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Las Vegas Sands Named to Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” List

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Company Receives Honor for the Third Consecutive Year

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

LAS VEGAS, January 22, 2019 /3BL Media/–Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) has been named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” in Fortune’s annual list of the world’s most respected and reputable businesses, repeating 2017 and 2018 appearances on the list of global corporate leaders.  Created by industry peers, analysts and leaders, Sands has made the list a total of six times over the past seven years. 

“Being recognized by Fortune for the third year in a row is not only an honor, but a testament to our team members unwavering commitment to deliver on our company’s plans and programs,” said Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands.  “The strong reputation we have built as a collective group is due to our solid operational execution and management, our innovative approach to the hospitality industry and our responsible business practices.  We are proud of our team members for embracing the company’s values and their continued loyalty which has made Las Vegas Sands the company it is today.”

Las Vegas Sands is the world’s largest global developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts serving both the business and leisure tourism markets.  Las Vegas Sands pioneered the convention-based Integrated Resort model, which combines state-of-the-art meeting and convention facilities with luxury hotel rooms and suites, gaming, expansive retail offerings, celebrity-chef restaurants, live entertainment and a wide-range of other attractions and offerings. 

To develop the “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, Fortune collaborated with partner Korn Ferry Hay Group to the survey of corporate reputation.  They began with 1,500 candidates, which included the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue along with the non-U.S companies in Fortune’s Global 500 database that have revenues of $10 billion or more. Korn Ferry then narrowed down the assortment to the highest-revenue companies in each industry, a total of 680 in 30 countries.  The top-rated companies were chosen from that pool of 680, with the executives who voted being employees of the companies in that group.  To determine the best-regarded companies in 52 industries, Korn Ferry asked executives, directors and analysts to rate companies in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and the ability to attract talent.  To be listed, a company’s score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be ranked. 

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About Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Las Vegas Sands is the world’s pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts. We deliver unrivaled economic benefits to the communities in which we operate.  

LVS created the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE)-based Integrated Resort. Our industry-leading Integrated Resorts provide substantial contributions to our host communities including growth in leisure and business tourism, sustained job creation and ongoing financial opportunities for local small and medium-sized businesses.

Our properties include The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts and Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Sands Bethlehem in Eastern Pennsylvania, and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., we have developed the largest portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.

LVS is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, anchored by the core tenets of serving people, planet and communities.  We deliver a great working environment for 50,000 team members worldwide, drive social impact through the Sands Cares charitable giving and community engagement program and lead in environmental performance through the award-winning Sands ECO360 global sustainability program. To learn more, please visit www.sands.com.

Contact:
Kristin Koca
Kristin.koca@sands.com
702-414-3218

Tweet me:.@LasVegasSands has been named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” in @FortuneMagazine’s annual list of the world’s most respected and reputable businesses for the 3rd consecutive year http://bit.ly/2Tczynq

KEYWORDS: Las Vegas Sands, NYSE:LVS, Fortune


WildAid CEO Peter Knights

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SOURCE:Sea Change Radio

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Have you ever seen one of those ads with a celebrity like Jackie Chan or Leonardo DiCaprio beside a beautiful, rare animal? If so, there’s a good chance it was promoting a WildAid campaign. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak with the CEO of WildAid, Peter Knights, about the organization’s mission to protect endangered species. We explore the challenges of trying to globally ban the trade of ivory, discuss the methods they use to curb the demand for rare animals (particularly in China), and hear an update on the status of the totoaba, a rare fish whose bladder is sometimes referred to as “aquatic cocaine” because of the astronomical price it fetches on the black market.

Tweet me:This week's @SeaChangeRadio - @WildAid CEO Peter Knights speaks with host @SweetAl about the organization's efforts around the globe to stop poaching: http://www.cchange.net/2019/01/22/wildaid/

KEYWORDS: sea change radio, WildAid, Peter Knights, poaching

VMware Named to Forbes Best Employers for Diversity 2019

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SOURCE:VMware

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VMware has been named to Forbes' 2019 list of Best Employers for Diversity.

VMware celebrates the power of human difference by purposely building an inclusive culture. The company empowers women in tech, is committed to equal pay for equal work, and hosts a number of employee-driven resource groups designed to help participants engage in different communities and develop as leaders. 

Learn more about VMware's commitment to diversity here.

See the full list of Forbes' Best Employers for Diversity.

Tweet me:.@VMware has been named to @Forbes Best Employers for #Diversity 2019 http://bit.ly/2suzUdl #CSR #HR #inclusion

KEYWORDS: Forbes, VMware, Best Employers for Diversity 2019

SC Johnson Announces Global Partnership with Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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Company signs on as the 10th global partner to help advance a circular economy

SOURCE:SC Johnson

DESCRIPTION:

RACINE, Wis., January 22, 2019 /3BL Media/ – Today, SC Johnson and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation announce a global partnership reflective of their mutual passion and dedication to accelerating the transition to a circular economy. SC Johnson joins the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s nine existing Global Partners including Intesa Sanpaolo, Danone, Google, H&M, Nike, Phillips, Renault, Solvay and Unilever in driving forward market leading circular economy initiatives at scale.

SC Johnson and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation share a vision for influencing system-wide change and will work with others to encourage new circular business innovation. The multi-year partnership builds on SC Johnson’s decade long journey to improve the sustainability of its products. As part of this effort, the company has spent years working with industry experts to understand barriers to circularity and to find solutions to overcome them.

“Plastic pollution is an enormous problem, and it is going to take businesses, governments, consumers and civil society working together to solve it," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "We're all going to have to come together, and Ellen and the Foundation have done an excellent job creating an opportunity for partnership and progress.”

"Built upon their strong history as a family company and pioneering work on transparency and product circularity, SC Johnson is taking a leadership role to help redesign global systems according to circular economy principles, and to address major challenges such as plastic pollution,” said Dame Ellen MacArthur, Founder and Chair of Trustees of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “We are delighted to welcome SC Johnson as a Global Partner and look forward to the progress we can drive together, towards an economy that works in the long term.”

A Shared Commitment to a New Plastics Economy

With the World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimating that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean, it is imperative that all actors come together and change the way people live with and use plastic.

In October 2018, Fisk Johnson joined leaders from around the world to sign the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment at the 2018 Our Ocean Conference in Bali, Indonesia. SC Johnson joined a global coalition of leading businesses and governments to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. This commitment, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with U.N. Environment, is addressing the root causes of plastic pollution and will help keep plastic out of our oceans.

Constantly at Work to Improve Sustainability of its Products

With the increasing attention on the global plastic waste crisis, SC Johnson also published its commitments and progress to further reduce its own plastic footprint, as the company has been relentlessly focusing on designing unnecessary plastic packaging out of its products for years. The company announced plans to boost recycled plastic content in its packaging and support reuse of plastic bottles through concentrated refills, and launched an effort to make Ziploc® bags recyclable at curbside.

