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Scotiabank Asks a Small Business

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In honour of Small Business Month, this October, we are asking Canadians behind great small businesses about their advice for fellow small business owners.

SOURCE:Scotiabank

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Meet Amanda

Amanda Hamilton runs Amanda Hamilton Interior Design, a Calgary-based interior design business, which works within the residential and commercial market throughout Western Canada. She has also recently launched an e-commerce based business called Palette Archives that provides people with designer-curated materials palettes to help with any home renovation or build.

Amanda says one of the best pieces of advice she has received was from her first client, who encouraged her to face obstacles head on.

“He said, ‘You have to eat problems for breakfast.’ Meaning, if there is an issue you need to immediately call your client or sit your team down. Allowing things to fester is the worst,” Amanda says. “I changed it to, “Eat problems for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” because I think as a small business owner you are constantly managing people’s expectations, putting out fires and negotiating relationships. It’s evolved to the point that now when I sitting down with a client, we talk about our shared expectations from the start of the project.”

Meet Brooke

Brooke Garcia runs 4 Seasons Transportation, a special needs transportation company based in Calgary. Much of their work is focused on helping children, supporting several school districts and government programs. The company has grown significantly since it first started, with a staff of 300.

Brooke says the best advice she has received about running a small business came from her father, who spoke to her about the important of finding work-life balance. It is advice she says she finds helpful as she runs her business, while raising her three kids.

“I consciously work at keeping my focus as a business owner on what’s important. Of course, as an entrepreneur, our business will appear to be what’s most important, when really it’s about having that balance. Because without that balance, it seems like everything falls apart, including your business,” says Brooke.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is provided for information purposes only. It is not to be relied upon as investment advice or guarantees about the future, nor should it be considered a recommendation to buy or sell. Information contained in this article, including information relating to interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change without notice and The Bank of Nova Scotia is not responsible to update this information. All third party sources are believed to be accurate and reliable as of the date of publication and The Bank of Nova Scotia does not guarantee its accuracy or reliability. Readers should consult their own professional advisor for specific investment and/or tax advice tailored to their needs to ensure that individual circumstances are considered properly and action is taken based on the latest available information.

Tweet me:.@ScotiabankViews asks Canadians behind great small businesses about their advice for fellow small business owners http://bit.ly/2ODtC8F #SmallBusinessMonth

KEYWORDS: Small businesses, women in business, Canadians, small business owners, Scotiabank, csr

   


Cisco Employees Donate Their Skills and Their Time

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SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

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This post was written by guest blogger Faith Lin, Community Relations Manager at Cisco.

Pro Bono is a fancy term for donating your unique skill set — as an engineer, program manager, salesperson, and more — to partner with nonprofit organizations and help take their impact to the next level. It’s an opportunity to sharpen leadership skills while also making a meaningful impact in your community or around the world.

Over the past year, employees from Cisco Global Virtual Sales and Customer Success answered the call to “donate your skills, not just your time.”

In honor of Pro Bono Week, we’d like to highlight several pro bono volunteer superstars who used their expertise to help organizations that work every day to impact people, society, and the planet.

Learning Together

John Ellis, Curt Rask, and Ron Brinton chose to help Learning Together, a nonprofit whose mission is to meet the developmental, educational, and health needs of young children of all abilities. The trio not only simplified the organization’s administrative processes — automating processes and tools to enhance volunteer and donor stewardship — but also uncovered an opportunity to connect Learning Together with Cisco technology.

With their background in network security and storage consultation, the group enlisted the help of engineers at Cisco, who enthusiastically joined in on the pro bono activity. Their collective work led to Learning Together receiving a technology grant of Cisco Meraki wireless, switching, and security gear, which will improve the quality of experience for Learning Together staff and supporters.

Watch the team’s video

“My experience with skills-based volunteering was tremendous. In the past, I have always just contributed financially, but getting involved in a project and using my technical and business skills had a much bigger impact on Learning Together and therefore was far more rewarding for me.”

– John Ellis

Inroads Mexico

When Rafael Manjarrez learned of the opportunity to donate his skills, he knew which organization he wanted to partner with — Inroads Mexico. The nonprofit has provided training, mentoring, and employment opportunities to almost 2,000 students from low-income families.

Rafael and his team, including Luis Parra and Antonio Gonzalez, consulted Inroads on its customer success journey. The team’s diverse experience has helped Inroads improve its sales skills, streamline its processes, and integrate Cisco technology like Webex Meetings into its daily operations.

“I feel fulfilled when I use my skills and knowledge to aid nonprofit organizations.”

– Rafael Manjarrez

North Carolina Science Olympiad

North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO), a nonprofit organization with the mission to attract and retain the pool of K-12 students entering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees and careers, was selected to host the 2020 Science Olympiad national tournament.

With his sales background, Gregory Woloszczuk was motivated to help NCSO with their fundraising efforts, as the organization needed to secure US$2 million by early 2019. He created a fundraising guide for Area Directors, collaborated with local media to donate radio and digital advertising, and recruited a team to conduct a Thank-a-Thon for competition volunteers.

“It was great working on a project related to one of my passions — education. I believe with a strong education — especially in STEM — it opens doors and helps people become self-sufficient. Education can never be taken away and is a core building block for future success. It enables people to become all they can be.” – Gregory Woloszczuk


Inspired by these stories? Join Cisco’s culture of giving and volunteer your own time and skills as a Cisco employee. Here’s how:

  • Participate in a Pro Bono Week event near you
  • Reach out to Faith Lin, Community Relations Manager, to discuss how you can contribute your expertise
  • Want to work for a company that gives back? See our open roles here: cisco.com/careers

Tweet me:Employees from @CiscoCSR are donating their skills, not just their time to help organizations that work every day to impact people, society, and the planet. Read the stories of these pro bono superstars here: http://bit.ly/2JcFqZp #WeAreCisco #ProBonoWeek

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:CSCO, Cisco Systems Inc., Pro Bono Week

LG Celebrates “ENERGY STAR Day” with Energy Efficient Upgrades for Local Non-Profit

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SOURCE:LG Electronics USA, Inc.

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LG is committed to supporting local communities and helping others pursue a more environmentally sustainable future.  In honor of “ENERGY STAR® Day” 2018, LG has partnered with Bergen Family Center in Englewood, N.J., to bring much-needed energy efficient kitchen and TV upgrades to support their high quality service to thousands of local children, seniors and families.  We look forward to working with Bergen Family Center on their sustainability journey!

