decide to become parents through their return to work and beyond, American Express also offers:

  • Reimbursement of expenses up to $35,000 per child, per event with a lifetime maximum of two events per adoption & two events per surrogacy along with legal support;

  • A lifetime maximum benefit of $35,000 for reproductive and fertility treatments, available under the company’s health plans;

  • Parent Concierge Services, providing highly personalized one-on-one support throughout the stages of family planning including the transition back to work;

  • Personal Concierge Services, offering a variety of discounts and helping parents with their to-do lists;

  • Back-Up Care, a program offering quality in-home or center-based child and elder care;

  • A Family Transition Program, providing additional days of back-up child care for a period of time as parents transition back to work;

  • Healthy Babies, a program for expectant parents, providing specialized nurse support & offering incentives for participation; and

  • Flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to work directly with their leaders to determine the best work arrangement for their role.

To be eligible for Fatherly’s list, companies must employ a minimum of 1,000 employees.

To view the full list of the 2018 50 Best Places to Work for New Dads, visit Fatherly.com and follow #Fatherly50Best.

About Fatherly:

Fatherly is the leading digital media brand for dads. Through original video series, deep dive reports, podcasts and events, Fatherly provides its audience with expert-driven tools that empower men to raise great kids and lead more fulfilling adult lives. Visit Fatherly.com, follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check out The Fatherly Podcast here.

About American Express:     

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, InAuth, corporate card, business travel, and corporate responsibility.

Tweet me:Amex is proud to be ranked #1 on the #Fatherly50Best Places to Work for New Dads. http://bit.ly/2tiL7h4

Contact Info:

Jocelyn Seidenfeld
American Express Company
+1 (212) 640-0555
jocelyn.f.seidenfeld@aexp.com

KEYWORDS: NYSE:AXP, American Express, Fatherly

 

In CEO Takeover, Young Woman Shows the Way for Future Women Leaders

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SOURCE:Scotiabank

DESCRIPTION:

One day last October, 18-year-old Sindy Mosquera traded in her role as high school student to become CEO at Scotiabank’s Colombian subsidiary Banco Colpatria, one of Colombia’s largest banks. It was an opportunity that changed her life.

While the experience was a dream come true for Sindy, the global “CEO Takeover” initiative served a larger purpose. For Scotiabank, it was an opportunity to advance two of our key CSR priorities: Diversity and Inclusion and Investing in Young People. For Sindy and girls like her facing barriers to their education, it was a way to send a strong message that girls belong anywhere they aspire to be.

Sending a clear message

The CEO Takeover was part of the United Nations’ 2017 International Day of the Girl and Plan International’s #GirlsBelongHere campaign. Some 600 young women took over top jobs at organizations around the world.

Banco Colpatria CEO Santiago Perdomo says he welcomed the opportunity to show that girls and women can be empowered in their role as leaders.

“Having Sindy take over as President of Colpatria for one day was a way to make girls’ power and potential visible,” Santiago says. “This initiative is a perfect example of Banco Colpatria’s inclusion programs.”

Overcoming barriers

The initiative was also a way for Scotiabank to raise awareness about the obstacles Sindy and other girls face in pursuing their education. Sindy is from Chocó, the largest Afro-Colombian district in Colombia, and one of the poorest regions in the country. Santiago points out that in countries like Colombia, girls are often the most vulnerable group. When resources are scarce, education for girls is not often the priority. “This makes it challenging for girls to go to school and, as a result, many suffer discriminatory practices,” he says.

Access to education is the key to unlocking opportunities, studies show. Women invest 90% of their salary in their family’s well-being which means that there is a multiplier effect from education, helping to break the circle of poverty.

Scotiabank has a long-standing commitment to help youth become the community leaders of tomorrow. The CEO Takeover is just one of many programs Banco Colpatria undertakes to inspire young people to pursue their education, with other financial education programs such Economy of Success reaching more than 1500 young people. All of these efforts give Scotiabank the opportunity to make a difference in local communities while furthering diversity and inclusion within the company.

