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Canada’s New Government Offers a Re-set for Sustainable Development - The Minute

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SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

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Canada’s economy, more than most in the developed world, depends on its abundant natural resources. Water for hydropower, timber for paper and wood products, minerals for the mining and manufacturing industries, oil and gas for the energy sector, and fertile ground for its agriculture are the country’s principal economic building blocks.

The newly elected Liberal Party administration is widely seen as offering the promise of a shift in direction from its Conservative predecessor, to sustainable development that includes environmental, social, and governance factors in its strategies and practices.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development, a Canadian research organization, has issued a call for Ottawa’s incoming administration to integrate ESG issues into the Federal Sustainable Development Act. As described by IISD President and CEO Scott Vaughn, seven priorities are key to bridging economic and environmental planning. They range from restoring federal environmental assessments to a new partnership with First Nations and aboriginal peoples. Vaughn’s comments make a good case that a strong Canadian economy depends on a triple bottom line approach to its profits.

 I’m John Howell for 3BL Media.

Video Source: Canada’s New Government Offers a Re-set for Sustainable Development

Tweet me:New leadership in #Canada offers promise of sustainable development http://3bl.me/tmxm3w via @3BLMedia #CSRminute #ESG

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Business & Trade, Canada, 3bl Media, CSR Minute, sustainable development


JetBlue Presents HumanKinda, a Short Film Exposing America’s Busyness Epidemic and its Effects on Our Humanity

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SOURCE:JetBlue Airways

SUMMARY:

Filmmaker, Bianca Giaever brings her whimsical, smart, and humorous tone to examine the busyness topic

— Film asks audiences to question – ‘Am I humankind or HumanKinda?’

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, New York, October 26, 2015 /3BL Media/ – JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), New York's Hometown Airline™, today announced the release of HumanKinda, a short film directed by burgeoning filmmaker Bianca Giaever, highlighting the busyness epidemic that is plaguing America. The film is available to all customers for free on Amazon Video today and can also be watched on the HumanKinda Tumblr site as well as YouTube.

HumanKinda is the feeling of being so busy that you are losing your humanity. As JetBlue continues to look for new ways to inspire humanity, the film, presented through the independent lens of Giaever, delivers a uniquely entertaining way to encourage people to question their busyness.

“Everyone knows someone who uses busyness as a badge of honor, but we see it as a cultural shift that is affecting us all,” said Jamie Perry, vice president of brand and product development at JetBlue. “We are presenting this film to stimulate more conversation about busyness, and further our mission of inspiring humanity. We hope to inspire viewers to pause and reflect on where they’re putting time and energy, and take steps toward living their life to the fullest.”

Director Bianca Giaever brings her whimsical, smart and humorous point of view on a journey following two busy subjects, a single mom from New Jersey and a young man from Washington, D.C. with eight different jobs, as they seek advice from relaxation experts, visit with retired women in their golden years, and hear from a man who has rebelled against the system, living without a smart phone for more than a year. 

The film was made in conjunction with award-winning production and entertainment company m ss ng p eces, which is recognized for pioneering branded content and original series that celebrate the human spirit, innovation, art and culture.  

JetBlue is educating and inspiring additional conversations on the topic of busyness with a social ecosystem of shareable content housed on Tumblr and extending to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest channels. Over 100 pieces of original content were created to stimulate discussions with the hope of permeating the cultural zeitgeist while encouraging people to take pause and reflect on their own busyness levels.

With a continued commitment to entertainment innovations, JetBlue is presenting the film on Amazon Video and will expand to its seatback TVs later this year. JetBlue and Amazon announced earlier this year that it would bring instant streaming video onboard to create an unmatched entertainment experience in the sky.

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About JetBlue
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline™, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 32 million customers a year to 91 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of 875 daily flights. For more information please visit JetBlue.com.

