Being held at the Miami headquarters of world’s largest travel and leisure company, meeting will feature representatives from leading global conservation organizations to discuss research and initiatives to improve and sustain world's oceans and seas

SOURCE:Carnival Corporation & plc

DESCRIPTION:

January 25, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest travel and leisure company, will welcome representatives from leading conservation, science and sustainability organizations Jan. 26-27 to its Miami headquarters for The Nature Conservancy’s Mapping Ocean Wealth annual forum. Carnival Corporation, in partnership with the Carnival Foundation, awarded a $2.5 million gift over five years in 2014 to support The Nature Conservancy’s work on Mapping Ocean Wealth and global marine protection priorities, and hosting this week’s summit at the company’s headquarters underscores its commitment to a healthy and sustainable environment.

The Mapping Ocean Wealth initiative is designed to create a new kind of knowledge about how and where ocean benefits are produced – and mapping those areas.   Coral reefs and mangroves, for example, provide numerous benefits, including fish production, flood mitigation, erosion control and recreation.  The project will be transformational to ocean management and will improve investments in conservation, restoration and economic development by identifying and mapping the areas where these benefits are produced.

The meeting will also highlight updated research in the areas supporting tourism, the coastal ocean’s CO₂ sequestration capacity and coastal protection specific to coral reefs and mangroves, which are present in ports around the world and whose health is an important environmental priority for Carnival Corporation and its 10 cruise line brands operating in more than 700 global ports.

Along with Carnival Corporation, representatives from The World Bank, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), World Resources Institute (WRI), University of British Columbia, Duke University, GRID-Arendal and others will join The Nature Conservancy at the meeting.

“The Nature Conservancy’s Mapping Ocean Wealth project will identify the most critical areas for public and private action in support of our oceans, as well as help showcase the latest research on issues such as tourism, coastal protection and fish production,” said Elaine Heldewier, sustainability director for Carnival Corporation.  “As the world’s largest cruise company, we have 11 million guests a year sailing with our 10 global brands, and many of our 120,000 employees work and live for extended periods of time on our oceans and seas. So it is a top priority for us to protect and sustain the environment, and supporting leading conservation groups such as The Nature Conservancy and many others underscores our commitment to sustainability. We look forward to two days of learning how new research and specific initiatives can further our joint goals.”

“Our annual meeting will advance the discussion of how ocean habitats benefit us all, and how well-informed conservation initiatives can yield lasting, measurable outcomes,” added Rob Brumbaugh, director of ocean mapping and planning for The Nature Conservancy. “Mapping Ocean Wealth demonstrates what the ocean does for us today so that we can maximize what the ocean does for us tomorrow.”

Supporting the 2016 Mapping Ocean Wealth meeting is the latest example of Carnival Corporation’s ongoing support of The Nature Conservancy. In June 2015 the company announced that its first year of supporting The Nature Conservancy helped the conservation organization further some of its critical preservation activities. Highlights included:

• building new coral nurseries in the Caribbean
• transplanting 20,000 corals in the Bahamas and U.S. Virgin Islands
• installing new pilot reef enhancement structures to provide greater habitat for fish and a potential area for future coral growth in Grenada’s Grenville Bay

Additional information on the Mapping Ocean Wealth forum is available online at http://www.oceanwealth.org, as well as via the official Twitter account @Ocean_Wealth.

Tweet me:.@Carnivalplc to host @nature_org "Mapping Ocean Wealth" annual meeting http://3bl.me/wwme5x #CarnivalCorp #MarineProtection #Environment

Contact Info:

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

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Business & Trade, ocean conservation, Nature Conservancy, marine protection, coral reefs, sustainable environment, fish production, ocean management, Global Sustainable Tourism, Carnival Corporation

SOURCE:VolunteerMatch

DESCRIPTION:

San Francisco, January 25, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Causecast, the most innovative platform for irresistible corporate giving and volunteering programs, and VolunteerMatch, the largest online volunteer engagement network, have launched a groundbreaking partnership to integrate VolunteerMatch functionality into the Causecast software — making thousands of locally relevant volunteer opportunities from over 100,000 nonprofits available to employees all over the world. By bringing VolunteerMatch opportunities into Causecast, companies of all sizes can further diversify their existing volunteer programs to feature volunteer opportunities sourced through VolunteerMatch, Causecast for Nonprofits, and company exclusive opportunities.

“We’re proud of this addition, which builds upon our firm belief in the critical role of cross-sector collaboration,” says Ryan Scott, founder and CEO of Causecast. “We are always seeking ways to make it easier for nonprofits to get access to the resources they need — and for companies to provide the full breadth and depth of their support.”

"As a nonprofit, we have a commitment to expand our social impact," says Greg Baldwin, President, VolunteerMatch. "By opening up our network to great partners such as Causecast, we are making it easier for our 100,000+ nonprofits to find the talented volunteers they need."