SC Johnson continues its mission to make curbside recycling of used flexible plastic film a reality in the U.S. and reduce waste that enters landfills. The company achieved an important milestone last year with the introduction of the first-ever trash bag made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) film, including Ziploc® bags, collected through a pilot program at a U.S. recycling center.

For more information on SC Johnson’s commitment to addressing plastic pollution and to learn how the company is helping to support a more circular plastic economy, visit www.scjohnson.com/plastic

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 133-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

About The Ellen MacArthur Foundation

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was launched in 2010 with the aim of accelerating the transition to the circular economy. Since its creation, the charity has emerged as a global thought leader, putting the circular economy on the agenda of decision-makers around the world. The charity’s work focuses on seven key areas: insight and analysis; business; institutions, governments, and cities; systemic initiatives; circular design; learning; and communications.

Further information: www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org | @circulareconomy

Tweet me:.@SCJohnson announces global partnership with Ellen MacArthur Foundation http://bit.ly/2U6wbOL

Contact Info:

SC Johnson Public Affairs
+1 (262) 260-2440
USPublicAffairs@scj.com

KEYWORDS: SC Johnson, ellen macarthur foundation, New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, plastic waste, minimizing plastic pollution, reduce plastic waste, circular economy, sustainability

      

Speaker Proposals Now Being Accepted for 2019 3BL Forum: Brands Taking Stands

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SOURCE:3BL Forum

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WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 23 /3BL Media/ -- Presenter proposals are now being accepted for 3BL Forum, the annual gathering of purpose-driven corporate leaders eager to accelerate sustainable business through collaboration and learning. 

The theme for 3BL Forum is “Brands Taking Stands – What’s Next,” focusing on the business drivers behind innovative and impactful corporate responsibility programs that are increasingly including social activism. The event will be held at MGM National Harbor, just outside Washington, D.C., Oct. 29-30. 

“Corporate citizenship today is measured by progress across a broad environmental, social and governance agenda,” said Dave Armon, CMO of 3BL Media and publisher of CR Magazine.  “By convening hundreds of business leaders for this important conversation, we will drive collaboration and hasten the pace of change.”

Through a focus on Brands Taking Stands, 3BL Forum has become a central event both for “humble companies” intent on quietly doing important ESG work as well as brands eager to connect to social issues, said Armon, adding that the conference was used in 2017 and 2018 to release new research on corporate activism.

Prospective speakers, presenters, panelists and other thought leaders should access the Presenter Prospectus here and submit via email to forum@3blmedia.com.  Submission deadline for presenter proposals is April 1.

Key themes for the 3BL Forum 2019 conference include:

  • Brands Taking Stands...the evolution continues
  • Employee activism
  • AI, blockchain and tech drivers for sustainable development
  • Not legacy VERSUS sustainable companies, but legacy AND sustainable businesses 
  • Investor perspectives on ESG and sustainability 
  • Imperative of a diverse and inclusive workforce and corporate culture 
  • Filling the pipeline of talent for the future 
  • Sustainability communications beyond ratings and rankings
  • Expectations of an activist, action-driven generation 
  • Amplifying voices, not standing on the sidelines

3BL Forum will feature two days of dynamic and engaging speakers, panelists, conversations and interviews. In addition, many presenters will use the conference to announce new corporate initiatives or release significant research findings on corporate responsibility, talent acquisition, progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and more. Conference attendees bring an array of corporate responsibility experience and expertise as they seek to learn and engage. To maximize the audience experience, the conference agenda will be fast paced and designed to cover a variety of topics and issues.

A key feature of 3BL Forum is the Awards and Recognition Dinner, where recipients of the CR Magazine Responsible CEO of the Year Awards will be announced. Nominations for this prestigious award may be submitted here.

We welcome submissions by CEOs, CR practitioners and senior leaders on topics related to Brands Taking Stands. If your proposal is accepted, 3BL Forum’s executive producer will work with prospective presenters to identify where topic fits into the agenda and how to best showcase content at the conference, whether a main stage panel discussion, one-on-one interview, “issue table,” break-out session or other format.

Companies participating in 3BL Forum in 2018 included:

ACCP | Aflac | Allstate | American Sustainable Business Council | APCO Worldwide | Aramark | Arrow Electronics | ascena retail group | Astellas | AvalonBay Communities | BCD Travel | Becton Dickinson | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co. | Blackbaud | Bridgestone Americas | CBRE | CECP | Cone Communications | Corporate Citizenship | CR Miami | Crowe LLP | Danone NA | Discovery Education | Dix & Eaton | DoSomething Strategic | eBay | ERM CVS |Finn Partners | General Mills | GlobeScan | Good360 | Great Lakes Advisors | GRI | Hallmark Cards | Harris Poll | IBM | ICON | KraftHeinz | LG Electronics USA | LA Times | Mars Wrigley Confectionery | McCormick & Company | Medline |MGM Resorts International | MSL | National Basketball Players Association Foundation | New York Life Foundation |Nike | NPR | Owens Corning | P&G | Penguin Random House | Pirelli Tire NA | Points of Light | PwC | PYXERA Global |Quicken Loans | Realized Worth | Rolland Paper | Scotts Miracle-Gro | Smithfield Foods |Social Driver | Southbox Ventures | Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Swarovski | TD Bank Group | The Mosaic Company | TGR Foundation | Timberland | Tupperware Brands | U.S. Chamber of Commerce | UNDP Business Call to Action | Univision | UPS | VF Corporation | Waste Management | WGL Holdings | World Central Kitchen

Titles of those in attendance included 33 C-Suite officers 21 CEOs; 47 SVPs, EVPs AND VPs; and 58 directors.  The event generated more than 2 million social media impressions using the hashtag #BrandsTakingStands

About 3BL Media

3BL Forum is an annual gathering of corporate responsibility and sustainability practitioners with emphasis on networking, case studies, new research and compelling presentations from companies committed to making progress against an ambitious ESG agenda. The theme for 3BL Forum 2019 is Brands Taking Stands. 

The event is produced by 3BL Media, the world’s leading communications partner for purpose-driven organizations. Through content distribution, multimedia promotion and hands-on learning experiences, we connect organizations to an unrivaled audience that is passionate about sustainable business.

We know your stories, perspectives and experiences only matter if they’re heard, shared and acted on by the right people. We cut straight through the clutter so you always break through to the audiences who matter most.

