SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@CiscoCSR commits to decrease their use of virgin plastic by 20% by 2025. See how Cisco is changing the way they do business to reach this goal: http://bit.ly/2OhCAn2 #sustainability #CircularEconomy

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:CSCO, Plastic, Cisco Systems Inc.

Landmark Financial Health Pulse from the Center for Financial Services Innovation delves beyond headline economic data to reveal people in America are struggling in many aspects of their financial lives

SOURCE:MetLife Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ – The Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI), the nation’s authority on consumer financial health, in partnership with the Omidyar Network, MetLife Foundation, and AARP, today unveiled its inaugural U.S. Financial Health Pulse, the first-ever annual benchmarking survey around a composite financial health framework that provides a holistic look at how people in America manage their finances day-to-day, build resilience, and pursue opportunities over time.

Conducted on an annual basis, the U.S. Financial Health Pulse will provide recurring insights into the changing nature of financial health of people in America--specifically how individuals spend, save, borrow and plan--and will track those financial health measures over time. While many standard economic indicators such as employment and consumer spending data suggest consumers are doing well financially, the individual financial behaviors and household-level data documented in this initial report depict a more sobering reality.

Key findings show:

• Only 28 percent of people in America are considered financially healthy;
• Nearly half of people in America (47%) spent more than or equal to their income in the last 12 months;
• More than a third of all people in America (36%) are unable to pay all of their bills on time;
• Nearly one-in-five Americans (17%) are considered financially vulnerable, and almost half of these individuals (45%) have less than one week’s worth of expenses saved; and
• Nearly a third of Americans (30%) say they have more debt than is manageable.

Uniquely, the U.S. Financial Health Pulse provides deep insights into financial realities such as the lack of short- and long-term savings of people in America. By measuring and then documenting the interconnection between spending, saving, borrowing and planning, the data from this first report show that these financial issues are pervasive, and that despite an overall strong economy, many people in America are struggling.

“The headlines about high employment and steady stock market returns only tell part of the story and fail to highlight the financial reality for the millions of families in America that cannot afford medical care or are worried about putting food on the table,” said Jennifer Tescher, founder and CEO of CFSI. “The U.S. Financial Health Pulse provides a true composite framework for measuring financial health that enables us to look beyond the headlines and better understand the real financial lives of people in America.” 

Additional findings from the first U.S. Financial Health Pulse report include:

• More than half (55%) of people in America are struggling with some, but not all aspects of financial health (Financially Coping);
• A significant share (17%) of people in America are struggling with most aspects of financial health (Financially Vulnerable);
• A quarter (25%) of people in America say that in the past 12 months someone in their household did not receive the healthcare they needed because it was too expensive; and
• Nearly a quarter (22%) of all people in America say they worried about whether their food would run out over the last 12 months.

The inaugural report scores respondents against eight indicators, including bill payment, spending, short-term savings, debt load, insurance, saving for retirement, planning, and credit, to assess whether they are “financially healthy,” “financially coping,” or “financially vulnerable;” the three tiers identified in the report. These initial findings connect to and build upon previous individual data points about financial health to provide a deeper contextual understanding of the state of financial health in America and form benchmarks for tracking progress over time.

The U.S. Financial Health Pulse utilizes advances in data as well as surveys; the next analysis will include customer-level transactional data to provide a unique view into Americans’ financial habits over time^1. The recurring study is designed to give financial services providers, innovators, policymakers and researchers actionable insights and data on the financial lives of people in America that can serve as a blueprint for measuring opportunity and impact year-over-year. Surveys, based on CFSI’s Financial Health   Score, will be fielded annually.

“As access to financial tools continues to broaden, and we turn our focus to improving household financial outcomes, more clarity on the significant financial challenges faced by Americans and their barriers to achieve financial health is needed,” said Tilman Ehrbeck, partner at Omidyar Network. “The US Financial Health Pulse will help us better understand these challenges and back innovators working toward solving them.”

The U.S. Financial Health Financial Health Pulse is made possible through a founding partnership with the Omidyar Network. Additional support is provided by MetLife Foundation, founding sponsor of CFSI’s financial health work, and AARP. The study is conducted in partnership with the University of Southern California Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR). Additionally, CFSI is working with engineers and data analysts at Plaid to collect and analyze transactional and account data from study participants who authorize it.

“MetLife Foundation is focused on solutions to improve the financial health of low- and moderate-income people around the globe,” said Dennis White, president and CEO, MetLife Foundation. “We look forward to seeing how data from the U.S. Financial Health Pulse drives the development of products and services that help people here in the U.S. take meaningful steps toward a more secure financial future.”

Survey results used to develop the U.S. Financial Health Pulse will be made available to academic researchers tracking the financial health of people in America.

 “We know that how people spend, save, borrow and plan for retirement impacts their financial well-being later in life,” said Debra Whitman, executive vice president and chief public policy officer, AARP. “That’s why the U.S. Financial Health Pulse will be an essential tool to help us design policy solutions that will have a real impact on Americans’ lives.” 

For additional findings or more information regarding the U.S. Financial Health Pulse, please visit http://cfsinnovation.org/financialhealthpulse

About CFSI

The Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) is the nation’s authority on consumer financial health. CFSI leads a network of financial services innovators committed to building a more robust financial services marketplace with higher quality products and services, specifically for those who are struggling. Through its Compass Principles and a lineup of proprietary research, insights, and events, CFSI informs, advises, and connects members of its network to seed the innovation that will transform the financial services landscape. For more on CFSI, go to www.cfsinnovation.org and follow us on Twitter at @CFSInnovation.

Media Contacts:

Naomi Adams Bata

CFSI

nbata@cfsinnovation.org

312-881-5847

Stephanie Hicks

Cosmo PR for CFSI

stephanie@cosmo-pr.com 

805-295-9455

Tweet me:Only 28% of People in America are Financially Healthy @CFSInnovation U.S. Financial Health Pulse Report Finds http://bit.ly/2CM0q86 in partnership with @MetLife Foundation

KEYWORDS: U.S. Financial Health Pulse Report, MetLife, Financial Health, NYSE:MET, Center for Financial Services Innovation

Parents who try to get everything on their kids’ wish lists are more likely to go into debt

SOURCE:T. Rowe Price

DESCRIPTION:

“We all want our kids to have amazing and memorable holidays, but there’s evidence that being overly generous has consequences” says Stuart Ritter, CFP®, a senior financial planner at T. Rowe Price and father of three. “Kids may be picking up the wrong lessons from their parents when they don’t have to prioritize the items on their holiday wish lists and make trade-offs. Creating a holiday wish list can be an opportunity to help them understand that even the generous holiday spirit has limits, and we all must make trade-offs.

“Parents who try to get everything on their kids’ wish lists need to keep in mind the financial consequences. They need to ensure that they aren’t taking on additional financial burden at the expense of other goals, such as saving for a vacation, home renovation, new car, their kids’ college, or their own retirement,” says Mr. Ritter.

To help parents have conversations with kids about setting goals and making trade-offs, T. Rowe Price created MoneyConfidentKids.com, which provides free online games for kids; tips for parents that are focused on financial concepts such as goal setting, spending versus saving, inflation, asset allocation, and investment diversification; and classroom lessons for educators.

Holiday Splurging

• Many parents work towards crossing off everything on their kids’ wish lists rather than a budgetary number: 45% of parents agree with the statement, “I try to get everything on my kids’ lists, no matter the cost.”