Causecast and VolunteerMatch have executed an agreement that makes the new functionality available to Causecast partners immediately. VolunteerMatch is a premium feature on the Causecast platform, and inclusion is optional and available at a low cost, based on the number of users. For more information or to request a demo, visit www.causecast.com/demo or www.volunteermatch.org.

About Causecast

Causecast is the leading cause engagement company for corporations, providing a one-stop modern employee engagement solution for companies of all sizes. Causecast is a true SaaS model that has revolutionized the way companies manage corporate volunteering, donations, matching, and cause campaigns ranging from disaster relief to competitive crowdfunding. The highly interactive, mobile, and social platform leverages social media and automation for sophisticated story capture and to facilitate a culture of giving back within the workplace.

Learn more about Causecast at www.causecast.com, and follow @Causecast.

About VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch believes everyone should have the chance to make a difference. As the Web's largest volunteer engagement network, serving 100,000 participating nonprofits, 150 network partners and 13 million annual visitors, VolunteerMatch offers unique, award-winning solutions for individuals, nonprofits and companies to make this vision a reality. Since its launch in 1998, VolunteerMatch has helped the social sector attract more than $6.8 billion worth of volunteer services.

Learn more about VolunteerMatch at www.volunteermatch.org, and follow @VolunteerMatch.

Tweet me:.@VolunteerMatch & @Causecast Launch Groundbreaking Partnership: http://3bl.me/2tr6s7

Contact Info:

Bree Von Faith
VolunteerMatch
news@volunteermatch.org

Audrey Zigmond
Causecast
audrey@causecast.org

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, corporate volunteering, Partnerships, VolunteerMatch, Causecast

By Carol Baroudi, Arrow Electronics

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

There’s lots of talk about the “circular economy” without a lot of explanation of why we call it circular. We get the idea that we’re closing a loop (a decidedly circular image) and that we’re bringing things back (full circle, as it were). But first it’s important to understand the departure from our current linear economy, which is decidedly one directional. The linear economy extracts raw materials and manufactures new goods with the intention that at the end of their useful life these goods will be discarded. Indeed, profits are frequently driven by supplanting usable goods with the new, improved, faster models that destine these still-useful items to premature obsolescence.

The world’s population is now more than 7.2 billion people (note the increase that occurs in the time it takes you to read this blog). Many of the materials that we use are not renewable – meaning that there’s only so much of them. Take copper, for example. Copper is in great demand in new construction. For these 7.2 billion people, new housing, new office space and new construction in general are needed, and this new construction puts a huge demand on the copper supply critical to wiring. With demand increasing and supplies diminishing, it’s easy to understand that the throw-it-away model is not sustainable.

The circular economy is predicated on the idea that the linear economy must give way to a better model. There’s simply not enough of many materials to support infinite, one-time use when materials are literally thrown away. And a by-product of this model is the creation of mounds of waste with no place to put it. Consumption has to get a whole lot smarter – and so must design. We need to shift the focus back to goods that are built to last and make our goods last longer.

These principles are the core of Arrow’s Value Recovery business. We strive to give IT assets a longer life by repairing and refurbishing them before finding them a new home. For assets past their viable second life, we harvest usable parts before sending recycling-ready commodities to specialized processors, returning everything possible to the manufacturing steam. We are an integral part of the circular economy.

Beyond our day-to-day business, we work with our long-standing partner Close the Gap on an ongoing project we call DigiTruck. The DigiTruck epitomizes the circular economy concept of upcycling – a process where waste materials or products, without being broken down, are used to create something of greater valueor environmental benefit. The DigiTruck is a refurbished cargo container, equipped with solar panels, insulation and refurbished Arrow Value Recovery computers, that can be used as a mobile classroom or clinic. Check out the DigiTruck at an orphanage in Tanzania.

Arrow Value Recovery’s Scott Venhaus and WorldLoop’s Barbara Toorens will be presenting on these very topics at the upcoming 15th International Electronics Recycling Congress IERC 2016 later this month in Salzburg, Austria. Drop me a line at cbaroudi@arrow.com if you’re planning to attend, and I’ll help you connect.

Carol Baroudi works for Arrow’s Value Recovery business promoting sustainability awareness and action. She is the lead author of Green IT For Dummies. Her particular focus is on electronics at the IT asset disposition stage, e-waste, and everything connected. Follow her on Twitter @carol_baroudi and connect with her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carolbaroudi.

Tweet me:A circular economy depends on longer lasting goods. @ArrowGlobal contributes by upcycling technology. http://3bl.me/7vs3t8 @carol_baroudi

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, IERC 2016, circular economy, upcycling, Arrow Electronics, Carol Baroudi

By Andy Cummings, Director, Client Solutions

SOURCE:Versaic

DESCRIPTION:

Can you track your grants with just an Excel worksheet? If the answer is no, you’ve moved to a point where grantmaking needs a grants management system.

Data is how you measure your impact, but access and interpretation are the only way you can make those measurements. The options to put this data to work are growing. What do you need? Here’s the corporate grantmaker’s guide to data.