About Bianca Giaever (Gay-ver)

Bianca Giaever (b. April 6, 1990) is a filmmaker whose work has been featured in places such as The New York Times,  BuzzfeedShort of the Week, and the TED conference. In 2013, USA Today falsely reported that she had a six-year-old son, and then subsequently named her film, the Scared is scared, “Web Video of the Year.” She attended Middlebury College, where she designed her own major called “Narrative Studies,” and graduated in the class of 2012. She also teaches storytelling workshops and gives talks. Originally from Seattle, she now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

M SS NG P ECES

m ss ng p eces is a production and entertainment company inspired by storytelling, technology and the limitless potential of the web. We provide production and creative services to likeminded collaborators. Since 2005, we've hand-crafted stories and experiences that celebrate the human spirit, innovation, art and culture. We are a full-service, integrated production company that creates commercials and content for television, online, mobile, virtual reality and live experiences. Our roster brings together some of the best directors in the world that bridge the traditional broadcast/content divide, who are supported by an extraordinary network of production and post-production talent. We are proud to be part of the 2015 Production Company A-List. 

MEDIA CONTACTS
JetBlue Corporate Communications 
Tel: +1 718 709 3089
corpcomm@jetblue.com
 

 

 

Tweet me:Watch #HumanKinda bit.ly/1Rx9YBQ a Short Film Exposing America’s Busyness Epidemic @JetBlue

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, HumanKinda, M SS NG P ECES, JetBlue Airways, Bianca Giaever, America’s Busyness Epidemic, humanity

Eastman Engineers Help Get Unit Ops Lab Running

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The growing partnership between the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee and Eastman has become a working arrangement—literally.

SOURCE:Eastman Chemical Company

DESCRIPTION:

A team of engineers from Eastman in Kingsport, Tenn. came to help install equipment and experiments in the Eastman Unit Ops Laboratory in the Nathan W. Dougherty Engineering Building at the University of Tennessee. In the lab, students can see what it is like to work on various processes that they would encounter in a working chemical plant environment.

To read more about the innovative partnership, click here.

 

Tweet me:The partnership between @COE_UTK and @EastmanChemCo continues to grow http://bit.ly/1N32hUT #innovation #education

KEYWORDS: Education, Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Eastman, university of tennessee, engineering, College

10 Reasons Why the 2015 FFA Convention Rocks

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SOURCE:Farm Credit

DESCRIPTION:

By Amelia Sprague

The Farm Credit team has their bags packed, and is ready to return to the 2015 National FFA Convention and Expo this week in Louisville, Ky. Once again we’ll be rockin’ out with the next generation of farmers, ranchers and advocates for rural America at the Farm Credit booth (#1519).

This year Farm Credit is celebrating its centennial anniversary, and we invite all FFA attendees to join us for a little boot stompin’ and booth rockin’. Stop by the booth (#1519) to learn more about career opportunities with Farm Credit and our 100-year milestone, including the Fresh Perspectives program, honoring the changing face and future of rural America.

If you can’t make it to Louisville, be sure to follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #FarmCreditRocks, #FarmCredit100 and #AmplifyFFA. To help us count down to the opening session of the 88th Annual FFA Convention, we’ve put together a list of 10 reasons why the 2015 FFA Convention rocks!

The awards. During convention, FFA competitive events, programs and awards are recognized on a national stage bringing members together to be inspired and celebrate their accomplishments.

The line dancing at booth #1519. Farm Credit's booth will have line dancing, a prize spin wheel and an interactive photo booth.

The confidence boost. All of FFA’s knowledge sharing helps members become confident with their skills.

The career advice. By taking part in opportunities like in-depth career success tours, students benefit from professional development that gives them a competitive edge in today's market. Farm Credit will have experts at booth #1519 to give career advice.

Students with similar interests. With more than 60,000 FFA members and guests in attendance, students celebrate being part of an organization that supports and encourages one another.

The opportunity to give back. Each year, members participate in the National Days of Service at the FFA Convention & Expo

The dance party. What better way to wrap up the convention?