• Trying to get everything on kids wish lists may have hidden costsfor parents: Parents who try to get everything on their kids’ wish lists are more likely to finance their holiday spending (51% vs. 44%) and say that they have gone into debt to pay for something their kids wanted (48% vs. 26%). They are also less likely to have retirement savings (42% vs. 56%) and more likely to currently have a payday loan (10% vs. 4%).

• Kids may be getting the wrong message from when parents are overly generous: When parents say they try to get everything on their kids’ wish lists, they are also more likely to report that they’ve tried various ways to get their kids to save their money, instead of spending it right away, to no avail (69% vs. 51%). Additionally, they are more likely to admit that their kids spend their allowance as soon as they receive it (56% vs. 38%).

• Nearly half of parents finance holiday spending: 46% of parents use credit cards to finance their holiday spending or have taken a payday loan to cover it. This includes 22% of parents who continue to pay off credit card balances from holiday spending more than six months after the holidays.

• Parents rely on current income and credit cards to cover holiday spending: Parents cite current income (67%) as the most popular way to cover holiday spending. However, credit cards (61%) are a close second, and only 28% of parents who use credit cards for holiday spending pay of their balances in full within one month after the holidays.

• A minority of parents use more costly methods of covering holiday spending: To cover holiday spending, 10% of parents have dipped into their emergency fund, 7% have taken a payday loan, and 4% have withdrawn from retirement savings.

• Most parents concede that they spent more on the holidays than they should have: 59% of parents agree with the statement, “I spent more on the holidays than I should have.” In fact, 48% say, “I never stick to my holiday spending budget.”

• Some parents spend more on themselves than their kids: 15% of parents agree with the statement, “I spent more on myself than my kids”

Promotional Holidays and Online Shopping

• Parents actively take advantage of promotional days: Last year, 72% of parents participated in a promotional holiday, with Black Friday online shopping and Cyber Monday being the most popular (46% of parents participated in each), followed by shopping in stores on Black Friday (38%), Small Business Saturday (11%) and Giving Tuesday (5%).

• Promotional days are associated with splurging: Parents who participated in a promotional day are more likely to say that they spent more than they should have (62% vs. 53%), use credit cards to pay for holiday spending (63% vs. 54%), spend more than $1,000 on the holidays (48% vs. 28%), shop for themselves (54% vs. 36%), and spend more on themselves than their kids (17% vs. 10%).

• Parents wait for the holiday promotions to make big purchases: 80% of parents agree with the statement, “I wait for holiday promotions and deals to make big purchases.”

• Online shopping has increased: The percentage of parents that shop in stores exclusively has dropped significantly from 28% in 2017 to 11% in 2018. More parents say that they shop mostly online, but some in stores in 2018 (43%) compared with 2017 (29%).

• But brick and mortar stores are still relevant: Only 2% of parents said they shop exclusively online in 2018, unchanged from 2017. The percentage of parents that shop mostly in stores, but some online has also largely remained the same between 2018 and 2017 (45% and 42%, respectively).

Saving for the Holidays

• Many parents save for the holidays throughout the year: 55% of parents say that they normally save for the holidays throughout the year, with most holiday savers starting to save mid-year (49%) and many starting right after the holidays (40%).

• More than half of parents spend less than $1,000: 58% of parents say they normally spend less than $1,000 on holiday costs. A minority (19%) say they spend more than $2,000.

MONEY CONFIDENT KIDS is a registered trademark of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc.

About the Survey

The tenth annual T. Rowe Price Parents, Kids & Money Survey, conducted by Research Now, aimed to understand the basic financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of both parents of kids ages 8 to 14 and young adults ages 18 to 24. The survey was fielded from January 16, 2018, through January 23, 2018, with a sample size of 1,013 parents and 1,000 young adults ages 18 to 24. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points. All statistical testing done among subgroups (e.g., those who had financial education vs. those who did not) is conducted at the 95% confidence level. Reporting includes only findings that are statistically significant at this level.

About T. Rowe Price

Founded in 1937, Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: TROW) is a global investment management organization with $1.08 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2018. The organization provides a broad array of mutual funds, subadvisory services, and separate account management for individual and institutional investors, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries. The company also offers a variety of sophisticated investment planning and guidance tools. T. Rowe Price's disciplined, risk-aware investment approach focuses on diversification, style consistency, and fundamental research. For more information, visit troweprice.com or our Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook sites.

Contact Us

Heather McDonold
T. Rowe Price
410-345-6617
heather_mcdonold@troweprice.com

Monique Bosco
T. Rowe Price
410-345-5740
monique_bosco@troweprice.com

Tweet me:.@TRowePrice survey says kids who get everything on their holiday wish lists are more likely to develop spendthrift habits http://bit.ly/2CTOnpt

KEYWORDS: financial education, Money Confident Kids, kids and money, holiday budgeting, holiday deals, holiday shopping, holiday splurging, kids holiday wish lists, T. Rowe Price, NASDAQ:TROW

Making the Choice Simple. Sysco Simply.

SOURCE:Sysco

DESCRIPTION:

HOUSTON, November 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY), the leading global foodservice distribution company, announced today the launch of Sysco Simply, a platform designed to enable our customers to accommodate the growing consumer demand for varied dietary and lifestyle choices. Based on customer insights, feedback and industry trends, the first focus area of Sysco Simply is plant-forward dining; including vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian and plant-based protein products.

“Sysco understands our customers’ need to keep pace with changing consumer preferences and the growing demand and marketability of plant-based products that meet those needs,” said Brian Todd, senior vice president of merchandising, Sysco. “Whether it’s a protein-alternative or better-for-you ingredients, we are committed to providing our customers with innovative, versatile and easy-to-use product solutions.”

Sysco strives to offer the widest range of dietary options for customers to choose from while meeting specific standards with regard to ingredient statements and nutritional labeling. So whether the purpose is to elevate a menu or stay on trend, Sysco makes the choice simple for customers.

“Sysco Simply delivers delicious food options, recipes and nutritional information that reflect preferences towards mindful lifestyles,” said Bill Goetz, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Sysco. “Building on our core values and 2025 Responsibility Goals, Sysco Simply further expands our portfolio of products with health and wellness benefits.”

Currently, there are 1000+ products in the Sysco Simply platform. For more information on Sysco Simply, visit: www.syscofoodie.com/simply.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 67,000 associates, the company operates approximately 330 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 600,000 customer locations. For fiscal 2018 that ended June 30, 2018, the company generated sales of more than $58 billion.

For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. Investors should also follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock and download the Sysco IR App, available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Market. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

Tweet me:Sysco Simply is a platform designed to enable @Sysco customers to accommodate the growing consumer demand for #PlantBased and #vegan products http://bit.ly/2Oeag4U

Contact Info:

Camilla Zuckero
Media and Investor Relations Contact
+1 (281) 899-1839

KEYWORDS: NYSE:SYY, Sysco, Sysco Simply, plant based diet, vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian

SOURCE:Symantec

DESCRIPTION:

We are proud of the progress we have made, and the impact we have had over the last 10 years—even as we continue to embed sustainability practices throughout our company and value chain.

Learn more about Symantec's progress in the 2018 Corporate Responsibility Report.