Tweet me:.@LGUS celebrates #ENERGYSTARDay with energy efficient upgrades for local non-profit http://bit.ly/2D0JJqm

KEYWORDS: KRX:066570, LG Electronics, Bergen Family Center, Energy Star Day, Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star

Sodexo Seniors, in Partnership With Connected Living, Introduces New “Smart Living” Program for Senior Living Residents Using Alexa in the US

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With the new smart-tech, Sodexo Seniors enables more social engagement to drive health, longevity and Quality of Life

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

GAITHERSBURG, Md., October 23, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life, is now offering a new “Smart Living” program for senior living residents to easily engage within their community and in the community at large by simply using their voices. The “Smart Living” program integrates Sodexo menus with Connected Living content management systems to allow residents to simply ask Alexa for community information and much more.

The new experience provides residents with Amazon Echo devices which enable senior living residents with voice first, hands free experiences with Alexa, while an Amazon Show tablet provides an easy-to-use dashboard. Residents can ask Alexa questions specific to their community, such as “Alexa, what’s for lunch in the bistro next Friday?” or “What’s on the events calendar today?” Residents can also control smart home devices like lights, thermostats, doorbells and music. Residents are provided with training and support on how Alexa can be used to perform a wide range of functions related to daily living.

Communities nurture connection, continually evolve to offer more

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) are modeled to promote social engagement and interaction. This program fosters greater engagement by making it easier for residents to access events and information, connect with apps and social networks online, and benefit from assistive technology in the event of age-related or other health challenges.

Our research1 emphasizes the need for technologies that help seniors experience the world. Empathy guides our understanding of seniors’ needs. We know seniors often face diminished senses. The ability for senior communities to create connections enhances everyone’s quality of life,” said Bruno Vaquette, Global CEO – Sodexo Seniors. 

The “Smart Living” program through Connected Living platform allows residents to access information in one place and engage in activities inside the community. The technology is a critical bridge for seniors, particularly those with the chronic health issues that come with aging.

Sarah Hoit, CEO of Connected Living added, “These personalized services empower older adults to maintain and create new connections. This easy-to-integrate program is at the forefront of the voice revolution.”

Research is aligned: Social engagement drives health benefits

Experts agree: Social connections make a huge difference in health and longevity.2 Social isolation is linked to a higher chance of having Alzheimer’s disease, which now strikes more than 5.7 million Americans -- a figure projected to triple by 2050. According to AARP’s Loneliness Study3, people who are lonely are more likely to have heart disease and stroke, get immune system problems, and may even have a harder time recovering from cancer.

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About Sodexo North America

Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 72 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. The company employs 150,000 people at 13,000 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $32 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo, visit SodexoUSA.comSodexoInsights.com and connect with us on FacebookInstagramLinkedInTwitter and YouTube.

 

About Connected Living

Founded in 2007, Connected Living, Inc. is a social impact company founded to bridge the “digital divide” between millions of seniors and their families, friends and communities. The company creates transformational technologies that enable people to connect, contribute, and lead healthier lives. To download the Connected Living mobile app, visit https://app.connectedliving.com. Contact: Neil Sullivan at 1-800-223-5080, info@connectedliving.com

Contact: Enrico Dinges, 301-987-4393, enrico.dinges@sodexo.com

Tweet me:.@sodexoUSA, in partnership with @ConnectedLiving, Introduces New “Smart Living” Program for Senior Living Residents using #Alexa in the United States http://bit.ly/2PPH6ux

KEYWORDS: Sodexo, seniors, Connected Living, Amazon, Alexa, OTC:SDXAY

Harnessing the Power of Wind Energy

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SOURCE:General Mills

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Water stewardship. Check.

Sustainable sourcing. Check.

Solar power. Check.

And now, Wind energy. Check.

Climate change is a shared, global challenge and every individual and company must pitch in to be a part of the solution.

At General Mills, our goal is to reduce our energy emission levels by 28 percent by 2025.

One way that we are getting closer to reaching our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals is by signing a virtual power purchase agreement last June with Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, through their 148-megawatt Cactus Flats Wind Facility in Concho County, Texas. Learn about Cactus Flats, in this video.

Today, Cactus Flats is operational, and the wind turbines are spinning, harnessing natural energy.

We are one of 1,600 Green Power Partners that collectively uses more than 50 billion kilowatt hours of green power annually, equivalent to the electricity use of more than 4.6 million average American homes.

“As we help mitigate the impacts of climate change, investing in wind energy is the right thing to do,” says Courtney Andersen, global reliability director at General Mills. “By guaranteeing the price of the electricity produced and receiving the associated renewable energy credits produced by Cactus Flats in return, it will help meet our sustainability goals.”

The wind energy industry is currently one of the fastest growing segments for job creation, adding jobs nine times faster than the overall U.S. economy.

In fact, Cactus Flats employed approximately 400 workers at its peak construction. In addition to its positive impact on jobs and the environment, the Cactus Flats Wind Facility will help supply vital revenue to Concho County’s school and hospital districts, as well as the county government.

The advantages of wind energy development spread far and wide, to benefit local communities, job creation, economic growth and corporate consumers.

We are committed to clean energy, and Cactus Flats is one way we can reduce the environmental impact of energy use.

For more information on General Mills’ climate commitment, visit the 2018 Global Responsibility Report.

Tweet me:#ClimateChange is a shared, global challenge and every individual and company must pitch in to be a part of the solution. As part of their goal to reduce energy emission levels by 28% by 2025, @GeneralMills is harnessing the power of wind energy http://bit.ly/2yv9viW

KEYWORDS: General Mills, Southern Power, Cactus Flats, wind farm, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, climate commitment, NYSE:GIS

    

Rising Insurance Costs May Convince Americans That Climate Change Risks Are Real – Andy Hoffman in the Conversation

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

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One of the great challenges of tackling climate change is making it real for people without a scientific background. That’s because the threat it poses can be so hard to see or feel.

In the wake of Hurricanes Florence and Michael, for example, one may be compelled to ask, “Was that climate change?” Many politicians and activists have indeed claimed that recent powerful storms are a result of climate change, yet it’s a tough sell.

What those who want to communicate climate risks need to do is rephrase the question around probabilities, not direct cause and effect. And for that, insurance is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine,” sensitive to the trends of climate change impacts and the costly risks they impose.