For more information, please contact:
Dave Armon CMO, 3BL Media
Phone: +1.802.444.0177

Tweet me:We're now accepting speaking proposals for our 2019 #3BLForum: Brands Taking Stands – What’s Next. Learn more about the 2019 Forum and submit a proposal before the April 1 deadline. http://bit.ly/2Ud21t1 #BrandsTakingStands

KEYWORDS: 3bl Media, 3BL Forum, 3BL Forum 2019, Brands Taking Stands – What’s Next, COMMIT!Forum 2018, COMMIT!Forum 2019, 3BL MEdia Forum, Dave Armon CMO of 3BL Media, Dave Armon publisher of CR Magazine, MGM National Harbor Washington D.C., Speaker Proposals 3BL Forum 2019, John Friedman WGL, Vanessa Garcia-Brito NIKE, Meredith Ferguson DoSomething Strategic, CR Magazine, BrandsTakingStands, Brands Taking Stands Forum

Give Back to Your Community in 2019: Become a Taproot Foundation Pro Bono Volunteer

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WEBINAR // Taproot+ Live: Use your skills to make a difference

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10 AM PST // 12 PM CST // 1 PM EST

REGISTER NOW

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to get more involved in your community? Taproot Foundation can help with that.

Make a difference by donating your time and professional skills to nonprofits in need of your expertise. Get started by joining Taproot’s free webinar on Tuesday, January 29, for future marketing, tech, HR, finance, and strategy volunteers.

During this webinar, experienced Taproot staff will cover how to:

  • Browse available pro bono opportunities to find one that matches your interests and skills
  • Put together a strong volunteer application for that project
  • And share strategies for how to best manage pro bono projects once you’re matched with a nonprofit

Can’t attend live? Go ahead and sign up anyway—we’ll send out a recording to all registrants. 

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 10 AM PST // 12 PM CST // 1 PM EST

REGISTER NOW

Tweet me:Make a difference in 2019 #volunteering your professional skills to nonprofits. Get started doing #probono by joining @taprootfound free 1/29 webinar http://bit.ly/2smHZRb

KEYWORDS: Taproot Foundation, Pro bono work, nonprofit, skilled volunteering, Taproot+

SC Johnson Backs Anti-Human Trafficking Film

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The Family Company at Work for a Better World Seeks to Expand Awareness of Global Issue by Supporting London Release of “Love Sonia”

SOURCE:SC Johnson

DESCRIPTION:

RACINE, Wis., January 23, 2019 /3BL Media/ – SC Johnson is expanding upon its long-standing zero-tolerance policy for human trafficking and slavery by sponsoring a new film that offers an unflinching portrait of this devastating global issue.

SC Johnson will support the London release, and promotion of “Love Sonia,” which is set for limited theatrical release in the United Kingdom on January 25. The film was directed by Tabrez Noorani (a line producer on the 2008 Best Picture winner “Slumdog Millionaire”), and produced by David Womark, an Academy Award-nominated producer for “Life of Pi.” By supporting “Love Sonia” from production to release, SC Johnson hopes to shine a brighter light on human trafficking and the 25 million victims of it around the globe.

“This is an egregious global issue that must be acknowledged and drawn out from the shadows,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “Our support for ‘Love Sonia’ is consistent with our commitment to doing what’s right for people and the planet.”

SC Johnson has championed a number of anti-trafficking causes and statements, including the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, the CGF Social Resolution on Forced Labor, and the International Labor Organization core standards on forced labor, child labor, freedom of association, and discrimination.

The company also supports the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 and the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, which was adopted in an effort to prevent and eliminate slavery and human trafficking from global supply chains by increasing transparency.

With the release of “Love Sonia,” SC Johnson hopes to do its part in contributing to increased awareness of the issue of trafficking. The film details the journey of Sonia (played by Mrunal Thakur) as she searches for her sister, Preeti (Riya Sisodiya), who was sold by her father to human traffickers to pay a debt. Sonia travels around the globe – from Mumbai to Hong Kong to Los Angeles – in hopes of reuniting her family.

Human trafficking can have a devastating effect on individuals and communities. SC Johnson believes that it has a responsibility to help protect the most vulnerable by raising awareness of this issue.

“We’re passionate about providing opportunities for a better quality of life for people around the world and one of the ways we do that is by advocating for important social issues,” Johnson said.

Tweet me:.@SCJohnson backs anti-human trafficking film #LoveSonia http://bit.ly/2DteHXp

KEYWORDS: SC Johnson, Human Rights, social justice, human trafficking, Love Sonia, social issues

More Than 55 million Plates Filled

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In a joint effort with Feeding America®, the 2018 Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank collected enough food and money to help provide more than 55.7 million meals throughout the nation.

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

The 2018 Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank secured more than 55.7 million meals* during the holidays.

Feeding America® joined Wells Fargo’s 2018 effort to fight against hunger in this, the program’s second year. From Nov. 13 to Dec. 31, 2018, Wells Fargo branches doubled as food banks, accepting donations of nonperishable food and money for local food banks throughout the nation. It also offered opportunities for participants to donate through a mobile food bank — which popped up in nine cities from California to New York — and, in response to customer requests, it enabled monetary contributions at its ATMs and online. Visit Wells Fargo Stories to watch the video.

Wells Fargo kicked off the 2018 Holiday Food Bank program Nov. 13 with a $4 million grant to Feeding America, matching donations up to $1 million. Throughout the national effort, Wells Fargo team members built canned food sculptures in six cities and organized special volunteer projects on top of existing volunteerism to help food-related nonprofits.

Team member volunteers like Bekkah Moss, a Wells Fargo teller in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, have made giving back a lifestyle. She and her children deliver groceries twice a month to local nonprofits through Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, a member food bank in the Feeding America network.

“Thanks to everyone who stopped by a branch, ATM, or mobile pop-up location, or visited our website to join us in this important effort to feed the hungry,” said Mary Mack, head of Wells Fargo Consumer Banking.

“Each and every day our team members help customers improve their financial futures,” she said. “Their support in turning our retail branches all across the country into food banks this past holiday season was an extension of that commitment — and one that continues all year long through contributions of time, talents, and money to so many local, food-related nonprofits.”

Nearly 2,300 team members volunteered more than 9,000 hours over the holidays to support 93 food-related nonprofits — up more than 20 percent from the year before.

Those results add to Wells Fargo’s year-round philanthropic support of nonprofit organizations and volunteerism by the company’s more than 260,000 team members. In 2018, the company exceeded its philanthropy target of donating $400 million in communities across the U.S.

Mack joined other company leaders in making donations at pop-up food banks and volunteering at food-related nonprofits.

“Whether it was a team member in Florida who drew on his own past experience with food insecurity to champion collections at his location and add his own donations, the customer in North Carolina who literally emptied her own cupboard to fill three boxes of food herself at one branch, or the thousands of customers and noncustomers alike who dropped off food or contributed financially at our ATMs,” Mack said,  “the outpouring of compassion and support for local food banks and their mission this year was inspiring.”

Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot expressed excitement about the opportunity to join Wells Fargo’s Holiday Food Bank program in 2018 to collectively address a little-known problem that is estimated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to affect one in eight Americans: food insecurity (not knowing where the next meal will come from). About 40 million people are believed to be food insecure, according to the USDA, including more than 12 million children.