Tweet me:INFOGRAPHIC: Learn more about @Symantec’s #CorporateResponsibility journey over the past decade http://bit.ly/2OGOn35

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:SYMC, Symantec

SOURCE:FCA US LLC

SUMMARY:

• Pilot program features a digital glucometer with real-time alerts and connections to health care professionals
• Program provided at no charge to salaried employees, retirees and covered dependents
• Represents latest innovation by award-winning employee health and wellness team

DESCRIPTION:

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., November 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ - FCA US today announced it will enhance support for employees, retirees and covered dependents managing diabetes by offering them personalized care and a digital tool to help better manage critical gaps in their diabetes care.

The device provides real-time digital resources to track glucose readings online and share reports with physicians. The unit also links in a pharmacist, diabetes coach and nurse practitioners as part of an extended care team, supported by CVS Health.

CVS Health has partnered with Livongo Health Inc., a chronic condition management company, to offer the device as part of the CVS Health Transform Diabetes Care Program. The digital device will be offered at no cost during the pilot program.

“FCA US is very excited to pursue a pilot program of this enhancement to our benefit offerings for employees, retirees and covered dependents managing diabetes,” Barb Pilarski. Head of Human Resources, FCA US LLC, said.  “We hope to understand whether this program will help members of the FCA US family make intelligent, timely choices to better manage gaps in care that can complicate diabetes treatment.”

Additional features of the comprehensive diabetes program include:

• Real-time phone/text alerts
• 24/7/365 access to a clinical support network when readings are out of range
• Personalized coaching focused on A1C levels, adherence to medication and medication review for side effects
• Easy and timely ordering of diabetic supplies (test strips and lancets) provided at no cost and shipped directly to patients

A record of health and wellness innovation
FCA US is considered among the more innovative companies in the United States in providing health and wellness-enhancing options to employees.

The Company has been recognized for excellence 10 consecutive years by the National Business Group On Health for the innovativeness and comprehensiveness of its employee health and wellness programs that support healthy lifestyles for both employees and families.

Since 1985, the Company’s wellness program has evolved to meet the needs of employees and nurture a culture of health.

Today, FCA US provides a variety of integrated health plans with preventive services. This comprehensive approach to wellness includes online health portals, UAW benefit representatives, a health advocate (RN) for salaried employees, an Employee Assistance Program representative for salaried employees, on-site medical departments, 25 dedicated wellness staff members and fitness centers. 

In addition, the Company’s 15,000 employee headquarters complex features an on-site retail medical clinic and pharmacy.

In July, FCA US dedicated the FCA Family Health and Wellness Center, powered by St. Vincent, in Kokomo, Indiana, a physician-led, primary care clinic that exclusively serves more than 22,000 health care members (employees and family members) in Kokomo and Tipton, Indiana.

The clinic, the first of its kind to be established by a domestic automaker, provides a personalized experience through comprehensive primary care services and wellness programs at no cost for most FCA employees and their families.
 
A serious yet manageable condition
Diabetes is a serious and costly disease, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Diabetes affects more than 26 million Americans and is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of lower-limb amputation, blindness and kidney failure and is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 cause of death in this country.
• Diabetes costs the nation an estimated $245 billion in direct and indirect costs each year.

“While the data tells an urgent story, the most important part of this story is that, with the right support, diabetes is a serious yet manageable condition,“ Pilarski added.
 
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.
 
About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It designs, manufactures, and sells or distributes vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The Company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler Corp., established in 1925 by industry visionary Walter P. Chrysler and Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.), founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA).

FCA is an international automotive group listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FCAU” and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol “FCA.”

Follow FCA US news and video on:
Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol
YouTube: www.youtube.com/fcanorthamerica
Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com

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For more information, please visit the FCA US LLC media site at http://media.fcanorthamerica.com.

Tweet me:.@FiatChrysler_NA Offers Employees, Families Personalized Support and a Digital Tool to Better Manage Critical Gaps in Diabetes Care http://bit.ly/2Ojh7tK

Contact Info:

Mike Palese
FCA US LLC
+1 (248) 512-2682
michael.palese@fcagroup.com

Shawn Morgan
FCA US LLC
+1 (248) 512-2692
shawn.morgan@fcagroup.com

KEYWORDS: FCA US LLC, NYSE:FCAU

Heidi McCabe, Professional Sales Representative at Astellas

SOURCE:Astellas

DESCRIPTION:

After being out of the workforce for a decade to raise my five children, I re-joined the professional world at Astellas as a Professional Sales Representative. Worried that I had been out of the workplace rhythm too long, I was consumed with self-doubt about my professional performance capabilities. I felt guilt that my re-entry into the professional world would take time and attention away from my family. I was confident that I had mastered the mom role, but I was apprehensive about how my skills of running a busy household would translate to a professional job. Even more pervasive, I was unsure if I could handle managing both a career and a family.

Just a few weeks after beginning my employment with Astellas, I was inundated with the expectations of my position. There were deadlines to meet, new computer applications to navigate, tests to take and sales goals to exceed. As my mind scrambled to take in these new responsibilities, I couldn’t help but think of my family. I questioned my abilities to balance both a career and a family, and I soon began to make excuses for myself about the time it would take to master my new position.

During my orientation class, members of the Astellas Leadership team shared personal stories about their career paths. I was particularly drawn to one Senior Executive, who spoke about being a working mother and the personal and professional challenges she faced on her journey to a successful career. She gave a piece of advice that particularly resonated with me - “You don’t have to wait to be successful. You can be successful on day one.” It was so simple, but I immediately felt a shift in my thinking and confidence. I pushed aside the excuses I made for myself out of fear and self-doubt, and began to believe that I was chosen for this role for a reason.

Eight months later, I moved my territory rankings from the bottom ten percent in the nation to the number one spot. Far exceeding my professional goals with my quick success, I soon learned that I could be capable of even more.

Later in the first year of my employment, I attended Astellas’ Women in Action conference, which brought together Astellas women to network, build leadership skills and empower them to succeed. During the event, I heard statistics that underscored the lack of women in corporate leadership positions. The conference speakers emphasized the need for more women to proactively pursue leadership opportunities and not stay stagnant in pursuing higher positions. After the conference, I felt inspired to take more risks in my career.

Since then, I’ve had the chance to participate in various leadership opportunities that have been integral to advancing my professional track, including pioneering a local, Northeast Women In Action initiative to help sustain the learnings from the original conference, being selected as an Area Certified Field Trainer and earning a promotion to Specialty.  In fact, I was compelled to enter my story into a company “call for submissions” to hear from employees about how Astellas’ culture has positively impacted me, personally and professionally. I was selected from over 200 submissions to receive professional "TED-style Talk" coaching and presentation training, and my video debuted earlier this year – check it out here.

Not only do I feel truly humbled to have been given these opportunities, I’m proud to teach my children through example, that having a successful career and being a good mom doesn’t need to be a tradeoff. 

Tweet me:Having a successful #career and being a good mom doesn’t need to be a tradeoff. Hear Heidi McCabe's story as a working mom at @AstellasUS http://bit.ly/2yJfjFC #diversity #inclusion #HR

KEYWORDS: astellas, Working Mother Magazine, Heidi McCabe, work-life balance, Careers

Partnership restores prairie, supports largest monarch migration in 10 years and new revenue model for generating clean, renewable energy

SOURCE:Smithfield Foods

DESCRIPTION:

SMITHFIELD, Va., November 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Smithfield Foods, Inc. is the first food company to participate in a new program with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) to restore key prairie habitat for monarch butterflies, as described in this video. Their efforts are helping bring back the iconic insect, which has experienced a 95 percent population decline since the 1980s and could be listed as a threatened species in June 2019. However, the monarch is currently undergoing what is anticipated to be the largest migration in 10 years.