What your data needs to do

Two basic things:

1. You need to store data and access it.
2. The format of that data should let you track, interpret, and forecast.

Your grants management system should give you the ability to do this without an army of IT professionals. A useful system should also allow you to upload documents for grantmaking packages. You don’t want to have to re-key everything.

In-house or online?

In the past, most grants management systems lived with you on-premise. It was a straightforward purchase with a steep price tag up front. These systems often were Windows-based. Compatibility with Macs or any other operating system was a headache.

The in-house approach also means that your organization handles data backups and software updates. Customization opportunities often came at the sacrifice of online data collection. These systems tend not to be well networked with the Internet.

There’s a growing number of grants management systems hosted online. Your organization contracts to use the software as a service. Your data and the system itself is online with the vendor.

This approach means your organization isn’t responsible for hardware to run the software. Your staff can access the program and your data anywhere there’s an Internet connection. These systems are more friendly to online data collection because the foundation of the system encourages online access. Applications, reviews and reports are created this way.

Keeping up with the back office

Mailings, accounting, payment processing and tax preparation get done by your back office. The data from an online or an in-house grants management system must flow to these functions. If you’re searching for a system now, be sure to pay attention to options for this critical integration.

Stop killing trees!

Grantmakers are moving away from the rule that applications must be on paper. Online proposals do more than save trees—they streamline operations. Not all software systems are moving toward this target at the same rate. So the more accessible and sharable your data is, the better for all areas of your organization.

Preflight checklist

Even simple applications require gathering and reviewing a whole lot of data. Grants management software helps you to manage this process and shrink its scope. The most innovative systems create checklists. Intelligent queries help you to be sure you’ve got all the information you need to consider a grant.

Payments

It’s not just writing a check. Setting up a payment schedule for a grant is often like setting up the original grant requirements. Payments might be incremental. Some are manual while others are direct wires. The beauty of many grants management software packages is that they feature a scheduling module that allows you to automate the payment process.

Your data is your lifeblood

As you consider grants management packages, there’s one thing you should make paramount. Whether it’s on-premises or hosted as SaaS in the cloud, your data is your property. It should be easily sharable, but you need to be able to access it at any time. The hallmark of a quality system is the ability to export your data without relying on the vendor.

Versaic is the only online solution for grants, sponsorship & donation management that works precisely the way you want. With our software and expertise, you’ll save time, gain insights, increase your impact and build your brand. Request your free demo today.

Tweet me:Can you track your grants with just an Excel worksheet? If not... http://3bl.me/chsyst

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Education, Versaic

SOURCE:Benevity

DESCRIPTION:

An oft-quoted statement from acclaimed management consultant Peter Drucker asserts that "culture eats strategy for breakfast." Yet even today, many companies pay more attention to their strategies than their underlying culture, often at the expense of success. That's because many business leaders think that changing corporate culture is near impossible, while shifting a strategy is only a productive whiteboarding session and a new scorecard away.

Yet both data and our experience with Fortune 1000 clients show that an extremely effective way companies can shape their culture to better support strategic initiatives is by strengthening and leveraging their Goodness Programs -- or, rather, their giving, volunteering and other philanthropic efforts. Here's why.

Read more on the Benevity blog...

Tweet me:.@Benevity CEO @bryandelottinville provides insight into shaping #culture from goodness. http://bit.ly/1PxKce6

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility, Culture, workplace giving, millennials, corporate giving, benevity

SOURCE:Medtronic

DESCRIPTION:

Medtronic FY2015 Integrated Report Showcases Economic, Social and Environmental Performance

Medtronic’s FY2015 Integrated Performance Report, “Further, Together” provides a comprehensive view of how Medtronic creates value over time through responsible management of our financial resources, social investments, and environmental impacts.

Financial growth is no longer the sole measure of corporate success. Achieving competitive advantage in today’s global business environment requires strong performance and transparency across several key issues - including global access to care, patient safety, community investment, ethics, employee engagement, responsible sourcing, and environmental sustainability.

The goal of integrated reporting is to provide a more complete picture of how Medtronic creates value by identifying connections between the Company’s financial performance and our social and environmental initiatives which also contribute to sustainable growth.

Investors Seek Transparency and Sustainability Leadership

Medtronic uses the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework to determine the content of our Integrated Performance report.  GRI is the leading framework for corporate sustainability reporting based on input from a wide range of civil society organizations, labor groups, businesses, academics, and other experts.  Using this framework allows Medtronic to fulfill a global expectation around reporting and to have a high degree of transparency around our operations.

In addition to our sustainability reporting, Medtronic’s inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability North American Index for the eighth consecutive year, as well as our continued inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series, reflects the Company’s leadership in corporate sustainability.

Learn more about our FY2015 performance by viewing the complete integrated report.