“It takes all of us — businesses, individuals, charities, and local, state, and national governments — to get more food to more people so fewer people are hungry, which is why efforts like the Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank are so important,” Babineaux-Fontenot said. “No one can fight a problem as big as hunger alone.”

Through ATM donations and other Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank financial contributions, each of the Feeding America member food banks will receive a grant of $5,000, Babineaux-Fontenot said.

“The most significant aspect of the Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank program is its reach. By helping every single food bank in the Feeding America network, you touch thousands of lives in every county in the United States, not just during the holidays but beyond,” Babineaux-Fontenot said.

Team members join forces to fight hunger

“Hunger is everywhere,” said Jon Campbell, head of Wells Fargo Corporate Philanthropy and Community Relations. “Too many people in every state, and in communities both urban and rural, don’t always know how they’ll get food on the table. Some skip meals, opting to pay utility bills instead of buying groceries. Those living in rural areas like my hometown may drive many miles to find healthy and affordable food.

“As a result,” he continued, “food banks and food pantries are critical emergency resources — which is why we were so fortunate to have Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working alongside us this year.”

An Edelman Intelligence study conducted Nov. 12-14, 2018, for Wells Fargo found that more than half of the people surveyed across the country said they or someone they knew experienced food insecurity.

“In our survey, people not only told us they were more likely to donate food this year than last, but also said they would be more likely to donate food if they knew about the specific impact of their food donation,” Campbell said. “With Feeding America, everything contributed through the Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank went right back to local food banks, serving communities.”

‘One simple but powerful act of kindness’

While hunger is a year-round problem, the company used its joint effort with Feeding America to focus on the holidays and winter months, when needs become especially acute and many face the choice of buying food or paying to heat their homes, said Wells Fargo Chief Marketing Officer Jamie Moldafsky.

“Turning one of the nation’s largest banks into the largest food bank, and using our size and scale to focus on hunger with Feeding America and encourage everyone to #GiveWhatYouCan made a difference,” Moldafsky said. “People rallied around those in need to give a very meaningful gift — relief from hunger — in one simple but powerful act of kindness.”

Among those acts: a donation by a World War II veteran in Virginia; customers and team members joining together to build a food tree in a North Carolina bank branch; and 200 Wells Fargo volunteers in Minneapolis sorting and packing 28,105 pounds of produce for a food bank.

“Although he had only been a customer for a few months, Floyd Callihan, one of our customers and a World War II veteran, saw our Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank display and came back with a bagful of donations,” said Ashley Tarry, who manages the Wells Fargo branch in Goochland, Virginia. “That’s just how Mr. Callihan is. He’s always thinking of others. We’re blessed to have so many customers like that.”

In Mount Airy, North Carolina, customers helped Chris Driggers and his team build a food tree at Wells Fargo’s branch on North Main Street.

“Team members and customers provided canned food to build it, and when we took it down, we had six cases of food weighing nearly 400 pounds — food that we know will in turn support local food banks in the Mount Airy area,” Driggers said.

In Minneapolis, Lolita Niebler, a digital product manager for Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust, joined board members of her local chapter of the company’s My Generation Team Member Network to organize a two-day food sorting and packing blitz for Second Harvest Heartland. The Feeding America member food bank also received $20,000 from Wells Fargo Community Relations in one of several regional donations in addition to Holiday Food Bank donations.

“It was incredible to see how many team members turned up, even with a major snowstorm earlier one day, which illustrates the energy and compassion our team members have for the community,” Niebler said. 

Added Anne Bartoloni, a client relationship manager in Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and My Generation chapter board member, “The work that Second Harvest Heartland does is so important for our communities. It was very exciting to see their new building and hear about their plans to grow their own leafy greens in a new way and without dirt or pesticides — innovation that is going to help address food insecurity as well as provide healthy food options for families.”

One of those benefiting personally from Wells Fargo’s food bank support was Naomi Lowe.

Each day, the 9‑year‑old gets a hot meal along with nearly 1,700 other children from Feeding the Valley Food Bank in Midland, Georgia, and its Kids Café program.

“After I come to the Kids Café and I have yummy food, I feel great,” Lowe said, “because I ate and I’m not hungry.”

Tweet me:.@FeedingAmerica and @WellsFargo provide 55.7 million meals to fight #hunger. #HolidayFoodBank. https://stories.wf.com/55-million-plates-filled

KEYWORDS: Feeding America, holiday food bank, Food Bank, Wells Fargo, Hunger, Food Insecurity, NYSE:WFC

 


Ensuring Business Innovation While Protecting Data Privacy: A Balancing Act

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By Amy Brown

SOURCE:Symantec

DESCRIPTION:

This article series is underwritten by Symantec and went through our normal editorial review process.

With connected devices expected to top 11 billion in 2018, innovative technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly driving business innovation.

An overwhelming 97.2 percent of executives in the annual executive survey published by NewVantage Partners report that their companies are investing in building or launching big data and AI initiatives, including American Express, Capital One, Ford Motors, Goldman Sachs, MetLife, Morgan Stanley, and Verizon.

The boost to the economy is predicted to be huge: McKinsey estimates that linking the physical and digital worlds could generate up to $11.1 trillion a year in economic value by 2025.

But how are companies managing the balance between digital innovation and protecting the privacy of data? Digital technologies enhance convenience, efficiency and economic growth. At the same time, they require complex networking environments and use detailed data about individuals that can make protecting their privacy harder.

Developing a U.S. privacy framework

Unlike Europe, where the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)became enforceable earlier this year, the U.S. federal government has yet to pass a GDPR-like mechanism.

In the absence of such legislation, the Information Accountability Foundation (IAF) in August released the first draft of a U.S. data privacy framework containing 12 principles that outline individual privacy rights and corporate accountability.

The initiative informs the ongoing collaborative project announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in October to develop a voluntary privacy framework to help organizations manage risk.

In announcing the framework, the nonprofit declared, “Consent is important but not enough.”

The framework recognizes the great potential of data to innovate in sectors ranging from medicine, safety and education, to transportation and product development, while underscoring the responsibility of companies to leverage data responsibly.

“This recognition requires organizations to be transparent about values, to use their values when driving innovation, and to make sure that people are the end and not the means,” the IAF states.

Calling for ethics and transparency

According to Martin Abrams, executive director of the IAF, the principles recognize that “thinking and learning with data is basic to mankind’s progress and that these learnings must be understood and applied in an ethical manner.”

“We’re focused on how you can use information to beneficial effect and do so in a fashion that is protective in world that is increasingly using technologies like artificial intelligence, things that rub hard against data privacy and privacy law,” Abrams told TriplePundit. “We look at how we can think outside box to use data in an innovative fashion.”

Long history of innovating with data

“Thinking and learning with data has been the single most important differentiator that has made American business the world’s data innovators,” Abrams says.

There is a distinction between the two, he explains. “If there is a history of cancer in your family that is detectable from your gene pattern, the research that enables that insight is thinking with data. The decision that doctors make using that gene pattern is acting with data.”