“We’re excited about the potential of this unique partnership to support recovery of the beloved monarch butterfly and other pollinators that rely on healthy prairie habitat,” said David Wolfe, director of conservation strategies at EDF. “In addition to providing habitat for bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife, this program offers multiple other environmental and financial benefits. The economic savings come from the benefits prairies have for helping hold water and nitrogen in the soil, and reducing potential waste. There are also added revenue opportunities that come from appropriately timed harvesting of the prairie for biomass that can be used for biogas generation of clean, natural gas.”

Attracted to the program’s dual benefits, Smithfield contributed $300,000 to fund the planting of native grasses and monarch-friendly native milkweed and wildflower species on 1,000 acres of land on and surrounding its hog farm in Missouri.

“We recognize that prairie is both an environmental and economic force,” said Kraig Westerbeek, senior director of Smithfield Renewables for Smithfield Foods. “While helping to protect the environment surrounding our farms, prairie is creating a new revenue opportunity as an alternative source of clean, renewable energy.”

Since the 1990s, Smithfield has explored ways to transform hog manure into renewable energy. Smithfield recently announced the nationwide expansion of these efforts through Smithfield Renewables, a platform that unifies, leads, and accelerates the company’s carbon reduction and renewable energy efforts, while helping meet its industry-leading goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2025. In Missouri, the food company has worked with RAE since 2014 to transform manure into renewable natural gas and is now looking to prairie grass as an alternative feedstock, particularly useful during the winter months.

“Generating energy from manure, prairie, or other biomass is pretty simple.” said Rudi Roeslein, founder and president of RAE. “Manure is captured in the underfloor of the hog buildings where scrapers are used to move and flush waste to an anaerobic digester or a covered lagoon, where anaerobic digestion takes place and solids are broken down to release methane gas that is transported to a central processing facility to be converted into renewable natural gas. Harvested prairie is used to supplement hog manure as an alternative source of energy. Prior to harvest, native prairie and cover crops provide an essential ecological service as critical habitat for pollinators and wildlife. This is an exciting new vision for renewable energy production.”

Together, Smithfield, EDF, and RAE are creating a compelling ecological and financial model for the growth and management of native prairie across the agricultural landscape. Ultimately, the unlikely collaborators are working to achieve a more resilient and ecologically diverse agricultural landscape.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield^®, Eckrich^®, Nathan’s Famous^®, Farmland^®, Armour^®, Farmer John^®, Kretschmar^®, John Morrell^®, Cook’s^®, Gwaltney^®, Carando^®, Margherita^®, Curly’s^®, Healthy Ones^®, Morliny^®, Krakus^®, and Berlinki^®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading international nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and our Growing Returns blog.

About Roeslein Alternative Energy

Roeslein Alternative Energy was founded in 2012 as an operator and developer of renewable energy production facilities that converts agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks to renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products. RAE engages in these business operations with a focus on incorporating native prairie restoration. RAE is a limited liability corporation with its principal office located in St. Louis, Missouri. To find out more, please visit www.roesleinae.com.

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Contact:

Lisa Martin

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

(757) 365-1980

lvmartin@smithfield.com

Chandler Clay

Environmental Defense Fund

(202) 572-3312

cclay@edf.org

Tweet me:.@EnvDefenseFund, @SmithfieldFoods and Roeslein Alternative Energy partnership restores prairie, supports largest monarch migration in 10 years and new revenue model for generating clean, renewable energy http://bit.ly/2OgVhY1 #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Environmental Defense Fund, Smithfield Foods, Bring Monarch Butterflies Back in Large Numbers, sustainability, monarch migration, renewable energy

Employee and community collaboration help drive environmental excellence

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

General Motors' Toledo Transmission plant was recently recognized for excellence in environmental stewardship by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This year, the plant was awarded the Platinum Level – the highest-level award from Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence Program (E3)– making General Motors one of five organizations to receive this recognition this year. The E3 Platinum Level recognizes organizations with comprehensive environmental stewardship programs that go above and beyond environmental excellence in their own facility to improve social well-being of the local community and region.

“The GM-UAW Local 14 team is driving real progress toward our goal of reaching a zero emissions future,” said Joyce Arakelian, senior environmental engineer, General Motors Toledo Transmission. “We will continue to engage our communities and share best practices to help make a difference beyond our facilities.”

Below are some key ways companies like General Motors approach environmental stewardship and excellence within and beyond their facilities:

• Invest Efforts in Building a Green Infrastructure. Start with your operations and identify opportunities to drive efficiencies in your manufacturing process – this can be anything from installing solar arrays to investing in alternative sources of energy.  At the Toledo facility, we currently have 1.8-megawatt rooftop solar arrays, which consist of approximately 21,000 panels that power nearly three percent of the facility’s electrical needs.  By the end of 2018, 100 percent of the site’s electricity use will be supplied by renewable energy sources.

• Engage Your Employees.  Employees are increasingly focused on what their company is doing to preserve and protect the environment. Involve employees in the development and implementation of the company’s environmental efforts within the local communities by giving them the tools and opportunities to make an impact – this can go beyond traditional educational resources, such as labelling bins for proper recycling and composting to offering training, mentoring and coaching opportunities. You can also incentivize employees to take active roles in driving positive change by soliciting and implementing ideas to improve operations, as well as recognizing them for their efforts in formal and informal ways. At Toledo, we annually recognize every employee with a gift for their contribution to good environmental stewardship achieved at the site on Earth Day. Employees have received a growing kit and a packet of native flower seeds targeted to support pollinators. 

• Partner with Your Community and Region. Find ways to partner with communities to scale behavior change. Identify like-minded partners in your local communities that can help you achieve your desired impact. For example, the Toledo facility hosts events where employees lead workshops on local water quality testing and watershed education sessions with local elementary schools.

• Foster Industry Collaboration. Make an impact in your own backyard by identifying partners to scale impact and share best practices. In Toledo, we are active in the Green Ribbon Initiative, a regional partnership of conservation groups working together to protect the natural beauty and biological diversity of the Oak Openings region. Through this regional partnership,  the facility entered into an Adopt-A-Natural Area Program agreement with The Nature Conservancy’s Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in 2017, pledging to lead the stewardship activity on approximately 15 acres at Kitty Todd Nature Preserve.

  To learn more about the EPA Ohio recognition, click here. To learn more about General Motors’ sustainability efforts, click here.

Tweet me:Employee & community collaboration drive environmental excellence. Learn what your company can do @OhioEPA @GM #OEPACAC2018 https://bit.ly/2QbW1z4

KEYWORDS: General Motors, EPA Ohio, Toledo Transmission, environmental excellence, biodiversity, NYSE:GM

New partnership, launched through HENRi@Nestlé, aims to utilize Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative in the Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) by sending customised, nutrition based curriculum to parents via SMS and WhatsApp messages

SOURCE:Nestlé

DESCRIPTION:

NAIROBI, November 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Nestlé has partnered with Tembo Education to deliver customised, nutrition-based curriculums to families across Kenya, through SMS and WhatsApp messages. The aim is to help families provide their children with the best possible nutritional start in life by delivering information, tools and tips that could tackle malnutrition and potentially save lives.