The learning workshops. These leadership and personal growth workshops help students learn the ins and outs of the industry.

The career options. With so many different areas in the ag industry, experts at the Expo help students find the best path.

The concert. Jake Owen…enough said.

Tweet me:10 Farmtastic Gifs Showing Why the 2015 @NationalFFA Convention Rocks #AmplifyFFA #FarmCreditRocks #FarmCredit100 http://3bl.me/3ppr9d

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Ethical Production and Consumption, AmplifyFFA, FFA, FarmCredit100, Farm Credit Careers, Farm Credit Rocks, FFA Convention, Future Farmers of America, young farmers, beginning farmers

Slavery in Your Supply Chain is a Risk No Company Should Face, Here's Why

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SOURCE:Source Intelligence®

DESCRIPTION:

As companies begin to expand into global markets, many of their legal departments are catching up on the specifics of the U.K.’s Modern Day Slavery Act. The enforcement for this legislation is increasing heavily and it is up to companies doing business within the UK to take notice.

As it focuses on the growing issue of supply chain transparency and slavery, it drives to have companies take a more serious and in-depth look into their own supply chain in order to eradicate this on going problem. With most companies and their supply chains, it may come to no surprise that there is a possible risk of this problem. Governmental entities are increasing their enforcement in order to have more liability put on the companies that have riskier supply chains.

Section 54 of the Modern Day Slavery Act applies to any commercial organization that supplies goods or services in the UK. Typically the larger the organization the more complex the supply chain, either way, the importance of knowing there is no slavery within the supply chain is crucial.

Some companies are not aware of the specifics when it comes to this new piece of legislation coming out of the UK. Some of the important facts about this law is ensuring there are details in the steps taken that there is no human trafficking or forced labor in the business and its supply chain.

Although there has not been a formal piece of guidance on this new law many interested parties have created guides on what to look for and how to comply with this new legislation. Although some companies have taken the necessary steps to move forward with their business operations in the UK, many have not and stand to face heavy fines and public scrutiny if some action is not taken.

In an effort to increase the awareness of this matter, Source Intelligence along with its subject matter experts have dived into the specifics regarding Modern Day Slavery Act and SB-657. To watch this informative video on demand click here    

Tweet me:#Slavery still exists and it may be in your company's supply chain. Know your chain. @sourceintel http://3bl.me/kzt938

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Business & Trade, modern day slavery act, slavery, supply chain, supply chain transparency, UK, SEC, Source Intelligence

CSX Employees and Partners Volunteer at Grandview Elementary School in Charleston, West Virginia

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SOURCE:CSX Corporation

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CHARLESTON, W.Va., October 26, 2015/3BL Media/ CSX employees gathered at Grandview Elementary School in Charleston, W.V. on Saturday to spend the morning volunteering to improve the school. They were joined by CSX’s national service partners City Year, Action for Healthy Kids and Arbor Day Foundation, along with volunteers from the community and school.

“The CSX team always enjoys opportunities to volunteer with our colleagues and neighbors as a part of our ‘Beyond Our Rails’ program,” said Randy Cheetham, regional vice president for state government and community affairs, CSX. “Grandview Elementary School has been a great ally for our community with its health and wellness programs for students, and we are honored to have the opportunity to volunteer at their school and support a learning environment where students can grow and succeed.”

In total, more than 85 volunteers worked together to install a student garden, plant trees, create a nature trail and outdoor classroom, and paint murals and graphics in the hallways, gym, cafeteria and playground.

“We’re proud to partner with CSX to create more welcoming school environments for the students we serve,” said Ted Marquis, Vice President of Care Force, City Year. “Our City Year AmeriCorps members work in 27 cities across the country to help students stay in school and on track to graduate ready for college and career. We appreciate opportunities like this one to work with a company like CSX that truly cares about giving back to the communities they serve and the broader community to support schools through service.”