In other words, where scientists and educators have had limited success in convincing the public and politicians of the urgency of climate change, insurance companies may step into the breach.

Steroids and climate change 
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, an environmental scientist who oversaw the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 2009 to 2013, offers a clever analogy to convince people of the connection between the destruction wrought by a single hurricane and climate change. It involves steroids and baseball.

Her analogy goes like this. If a baseball player takes steroids, it’s hard to connect one particular home run to his drug use. But if his total number of home runs and batting averages increase dramatically, the connection becomes apparent.

“In similar fashion, what we are seeing on Earth today is weather on steroids,” Lubchenco explains. “We are seeing more, longer lasting heat waves, more intense storms, more droughts and more floods. Those patterns are what we expect with climate change.”

And those weather patterns come with a cost.

Continue reading here.

Tweet me:READ: With #hurricanes and #naturaldisasters causing insurance rates to rise, will more Americans pay attention to #climatechange? http://myumi.ch/6Qb9g @erbinstitute @HoffmanAndy @ConversationUS

KEYWORDS: university of michigan, Andy Hoffman, Erb Institute, The Conversation, greenhouse gasses, Emissions, Insurance, natural disasters, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Sandy, Earthquakes, wildfires

Scholarship America, Wells Fargo Invite Students to Apply for Disability Scholarships

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Applications accepted through Dec. 6, 2018

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, October 23, 2018 /3BL Media/ – In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) and Scholarship America announce the People with Disabilities Scholarship Program call for applications. In 2016, Wells Fargo committed $1 million over four years to Scholarship America to develop and implement the program. 2018 marks the third year of the program.

The program’s goal is to help people with disabilities obtain the education or training they need to succeed in the careers they choose.

“We are proud to collaborate with Wells Fargo on its People with Disabilities Scholarship Program,” said Robert C. Ballard, president and CEO, Scholarship America.  “All students deserve an opportunity to obtain a higher education. Wells Fargo is helping make that possible for students with disabilities.”

To date, Wells Fargo has donated $500,000 to Scholarship America to help 74 scholarship recipients with disabilities achieve their higher educational goals.

“Working with Scholarship America is just one of many ways Wells Fargo is helping to financially empower people with disabilities so they may reach their educational dreams,” said Kathy Martinez, head of Disability and Accessibility Strategy at Wells Fargo.

Applications for the scholarship program are being accepted online through Dec. 6, 2018, or until 700 applications are submitted. The People with Disabilities Scholarship Program will provide awards of up to $2,500 to qualifying full-time students, renewable up to three years. Awards of up to $1,250 are available to qualifying half-time students and are renewable up to seven years, or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first.

“I am extremely grateful for the scholarship,” said Kyle Hua, a Computer Science major at California State University–Berkeley, who received a $2,500 renewable scholarship for the 2018­–19 school year. “Thanks to the extra funds, I will be able to upgrade my computer and repair my hearing aids. Both will help me succeed with my studies.”

Selection criteria

The selection criteria include academic performance, demonstrated leadership, work experience, a brief statement of career and educational goals and an outside appraisal. Financial need will be considered.

Application process

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Have an identified disability (defined as someone who has, or considers themselves to have, a long-term or recurring issue that affects one or more major life activities).
  • Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent.
  • Be a high school senior or graduate who plans to enroll (or already is enrolled) in full‑time or half-time (at least six credits per term) undergraduate study at an accredited two‑year or four‑year college or university in the U.S. for the entire 2019-2020 academic year.

Applicants are required to complete the online application and provide a current academic transcript.

The online application is accessible for users of all abilities. A dedicated toll-free phone number and email address are available to applicants who need additional assistance.

Each applicant also is required to submit an essay on the question,”What life experiences have shaped who you are today?”

For more information about the scholarships, please visit https://scholarsapply.org/pwdscholarship.

Wells Fargo’s commitment to people with disabilities

Wells Fargo has donated more than $49 million to nonprofits and launched a number of programs since 2005 to help financially empower and employ people with disabilities. Recent program highlights include:

Financial education

Communication Services for the Deaf Learns and Wells Fargo launched an online financial education series for the deaf community available free of charge at to all deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind individuals in the U.S. as well as their teachers and service providers. In addition, National Disability Institute and Wells Fargo released 15 quick financial education reference guides and five disability supplemental guides designed to provide financial educators access to resources and tools specifically for persons with disabilities. The disability-specific financial education materials complement existing Hands on Banking® instructor guides.

Enterprise Accessibility Program Office

Wells Fargo launched an Enterprise Accessibility Program Office. The ultimate goals are for all individuals — customers and team members — to be able to access and utilize
Wells Fargo properties with ease and for the company to go beyond accessible requirements.

Diverse Leaders Program

Wells Fargo hosts an annual Diverse Leaders Program for People with Diverse Abilities, a unique three-day program for team members who identify as individuals with a disability to understand and embrace their strengths, overcome challenges and learn how their differences help them add value as leaders on the company team. 

To learn more about Wells Fargo’s commitment to people with disabilities, please visit www.wellsfargo.com/about/diversity/accessibility/

About Scholarship America

Scholarship America focuses on ensuring ALL students have the opportunity to succeed in their pursuit of higher education.  That mission has stayed the same since the organization’s start in 1958, when 24 students shared $4,000 in scholarships.  Since then Scholarship America has built programs that have distributed over $4 billion and helped more than 2.4 million students as the go-to source for scholarships, emergency aid, mentoring, coaching, financial literacy and more. More information is available at scholarshipamerica.org or by following @scholamerica.

About Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,950 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 37 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 262,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2018 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

 

Media

Lisa Westermann, 415-845-7759
Lisa.b.Westermann@wellsfargo.com
@LWestermannWF

Pam Carlson, 952-830-7310
pcarlson@scholarshipamerica.org
@scholamerica

Tweet me:.@ScholAmerica, Wells Fargo Invite Students to Apply for Disability Scholarships http://bit.ly/2CZEB64

KEYWORDS: disability, scholarships, Accessibility, NYSE:WFC, Wells Fargo & Company, Scholarship America

5 1/2 Things Americans Are Saying About The Arts

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By Timothy J. McClimon, Senior Vive President, Corporate Social Responsibility

SOURCE:American Express

DESCRIPTION:

One of the nonprofit organizations I support and volunteer with is Americans for the Arts, a national advocacy and membership organization. AFTA has recently published its latest public opinion survey on the arts entitled Americans Speak Out about the Arts. The report is based on a nationally representative sample of over 3,000 adults, and it updates a similar study that was conducted two years ago.