The initiative, launched through Nestlé’s open innovation platform - HENRi@Nestlé, forms part of Nestlé’s ambition to improve nutritional levels across the East and Southern Africa region (ESAR). According to joint assessments conducted by Kenya’s County Departments and UNICEF last year, nearly 73,000 children are severely malnourished in Kenya alone.

At the same time, mobile connectivity in the region is increasing rapidly. Technological advancements have meant that phone penetration is as high as 80% in parts of the region, with more than 672 million people across the continent benefiting from 2G services according to Intelsat.

The initiative aims to leverage feature phone connectivity to spread nutritional knowledge in the ESAR. Together with Tembo Education, a social enterprise that educates young children around the world, Nestlé is piloting a programme that uses SMS and WhatsApp messages to educate parents with low levels of nutritional awareness and limited access to information sources.

The programme forms part of Nestlé’s ambition to make 50 million kids healthier by 2030 and will deliver Nestlé for Healthy Kids initiative to over 200 families in the region, targeting parents in particular. This focus stems from research suggesting the importance of parental involvement in the education of young children.

Parents enrolled in the programme will receive frequent customised lesson plans and health tips directly to their phones. Those who successfully disseminate the lessons to their children are rewarded with various incentives, including free data for their mobile phones. After the pilot, the programme aims to expand to a further six countries in the region.

Phil Michaels, Founder and CEO, Tembo Education said: “Tembo’s aim is simple – to reach every parent in the world with a mobile phone. Mobile is without a doubt the most utilised communication platform in the world – it’s only right that organisations start to use the platform to reach those who need help the most. In no area is this more critical, than in the education of the region’s young children. Parents need to be involved in their children’s education – the mobile is the perfect portal to enable them to do so.”

James Ojambo, Project lead, Nestlé said: “We believe this project is a real step forward in realising our joint goal of making 50 million healthier kids by 2030. With the Kenyan Ministry of Education’s support, the partnership is only likely to grow and we would love Tembo Education to one day become a staple part of a national curriculum. The future is exciting and we can’t wait to see how the project progresses.”

Gerardo Mazzeo, Global Innovation Director at Nestlé, said: “We’re continuously on the lookout for innovative and creative partners to help us tackle some of the world’s biggest health, wellness and sustainability issues. By opening our objective up to external partners, we were able to draw on the fantastic talent and knowledge of the outside world. Together with Tembo Education, we’ve identified a potential solution to a challenge of real magnitude and we’re excited about what the initiative could achieve for the region. Combining Tembo's educational capabilities with our scale and reach, we're confident that we're going to improve health - and ultimately lives - across the region.”

Optimising cellular connectivity to help solve some of the world’s sustainability and wellness challenges has formed a key part of some of HENRi@Nestlé’s recent efforts. Last year, HENRi and Nespresso launched ‘Connected farms’ with US-based startup, Kakaxi. Streaming video via SIM card, the project uses online portals and live video streams to connect consumers directly with their farmers in Colombia – increasing transparency of supply chains and raising the profile of sustainability initiatives. 

About HENRi@Nestlé

HENRi@Nestlé is an open innovation platform where Nestlé partners with companies to create innovative, high-potential solutions in response to brand and business challenges. The platform is part of a wider group of innovation initiatives at Nestlé known as NEXT. It is named after Nestlé’s founder Henri Nestlé, a pioneer and entrepreneur who was motivated by the challenges and the needs of the society he was living in.

The HENRi platform offers real business opportunities for companies to collaborate with Nestlé on product innovation, sustainability initiatives, creative brand campaigns and more. Selected companies receive $50,000 and senior business support to fund pilots to bring their products and ideas to individuals and families. For entrepreneurs, it starts with a simple click. Visit henri.nestle.com to start working on projects that matter.

HENRi@Nestlé Media Contacts:
Beau Bass
Account Manager
+44 (0) 20 7067 0765 
beau.bass@webershandwick.com

Tweet me:.@Nestle partners with @TemboEducation to drive greater nutritional awareness in East Africa http://bit.ly/2Okwp1h

KEYWORDS: Nestle, Tembo Education, Henri@Nestlé, East Africa, Nestlé for Healthy Kids

SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

AEG’s LA Kings and Blue Shield of California teamed up to host a Halloween Party at the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday, October 30. Throughout the afternoon, volunteers from the Kings and Blue Shield of California – including LA Kings center Nate Thompson and his wife Sydney –  prepared and distributed gift bags, decorated cookies with guests, led Halloween-themed arts and crafts and played a lively game of ball hockey.

The event was part of the LA Kings G.O.A.L.S., a character building and wellness program in partnership with Blue Shield of California, which equips children in Los Angeles with the practical skills and tools they need to lead healthy lives.

About the Kings Care Foundation
Since 1996, the Kings Care Foundation (federal tax ID # 95-4443065) has donated over $13 million in monetary and in-kind support to the local Los Angeles community. The award-winning charity of the LA Kings focuses its community outreach efforts on enhancing education, recreation and health-related programs for children and improving conditions as it relates to animal welfare and sustainability practices. For more information on the Kings Care Foundation, please visit lakings.com/kingscare

Tweet me:AEG’s @LAKings team up with @BlueShieldCA to host a #spooktacular #Halloween party at @LosAngelesRMH! http://bit.ly/2Js9xwh

KEYWORDS: AEG, LA Kings, LA Kings GOALS, Blue Shield of California, Ronald McDonald House, Halloween

SOURCE:Mohawk Industries

DESCRIPTION:

CALHOUN, Ga., November 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ —The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the recipients of its 2018 Leadership Awards, an annual recognition of the outstanding individuals and organizations at the forefront of the green building movement. George Bandy Jr., Mohawk Industries vice president of sustainability and commercial marketing, will join five other distinguished honorees, including global apparel retailer NIKE, for the USGBC Leadership Awards Reception on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Individuals and organizations representing diverse expertise from across the green building industry will be celebrated in tandem with the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo.

“George has been an invaluable partner of USGBC’s for more than two decades, working tirelessly to champion green building, set the standard for other businesses to follow and push the market forward,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. “George has dedicated his entire career to advocating for environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions for customers and championing a sustainable, prosperous and equitable future for all. He is truly a leader among leaders in the green building movement, and we are honored to present him with a 2018 USGBC Leadership Award.”

Bandy is well known for his years of experience in, and deep understanding of, sustainable business practices and corporate social responsibility. As vice president of sustainability, he leads Mohawk’s sustainability efforts by identifying opportunities to position environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions for both the flooring manufacturer and its customers across various brands and business units. Bandy also serves as vice president of commercial marketing, leading brand strategy, product positioning and marketing initiatives for the Mohawk Group and Durkan brands.

Highly regarded for his thoughtful approach, Bandy is sought after as a presenter on key topics such as the business of sustainability, circular economy, greening the supply chain, health and wellness in the built environment, innovation and smart design. A LEED Accredited Professional, he has been engaged with USGBC throughout its 25 years and previously served as chairman of USGBC’s board. He is an alumnus of Morehouse College and a native of Opelika, Ala.