Raising awareness

During her day as CEO, Sindy sat in on committee meetings, met clients and connected with some of the bank’s prominent female leaders. Equally passionate about math and social justice, Sindy understand that access to education is the biggest barrier for many women who want to be leaders. As a volunteer with Plan International, a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children's rights and equality for girls, Sindy took part in a national discussion forum highlighting girls’ role in peacebuilding. One day she hopes to become an accountant and serve her community.

“Surely this day will inspire hundreds of women in my region who are uncertain about their future due to a lack of opportunities,” Sindy says. “Historically, women have not had the same opportunities as men. This condition is changing thanks to campaigns, such as this one, that raise awareness around gender inequality and help inspire women and girls.”

Giving back to her community

To help support her education and dreams, Banco Colpatria presented Sindy with a new laptop, a one-year scholarship for English lessons and an ongoing mentoring relationship with Bibiana Roa, a female manager in Banco Colpatria’s commercial banking division.

“I feel empowered,” says Sindy of her day as CEO. “I can see myself already working and suggesting ideas to help other girls and empower them.”

Learn more about Diversity and Inclusion at Scotiabank

Tweet me:.@ScotiabankViews impact story: 18-yr old Sindy Mosquera traded in her role as high school student to become CEO at Scotiabank’s Colombian subsidiary Banco Colpatria http://bit.ly/2IClQbg

KEYWORDS: Scotiabank, investing in young people, csr, Future Women Leaders, women in business

Discovery Education and Arconic Foundation Launch ‘Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge’

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Nationwide challenge invites educators to design an in-school experience that inspires the next generation of manufacturing leaders

SOURCE:Discovery Education

DESCRIPTION:

Silver Spring, M.D., June 19, 2018 /3BL Media/– The accelerated advancement of technologies like 3-D printing, robotics and artificial intelligence welcomes a new realm of career possibilities in manufacturing for K-12 students. Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms and Arconic Foundation, the independently endowed philanthropic arm of Arconic, announced today the first-ever Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge. The program calls upon educators to inspire students in grades 3-12 to take the first step toward exploring and pursuing modern manufacturing careers. 

Teachers working alone or in teams will create a video pitch and a written proposal for an in-school experience that will bring manufacturing careers to life for their students, and support them in exploring different career pathways in advanced manufacturing. The winner will receive a $5,000 grant to put the proposal into action at their school.

As manufacturing continues evolve and require new skill sets, employers are in need of qualified workers who are passionate about the industry. The Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge empowers educators to connect classroom-based STEM lessons to enriched, real-world career experiences so that students have opportunities to gain valuable workplace skills prior to graduation.

“Innovation is fundamental to manufacturing and this challenge aims to open students’ eyes to the endless possibilities available to them in advanced manufacturing,” said Arconic Foundation Vice President of Global Communications and Program Development Suzanne van de Raadt. “Teachers foster design thinking and creativity in the classroom that lends itself to innovation. We’re proud to partner with a like-minded organization like Discovery Education to inspire next wave of future manufacturing leaders.”

Written proposals from applicants must include the following:

  • A description of the proposed in-school experience;
  • A description of how a $5,000 grant would be used to implement the experience;
  • Information about the individuals who will plan and host the event;
  • A description of the intended student audience for the event;
  • A list of critical resources, including at least one Manufacture Your Future resource; and
  • An explanation of how the students will benefit from the experience, including how it will inspire them to explore different career pathways in advanced manufacturing.

“Learning experiences that encourage students to imagine unique solutions for their world outside the classroom are those that last a lifetime,” said Discovery Education Vice President of Corporate Education Partnerships at Discovery Education Kristin Hirst. “The ‘Manufacture Your Future’ program embodies our mission to transform learning by partnering with a leading organization like Arconic.”