According to the survey, Americans are highly engaged in the arts – as attendees, arts makers, art purchasers and arts advocates -- and they believe that the arts promote well-being and help us understand other cultures in our communities. They also support public funding of arts and cultural organizations in their communities, and believe in the critical role of the arts in K-12 education.

Here are five (and a half) things that Americans believe about the arts:

“The arts provide meaning to our lives and unify our communities.”

69% of Americans believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences,” and 81% say the arts are “a positive experience in a troubled world” (this is an increase of 8% from 2015). 72% of Americans believe the arts “unify our communities regardless of age, race and ethnicity,” and 73% agree that the arts “help me understand other cultures better” (an increase of 11% from 2015).

“We enjoy arts experiences in our communities, often in unexpected places.”

72% of Americans attended an arts or cultural event such as the theater, a museum, a zoo or a musical performance during the previous year (up from 68% in 2015), and 70% of Americans enjoy the arts in non-traditional venues such as a symphony in the park, a performance in an airport or exhibitions in a hospital or shopping mall. Art in the parks, public spaces and sidewalks were the most popular places to have an arts experience.

“The arts add value to our communities, but not everyone has equal access to the arts.”

90% believe that cultural facilities such as theaters, museums, sculpture parks and neighborhood arts centers improve the quality of life in communities, and 86% believe that cultural facilities are important to local businesses and the economy. But, only 50% of those surveyed believe that everyone in their communities has equal access to the arts despite the many benefits that the arts bring to individuals and communities.

“We support arts education at all grade levels, and out-of-school experiences are important too.”

91% agree that the arts are critical part of a well-rounded K-12 education, including 61% who strongly agree with only 5% disagreeing. This overwhelming support for arts education holds at all grade levels: elementary school (94%), middle school (94%) and high school (93%). 89% think that the arts should be taught outside the classroom in the community as well.

“The arts help me be more creative, which makes me more successful in my job.”

55% of Americans said that their jobs require them to be “creative and come up with ideas that are new and unique,” and 60% say that the more creative and innovative they are at their jobs, the more successful they are in the workplace. 49% said that they would strongly consider whether a community is rich in the arts when deciding whether to relocate for a job.

“I love to sing in the shower...when no one is listening.”

Nearly half of Americans are personally involved in art-making activities such as painting, singing in a choir, making crafts, writing poetry or playing music. That includes singing in the shower when no one else is around.

Leaders of arts organizations can utilize this vital customer information to design and market programs that appeal to audiences and patrons in ways that are consistent with their beliefs. This is especially true for the issue of equal access to the arts. While 90% of Americans say they are pleased with their community as a place to live, most Americans say that they expect to get closer to “their best possible life” in the next five years. The arts should be a major part of that journey.

Portions of this blog post first appeared on Forbes.com

If you have a comment or question, please follow me on Twitter at @timmcclimon and start a conversation there. Thanks for reading and sharing this blog posting with friends and colleagues.

Tweet me:What do Americans believe about the #arts? @TimMcClimon talks about it in this week's #CSR Now! http://amex.co/csrnow

Contact Info:

Amelia Woltering
American Express Company
+1 (212) 640-7034
amelia.t.woltering@aexp.com

KEYWORDS: American Express, NYSE:AXP


Keep America Beautiful Selects 2018–2019 National Youth Advisory Council

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SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

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STAMFORD, Conn., October 23, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, has selected 11 high school students from across the country to serve on its seventh national Youth Advisory Council. Keep America Beautiful’s National Youth Advisory Council provides a unique opportunity for high school students to participate in a service-learning and leadership development program focusing on environmental stewardship and sustainability.

The members of the 2018-2019 Youth Advisory Council class come from across the nation:

  • Madison Bell, Somerville, Tennessee
  • Caroline Carter, Plano, Texas
  • Conor Dougherty, Cape Coral, Florida
  • Isabella Garcia, Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Alexandria Henson, Cape Coral, Florida
  • Liam Horne, Arlington, Texas
  • Nathan Lissy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • Brian Mecinas, Phoenix, Arizona
  • Lakin Stevens, High Point, North Carolina
  • Christina Weatherford, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Dain Yi, Montgomery, Alabama

The newly-selected Youth Advisory Council members will act as ambassadors for youth service at the local level and will be provided stipends to implement local stewardship service projects. Previously, Youth Advisory Council classes have piloted and developed Keep America Beautiful initiatives that engage students in support of the Keep America Beautiful mission. The class of 2018/2019 will also attend Keep America Beautiful’s National Conference, which takes place Feb. 6-8, 2019, in Baltimore, Maryland.

“Keep America Beautiful’s National Youth Advisory Council provides the members’ local communities an intersectional impact on the way we approach environmental wellness, protection and community improvement,” said Kathyrn Joblon, Keep America Beautiful’s Youth & Education Programs Manager. “In addition to providing the students with an opportunity to foster their interest in community service, our Youth Advisory Council members also serve as our partners in strengthening Keep America Beautiful’s programs and resources to help reach more students nationwide.”

To learn more about Keep America Beautiful’s Education programs, visit kab.org/our-programs/education.

About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Celebrating its 65th Anniversary in 2018, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision.

Behavior change – steeped in education, research and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.

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Tweet me:.@kabtweet is excited to welcome 11 high school students to their 2018 National Youth Advisory Council. Passionate about their local environment, the students have been selected to act as ambassadors of youth service in their communities http://bit.ly/2D0Ibgc #DoBeautifulThings

Contact Info:

Noah Ullman
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3008
nullman@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork

Larry Kaufman
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3014
lkaufman@kab.org

KEYWORDS: Keep America Beautiful, Youth Advisory Council

Booz Allen Convenes DoD, Simulation, Gaming Panelists to Talk VR/AR

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SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) use data science, machine intelligence, and creativity to enable training and planning in a safe environment—without consequences. How is this playing out in battlefield simulations, education, and beyond, and what can we expect in terms of technology—and ethics—in the future? 