“George is a true thought leader in the sustainability realm and has been an integral component of driving Mohawk’s corporate social responsibility strategy for the past two years,” said Michel Vermette, president of the company’s Mohawk Group commercial division. “He has not only helped us move the needle here at Mohawk, but throughout the entire flooring industry and greater manufacturing sector. George is the embodiment of our believe in better commitment, and we celebrate that our colleague and friend is being recognized with such a prestigious award. We cannot think of anyone more deserving of such an honor.”

The 2018 Leadership Award recipients represent some of the best of USGBC’s 12,000 member organizations, more than 201,000 LEED professional credential holders and network of local leaders across the U.S. and throughout the world. With more than 95,000 commercial projects currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 19 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 167 countries and territories, the efforts of the award recipients stand out as exceptional examples of sustainability leadership among a strong and growing network of projects, companies and individuals. Greenbuild is a program of USGBC and is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. This year’s event takes place Nov. 14–16 at McCormick Place in Chicago. For more information, visit GreenbuildExpo.com.

About Mohawk
Mohawk Industries is a leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. Mohawk’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, stone and vinyl flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate our brands in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements. Our brands are among the most recognized in the industry and include Mohawk, American Olean, Daltile, Durkan, IVC, Karastan, Marazzi, Pergo, Unilin and Quick-Step. During the past decade, Mohawk has transformed its business from an American carpet manufacturer into the world’s largest flooring company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. For more information about Mohawk’s commitment to sustainability in the built environment, visitMohawkSustainability.com.

About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit USGBC.org.

Tweet me:.@MohawkGroup's George Bandy Jr. to be recognized with prestigious @USGBC @Greenbuild Leadership Award http://bit.ly/2yO0xgC #greenbuild18

Contact Info:

Luke Chaffin
+1 (762) 204-5607
luke_chaffin@mohawkind.com

KEYWORDS: NYSE:MHK, mohawk group, George Bandy Jr., U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC, 2018 USGBC Leadership Award

American Express, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Etsy, The Wing, Record Store Day, and the American Booksellers Association are among the Thousands of Individuals, Businesses and Organizations That Plan to Back the Shop Small® Movement on November 24

SOURCE:American Express

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, November 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Are you ready to shop, eat and celebrate with the small businesses in your neighborhood this holiday season? Today, American Express (NYSE:AXP) revealed its lineup of community programs for the ninth annual Small Business Saturday, taking place nationwide on November 24. Small Business Saturday, founded by American Express in 2010, is held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to shop at independently-owned businesses online and at storefronts across the country.

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA IS ALL FOR SMALL

This year, Lin-Manuel Miranda, American Express Global Brand Ambassador and creator of hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” is joining in to help bring awareness to the Shop Small movement and expand its presence in Puerto Rico. Miranda shares American Express’s values of building enduring relationships and supporting communities through small businesses.

“When you Shop Small, you are backing the small businesses that strengthen and diversify our communities,” said Elizabeth Rutledge, Chief Marketing Officer at American Express. “We’re extremely proud of how Small Business Saturday has grown over the past nine years. This year, we are excited to be working with Lin-Manuel Miranda and other local small business advocates who embody the spirit and passion of Small Business Saturday across the country and in Puerto Rico.”

“Communities like mine, Washington Heights in New York City, are made special and unique by small businesses. I’ve stayed in my community because neighbors are family, commercial strips are vibrant with bakeries, restaurants serve food as if your grandmother made it, and bodegas are stocked with what you need,” says Miranda. “I’m excited to join American Express in celebrating Small Business Saturday this year, as they make communities stronger by supporting local business owners like my pharmacist Manny and my barber George.”

American Express is expanding its Small Business Saturday support to Puerto Rico this year, as local businesses continue to get back on their feet after last year’s storms. American Express will be supporting the island’s businesses in partnership with the Government of Puerto Rico through its Trade and Exports Company and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Puerto Rico District Office¹, Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, LGBTTQ Chamber, and the Puerto Rico Product Association (Hecho en Puerto Rico).

Miranda will star in this year’s Small Business Saturday television ad, debuting in November. In August 2018, he was featured in an ad about how his community of Washington Heights has fueled his personal and professional growth – and how American Express has had his back along the way.

LET’S ALL SHOP SMALL THIS SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

From coast to coast, communities are planning Small Business Saturday celebrations. Want to join in on the fun? These activities, proudly backed by American Express, are a great place to start, helping to make this year’s Small Business Saturday special for everyone:

• Shop Handmade Gifts at Etsy Pop-Ups: American Express and Etsy have teamed up for the second year in a row to celebrate online small business owners from coast to coast. On Small Business Saturday, Etsy sellers will host pop-up markets in San Francisco, Austin, D.C., and Boston, as destinations to shop locally crafted, one-of-a-kind items this holiday season. Visit Etsy.com to find details on local Etsy seller markets near you.
• Join Fierce Women with The Wing: The Wing, a network of co-working and community spaces designed for women, will support entrepreneurs again this Small Business Saturday by hosting Shop Small Stations at women-owned businesses in NYC, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Shoppers can kick off their day at the Shop Small Stations with fun amenities, treats and special Shop Small maps of curated local businesses. More information is available here.
• Jam with Record Store Day: Record Store Day will celebrate independent record stores with four limited-edition vinyl releases from Kid Doe, (Particle Kid + John Doe),Ben Folds, Tony Bennett + Diana Krall and Ingrid Michaelson. The special edition releases will hit shelves at record stores across the country on Small Business Saturday. Find more information and a record store near you at www.recordstoreday.com. Also, be sure to check out the following live performances at independent record stores on November 24:
  • Particle Kid at Fingerprints in Long Beach, CA
    • To attend the performance, be sure to purchase a pre-sale of the special release album; call the store at (562)-433-4996 for more details
  • John Doe at 1-2-3-4! Go Records in Oakland, CA
    • To attend the performance, be sure to purchase a pre-sale of the special release album; check the store website for details
  • Ben Folds at Rough Trade in Brooklyn, NY
    • To attend the performance, be sure to purchase a pre-sale of the special release album; check the store website for details
  • Crack The Sky at The Sound Garden in Baltimore, MD
    • Performance will be open to the public on a first-come basis
• Get Lost in Your Local Bookstore with Indies First: Indies First, the national campaign by the American Booksellers Association (ABA) supporting independent bookstores on Small Business Saturday, will once again mark the day by showing love for independent bookstores. MahoganyBooks in D.C. will host Jason Reynolds, author of the bestselling Track series,for a talk and signing from 1 to 3pm ET on Small Business Saturday. In addition, American Express has teamed up with ABA and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing around the initiative #IndiesGiveBack. The initiative will provide 20,000 special edition copies of Reynolds’ book, Ghost, to participating independent booksellers to give to young readers in underserved communities on or around Small Business Saturday.
• Celebrate with Your Neighborhood: More than 6,700 small business owners, individuals, and community organizations have already pledged to be Neighborhood Champions this year, committing to host events and activities to rally their communities on Small Business Saturday. Shop Small enthusiasts can show their love for small businesses in their communities by getting out with family and friends to attend Neighborhood Champion events. Click here to find Neighborhood Champions near you.

Millions of shoppers, food lovers, public officials and other supporters pledged their support on Small Business Saturday last year. This year check with your local businesses and community organizations to see what they have planned for Small Business Saturday. Everyone is also welcome to join the movement on social media by using the hashtags #ShopSmall and #SmallBizSat. You can also RSVP on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page to Shop Small this Nov. 24 and receive reminders.