In the fourth year of the program, the Arconic Foundation and Discovery Education escalate a collaborative effort to inspire the next generation of manufacturing leaders and innovators by introducing the teacher challenge. Through the Manufacture Your Future partnership, Arconic employees will also guide students through the development of 3D printed parts for commercial and space vehicles during a Virtual Field Trip on October 5 in honor of Manufacturing Day.

The Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge opens on June 18, 2018 and closes on October 19, 2018. To learn more, visit manufactureyourfuture.com. For more information about Discovery Education’s digital content and professional development services, visit discoveryeducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education on FacebookTwitter and Instagram @DiscoveryEd.

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.

About Arconic Foundation

Arconic Foundation supports programs that help prepare the 21st century engineering and advanced manufacturing workforce. Arconic Foundation is an independently endowed foundation with assets of approximately $320 million and is the charitable arm of Arconic, Inc. – which works in close partnership with customers to solve complex engineering challenges to transform the way we fly, drive, build and power. Through collaboration with our nonprofit partners, our initiatives make quality STEM education opportunities available to students; support engineering and technical skills training through community colleges, technical schools and universities around the world; and help to create access for underrepresented individuals to the STEM fields. The work of Arconic Foundation is further enhanced by the thousands of Arconic employee volunteers who share their talents and time to make a difference in their communities. Established in 2016, Arconic Foundation is active in 26 countries around the globe.

Contact

Charmion N. Kinder, Discovery Education

Charmion_Kinder@discovery.com

Tweet me:.@DiscoveryEd and @Arconic_Fdn Launch First-Ever Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge: http://bit.ly/2I6Hj84 #ManufactureYourFuture

KEYWORDS: discovery education, Arconic Foundation, Manufacture Your Future Teacher Challenge, 3-D printing, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Points of Light Announces 2018 Honorees of The Civic 50 at Service Unites

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Annual awards initiative honors companies with superior community engagement

SOURCE:Points of Light

DESCRIPTION:

ATLANTA, June 19, 2018  /3BL Media/ Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service announced The Civic 50 honorees of 2018, recognizing them as the most community-minded companies in the United States. Since 2011, The Civic 50 has provided a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcased how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. The Civic 50 were officially recognized at Points of Light’s Service Unites 2018 conference in Atlanta, where thousands of leaders in volunteerism and civic engagement gather to learn and share the knowledge, resources and connections needed to galvanize the power of people to create change globally.
 
“Points of Light believes that people drive change in addressing society’s growing and most profound challenges. The business community plays an important role in creating and delivering innovative solutions that drive social good in the communities where they live and work,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “This year’s honorees of The Civic 50 collectively gave $1.9 billion to their communities, and volunteered for more than 13 million hours in 2018. By focusing on profits and purpose, these companies exemplify authentic leadership in community and civic engagement, reinforcing that employee volunteering benefits our communities, companies and the employees themselves.” 
 
The Civic 50 honorees are public and private companies with U.S. operations and revenues of $1 billion or more, and are selected based on four dimensions of their U.S. community engagement program – investment, integration, institutionalization and impact.
 
The 2018 Civic 50 Honorees
  • AbbVie
  • Aetna
  • Aflac
  • Allstate
  • Altria Group, Inc.
  • AT&T*
  • Banfield Pet Hospital
  • Caesars Entertainment*
  • Capital One
  • CenterPoint Energy
  • Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
  • Citigroup, Inc.
  • Comcast NBCUniversal
  • Comerica Incorporated
  • CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer
  • CVS Health
  • Dell
  • Deloitte
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Dr Pepper Snapple Group*
  • DTE Energy*
  • Entergy Corporation
  • FedEx Corporation
  • Food Lion
  • Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.*
  • General Mills
  • Hasbro, Inc.
  • Health Care Service Corporation*
  • The Hershey Company
  • Hogan Lovells
  • IBM Corporation
  • KeyBank*
  • KPMG LLP*
  • Marriott International
  • MGM Resorts International
  • Motorola Solutions, Inc.
  • PIMCO
  • Prudential Financial, Inc.
  • Raytheon Company
  • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
  • S&P Global
  • Symantec Corporation
  • Tata Consultancy Services*
  • Toyota Financial Services
  • TSYS
  • UnitedHealth Group
  • UPS
  • Valero Energy Corporation*
  • WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
  • Wells Fargo
 
* Indicates a company that is a sector leader.
 Indicates a company that is a Leadership in Volunteerism awardee.
 