On October 4 at The Atlantic Festival, Booz Allen Vice President Munjeet Singh moderated a discussion withAnthony Cerri, retired director of TRADOC Games and Simulations, Amber Osborne, chief marketing officer of Doghead Simulations, and Lucien Parsons, founding director of the Mixed/Augmented/Virtual Reality Innovation Center (MAVRIC) at the University of Maryland.

The summaries of the questions and conversations are below.

What’s the state of VR/AR right now, and how does artificial intelligence (AI) factor in?

The VR of the 1980s, which yielded flight simulators for the Army and Navy, involved $200-million projects. Today, thanks to a few standardized hardware and software platforms and a generation of programmers experienced in video games, simulation, and training, “you can create something meaningful for just a couple of million dollars,” said Parsons.

These projects have been wide-ranging. Osborne and Singh referenced customizable virtual meeting spaces where participants can interact with 3D models and training software that incorporates AI for safer, more efficient, and cost-effective training—such as headsets that track eye movements and adjust simulations accordingly. 

“We’re 25 years from Black Hawk Down,” said Cerri. “Imagine if those pilots had immersive AI displays, with sensor data fed back into algorithms guiding them how to maneuver.”

Where do you see this technology going?

Parsons compares VR to smartphones in 2008: People saw them as a means for getting email on the go but didn’t yet envision the multiple other uses to follow. As businesses and agencies become ready to bring VR into their operations, he envisions augmented applications, such as sonogram overlays that enable doctors to view sonograms while remaining engaged with the patient.

Osborne described haptic gloves (those designed by Haptx) that enable trainees to feel temperature and manipulate objects. Cerri envisions division commanders wearing similarly equipped suits feeding them sensations from the battlefield.

“The biggest barrier right now is the expense of the products,” said Osborne.

Overall, panelists said they anticipated improved modeling speed and fidelity and better distribution. Security is becoming an increased focus as well, as many game development tools weren’t designed for the secure networks of academia or government agencies.

What ethical issues do you see arising—and how should we deal with them?

For Parsons, one priority is helping people distinguish what’s real and what’s not as the technology evolves.

Cerri cited the division of labor between humans and machines. “The current DoD standard is that there’s never a lethal engagement of a robot without a human in the loop. But a growing number of people are challenging this because a robot can limit collateral damage and act more quickly.”

Osborne discussed the importance of education. “We need to get more people into headsets seeing what this technology can do.”

Watch a recording of this and other sessions, here.

Tweet me:Get expert insights on #AR, #VR, and beyond from #TheAtlanticFest @boozallen http://bit.ly/2yvakYP

KEYWORDS: Booz Allen Hamilton, 2018 Atlantic Festival, virtual reality, augmented reality, data science, machine intelligence, simulation, NYSE:BAH

Brown-Forman Recognized With Awards in Employee Engagement, Talent Acquisition, and Human Capital Management

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5 Awards Presented to Brown-Forman in the areas of employee engagement, talent acquisition & human capital management

SOURCE:Brown-Forman Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

LOUISVILLE, Ky., October 23, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Brown-Forman was recently recognized with five awards from Korn Ferry, Talent Board, and Brandon Hall Group in the areas of employee engagement, talent acquisition, and human capital management.

Korn Ferry named Brown-Forman an Employee Engagement Award winner, one of only 52 companies in 47 countries to be recognized. These companies, in the second annual awards program, are chosen based on the largest percentage of positive responses to employee engagement questions in an employee opinion survey administered Korn Ferry. Award recipients are considered “best in class” in employee engagement.

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm that helps clients synchronize strategy and talent to drive superior performance. The study analyzed recent Korn Ferry employee opinion survey data from 530 companies and 3.7 million respondents in more than 60 countries across the globe. The winners are companies that hold one of the top three highest scores within their respective countries of operation, with some countries recognizing four companies in the case of a tie. Learn more at https://engage.kornferry.com/employee-engagement-awards.

Brown-Forman was presented a North American Candidate Experience award by Talent Board. The award recognized those organizations with an exceptional job candidate experience. As one of 65 award winners, Brown-Forman was found to have an exemplary candidate experience according to the candidates themselves. 

Talent Board is a non-profit organization focused on the promotion and benchmark research of a quality candidate experience. More than 200 companies registered to participate in the 2018 North American Awards program, which ultimately collected the thoughts and experiences of over 130,000 job candidates. More information can be accessed at www.thetalentboard.org.

Brandon Hall presented Brown-Forman awards for Best Advance in Custom Content (gold); Best Learning Team (bronze); and Best Candidate Experience (bronze). The 24th annual HCM Excellence Awards recognize organizations that have successfully deployed human capital management programs, strategies, processes, systems, and tools that have achieved measurable results for the company.

Brandon Hall Group is the leading independent research and analyst organization focused on human capital management (HCM) practices. The award entries were evaluated by a panel of veteran senior industry experts and Brandon Hall Group analysts based on how well they fitted the need, were designed and functionally delivered, their innovation, and their measurable benefits. The winners are listed at www.brandon-hall.com.

 “Our HR teams work diligently every day to create an engaging and rewarding experience for all our stakeholders, including our valued people and those looking to join our company,” said Chris Graven, Brown-Forman’s vice president, director, global talent management. “We are humbled and honored that this work has been recognized by such notable organizations.”

******

For nearly 150 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer, Early Times, Chambord, BenRiach, GlenDronach and Slane. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by over 4,700 employees and sold in more than 165 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.

Tweet me:5 Awards Presented to @BrownForman in the areas of employee engagement, talent acquisition & human capital management http://bit.ly/2OJoxvl

KEYWORDS: Brown-Forman Corporation, NYSE:BF-A

Follow the Kit: The Builds

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Las Vegas Sands and long-time partner, Clean the World, have hosted hygiene kit builds every year since 2014.

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

Las Vegas Sands and long-time partner, Clean the World, have hosted hygiene kit builds every year since 2014. The first year, the large volunteer effort brought in a total of 100,000 hygiene kits for populations in need. The kit builds have expanded into a global event in the US, Macao, and Singapore and support the company’s active approach on community relief and disaster preparedness efforts through Sands Cares, the company’s global corporate giving and community engagement program.  

“Each year, we look forward to coming together not only as a company, but as a larger community to bring awareness and help, whether it’s through access to a simple necessity such as soap or in-kind support,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs at Las Vegas Sands. “We have a responsibility to all of the communities where our Integrated Resorts are located worldwide to ensure we are doing our part to help improve the way of life for all members of the community. Our continued partnership with Clean the World has allowed us to become ambassadors in hygiene education and most importantly, has shown us just how much of an impact our efforts make when we work together to find how our own resources and abilities can be of service to the issues that our community members are most vulnerable to.”