Tweet me:Medtronic FY2015 Integrated Report Showcases Economic, Social and Environmental Performance http://bit.ly/1iBezqH

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Corporate Social Responsibility, Medtronic, Medtronic Integrated Report, social responsible, Transparency, sustainability, MDT

Improving Operational Effectiveness

SOURCE:Quest Diagnostics

DESCRIPTION:

Workplace safety is a critical business objective. That’s why we train for safety, constantly assess and refine our safety procedures and select the best-rated equipment.

Safety training starts upon hire and is conducted annually thereafter. Employees are taught to listen to their bodies, ensuring that we engage in early intervention and prevent discomfort or pain from becoming an injury. We teach proper lifting techniques and encourage employees to connect with a supervisor if they feel their workstation is in need of adjustment. We also train employees to be aware of their immediate surroundings to reduce the risk of falls.

What’s more, each employee is required to adopt practices that enhance their own health and safety and that of their colleagues—and that help safeguard the environment. This is just one more reason our culture is all about connecting to each other and to our greater surroundings.

Finally, vehicles chosen by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as Top Safety Picks keep our employees safe on the road.

Our safety approaches have helped us reduce our serious (OSHA Recordable) injury rate by 38 percent since 2003. In 2014, we had 706 occupational injuries translating to 1.84 per 100 full-time employees with lost workday cases of 0.41 per full-time employee. Actual lost workdays were 14.55 per 100 full-time employees (this includes days of restricted work activity).

Tweet me:Workplace #safety and #employee training is critical at .@QuestDX http://3bl.me/crrqb4

KEYWORDS: Health, Quest Diagnostics, workplace safety, osha

By Kelly Eisenhardt

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

SASB has announced a new educational program focused on teaching professionals how to identify, manage, and evaluate sustainability topics relevant to the company’s bottom line. This new program is called the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential. 

Nicolai Lundy is the Director of Education for the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) where he oversees SASB’s educational products. His responsibilities include designing value-add educational programs, leading program development, and identifying opportunities to improve existing programs. Currently, SASB offers the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential Level I exam to the public, with most test takers coming from the sustainability and responsible investing fields. Other educational programs, including the FSA Level II exam, are in development—Kelly Eisenhardt

To continue reading, click here

Tweet me:New educational program from SASB provides the fundamentals of #sustainability accounting http://bit.ly/1WBfE0V via @Justmeans #CSR

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Business & Trade, Justmeans, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA), nicolai lundy

by Abhishek Ranjan

SOURCE:CSRwire

DESCRIPTION:

Corporate Social Responsibility is bringing communities and corporations together in ways that will change the future. As boardrooms around the world begin to feels its presence, CSR continues to present a whole host of opportunities and challenges for businesses. This is my foray into some of the key areas that shape the nature of CSR practices. First, the head and the heart – let’s take a look at the role of CSR Management in profiting communities and corporations.   

CSR Management brings together a number of stakeholders across and beyond the organization. In a way, just as the organization needs layer upon layer of specific functionaries, so also, properly executed CSR activities demand a similar level of sophisticated convergence. You also have to take into account the external stakeholders who will play critical roles in ensuring the success of the CSR initiatives. Managing internal and external stakeholders is not so much about a balancing act as it is about a collective vision and mission.

Continue reading on CSRwire >>

Abhishek currently leads Banking Industry Marketing and CSR for Brillio Technology. Abhishek brings with him 10+ years of Marketing and 20+ experience in Social Sector. He was handpicked by his CEO to setup the CSR framework of his company. He started his career with IBM as Business Analyst and later worked for Oracle, where he was credited with setting up the Customer Centers and Industry Relations function in India.

Tweet me:#CSR is bringing communities and corporations together in ways that will change the future http://3bl.me/pn98my @CSRwire

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, csr, Corporate Social Responsibility, Management, CSRwire, Stakeholder, Shareholder

The conference will mark this major milestone with unique programming, including career advancement training, networking opportunities and a forum to discuss real life challenges faced by women professionals

SOURCE:MGM Resorts International

DESCRIPTION:

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 26 2016 /3BL Media/ – The MGM Resorts Foundation today announced that registration is open for the 10th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Hosted by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), the conference is Aug. 8-9, 2016, at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

The two-day event will feature acclaimed keynote leaders; instructional workshops; interview and panel discussions with diverse and nationally recognized speakers; entertainment and more. The conference is open to women of all ethnicities, professions and social backgrounds, locally and nationally, and men who support them.

The conference was first established as the Women of Color Conference in 2006 as a way to provide women from all walks of life with education and development opportunities that specifically addressed the dynamic needs of both emerging and established women professionals.

During the past decade, the conference has grown in size, scope and reputation, drawing sellout crowds in 2014 and 2015. Through dynamic programming and acclaimed speakers, organizers have also established it as a major women’s conference in the Western region. Attendance for the 10^th anniversary conference is expected to surpass last year’s  record.                                                                                                                                       

“That we’ve built such a devoted following demonstrates the need for a conference like this,” said Phyllis James, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for MGM Resorts International. “We’re honored that women in the workforce have come to think of the Women’s Leadership Conference as a must-do, and we strive every year to exceed their expectations.”