Abrams points out that in every other major privacy regime, every activity touched by data is a form of data processing that requires permission from either individuals or the law. “In the U.S., thinking with data is protected by data security rules but, in most instances, not by privacy rules,” he says.

Data-driven innovation has been the spark that has driven the American consumer economy since the 1970’s, he argues. “This innovation is well worth preserving as we explore new privacy frameworks for the U.S.”

Corporate responsibility for data privacy

The IAF framework’s 12 principles are divided into two parts: Four for individual rights and eight for accountability.  It is intended to meet several aims: Preserve America’s innovation engine; be interoperable with other new and emerging privacy regimes; protect individuals’ interests in privacy; and protect all the benefits of the 21st century information age.

The eight accountability principles form the stewardship role of those who must be accountable for the use of data, including companies. That includes ensuring data collection, use and disclosure complies with law; that data is secure; and that is used within an appropriate context and for legitimate uses.

Some companies, Abrams says, are already using these principles around data accountability. That will ease their ability to meet the GDPR requirement of data privacy impact assessmentsA survey by HyTrust, Inc., a workload security solutions firm, however, found that only 21 percent of organizations it surveyed were concerned about GDPR or had a plan in place.

The guidance offered by the IAF is a start to try to resolve these issues, Abrams says.

“Back in the 1990s when the Internet became a consumer medium, we made a decision that observing individuals’ behavior online to understand how they behave online was part of the public commons, and that had huge implications for the expansion of observable data,” Abrams says. “It’s a concept we still struggle with. All the decisions we make are still based on the concept that the Internet is like the public commons and extends to putting tracking programs on our devices.

“The question is, as the privacy debate heats up, are we going to conclude that all this observational data is in the public commons or in the private space?” Abrams reflects. “That is a really hard issue to resolve. Yes, the data opens up innovation but it reduces our ability to have privacy and to think and act in a way that is protected. You can say our organization was formed to deal with this conundrum.”

Lawmakers want to protect innovation and consumers

Some members of the U.S. Congress are ready to tackle the thorny issue of data privacy. As U.S. Senator John Thune, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, wrote in The Hill:

“The time has come for Congress to work on putting consumer data privacy protections into law. For years, the wizards of the tech world have amazed all of us and helped fuel our economy with innovative products and services. No one wants that to end.

“At the same time, mounting controversies have undermined public trust in the ability and willingness of leading technology companies to regulate themselves and enforce real privacy safeguards for the collection and use of our digital data. The question is no longer whether we need a national law to protect consumers’ privacy. The question is what shape that law should take.”

Thune argues that a successful consumer data privacy law will “help consumers and reward organizations with little to hide, promote innovation, and force shady practitioners to clean up their act or fold up shop.”

Tweet me:Ensuring business #innovation while protecting #DataPrivacy is a balancing act http://bit.ly/2T1VfGt @Symantec

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:SYMC, Symantec, Data Privacy, cybersecurity

Shutdown’s Economic Impact Is a Forceful Reminder of Why Government Matters

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By Andrew J. Hoffman and Ellen Hughes-Cromwick for The Conversation

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

DESCRIPTION:

As the United States endures the longest shutdown in its history, Americans are getting a taste of life without government.

The absence of some services are clearly visible, such as a buildup of trash at national parks or longer lines at airport security checkpoints. Others, like those felt primarily by businesses, are less noticeable but arguably more important, such as an inability to get a small business loan or limited service from the IRS, Securities and Exchange Commission and other key agencies.

Collectively they show that government matters. But once the shutdown ends and the memories of the pain and discomfort it caused begin to fade, the visceral reminder Americans got of this message may fade with it.

Continue reading on The Conversation

Tweet me:READ: #Government matters. Is the #shutdown an opportunity to reinvent & improve interactions with the market? Surveys suggest Americans don’t simply want fewer regulations, they want better ones. http://myumi.ch/L1Ovo @erbinstitute @ConversationUS @HoffmanAndy @EllenHughesCrom

KEYWORDS: The Conversation, government shutdown, Economics, free market, Andrew Hoffman, Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, university of michigan, Erb Institute, Trump administration, regulation, Deregulation

Freeport-McMoRan Named Best Corporate Citizen by Forbes

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SOURCE:Freeport-McMoRan

DESCRIPTION:

January 23, 2019 /3BL Media/ - Congratulations to Freeport-McMoRan for being named to the 2019 Just 100: America's Best Corporate Citizens by Forbes! Freeport-McMoRan is the industry leader in the Basic Resources sector, and is first overall in the Community Treatment category. This is the third consecutive year Freeport-McMoRan has made the list, which is now in its third year.

To compile the Just 100, Forbes partnered with Just Capital to survey more than 80,000 Americans to determine what they consider to be the most important corporate traits. Nearly 900 companies were evaluated and ranked on those components, and their ensuing scores were utilized to come up with an overall score for their industry. For the full Just 100 list, methodology, and more, visit forbes.com.

To learn about how Freeport-McMoRan supports the communities in which it operates, please visit fcx.com and freeportinmycommunity.com.

Please see the 2017 Working Toward Sustainable Development Report for more information on all of their social, economic and environmental efforts.

Tweet me:Freeport-McMoRan named Best Corporate Citizen by Forbes http://bit.ly/2sEajyu #copper #ICMM

KEYWORDS: Community Treatment, Forbes, corporate citizen, JUST 100, Freeport-McMoRan, NYSE:FCX

The UN Global Compact Calls Upon Business and Governments to Take Action to Finance the Sustainable Development Goals

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SOURCE:United Nations Global Compact

DESCRIPTION:

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 23, 2019 /3BL Media/— The United Nations Global Compact today issued a call to action to finance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to address the financing gap, estimated at US$ 2.5 trillion annually.

The call to action urges business, Governments and other actors to work with financial intermediaries to raise the financing needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It encourages stakeholders to find new ways to measure and communicate their progress on and contributions towards the sustainability agenda, while showcasing the long-term business benefits to investors.

These topics were discussed on the sidelines of the 2019 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, where the UN Global Compact and PIMCO co-hosted an event that brought together business, investors and financial intermediaries to discuss new strategies and financial tools for mainstreaming SDG investments. The UN estimates that approximately US$ 5 to 7 trillion will need to be mobilized each year to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and this need cannot be met by aid alone.

“Financing the Sustainable Development Goals is a big challenge, but not an insurmountable one,” said Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “Study after study shows that there is no long-term trade-off between sustainability and investment returns — indeed, we believe that we must keep pushing towards a tipping point in mainstream investing, which will reward the principles-oriented investor.”

Sustainable finance matches issuers’ needs of investments in sustainable business strategies with socially responsible investors’ expectations. Corporate SDG business models have emerged as another way to fund SDG-aligned private sector activities, and a shift in the perspective among investors can further help direct funds towards sustainable business models instead of standalone green projects. Fixed-income instruments, such as SDG Bonds, can become new solutions to mainstream SDG investments and to bridge the funding gap.