Hundreds of volunteers in Las Vegas, Bethlehem, PA, Singapore, and Macao gather together and form an assembly-line style to fill bags with recycled soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion or bath gel, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and an inspirational notecard. The community-wide event welcomes Team Members, families, and the beneficiaries to join in with live entertainment and raffle prizes. Las Vegas Sands properties host the event one day of the year and accomplish their build goals within just a few hours.

The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada partnered with Las Vegas Sands’ Las Vegas properties for their 2018 event to build 20,000 comfort kits and organized a company-wide blood drive. The comfort kits will be provided to victims of home fires or other disasters that might be left without basic hygiene needs. Beneficiaries for the hygiene kits include the homeless, military families, local charities, and families in need across the globe. The annual kit build events also provide financial support to Clean the World. For each kit assembled, Las Vegas Sands contributes $1 to the Clean the World Foundation to accelerate its mission in two critical areas: ongoing hygiene education and disaster response.

To learn more about Sands Cares and Las Vegas Sands' other Corporate Social Responsibility programs, visit the company's website.

Tweet me:@LasVegasSands and @CleantheWorld hygiene kit build events have expanded from the US to Macao and Singapore, supporting #communityrelief and #disasterpreparedness around the world http://bit.ly/2QEqaqE #SandsCares

KEYWORDS: Las Vegas Sands, Clean the World, hygiene kits, American Red Cross of Southern Nevada

From Summer Games Intern to Cybersecurity Pro: Meet Booz Allen’s Katie D’Hondt

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SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, October 2018, Booz Allen is spotlighting women in cybersecurity. This piece profiles Katie D’Hondt, a 2015 Summer Games intern who now supports the firm’s work with the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to joining Booz Allen, Katie worked at the Partnership for Public Service. She is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Michigan.

What do you love about your job?

Every day I have the opportunity to work with and learn from our clients and be supported by a team of incredibly intelligent and dedicated Booz Allen engineers.

How did you get to where you are today?

I met the right mentor at the right time. In graduate school, I tried a class on cybersecurity. It was taught by one of the original contributors to Java and featured guest speakers like security technologist and author Bruce Schneier. I was interested but intimidated. My professor reached out to me and suggested I seriously consider the field.

What advice would you give to others considering a career in cybersecurity?

You can never be ‘too late’ to start learning and mastering a new field. When I started as a Summer Games intern three years ago, I didn’t know I wanted to be in cybersecurity. But I knew about the firm’s training resources. I probably spent about 15 extra hours a week doing online trainings during my first year at the firm, I earned my UMUC cybersecurity technology graduate certificate, and I’ve participated in the Security+ and CISSP training and exams and the ACT-IAC Associates Professional Development Programs. There are seemingly endless opportunities to enhance your skill set at Booz Allen, and at no personal monetary cost.

Read more about Booz Allen’s cyber practice here

Tweet me:Learn more about Katie D’Hondt’s path to #cybersecurity @boozallen http://bit.ly/2ywO1Cd

KEYWORDS: NYSE:BAH, cybersecurity, Booz Allen

CEO Dan Amos Awarded Key to the City in Columbia, South Carolina, for Aflac's Work With Pediatric Cancer Patients

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SOURCE:Aflac

DESCRIPTION:

After a successful delivery of My Special Aflac Duck™ to pediatric cancer patients at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, Aflac CEO Dan Amos was awarded the Key to the City of Columbia, South Carolina, by Mayor Steve Benjamin. He was recognized for his work leading corporate responsibility efforts in Columbia and across the country.

Tweet me:.@Aflac CEO Dan Amos awarded the Key to the City of Columbia, #SouthCarolina after the successful delivery of #MySpecialAflacDuck to pediatric #cancer patients http://bit.ly/2yn6L77 #CorporateResponsibility

KEYWORDS: pediatric cancer, Aflac, NYSE:AFL, Leadership, CEO Dan Amos

INFOGRAPHIC | American Forest Foundation Partnership Extends Conservation Efforts

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SOURCE:Domtar

DESCRIPTION:

Domtar products are part of everyday living for people around the world, and the forests where our products originate are home to a wide range of wildlife. That’s why protecting both habitats and resources is so important to us. Our conservation efforts are a foundational part of our sustainability philosophy of responsibility, efficiency and engagement.

The most recent example of our ongoing commitment to wildlife management and conservation is a new partnership with the American Forest Foundation (AFF). This partnership will help private woodland owners in northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York improve habitats for at-risk bird and wildlife species.

Through these conservation efforts, we hope to increase the number of landowners engaged in active management of their properties, including the long-term production of sustainable wood fiber. We also plan to create, restore and enhance critical bird habitats across the area in a tangible, measurable and ecologically meaningful way.

Our partnership with AFF will help woodland owners implement essential forest practices to create better habitats for iconic bird species, such as the golden-winged, black-throated blue and cerulean warblers. In addition, our conservation efforts will help teach communities how important active forest management is for birds and wildlife.

Other Domtar initiatives that help us promote biodiversity and conservation include the wildlife management plan at our Marlboro Mill, which focuses on helping the mill property support larger, healthier populations of local species like wild turkeys, whitetail deer and waterfowl, and the bald eagle preservation program at our Nekoosa Mill, which has helped protect and increase the local bald eagle population for more than 30 years.

“A core of our business, beyond simply providing quality products, is to ensure that the places in which we source raw materials are healthy and sustainable,” says Paige Goff, Domtar’s vice president of sustainability and business communications. “The American Forest Foundation has been a key partner in bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders who want our forests to be sustainable into the future and have helped establish a partnership that can help us all achieve this goal.”

Other partners in this initiative include the National Audubon Society’s New York and Pennsylvania state programs, Appalachian Mountains Joint VentureU.S. Forest ServiceRuffed Grouse SocietyNational Wild Turkey Federation and other state and local organizations. These partners will focus their work in the Upper Allegheny and Sinnemahoning watersheds, with special attention to the area surrounding Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, near our Johnsonburg Mill.