The support of programming that advances the lives and careers of women, as well as the local community, is a key initiative for the MGM Resorts Foundation. Currently, women make up 47 percent of the overall U.S. workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, but remain underrepresented in many key leadership positions. At MGM Resorts, women make up over 50 percent of the total workforce, while nearly 43 percent of managers within the company are women, according to 2014 statistics.

The MGM Resorts Foundation donates proceeds from the conference after costs to one or more local nonprofit agencies devoted to the welfare and development of women and girls. WestCare Nevada, a nonprofit community resource dedicated to the welfare of women and children, received a $30,000 gift from the 2014 conference.

The early registration fee for participants is $375 until April 30, after which registration will cost $450. Registration includes the full conference and all workshops and lectures, a networking reception, and continental breakfasts and lunches catered by MGM Grand.  Time is also allotted for attendees to build key professional relationships with other women attending while enjoying the hospitality and entertainment of MGM Grand and other MGM Resorts attractions.

Participating sponsorships are available to organizations or companies who share the vision and goals of this conference.

For more information about the Women’s Leadership Conference, or to register, please visit www.mgmresortsfoundation.org/womensleadershipconference/.

*     *      *

About MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The Company is in the process of developing MGM National Harbor in Maryland and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. The Company also owns 51 percent of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and is developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA Resort and Casino.  For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com. 

About The MGM Resorts Foundation

The purpose of The MGM Resorts Foundation is to collect and distribute monies and assets donated by employees of MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) for the aid and support of qualified community nonprofit programs, agencies or organizations designated exclusively by MGM Resorts’ employees. In addition, the Foundation collects and distributes donations to the Foundation by third-party non-employees to support charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors and organized by MGM

Resorts employees to benefit qualified non-profit charitable organizations designated by the Foundation's Board.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sonya Padgett

MGM Resorts International

702-692-6807

spadgett@mgmresorts.com

Tweet me:MGM Resorts Foundation announces registration for @WLCLV 2016 is open! http://mgmresortsfoundation.org/womensleadershipconference #WomenLead

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, women, MGM Resorts, MGM Resorts Foundation

By The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)

SOURCE:MetLife Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Presented by MetLife Foundation in collaboration with WSJ. Custom Studios, Multipliers of Prosperity takes a look globally at the challenges we face in confronting the issues of financial inclusion. The program dives deep into what’s working, questions what isn’t and finds the possible fixes. Most importantly, the program chronicles the triumphs of people who have taken the steps toward financial stability and the providers who have helped them reach those goals. We explore how financial stability is created, the kind of finance models that have succeeded, and innovative new channels and technology that make for smart solutions. 

India’s financial inclusion campaign has been in the spotlight, winning an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of bank accounts opened in the shortest period of time (over 18 million accounts in the campaign’s first week).

There’s no doubt the campaign is among the most ambitious government-led financial inclusion drives in history, enabling tens of millions to sign up for an account by filling in a simple form and using India’s unique biometric ID system. As of January 31, more than 125 million new accounts had been opened under the program, called Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (Prime Minister’s People’s Wealth Scheme, or PMJDY). These accounts were made all the more appealing by the offer of insurance and overdraft facilities and as a way to receive government benefits electronically. Each account holder also gets a Rupay branded debit card.

To continue reading this article, please click here. 

Tweet me:A report on India's huge strides in government-led #FinancialInclusion program @MetLife Foundation's MoP http://3bl.me/f2vgkb

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, MetLife, metlife foundation, Multipliers of Prosperity, CGAP, India, Financial Inclusion

SOURCE:Wynn Resorts

DESCRIPTION:

“We have no company without our immigrants.” – Steve Wynn

Thousands of workers representing various races and cultures make up the Wynn Family. To aid those seeking citizenship, Wynn offers citizenship classes to employees. Fifty-three employees graduated from these classes in 2015, and each was provided a check in his or her name to cover the Citizenship Application Fee.

One employee to benefit from these classes is senior floral manager Evelyn Herrera. “Just being an employee of Wynn opens so many doors for you throughout Las Vegas and wherever you go. We have traveled to different locations in the United States and the moment people find out we come from the Wynn everything changes,” she says. “Even though I am just the floral manager they welcome me as if I am a representative of Mr. Wynn.”

Steve Wynn addresses the citizenship class with a message of encouragement: “Immigration was at the heart of America’s vitality and strength and confidence to meet almost any challenge, and now you come along I hope with the same sense of hope.”