“Financing the Sustainable Development Goals will require that we all work together — the public sector, private finance and civil society,” said Scott Mather, Chief Investment Officer at PIMCO, speaking at the event in Davos. “Through new innovations, such as SDG Bonds, we believe that we can help mainstream impact investing strategies to deliver returns and positive social and environmental outcomes. This is in everyone’s interest — and will help us achieve sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.”

The ultimate goal is to create a market that is sufficiently large, liquid, diversified and transparent for institutional investors to meaningfully contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

“Investing with the SDGs in mind can be profitable and that is why we must be fundamentally optimistic about the achievability of the 2030 Agenda,” Lise Kingo said.

The UN Global Compact Action Platform on Financial Innovation for the SDGs serves as an incubator of ideas, concepts and recommendations to unlock private capital and create a market for mainstream SDG investments. The platform engages leading businesses, banks and investors to identify innovative solutions to leverage global capital markets for the SDGs.

Last year, the Action Platform released a report entitled SDG Bonds & Corporate Finance – A Roadmap to Mainstream Investments to inspire and guide stakeholders involved in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda to tap into the private capital markets and benefit from cheaper and more reliable funding.

About the United Nations Global Compact

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Launched in 2000, the mandate of the UN Global Compact is to guide and support the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. With more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 Local Networks, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at www.unglobalcompact.org.

Contact

UN Global Compact
Leila Puutio
Coordinator, Communications
Tel: +1 646-884-7523
Email: media@unglobalcompact.org

Tweet me:The world we want requires significant financial investments. Today in Davos, the UN @globalcompact urged #biz, Gov'ts & others to work with financial intermediaries to raise the financing needed to achieve the #GlobalGoals by 2030: unglobalcompact.org/news/4424-01-23-2019 #WEF19

Contact Info:

Leila Puutio
UN Global Compact
+1 (646) 884-7523
media@unglobalcompact.org
@globalcompact
www.facebook.com/UNGlobalCompact
www.linkedin.com/company/united-nations-global-compact
www.instagram.com/globalcompact

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Finance, SDG Bonds, sustainable development goals, SDGs, UN Global Compact, 2030 Agenda, World Economic Forum, SDG investments

Sappi Continues to Procure 100% Sustainable Fiber

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SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

The following offers a view of our annual performance in important areas of environmental and social responsibility. We monitor key metrics for fiber, emissions, energy usage and the impact of our operations on air, water and solid waste. We use this data to set improvement goals for our operations and interactions with key stakeholders.

One hundred percent of our fiber (wood and pulp) is procured from well-managed forests and is third-party verified that it is from controlled and non-controversial sources. These third-party programs provide assurance that wood-based products have been procured from well-managed forests and are legally harvested. While Sappi does not own any forestland in North America, our foresters provide active forest management services for landowners within our procurement zones. We continue to support and recognize the efforts of multiple third-party certifi cation programs, including the FSC, SFI, PEFC, and American Tree Farm System®, a PEFC-endorsed certification program. The Point of Harvest certified fiber refers to wood fi ber harvested from lands not otherwise certified by one of the forest management standards but is harvested by logging professionals who are trained and certified in practices designed to conserve forestland. All recycled fiber (RF) is sourced from producers within North America and the deinked pulp is processed chlorine-free. All kraft pulp is elemental chlorine-free (ECF).

The SFI and FSC certification programs have modified their standards to include post-industrial fiber (PIF) as part of their claim and labeling schemes. In considering this change, FSC published a comprehensive study where it concluded that restricting claims to only post-consumer fi ber was creating an uneven playing field in global markets and was actually distorting consumers’ perception of the value of recycled fiber.

During FY17, we utilized recycled fiber from both post-industrial and post-consumer recovered fiber sources. Our deinked pulp suppliers don’t quantify the ratio of the specific sources; therefore, we no longer differentiate and simply categorize all of these sources as “recycled fiber.”

Read more from Sappi North America's 2017 Sustainability Report here: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

Tweet me:100% of @SappiNA's fiber comes from well-managed forests and is third-party verified that it's from controlled and non-controversial sources: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

KEYWORDS: forestry, Sustainable Forestry, KPI, Sappi, paper, pulp, WOOD FIBER, FSC, sfi, wood certifications

Aligning Business Needs & Community Impact | LBG Canada Company Spotlight - Cenovus

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SOURCE:SiMPACT Strategy Group

DESCRIPTION:

As we begin 2019, LBG Canada spotlights the Cenovus Decision Making Criteria. A tool created to assist a geographically dispersed community investment team with decision-making consistency by clearly outlining and identifying characteristics of a community investment opportunity to ensure both community and business impact.

To learn more about the Cenovus Decision Making Criteria, click here: 

-30-

About LBG Canada

LBG Canada is a network of corporate community investment professionals from many of Canada's leading companies, who work together to apply, develop and enhance the use of the LBG Model and measurement framework in Canada. Participation in LBG Canada encourages companies to focus on strategy, measurement and reporting to demonstrate the business value achieved through investment in community. LBG Canada is facilitated by SiMPACT Strategy Group. For more information, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca

 

Tweet me:As 2019 begins, #LBGCanada spotlights the @Cenovus Decision Making Criteria. A tool created to assist a geographically dispersed community investment team with decision-making consistency. http://bit.ly/2sFk5Aj #CIMATTERS

KEYWORDS: cenovus, Cenovus Energy, LBG Canada, Community Investment, Social Impact

A New Blueprint for Renewable Energy Aggregation

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SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Watch this video on how Bloomberg, Cox Enterprises, Gap Inc., Salesforce and Workday closed an all-new renewable energy aggregation deal with guidance from LevelTen Energy. This is the first example of companies aggregating similar, relatively small amounts of renewable energy demand to collaboratively enter into a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA), collectively acting as the anchor tenant for a large offsite renewable energy project.

Read the press release here.

Tweet me:How @Bloomberg, @CoxEnterprises, @GapInc, @Salesforce and @Workday closed an all-new renewable energy aggregation deal with guidance from @LevelTenEnergy. http://bit.ly/2T0KzI6

KEYWORDS: Bloomberg, vppa, Sustainable Operations


Baltimore Humane Society & Safeway Supermarkets Partner to Help Federal Workers

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SOURCE:Albertsons Companies

DESCRIPTION:

Baltimore Humane Society and Safeway have partnered to help federal employees during the government shutdown. To help employees without paychecks who are struggling to make ends meet. Baltimore Humane Society through its Bmore Kind Pet Food Bank, will be distributing dog and cat food donated by Safeway.

Safeway generously donated $10,000 worth of its Own Brand dog and cat food providing the shelter with a large supply to meet the needs of affected federal employees. Without the generosity of businesses like Safeway and the community-at-large, the Bmore Kind Pet Food Bank could not exist and the doors of the shelter would not be able to remain open.