“Landowners across the Northeast, including New York and Pennsylvania, want to care for wildlife and birds,” says Tom Martin, president and CEO of AFF. “But most need technical assistance and resources to truly make a positive impact. That’s what projects such as the latest AFF-Domtar-Audubon partnership are doing — connecting landowners with trained professionals and guiding them through the right steps toward conservation. Domtar, with its focus on sustainability and innovation, is the perfect partner to help bring this work to life.”

Tweet me:INFOGRAPHIC | The partnership between @DomtarEveryday and the @AmForestFndn enhance the company's #sustainability philosophy of #responsibility, #efficiency and engagement. http://bit.ly/2yGrrGn #conservation #wildlifemanagement

KEYWORDS: Domtar, American Forest Foundation, woodlands, bird habitats, Trees, paper


Washington Post’s Greg Sargent on the American “Uncivil War”

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SOURCE:Sea Change Radio

DESCRIPTION:

It’s election season. To say that the political atmosphere is polarized understates the wormhole into which the US has fallen. We have a president who tells easily disprovable lies without compunction, and a party of elected officials who line up behind him, drafting off his autocratic slipstream. This week’s guest on Sea Change Radio is Greg Sargent, longtime opinion writer for the Washington Post and author of the popular blog, The Plumline. His new book is “An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy In An Age Of Trumpian Disinformation And Thunderdome Politics.” We discuss the mess that is the state of this country’s politics, try to understand one party’s justification for voter suppression tactics, and examine the role of the media in shaping our opinions. Then, we dig into the Sea Change Radio archives to hear from political advisers Becky Bond and Zack Exley who remind us of the many things we can all do to pitch in as the election nears.

Tweet me:This wk's @SeaChangeRadio - @ThePlumLineGS of the @WashingtonPost on the American “Uncivil War” http://www.cchange.net/2018/10/23/sargent/

KEYWORDS: sea change radio, voter suppression, Greg Sargent, Washington Post, The Plumline, Politics, Becky Bond, Zack Exley

Duke Energy Helps Strengthen North Carolina Nonprofits With Over $800,000 in Grants

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SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 24, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Duke Energy is strengthening nonprofit capacity building efforts and supporting other strategic community initiatives by investing $849,000 in 23 organizations across North Carolina.

"At Duke Energy, we recognize nonprofits are critical to the vitality of our communities and health of our natural environment," said David Fountain, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "These organizations must have well-trained professionals leading those efforts. We're proud to help strengthen the nonprofit community in lasting and sustainable ways."

The 2018 grants, from the Duke Energy Foundation, will help enhance professional development, arts, cultural and emergency response training programs, allowing the organizations to continue strengthening and expanding their work within our communities.

"We serve nonprofits throughout North Carolina to help build their capacities and sustainability," said Jeanne Tedrow, president and CEO of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits and 2018 Duke Energy Foundation grant recipient. "We are pleased to partner with Duke Energy to reach nonprofits locally with high-quality, relevant professional development programs."

"The Caswell County Public Library is excited to be awarded funding from Duke Energy to create a STEM Makerspace in our newly expanded library," said Rhonda H. Griffin, library director of Caswell County Public Library. "Without this funding, this new and exciting program, which will be open to people of all ages, would not be possible."

Here is a complete list of the 23 grant recipients and summaries.

The Foundation annually funds more than $33 million to communities throughout Duke Energy's seven-state service area. In 2017, the company donated more than $19 million to nonprofit organizations in North Carolina.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact: 
Candice Knezevic
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy awards grants to NC #nonprofits supporting #professionaldevelopment, #arts & #culture and #emergencyresponse training programs http://bit.ly/2yw5HxC #CSR

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, NC, Arts, Culture, professional development, Emergency Responders

The Path to Affordable Homeownership

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Find out how a nonprofit in Washington, D.C., is revitalizing local neighborhoods and saving residents from displacement, thanks to support from Wells Fargo.

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

In Washington, D.C., available real estate is a rare commodity, and this is especially true in areas east of the Anacostia River. Wards 7 and 8 are considered “the last real estate to develop,” said Bill Winston, chief performance officer of MANNA, Inc., a local nonprofit developer of quality, affordable housing in Washington, D.C. As a result, the area has become more desirable to for-profit developers — and a big concern for the residents living there, he said.

Visit Wells Fargo Stories to watch the video.

“The need to keep Wards 7 and 8 residents from being displaced is huge,” Winston said. “That’s where we concentrate.”

Since it began in 1982, MANNA, Inc. has created and developed about 1,200 homes for low- and moderate-income families, with a mission to revitalize neighborhoods through homeownership. The nonprofit educates first-time homebuyers about the process of buying a home and continuing their success as homeowners through free financial literacy training, peer support, post-settlement support, and other resources.

Since 1999, Wells Fargo has awarded MANNA, Inc. $561,000 in grants to support its homeownership programs and resources.

“Support like Wells Fargo offers is important because it keeps MANNA stable as a nonprofit organization. It allows us to continue to do what we do in homebuyer education and credit counseling and in homeownership opportunities,” Winston said.

Tweet me:Find out how a D.C. nonprofit is revitalizing local neighborhoods and saving residents from displacement, thanks to support from @WellsFargo. http://bit.ly/2yvq1z9

KEYWORDS: Wells Fargo, MANNA, D.C., Wards 7 and 8, affordable housing, non-profit

Microsoft Works to Empower People, Strengthen Communities, and Protect Our Planet

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SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

As Microsoft pursues its mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, there is great opportunity for their customers, partners and company.  With that opportunity comes a great responsibility to society. That is why Microsoft continuously works to apply the power of technology to empower all people, strengthen communities globally and protect our planet. It is also why their policies and business practices are rooted in a commitment to timeless values such as trust, privacy, inclusion, and transparency.  

This commitment not only guides the products and services they develop, but also how they operate around the world. While progress has been made and they have worked to create an impact addressing important societal issues during fiscal year 2018- they recognize there is much work to be done. Microsoft customers, partners, and stakeholders continue to hold the company to high standards. 

Impact at a glance:

Empowering people: Working to help everyone achieve more.  

  • 61 technology companies joined their program and signed the Cybersecurity Tech Accord 
  • $3 billion was spent with minority, disabled, veteran, and woman owned businesses in FY18 
  • More than 12 million young people have been provided with computer science learning experiences through 97 nonprofits in 54 countries
  • 1,000+ technology professional volunteers were paired with classroom teachers to provide computer science education to 13,000 students in 342 U.S. high schools
  • 96 million learners around the world have participated in a Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial since 2015 

Strengthening communities: Advancing social and economic opportunity.  