Tweet me:.@WynnLasVegas values and invests in its #immigrant employees http://3bl.me/8yrwza

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, Business & Trade, Wynn Resorts, immigration, citizenship

Decision Looming

SOURCE:Source Intelligence®

DESCRIPTION:

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was one of the most groundbreaking pieces of legislation to go through in recent years.  Section 1502 states that all SEC publicly traded companies must go through a mandatory due diligence process to confirm their manufacturing materials are sourced, conflict free.  With the third year of reporting upon us in the US, we are looking to the European Union to make their decision on Conflict Minerals.

The EU Conflict Minerals legislation has been in the works for the better part of two years.  Originally, the draft legislation called for a voluntary certification process.  On May 20th, 2015, the European Parliament voted in favor of a mandatory certification process that has the potential to affect 880,000 downstream EU firms.  We have been patiently waiting to hear a final position from the EU on this legislation.  According to an article written in the National Law Review, we are getting close to that decision.  The European Council aimed to have a position on the draft regulation by the end of 2015.  Once the council takes their position, trialogue negotiations (between the EU Parliament, Commission, and Council) will begin and the outcome will be the final decision on the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation.

It is extremely important for companies to stay on top of this legislation.  EU Conflict Minerals regulation has the potential to affect over 880,000 companies, especially manufacturers doing business globally.  If you would like to stay ahead of this crucial legislation, or believe your company may be affected, click here.

Tweet me:EU Conflict Minerals: Are We There Yet? #EUConflictMinerals #responsiblesourcing #sourceintelligence http://3bl.me/4qr4r3

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Business & Trade, Source Intelligence, EU Conflict Minerals, European Union, responsible sourcing, Conflict Mineral Compliance

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Forty-five Action Team Captains from Southern California joined Major Leaguers Trevor Plouffe (Twins), Rob Rasmussen (Angels) and Chad Smith (Rangers) in a project intended to help normalize the lives of troubled veterans and their families.

The ballplayers and high school volunteers from El Camino, Newbury Park and Westlake spent much of Jan. 24 sprucing up a garden – planting vegetables, setting up irrigation and hanging protective netting – at Blue Butterfly Village, a former military base that now serves as a community dedicated to homeless veterans as well as those who have a history of domestic violence or military sexual trauma.

"Giving back to our veterans should always be a priority,” Plouffe said. “When they come home they should feel safe and proud, and that is what the Blue Butterfly Village does for them.”

The community of 73 two-bedroom townhouses, which is operated by Volunteers of America, strives to provide an environment that promotes wellness and independence and offers an array of support services to its residents. The Action Team Captains worked in groups, alternating between the facility’s garden and playground where they played and entertained the veterans’ children.

“This was a memorable event,” said Action Team Captain Matthew, who was the Action Team founder at Westlake High School. “The experience we had helping the children and their families was very rewarding. This has motivated us to begin brainstorming ideas for events that we can put on in our community through the Action Team.”

The day concluded with a Q&A session with the Action Team Captains and Major Leaguers, who stressed the importance of serving the disadvantaged in our communities.

“It was an honor to work alongside the Action Teams and seeing the high school kids out there volunteering their time was great,” Plouffe said. “I'm looking forward to seeing our gardens grow!"

To read more about the Action Team Regional Service projects clickhere.

For more information on the Action Team program, or to #JoinOurTeam please visit www.actionteam.org.

You can follow the Action Team on Twitter and Instagram, too: @_ActionTeam

Tweet me:.@TPlouffe24 @RasmussenRob @ChadSmithDT16 and @_ActionTeam captains assisted troubled #veterans and their families bit.ly/1PBcCdF

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Trevor Plouffe, Rob Rasmussen, Chad Smith, Major Leaguers, Action Team, Veterans, Blue Butterfly Village, community, volunteer, Volunteers of America

SOURCE:The Walt Disney Company

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, January 26, 2016 /3BL Media/ -  This spring, a special Marvel Comics storyline will delve into the trials, perseverance, and eventual triumph of wounded veterans aided and informed by one of the leading non-profit organizations dedicated to these wounded service members – Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP). The upcoming arc of Marvel Comics’ VENOM: SPACE KNIGHTwill take readers through a powerful story that sees Flash Thompson abandon the alien suit, which has afforded him the ability to walk, to receive prosthetic legs.  Writer Robbie Thompson consulted with WWP spokesperson and double amputee Dan Nevins to portray an eye-opening look at the everyday struggles and incremental victories that wounded veterans face as depicted through Flash Thompson’s rehabilitation process in the story.

“Working with Wounded Warrior Project has been an invaluable part of the process of writing Venom: Space Knight,” says writer Robbie Thompson. “Dan Nevins' insight was inspiring, generous and deeply moving, allowing us to create a more realistic character and story for the book. I'm forever grateful for their ongoing help and guidance."

Venom fights the most dangerous threats to the universe alongside Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but now host Flash Thompson is about to encounter his greatest personal challenge to date. He’s breaking free from the alien suit that provides him with not only immense power, but the ability to walk, despite the loss of his legs during the war in Iraq. Flash will face major physical and mental adjustments during the rehabilitation process that other veterans and service members like him go through every day in the real world.