Continue reading on Maryland Pet. Learn more about our philanthropic initiatives in our sustainability report.

Tweet me:.@Safeway donates $10,000 worth of dog and cat food to @bmorehumane to help furloughed federal workers with pets http://bit.ly/2T8qEqL #MakeEveryDayABetterDay

KEYWORDS: Safeway, baltimore, Bmore Kind Pet Food Bank, Baltimore Humane Society, government shutdown, furlough

Mars CEO Grant Reid on reinvention, future-proofing and the importance of purpose

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SOURCE:Mars, Incorporated

DESCRIPTION:

From ever-evolving consumer tastes to environmental challenges, it’s clear the world is changing rapidly – and businesses must adapt in order to keep up. In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek Editor Joel Weber, Mars Chief Executive Officer Grant Reid discusses how Mars is reinventing itself to transform a century-old business to tackle and keep abreast of social, business, political and environmental change.

Reid has an ambitious plan to double sales to $70 billion over the next decade – but to do so in a way that is sustainable, both in the way it operates and also in what it puts back into the ecosystem.

His vision for the future is simple: “The way we do business today creates the world we want tomorrow.

“It’s not just about growth for the sake of growth. We believe the bigger we are, the more good we can do. Performance without purpose is meaningless, and similarly, purpose without performance isn’t possible. It’s that magic combination.” 

Being a purpose-led business has always been at the core of the Mars philosophy, with Mars’ Five Principles deeply engrained in the company culture. “It’s a topic the Mars business and Family were talking about back in the 1940s, long before it was fashionable,” says Reid. 

But Reid states that it is this continued focus on purpose, corporate activism and taking a stance on societal issues such as climate change, that is fundamental to both transforming and future-proofing the brand. 

As part of Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation plan, Mars has been working on improving its supply chain and working in partnership with farmers to improve productivity and supply challenges imposed by the changing climate. 

“We’re basically an agricultural company that takes ingredients, from corn to cocoa, and turns them into brands. That’s really what we do, and we’re very dependent on the supply chain and the farmers. 

“We believe climate change is real, and we’ve really got to play our part. We looked at our whole supply chain, and for example, we’re now working with cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire communities, working with partners looking for ways to help improve productivity to manage some of the effects that are going on with that change.” continued Reid. 

No business can thrive in a society that is not thriving, and this requires businesses to evolve, adapt and to grow sustainably. This is what shapes Mars approach to business.  

Want to hear more? Follow this link to Grant Reid’s interview with Bloomberg Businessweek.

The interview will also be aired on Bloomberg TV on January 25th  at 9pm EST / 6pm PST / 3am CET – stay tuned!

Tweet me:From evolving consumer tastes to environmental challenges, it’s clear the world is changing rapidly – & businesses must adapt to keep up. Want to hear more? Read Mars CEO Grant Reid’s interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. http://bit.ly/2T6i241 #SustainableBusiness #SDGs

VH1 Save The Music Delivers Latest Keys+Kids Piano Grant in Atlanta

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By Lia Peralta

SOURCE:Viacom

DESCRIPTION:

Together with ZaytovenAudiomack, and Zay Area Foundation, we delivered our first Keys + Kids Piano Grant in Atlanta, GA to Benjamin E. Mays High School.

Principal, Mr. Richard Fowler, opened the assembly by talking about how it is the job of educators to ignite a passion into students and that the new instruments will encourage them to pursue music. Dr. Sara Womack of Atlanta Public Schools spoke about the importance of music education, followed by Jason Johnson of Audiomack who emphasized the company’s commitment to making sure students have the tools to grow and hopefully populate the streaming service’s platform one day. Chiho Feindler, Save The Music’s Senior Director of Programs & Policy, then led the audience in a countdown to unveil the brand-new piano!

Led by their music teacher, Ms. Garnetta Penn, the choir performed two songs, accompanied by their new piano.

Zaytoven then participated in a Q&A with the audience, answering questions about how he got started in the music industry. He first started playing the piano at church. He began making beats and it soon turned into collaborations with artists such as Usher, Future, and Gucci Mane. He talked about the challenges he faced as a producer and the desire to give back to the youth especially since now many want to be in entertainment.

Thank you to Zaytoven, Audiomack, and Zay Area Foundation for inspiring the next generation of music makers! Check out this awesome video recap from Atlanta Public Schools.

Tweet me:Together with @zaytovenbeatz, @audiomack, and Zay Area Foundation, @VH1SaveTheMusic delivered their first Keys + Kids Piano Grant in Atlanta, GA to Benjamin E. Mays High School http://bit.ly/2Mmw3YY

KEYWORDS: Viacom, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, Zaytoven, Audiomack, Zay Area Foundation, NASDAQ:VIA

  

Timberland, Journeys, and the Student Conservation Association Leave Green Footprint in New York City

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Volunteers install green roof and enhance grounds at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in East Harlem

SOURCE:Timberland

DESCRIPTION:

This past fall, Timberland convened a team of volunteers in New York to take another step toward fulfilling the brand’s five-year urban greening commitment. More than 100 volunteers from Timberland, Journeys, the Student Conservation Association and the local community gathered at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics to install a heat mitigating green roof, renovate a teaching greenhouse (also on the roof), plant trees, restore planting beds and make overall improvements to the school grounds and neighboring Thomas Jefferson Park.  New York was the second of three cities the brand greened in 2018, the others being Chicago and Los Angeles.  

Since 2016, Timberland has created or restored more than 130,000 square feet of green space in U.S. cities.  Beyond the fall events, past efforts transformed a vacant lot into a community garden in the Mott Haven community of the Bronx and planted much of the greenery for Philadelphia’s new Rail Park which opened the public this spring.  In 2018, Timberland increased its commitment, aiming to green 500,000 square feet of urban space in the U.S. by 2023.

Watch this video to see the positive impact of the New York urban greening event. To learn more about Timberland’s commitment to create better product, protect and restore the outdoors, and serve communities worldwide, visit: www.timberland.com/responsibility

Tweet me:.@Timberland, @Journeys and @the_SCA continue UrbanGreening with 100+ volunteers installing a green roof on the Manhattan Center of Science and Mathematics school in East Harlem #Timberland #EarthKeepersUnite http://bit.ly/2MrBJkf

KEYWORDS: Urban Greening, Timberland and Journeys, NYSE:VFC, Journeys, Student Conservation Association, Timberland, VF Corporation, Philadelphia’s new Rail Park, Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematic, Thomas Jefferson Park, Harlem New York

Government of Ghana Launches First of Its Kind Public-Private Partnership With Novartis to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of People With Sickle Cell Disease

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SOURCE:Novartis

SUMMARY:

  • Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana and global medicines company Novartis
  • Partnership to include the establishment of treatment guidelines, newborn screening, centers of excellence and the availability of accessible treatment options in line with the global standards of care
  • 15 000 babies are born with sickle cell disease every year in Ghana1

DESCRIPTION:

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 24, 2019 /3BL Media/ – Today, at the World Economic Forum, the Government of Ghana announced a new public-private partnership to improve the diagnosis and accelerate treatment for people with sickle cell disease (SCD), making Ghana the first African country to commit to offering the global standard of care for their people with SCD.