More places than ever now accept the American Express® Card, and you can visit the Shop Small Map at www.shopsmallnow.com to find American Express-accepting small businesses in your neighborhood.

Support Your Favorite Main Street: In the lead up to Small Business Saturday, American Express and The National Trust for Historic Preservation – in collaboration with Main Street America – continued their work with Partners in Preservation: Main Streets, a community-based partnership to raise awareness of the importance of preserving historic places and their role in sustaining local communities. The program is inspired by the Shop Small movement and this year the campaign committed $2 million in grants to historic sites on America’s Main Streets, which reflect the development of our diverse nation and the struggle for equal rights, as determined by public vote.

ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

November 24^th is the ninth annual Small Business Saturday, proudly backed by American Express. Dedicated to supporting the diverse range of local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy, and enhance neighborhoods around the country, Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers. Learn more at and connect with us on ShopSmall.com, instagram.com/shopsmall, facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.

ABOUT SHOP SMALL

Shop Small is a nationwide movement to support small, independent businesses and call attention to the valuable and distinct contributions they make to their communities and the economy. Shop Small celebrates small businesses ranging from retail stores and restaurants to fitness studios and salons, and everything in between. The Shop Small movement was spurred by the widespread participation in Small Business Saturday, a day founded in 2010 by American Express. This national holiday shopping tradition is dedicated to celebrating small businesses and driving more customers through their doors on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. November 24, 2018 marks the ninth annual Small Business Saturday, proudly backed by American Express. Learn more and connect with us on ShopSmall.com, instagram.com/shopsmall, facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

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

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

¹ Co-sponsorship Authorization #18-2050-103. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis

Contact Info:

Melissa Filipek
American Express
+1 (212) 640-8658
melissa.j.filipek@aexp.com

KEYWORDS: American Express, NYSE:AXP, community programs, small business saturday

SOURCE:Essity (Formerly SCA)

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:Essity commits to 100% recyclability of plastic packaging by 2025 #LineInTheSand #circulareconomy @torkusa @EssityUSA http://bit.ly/2yGPlCy

KEYWORDS: circular economy, Global Goals, SDGs, Responsible production and consumption, Essity, plastics recycling, sustainability

SOURCE:Goldcorp

DESCRIPTION:

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, together with Parliamentary Secretary Paul Lefebvre, announced this week that the Government of Canada plans to invest $5 million to help position Goldcorp’s Borden Project as a mine of the future — mining ore in a more environmentally sustainable way.

The Borden Project will be the first underground mine in Canada to replace all diesel mobile equipment with battery electric vehicles. Additionally, the project brings significant environmental benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and will create approximately 250 jobs for local and Indigenous communities.

“We believe the days of diesel use for underground mining equipment are numbered and electrification of our mobile fleet is a logical way to significantly reduce the mine’s environmental footprint,” said David Garofalo, Goldcorp’s President and CEO. “We are partnering with like-minded technology suppliers like Maclean Engineering and Sandvik, provincial and federal governments and First Nations to commercialize clean technologies, improve health and safety performance, and reduce GHG emissions with the aim of improving the viability, sustainability and profitability of our mines. It’s gratifying to see multiple levels of government support innovation and our vision of a safer, greener mining industry.”

The project would be funded by Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Growth Program, which is a $155 million investment fund for clean technology research and development and demonstration projects in three Canadian sectors: energy, mining and forestry.

“Improved environmental performance in Canada’s mining sector is one of the key paths to a low-carbon economy,” said the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, during his visit to Borden for the announcement. “This project helps advance clean technologies to commercial readiness, creates good middle class jobs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.”

Borden is a key part of Goldcorp’s plan to increase production by 20% by 2021 and is expected to begin commercial production in the second half of 2019.

Goldcorp has successfully spurred innovation in the mining sector through its #DisruptMining challenge and has invested over $10 million in a range of start-ups and new technologies in the past two years. #DisruptMining offers entrepreneurs a platform to bring disruptive and exponential technologies to the sector, whether it’s unlocking exploration opportunities; finding operational and production efficiencies; reducing the environmental footprint and delivering on sustainability commitments; or developing alternative ways to finance capital projects.

Any innovator interested in pitching their idea at the #DisruptMining innovation expo and “shark-tank” style live event is encouraged to submit an application. Full application details and requirements can be found at: www.disruptmining.com. Submissions will be accepted until November 5, 2018.

Tweet me:Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources announced that the Government of Canada plans to invest $5 million to help position Goldcorp's Borden Project as a mine of the future — mining ore in a more environmentally sustainable way. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2yMNTP5

KEYWORDS: Clean Growth Program, Goldcorp, NYSE:GG

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

CNBC's Jane Wells reports from a Republic Services facility on the "broken" recycling business as the commodity value of recyclables drop.

Watch the story on CNBC.

Tweet me:#Recycling is broken as the value of materials drops. @CNBC's Jane Wells reports from a @RepublicService facility: https://cnb.cx/2znQRt0 #ChinaSword #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Republic Services, Jane Wells, CNBC, Recycling, China Sword

by Kathryn Siranosian

SOURCE:TriplePundit

DESCRIPTION:

Students sitting at desks in neat rows facing the front of the room. Teachers writing on a chalkboard, delivering information to be memorized and later recalled on tests. Bells that signal it’s time to change classrooms.

What most consider “typical” school design has its roots in the Industrial Age when factory and assembly line workers were in high demand.

But this one-size-fits-all, rote approach to learning is now obsolete.

After all, studies have shown that children learn differently based on individual strengths and preferences and that social and emotional learning (SEL) plays a fundamental role in academic achievement.

What’s more, advances in educational technology mean learning can be more accessible and more personalized than ever before. Data-driven approaches are now available to help educators adapt the learning experience and tailor interventions to each student’s unique needs.

And there are practical reasons for education reforms, as well. Simply stated, redesigning outdated school models will help students reap rewards down the road—because today’s children will be entering a labor market that is predicted to favor workers who are adaptable, social, and creative over those who can perform routine tasks.

Put all of this together and you can’t help but wonder: Can public schools adapt? Will they be able to meet the increasingly complex needs of students (and employers)?

For Joanna Burleson, managing director at Monitor Institute by Deloitte, the answer to those questions is a resounding “yes,” provided stakeholders work together to make education more about learning, and less about teaching.

As Burleson describes it, the “grass roots”—public school families and communities—need to collaborate with the “grass top”—state and federal legislators—to update curriculum and methods, ensure the availability of adequate tools and technology, and support professional development for teachers.

“The ‘roots’ and the ‘top’ need to collaborate. It’s an ecosystem,” she says. “Change needs to happen at all levels.”

And the Monitor Institute is available to ease transitions like these, helping clients reinvent what is thought of today as public education. According to the organization’s website, Monitor Institute teams have worked on more than 40 social impact projects in the education space, many in collaboration with leading colleges and universities, foundations, nonprofits, and government entities. One of their fundamental missions is to strengthen connections and collaboration between K-12 and higher education institutions, between the public and private sectors, between funders and actors, and between teachers, parents, and students.

Burleson also stresses that the biggest barriers to education reform are not necessarily financial. In fact, building consensus and aligning behaviors around priorities is often the most challenging hurdle of all, she says. That’s because it’s difficult to determine which changes are most effective. How should student outcomes be graded—by test scores, graduation rates, college/job placement, or some other factor entirely? And when is the best time to look at how well students are doing—in high school, in college, or years later when they’re full participants in the workforce?