“Marvel’s team has put so much time and consideration into the development of the Flash Thompson character as he faces this physical and emotional battle that many combat veterans have faced and are facing right now,” says Dan Nevins, WWP spokesperson, who consulted on the Venom: Space Knight script. “While the story itself is clearly sci-fi/fantasy, this storyline will bring awareness to the very real struggle of the obvious and not-so-obvious challenges in having lost limbs in combat, and to ultimately showcase the fortitude and resilience of the warriors Flash Thompson represents.”

This storyline continues a tradition of Marvel characters facing real-life obstacles and adversity. In collaboration with Wounded Warrior Project, VENOM: SPACE KNIGHT’s Flash Thompson will overcome co-dependency in the cosmos and navigate through his mobility limitations beginning within VENOM: SPACE KNIGHT #3.

Marvel Comics, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is proud to continue the efforts that Disney has been tirelessly contributing towards to recognize and support those who have provided military service. Disney has hired more than 6,500 veterans since the launch of Disney’s Heroes Work Here program, and an additional 10,000 veterans have found jobs with companies who have attended Disney’s Veterans Institute, a one day no-cost program that helps companies build their own veteran hiring initiatives.

Join Flash Thompson as he sets foot on new and foreign ground, the Marvel Universe’s first ever collaboration with Wounded Warrior Project with VENOM: SPACE KNIGHT #3!

VENOM: SPACE KNIGHT #3

Written by ROBBIE THOMPSON
Art & Cover by ARIEL OLIVETTI
On sale January 27, 2016

To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook. 

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. 

For more information visit marvel.com. 

© 2015 MARVEL

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR ARTWORK PLEASE CONTACT:

Joe Taraborrelli
Marvel Entertainment

jtaraborrelli@marvel.com
212-576-8500

@JoeTabs

About Wounded Warrior Project:

The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

About Disney’s Heroes Work Here

Supporting the U.S. Armed Forces has long been a Disney tradition, and Disney’s Heroes Work Here continues that proud legacy with a companywide initiative to hire, train and support military veterans. Disney introduced the program in March 2012 with a commitment to hire at least 1,000 veterans by 2015. Having exceeded that goal in the first year alone, with 1,300 veterans hired, the company announced in March 2013 that it would create opportunities for another 1,000 former service members over the next two years. To date, Disney has hired more than 5,000 veterans through Heroes Work Here.

Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative also features a public awareness campaign to encourage employers across the U.S. to hire former military service members. The campaign includes the free Veterans Institute workshops, as well as public service announcements highlighting the skills and experience of veterans who work at Disney. The PSAs direct viewers to the White House’s Joining Forces website and have aired across Disney’s media properties including ESPN, ABC and ABC Family, making more than 500 million impressions.

The third component of Disney’s Heroes Work Here initiative is philanthropy. Disney’s philanthropic support of veteran and military organizations has exceeded $1 million since the launch of Heroes Work Here, and through the Disney VoluntEARS program, employees have engaged in several service projects with veterans organizations in communities around the country. To learn more, visit disneyveteransinstitute.com.

Tweet me:Marvel Joins Forces with @WWP to honor U.S. heroes, http://wapo.st/1Qql10s #Disney #HeroesWorkHere

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, Health, Veterans, amputee, Wounded Warrior Project, venom, Disney, Marvel, comic books

SOURCE:Subaru of America

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MacGillivray Freeman Film's National Parks Adventure takes audiences on the ultimate off-trail adventure into the nation's awe-inspiring great outdoors and untamed wilderness when it arrives at the California Science Center on February 12, 2016. The film is produced in association with Brand USA and presented by Expedia, Inc. and Subaru of America, Inc.

To continue reading this article, click here. 

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Through its sponsorship with Brand USA, Subaru will participate in global consumer advertising and film promotions with its extensive retail network. The Subaru "Who we are is what we leave behind" sustainability campaign which highlights Subaru's efforts to reduce landfill waste in the country's national parks will be integrated throughout the film's overall marketing campaign. As the premier vehicle partner of the National Parks Service Centennial, Subaru is working with the national parks on a zero landfill initiative dedicated to significantly reducing waste going into landfills and preserving the parks for years to come.

"We're excited to be involved in this inspiring project," said Alan Bethke, Vice President, Marketing, Subaru of America. "It's a great way to highlight these national treasures and raise awareness of their importance. Working with Brand USA and MacGillivray Freeman Films as a major sponsor of "National Parks Adventure" underlines our commitment to promoting the approximately 400 National Parks Service properties and working with them to ensure that future generations will also be able to enjoy them."

Tweet me:National Parks Adventure takes audiences into awe-inspiring great outdoors, with support from @Subaru_USA http://bit.ly/1JcH0by

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Media & Communications, subaru, America's National Parks, National Park Adventure

by Vikas Vij

SOURCE:Justmeans

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The cruise industry produces nearly one billion tons of sewage every year, apart from consuming several million tons of fuel. If the sewage and exhaust from ships is not treated properly, it can pollute the water and fog the air, resulting in serious health and environmental impacts.