The Ministry of Health of Ghana, Ghana Health Service, the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana and global medicines company Novartis have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to

create a holistic approach to help tackle the disease. The partnership aims to improve and extend the lives of people with SCD through a comprehensive approach to screening and diagnosis; treatment and disease management; training and education; and elevating basic and clinical research capabilities. Specifically, the partners aim to collaborate on field testing and implementation of SCD treatment guidelines, the establishment of centers of excellence across regions and the implementation of newborn screening at these centers.

“We are pleased to partner with the Sickle Cell Foundation and Novartis in order to address sickle cell disease in Ghana,” said Hon. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Minister of Health of Ghana. “We are committed to put SCD among the priorities on our national health agenda and to put the required resources behind it. We invite like-minded partners from the public and private sectors to join us in this effort. Together, we can actively contribute to ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, as set out in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Sickle cell disease is recognized by the World Health Organization as a public health priority and a neglected health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 80% of individuals with

SCD globally are born in sub-Saharan Africa, and there is evidence to suggest that more than half of affected individuals may die before the age of five due to preventable complications. In Ghana, it is estimated that 15 000 babies are born with sickle cell disease every year.1

“We’ve known about sickle cell disease in Africa for hundreds of years, but what has not been widely known until the last 40-50 years is how rapidly SCD kills young children,” said Prof. Kwaku Ohene-Frempong, MD, President of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana and Program Coordinator for the National Newborn Screening Program for Sickle Cell Disease. “Our biggest challenge is that we simply don’t make the diagnosis early enough. Ghana is one of the few African countries that has a newborn screening program. But there’s not a single country that tests all their children for SCD. As a result, we are losing hundreds of thousands of babies across Africa each year without even a diagnosis of the disease.”  

The partners also plan to collaborate to improve accessibility of high quality treatment for patients in Ghana.  In 2018, Novartis submitted hydroxyurea, the current general standard of care for severe SCD,  for registration for the specific indication of SCD in Ghana. The Ghana FDA granted marketing authorization three months ahead of schedule (25 October 2018), making it the first time that hydroxyurea will be available to patients for this indication in Ghana. Discussions are underway for inclusion of the medicine and associated laboratory testing in the National Health Insurance Scheme, as well as prioritizing this as a national program, with direct distribution through the Ministry of Health. Hydroxyurea treatment is expected to start reaching hundreds of patients with SCD in 2019.

Novartis has also committed to explore the development of a child-friendly formulation of hydroxyurea and conduct clinical trials in Ghana for its next-generation treatments for SCD, including crizanlizumab. In addition, the company expressed its intent to help further strengthen local research and medical capacity through support of training and mentoring opportunities for the scientists and healthcare professionals, as well as to support ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the various interventions.

“Novartis has a long-term commitment to ensuring that our medicines, and healthcare in general, are accessible to as many patients as possible,” said Vas Narasimhan, MD, CEO of Novartis. “Our hope is that we’ll continue to reimagine the way this disease is treated, in order to offer better medicines and improved care to sickle cell patients in Africa and around the world. I am proud that Novartis is committed to addressing this challenge.”

About Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a hereditary and life-threatening condition that causes ongoing damage to red blood cells, blood vessels, and organs2,3. The disease affects the hemoglobin in red blood cells making the cells misshapen, stiff, sticky, and also damaging to blood vessels 4,5. When blood cells stick to one another they can form clusters in the bloodstream, which can block the flow of blood and oxygen, leading to complications such as stroke, lung, kidney and other organ damage and severe recurrent pain crises (known as vaso-occlusive crises)3,4. It is a lifelong illness that can put an emotional, physical, and financial burden on patients and their families6,7.

SCD is a global health problem, with the highest burden of disease concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. In countries in West, Central and East Africa, the prevalence of the sickle cell gene is between 10 to 30 percent, while in some areas it is as high as 45%8. It is estimated that approximately 1 000 children in Africa are born with SCD every day and more than half die before they reach five years of age9. This is due primarily to lack of early diagnosis through newborn screening, penicillin prophylaxis, parental education, and comprehensive care. In resource-poor countries, more than 90 percent of children with SCD do not survive to adulthood10. Despite the adoption by the WHO of an SCD strategy for Africa in 2010, the disease is largely absent from the global or national health agenda.

About Novartis

Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 1 billion people globally, and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 125 000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis

For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com

References

  1. Odame I. Perspective: We need a global solution. Nature. 2014 Nov;515(7526):S10
  2. Kaul D, Finnegan E, Barabino G. Sickle red cell-endothelium interactions. Microcirculation. 2009;16(1):97-111.
  3. Steinberg M. Management of sickle cell disease. N Engl J Med. 1999;340(13):1021-1030.
  4. Gutsaeva D, Parkerson J, Yerigenahally S, et. Inhibition of cell adhesion by anti–P-selectin aptamer: a new potential therapeutic agent for sickle cell disease. Blood. 2011;117(2):727-735.
  5. Sparkenbaugh E, Pawlinski R. Interplay between coagulation and vascular inflammation in sickle cell disease. J Haematol. 2013;162(1):1-22.
  6. Sanger M, Jordan L, Pruthi S, et al. Cognitive deficits are associated with unemployment in adults with sickle cell anemia. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. 2016;38(6):661-671.
  7. Anim M, Osafo J, Yirdong F. Prevalence of psychological symptoms among adults with sickle cell disease in Korie-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. BMC Psychology. 2016;4(53):1-9.
  8. https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/sickle-cell-disease
  9. Scott D. Grosse, Isaac Odame, Hani K. Atrash, et al. Sickle Cell Disease in Africa: A Neglected Cause of Early Childhood Mortality. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 41, no. S4 (December 2011): S398-405.
  10. Bernadette Modell and Matthew Darlison. Global epidemiology of haemoglobin disorders and derived service indicators. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 86, no. 6 (June 2008): 480-487.

# # #

Novartis Media Relations
Central media line: +41 61 324 2200
E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com

 
Eric Althoff
Novartis Global Media Relations
+41 61 324 7999 (direct)
+41 79 593 4202 (mobile)
 
Katerina Kontzalis
Novartis Communications
+41 61 324 1631 (direct)
+41 79 797 8393 (Mobile)

Tweet me:Sickle cell disease is a global health problem, with the highest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. @Novartis is launching a new partnership to help address this challenge. #accessinaction #NovartisNews http://bit.ly/2sIhTZa

KEYWORDS: Novartis, Ghana, sickle cell, Access in Action, NYSE:NVS

  

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