 
The 2018 Civic 50 Sector Leaders
  • Consumer Discretionary: Caesars Entertainment
  • Consumer Staples: Dr Pepper Snapple Group
  • Energy: Valero Energy Corporation
  • Financials: KeyBank
  • Healthcare: Health Care Service Corporation
  • Industrials: KPMG LLP
  • Information Technology: Tata Consultancy Services
  • Materials: Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
  • Telecommunications: AT&T
  • Utilities: DTE Energy
 
Key Statistics and Highlights from the Civic 50 2018 Honorees
  • Civic 50 companies are evolving from being supporters to engaging as stewards of social causes. Instead of confining themselves to writing checks or piggybacking off of not-for-profit sector work, Civic 50 companies are involving themselves in all aspects of the social causes which they champion.  
    • In 2018, 70 percent of Civic 50 companies took national leadership positions on four or more public education or policy efforts, an increase from 62 percent in 2017.
       
  • Civic 50 honorees continue to exemplify one of the core tenets of corporate citizenship: “doing well by doing good”. The 2018 honorees demonstrate that integrating community engagement initiatives into business strategy can support business interests. The 2018 honorees are using community engagement to drive key business functions, including employee engagement (86 percent), marketing/PR (78 percent), diversity and inclusion (74 percent), skill development (74 percent) and stakeholder relations (56 percent).
     
  • Leading innovations for purpose at work, Civic 50 honorees have found community engagement as a meaningful and valuable investment to inspire employee changemakers and create a strong culture of giving back.
    • 68 percent of Civic 50 companies include community engagement as a formal component of employees’ performance reviews, an increase from 62 percent in 2017.
       
  • Civic 50 companies understand the importance of impact: to ensure the sustainability and success of their community engagement initiatives, Civic 50 companies are using measurement practices to not only measure quantifiable outputs, but social outcomes.
    • Civic 50 companies are making sure to measure social outcomes as part of regularly implemented data collection. In 2018, 68 percent of Civic 50 companies collected and analyzed data on organizational grants and 42 percent did so for volunteerism.
The Civic 50 survey is administered by True Impact, a company specializing in helping organizations maximize and measure their social and business value, and analyzed by VeraWorks. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform The Civic 50 scoring process. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate involvement in communities. A key findings brief of 2018 findings will be released in summer 2018. For more information, please visit www.civic50.org.
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About Points of Light
Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages five million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org
 
About True Impact
True Impact provides web-based tools and consulting support to help organizations measure the social, financial, and environmental return on investment (ROI) of their programs and operations. For more information, visit www.trueimpact.com
 
About VeraWorks
VeraWorks is a global consulting firm that helps managers and companies offer employees the opportunity to do societal good through their everyday jobs. For more information, visit www.veraworks.com.

Tweet me:Points of Light announces 2018 honorees of The Civic 50 at Service Unites: http://bit.ly/2MH0qsO #Civic50

KEYWORDS: Points of Light, The Civic 50, atlanta

Colorado Businesses Applaud Governor’s Move to Adopt Advanced Clean Car Standards

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Business leaders commend Gov. John Hickenlooper’s leadership in adopting clean car standards, emphasizing statewide economic and environmental benefits

SOURCE:Ceres

DESCRIPTION:

June 19, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Influential businesses praised Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s decision this week to reduce transportation emissions and adopt a program that would put more clean and efficient cars on the road.