In recent years, cruise lines have recognized the need to support sustainable tourism, and are making a concerted effort to reduce their environmental footprint. Some of them are also helping to promote sustainable practices to a wider group of players in the travel industry.

To continue reading, click here

Image Credit: Flickr via blmiers2

Vikas is a staff writer for the Sustainable Development news and editorial section on Justmeans. He is an MBA with 20 years of managerial and entrepreneurial experience and global travel. He is the author of "The Power of Money" (Scholars, 2003), a book that presents a revolutionary monetary economic theory on poverty alleviation in the developing world. Vikas is also the official writer for an international social project for developing nations "Decisions for Life" run in collaboration between the ILO, the University of Amsterdam and the Indian Institute of Management.

Tweet me:Cruise lines recognize the need to support #sustainable tourism & reduce #environmental footprint bit.ly/1K6XRgf via @Justmeans

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Energy, Green Companies, Cause Global, Justmeans, best practices

By Lucy Berry, AL.com

SOURCE:Boeing

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Originally published by www.al.com on Jan. 21, 2016.

An educational program of the Alabama Center for Sustainable Energy has received a major boost from the Boeing Company.

CEO Daniel Tait said his nonprofit organization's hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program for Madison County students is the recipient of a $15,000 award from Boeing.

Continue reading on al.com.

Tweet me:#Boeing grant supports #STEM renewable energy program in Ala. http://3bl.me/6thqgr

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Energy, Boeing, csr, CSG, energy sustainability, Giving, Alabama

By Tina Morefield

SOURCE:AT&T

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What do you get when you merge AT&T and DIRECTV, two of the nation’s most community-minded companies?   An even greater impact on the communities where we live and work – not to mention a union that will redefine our industry. 

Our shared values – including our commitment to advancing education and fostering a culture of employee volunteerism– make us a powerful match. 

AT&T and DIRECTV employees are already giving back as one family. Recently we teamed up to rebuild a center for neglected children in Miami and beautify an elementary school in downtown Los Angeles.  My favorite part was seeing colleagues meet each other for the first time and begin building new relationships over a can of paint and a shared purpose.    

The possibilities of what we can do together are endless. Stay tuned for what we will do next.

Tweet me:.@ConnectToGood "Together We’re a Powerful Match" http://soc.att.com/1TnJo1y #ATTImpact

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, AT&T, DIRECTV, merge, impact, Communities, union, redefine, shared values, Education, culture of employee volunteerism, employees, family, Los Angeles, School, colleagues, shared purpose, possibilities, Miami

SOURCE:T. Rowe Price

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T. Rowe Price sponsored a Money Confident Kids essay contest with Scholastic, in which kids grades five through eight were challenged to interview a parent or guardian. While the contest was open from August 17 through October 12, 2015, each student wrote a 200-250 word essay about a time their parent or guardian set and achieved a financial goal, connecting that story to financial concepts learned in class like saving and spending wisely.

The students used the essay to share what they learned from the interview and described what lessons they will carry from the story into their own future. Eight hundred fifty kids submitted essays for the contest.

“The purpose was to get parents to talk to their kids about money matters,” says Mark Robinson, vice president and section manager in Corporate Social Responsibility at T. Rowe Price. “We know when parents and kids talk about money it can improve kids' financial behaviors.”

The firm’s 2015 Parents, Kids & Money Survey found that having money conversations with kids may be the single most effective way to teach them about finances. Kids whose parents discussed money with them were more likely to say they’re knowledgeable about managing personal finances, they are smart about investing, and their parents are doing a good job teaching them about money.

The essays were judged on how completely the entrant responded to the essay requirements; their use of financial concepts; and the essay’s construction, spelling, and grammar. Two winners were selected for each of the three prize levels—one each from grades five through six and one each from grades seven through eight—for a total of six winners. In addition to receiving a classroom library of Scholastic books, the winners each received monetary prizes:

• Sixth grader Nathan C. from Omaha, Nebraska and seventh grader Jackson H. from Las Vegas, Nevada won grand prizes of $1,500

• Fifth grader Ellie B. from Fruitland, Idaho and eighth grader Louis P. from Pasadena, Maryland won first place prizes of $1,000

• Fifth grader Aidan R. in St. Paul, Minnesota and eighth grader Emily M. from Gibsonia, Pennsylvania won second place prizes of $500

T. Rowe Price teamed up with Scholastic in early 2015 and will continue its relationship in 2016, creating materials designed to help educators, parents, and volunteers teach and assess student knowledge about basic financial concepts.

Tweet me:850 kids participate in @TRowePrice Money Confident Kids Contest #TRPKids http://3bl.me/a5qygw @PARENTandCHILD

KEYWORDS: Education, Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, T. Rowe Price, Scholastic, financial education, financial literacy, financial literacy award