  • $1.4 billion in software and services have been donated, with a pledge to bring the benefits of the cloud to 300,000 nonprofits in three years
  • $158 million has been donated by Microsoft employees to nonprofits serving our local communities and the world
  • 196,384 nonprofit organizations have been served to date  
  • $30 million in technology and cash donations provided to emergency response organizations and organizations serving refugees  

Protecting our planet: Safeguarding our planet’s most valuable resources.  

  • 100% carbon neutral operations have been attained, and Microsoft surpassed their goal of sourcing 50% of the electricity used by their datacenters from renewable energy sources by the end of 2018 
  • $50 million over five years dedicated to getting cloud and AI tools in the hands of those solving global environmental challenges  
  • 20% reduction in product packaging weight for new devices in FY18  

Microsoft is committed to help customers make informed choices about their products and services and to ensure all stakeholders can evaluate their commitment to corporate social responsibility.  

To learn more about how Microsoft meets their CSR commitments, explore the full 2018 CSR Report at Microsoft.com/CSR

Media Contact:
Microsoft Media Relations

Read the Report

Tweet me:.@Microsoft is committed to timeless values such as trust, privacy, inclusion, and transparency. Read about the impact they have made addressing important societal issues in their 2018 #CSR Report http://bit.ly/2O2yUVV via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: ReportAlert, Microsoft, cybersecurity, Transparency

 

Bacardi Raises the Bar with Distinct Corporate Responsibility Programs

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Achievements in social and environmental initiatives featured in new CR Report

SOURCE:Bacardi Limited

DESCRIPTION:

HAMILTON, Bermuda, October 24, 2018 /3BL Media/ – With its commitments to alcohol responsibility, disaster relief efforts, women’s empowerment, and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and water usage, Bacardi Limited solidified its position as a socially and environmentally responsible leader, as demonstrated in the company’s 2018 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report. As a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, and in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Bacardi’s CR efforts are fueled by its expanded “Good Spirited” platform.

“Being Good Spirited means being responsible in every aspect of our business. This extends across all our offices and manufacturing sites, from how we source our ingredients and the quality of materials used to make our products, to the ways we market our brands only to adults who choose to drink, to our commitment to support and care for our employees and the communities in which we live and work,” says Rick Wilson, senior vice president of Corporate Responsibility for family-owned Bacardi. “Our family values make us a globally conscious and responsible company.”

2017 represented the last year for reporting on the Producers’ Commitments to Reduce Harmful Drinking. During this timeframe, Bacardi, often in partnership with others in the industry and through country-level associations, implemented 44 responsible drinking education programs in 16 countries, and reached nearly four million individuals with underage drinking prevention education. While the five-year initiative has concluded, Bacardi remains committed to continuing the spirit of the five commitments and the 10 action areas, including finalizing new, responsible, and robust industry standards to ensure its digital advertising only targets adults of legal drinking age who choose to drink.

By prioritizing environmentally sustainable practices, Bacardi reduced greenhouse gas emissions intensity 59% over the last 12 years, and improved overall water use efficiency 50% as compared to its 2006 baseline. In addition, less than 1% of waste was sent to landfill in fiscal year 2018, with 11 manufacturing sites achieving Zero-Waste-to-Landfill. It also proudly sources sugarcane-derived products for BACARDÍ® rum in a responsible way – 86% certified by international sustainability nonprofit Bonsucro – and remains committed to eliminating one billion single-use plastic straws by 2020 through its recent collaboration with the Lonely Whale.

In December 2017, the company committed to providing consumers nutritional information about its products, with the launch of its nutrition pages on www.BacardiLimited.com, with plans to continue adding products and global markets to its current lineup. 

GHG

Along with being certified as a Great Place to Work® in the United States, Bacardi was also named among Forbes 2018 World’s Most Reputable Companies for the sixth consecutive time, as part of the annual Global RepTrak® 100 list compiled by the Reputation Institute.

Bacardi continues to invest in its people. Its Women in Leadership program is a company-wide initiative to unleash the potential of current and future female leaders at Bacardi to drive sustainable top and bottom line business growth. A mentoring program for junior employees was expanded to Eastern Europe, and the company increased its support for the S.H.E. Summit in North America. It also kicked off its Spirit Forward program to support women in the hospitality industry. At the end of fiscal year 2018, Bacardi had 36% of leadership positions held by women.

To give back to those in need following the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in September 2017, Bacardi Limited and the Bacardi family committed US$3 million to disaster relief in Puerto Rico and other areas affected by natural disasters, supporting multiple organizations providing relief services and organizing efforts to support those directly impacted. The Bacardi “Emergency Stop & Go” centers and mobile caravans provided distribution of food, water, and critical supplies throughout Puerto Rico. Bacardi remains committed to long-term recovery in Puerto Rico and other areas through its tourism recovery program in partnership with global humanitarian organization, Mercy Corps. Throughout fiscal year 2018, 38 Bacardi offices in 29 countries held volunteer activities to give back to local communities, as part of its annual CR Month initiative. 

“On behalf of the more than 7,000 Bacardi employees, we are proud of our efforts this past year and look forward to what the future holds in our Good Spirited endeavors,” said Mahesh Madhavan, CEO of Bacardi Limited. “As important as it was to our founder more than 156 years ago, Good Spirited runs through our veins. Being a responsible business has long been a mark of distinction of Bacardi, based on a foundation of strong corporate governance, ethics, and CR programs. The company remains committed to be a leader in corporate responsibility in the spirits industry, and we will build upon current initiatives to continue to raise the bar across all aspects of over business moving forward.”

To read more about Corporate Responsibility within Bacardi, check out the complete FY18 Corporate Responsibility Report, which encompasses April 1, 2017 – March 31, 2018, online at www.BacardiLimited.com.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka.

Founded more than 156 years ago, in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi currently employs more than 7,000, operates more than 20 production facilities, including bottling, distilling and manufacturing sites in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow @BacardiLimited.

Tweet me:.@BacardiLimited highlights achievements in social and environmental initiatives in new #CorporateResponsibility report http://bit.ly/2D1KNKK #GoodSpirited

Contact Info:

Abril Barba, for Bacardi Limited
+1 (305) 347-4345
Abril.Barba@bm.com

KEYWORDS: Bacardi Limited, good spirited, United Nations Global Compact

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