“It’s a paradox,” Burleson says. “We all want students to graduate high school with skills and knowledge to be successful at life, but how is that measured? It can take years to gauge the impact of an education system on a student’s life.”

Finding the proof points to resolve that paradox is one of the main factors driving innovation to meet the challenges of 21st century education, Burleson explains.

“It’s exciting to be working in this field right now,” she concludes. “Organizations are doing this work, helping districts re-imagine learning. It’s no longer about one style of teaching and one style of learning. It’s about designing schools to better accommodate the way children learn and moving us forward, away from simply teaching to the test.”

This article is part of a series sponsored by Deloitte and has gone through our usual editorial review.

Tweet me:Is social and emotional learning the way forward for #education and next gen workforce? http://bit.ly/2Dah2HG #SEL @Deloitte @MntrInstitute @TriplePundit

KEYWORDS: social and emotional learning (SEL), Deloitte, Monitor Institute by Deloitte, KATHRYN SIRANOSIAN, triplepundit, Joanna Burleson, future workforce, SS:Deloitte2018

SOURCE:Moody's Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Read the 2017 CSR Report

When small businesses are unable to access capital, great opportunities go unrealized. It’s a loss for financial providers and for the business owners seeking to provide for themselves and their communities. 

We believe that access to basic knowledge about credit — and to the capital required to set the goals of small business owners in motion — can go a long way toward spurring economic growth in communities around the world. Also, many lenders need better information about these borrowers in order to make confident decisions. In 2017, we saw an opportunity to use our core business expertise and resources to bring more people into the financial circle.

The result is Reshape Tomorrow, a financial empowerment initiative dedicated to helping people overcome the challenges of growing a small business.

Reshape Tomorrow helps small business owners — especially women and members of untapped groups in developing markets — access vital information about the credit process. To scale our impact, we’re partnering with organizations around the world to provide financial and business management courses in targeted areas. We’ll also help small and growing businesses connect to sources of financing.

Reshape Tomorrow will employ a number of technology tools to help small businesses thrive, including the MARQTM portal and CashFlowTool.com (formerly known as Flight), an application launched in 2018 by our partner Finagraph. (See related stories on pages 18 and 21 –22.) These tools, when paired with financial education and support services, can help close the opportunity gap. 

One of our first global partners in Reshape Tomorrow is The Fore, a UK nonprofit that helps early-stage charities and social enterprises secure funding and develop more effective business models. In 2018, we are inviting even more nonprofits to submit proposals for Reshape Tomorrow programs that support business development, financial empowerment and other goals of this initiative.

We believe that beyond providing access to practical tools and resources, Reshape Tomorrow will open opportunities for Moody’s leaders to advocate for the needs of small business owners and the importance of educating people about effective financial management and credit.

Read the 2017 CSR Report

Read our recent announcement here "Moody’s Selects Partners for Reshape Tomorrow, Aiming to Help Small Businesses Thrive"

Tweet me:Reshape Tomorrow helps small business owners — especially women and members of untapped groups in developing markets — access vital information about the credit process http://bit.ly/2yG5xUy #smallbusinesses #MoodysCSR #CSR @MoodysCorp

KEYWORDS: Reshape Tomorrow, moodys, csr, small business owners

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

SUMMARY:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Comcast NBCUniversal announced it will hire an additional 11,000 military community members, bringing its total to 21,000 military hires by the end of 2021.
2. This year Comcast NBCUniversal became a founding partner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses campaign.
3. Comcast NBCUniversal announced in August that its Internet Essentials program expanded eligibility to low-income veterans.

DESCRIPTION:

PHILADELPHIA, November 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ - In recognition of the start of Veterans and Military Families Month, Comcast NBCUniversal announced it will hire an additional 11,000 veterans, military spouses, and National Guard and Reserve members, bringing its total to 21,000 military hires by the end of 2021. 

Comcast’s previous commitment, made in 2015, was to hire 10,000 military community members by the end of 2017, which it exceeded.

“Comcast NBCUniversal has greatly benefitted since we began our focus on hiring members of the military community in 2010, and we are pleased with our progress.  We now have thousands of military employees across the country who have translated their valuable experiences in the armed forces to our workforce,” said Dave Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Cable.  “We are so thankful that these individuals chose to serve our country, and we are proud to call them teammates as they now help to serve our customers and make a meaningful difference in our company.” 

Comcast NBCUniversal has an expansive program to support veterans who have recently transitioned into the workforce, including peer-to-peer mentorship with other veteran employees, (the video above) digital and in-person professional development opportunities designed specifically for veteran and military spouse employees, and opportunities to stay engaged with the military through volunteering with local veteran-serving organizations. The company also has an 8,400 member strong VetNet employee resource group dedicated to supporting our military workforce.

“I’m incredibly proud that the entire Comcast NBCUniversal family embraced our commitment, showing our support for the military community through not only our hiring efforts, but also through support of veteran-serving non-profit organizations and work with veteran-owned businesses,” said Brigadier General (Ret.) Carol Eggert, Senior Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal.  

In August, the company announced that its Internet Essentials program expanded eligibility to low-income veterans, nearly one million of whom live within the Comcast’s service area.  The expansion will be furthered through new nationwide partnerships with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the PsychArmor Institute, two of America’s leading veteran-serving non-profit organizations that will help support the creation of veteran-specific digital skills training videos and supplementary materials, which will be made available online and delivered in classrooms at Comcast-sponsored computer labs in 10 markets.  The goal is to connect more low-income veterans to Internet resources, including: online social support networks, health benefits, access to colleges and scholarship programs, digital and technical skills training programs, as well as news, games, and entertainment.

Additionally, this year the company became a founding partner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses campaign, which is raising awareness of military spouse unemployment and encouraging employers to make military spouse hiring commitments, ultimately resulting in a combined 100,000 military spouses hired by the end of 2021. Military spouses are still unemployed at a rate of 16%, over four times the rate of their civilian counterparts, and Comcast NBCUniversal is committed to helping to close that gap and hiring these talented individuals who have already given so much to our country.

Tweet me:.@Comcast NBCUniversal expands military hiring goal to 21,000 by 2021 http://bit.ly/2P59L29

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:CMCSA, Comcast NBCUniversal, Veterans and Military Families Month

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Quick Consult is a series where members of our team share insights into questions and topics we hear are top of mind for pro bono practitioners at all stages. Jess Hammerman, a Senior Consultant & Market Lead in Taproot’s Advisory Services practice, provides a few tips to support employee recruitment. Check out Jess’ advice below.

"We’ve been struggling to recruit employees for our pro bono program. What can we do?"

You’ve built a great pro bono program and you have a group of motivated nonprofit partners eager to get started, but you’re struggling to get the right employees signed up. Does this sound familiar? We’ve seen this time and time again and wanted to share a few tactics that we’ve seen be successful.

There’s no single approach to ensure quick and easy employee recruitment within your company, because every company is different. Once you find one that works, stick with it. 

Find our tips here >

Tweet me:Struggling to recruit employees for your #probono programs? Check out proven tactics from @taprootfound for motivating the right talent to sign up http://bit.ly/2Oe09gh #employeeengagement #CSR #HR

Contact Info:

Taproot Foundation
advisory@taprootfoundation.org
@taprootfound

KEYWORDS: Taproot Foundation