The program, known as Advanced Clean Cars (ACC), will boost Colorado’s economy by increasing fuel cost savings, reducing health costs, and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Cleaner, more efficient vehicles help companies like ours cut costs, avoid the volatility of fossil fuel prices, and achieve our climate goals,” the businesses wrote in a letter initially delivered in April to Gov. Hickenlooper. “By increasing the availability of clean vehicles in Colorado, these standards will provide Coloradans with a broad set of positive outcomes and generate significant benefits for our bottom line.”

The letter, signed by Aspen Skiing Company, Burton Snowboards, Clif Bar, New Belgium Brewing, Smartwool, Colorado Ski Country USA and other major companies, highlights the economic benefits clean car standards will bring to the state.

The letter also applauds Gov. Hickenlooper for his leadership on adopting the state’s first electric vehicle plan in January. The plan would put nearly 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030, saving consumers more than $500 million per year in fuel costs. This decision marks an important step forward in ensuring Colorado is able to achieve this ambitious goal while simultaneously creating significant economic opportunity for Colorado’s business community.

“Like many Colorado companies, New Belgium understands the economic and health risks of climate change. That's why we've spent 27 years working to reduce emissions across our operations with investments in on-site solar and biogas generation,” said Steve Fechheimer, CEO at New Belgium Brewing. “Despite those investments, our corporate fleet remains a contributor to carbon emissions and air pollution. Policies that support the uptake of electric vehicles present a significant opportunity for Colorado companies and the entire state, and we are proud to support Governor Hickenlooper in this important decision.”

By adopting the ACC program, Colorado will join 13 other states and the District of Columbia that have already implemented these standards and represent over a third of the U.S. market for cars and trucks. These standards will increase the number of efficient and electric passenger vehicles for sale in the state and provide an important backstop for Colorado against federal rollbacks, ensuring residents and businesses continue to benefit from vehicle fuel savings while keeping Colorado’s air clean.

“At Burton, our success as a business is directly tied to protecting Colorado’s natural resources. Adopting statewide clean car standards in Colorado will ensure cost savings for businesses, employees, and consumers,” said Donna Carpenter, CEO and co-owner, at Burton Snowboards. “The standards will also help Colorado grow its clean energy economy and compete in attracting new investments.”

“Reducing emissions in the transportation sector is critical to tackling climate change,” said Elysa Hammond, vice president, environmental stewardship, at Clif Bar. “Clif Bar is committed to reducing emissions throughout our operations and across our supply chain, and we support the efforts of Colorado’s leaders to encourage the adoption of low and zero emission vehicles.”

Greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector have surpassed those from the power sector in the U.S. cars and light-duty trucks, which would be covered by the ACC program, are responsible for about 60 percent of transportation emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Colorado’s ski industry and outdoor recreation are driving forces of our state’s economy and key indicators of our residents’ quality of life,” said Chris Linsmayer, public affairs director, at Colorado Ski Country USA. “Ski areas across the state have made actions to mitigate climate change a priority because it is crucial to the longevity of our industry. Reducing carbon from transportation emissions is an important step, so we support Governor Hickenlooper’s action.”

“Low and zero emission vehicles will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve Colorado’s air quality — which would benefit our public health, tourism, and the outdoor recreation industry,” said Matt Hamilton, sustainability director at Aspen Skiing Company. “Curbing emissions from the transportation sector is essential to the viability of Colorado’s ski industry and the 46,000 Coloradans the industry employs.”

Tweet me:Business leaders commend @GovofCO for implementing clean car standards that create fuel savings, cut health costs, and reduce emissions -- to the benefit of all Coloradans. #COpolitics https://t.co/Jxdq5Bkq3g

Contact Info:

Helen Booth-Tobin
Ceres
+1 (617) 247-0700
booth-tobin@ceres.org

KEYWORDS: Emissions, fuel costs, colorado, Gov. John Hickenlooper, CERES, Advanced Clean Car Standards

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