Saturday’s event was one in a series of service days that CSX has been hosting during 2015 to unite national nonprofit partners with local organizations and employees to give back at schools. These efforts are all part of CSX’s #LocalMotive, an ongoing conversation about the company’s presence in the communities it serves through volunteerism, job creation and moving essential goods.

CSX has strong ties to Charleston, where the company has several major facilities. In West Virginia, CSX operates and maintains more than 2,000 miles of track and handles nearly 1.7 million carloads of freight each year. Learn more about CSX’s presence in West Virginia and view the #LocalMotive conversation online at www.beyondourrails.org/localmotive.

About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For nearly 190 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX). 

 

Tweet me:.@CSX Employees and Partners Volunteer at Grandview Elementary School in Charleston, West Virginia http://3bl.me/keenez

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Education, CSX

Caterpillar Commits to Energy Access for Rural Indonesian Islands

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SOURCE:Caterpillar

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WASHINGTON, October 26, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) today reiterated its commitment to Indonesia at the US-Indonesia Investment Summit. With President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, in attendance, Caterpillar signed both a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and made an intention to invest that demonstrate its long-term commitment to the Indonesian market.

The MOU between Caterpillar, Fluidic Inc., a leading manufacturer of energy storage systems and PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company, will see the three companies provide reliable and renewable based electricity to 500 remote villages and islands, utilizing more than 35MWp of photovoltaic panels and in excess of 250MWh of energy storage.

The “500 Island Project” as it’s referred to, will provide electricity to more than 1.5 million people which we believe would be considered one of the most ambitious rural electrification projects in the world, and will help the Indonesian Government achieve its ambitious rural electrification targets faster than otherwise possible.

In addition to the 500 Island Project, Caterpillar also announced its intention to invest in remanufacturing capabilities in Indonesia. Caterpillar has been a leader in remanufacturing, which returns products at the end of their lives to same-as-new condition.

This not only helps reduce owning and operating costs by providing our customers same-as-new quality at a fraction of the cost of a new part, but also benefits the environment by finding new ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and reclaim materials.

“Caterpillar has operated in Indonesia for over 30 years and we are committed to our customers and partners for the long-term. We are supportive of President Widodo’s infrastructure investment plans. The commitments we are making today, in the face of difficult global economic conditions, are a vote of confidence in the potential of the Indonesian market,” said Jim Umpleby, group president with responsibility for Energy & Transportation.

Caterpillar Indonesia started in 1982, with Cat® equipment being sold in the market since 1971. Today, Caterpillar Indonesia has more than 500 employees across various business units and operations in country. Together, along with our dealers/distributors and suppliers, more than 6,800 people work in support of Caterpillar. We are committed to offering our customers in Indonesia the same range of quality products, services and solutions to help customers be successful.

 

About Caterpillar
For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2014 sales and revenues of $55.184 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Resource Industries, Construction Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release relate to future events and expectations and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “believe,” “estimate,” “will be,” “will,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “could,” “should” or other similar words or expressions often identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our outlook, projections, forecasts or trend descriptions. These statements do not guarantee future performance, and we do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

Caterpillar’s actual results may differ materially from those described or implied in our forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) global and regional economic conditions and economic conditions in the industries we serve; (ii) government monetary or fiscal policies and infrastructure spending; (iii) commodity price changes, component price increases, fluctuations in demand for our products or significant shortages of component products; (iv) disruptions or volatility in global financial markets limiting our sources of liquidity or the liquidity of our customers, dealers and suppliers; (v) political and economic risks, commercial instability and events beyond our control in the countries in which we operate; (vi) failure to maintain our credit ratings and potential resulting increases to our cost of borrowing and adverse effects on our cost of funds, liquidity, competitive position and access to capital markets; (vii) our Financial Products segment’s risks associated with the financial services industry; (viii) changes in interest rates or market liquidity conditions; (ix) an increase in delinquencies, repossessions or net losses of Cat Financial’s customers; (x) new regulations or changes in financial services regulations; (xi) a failure to realize, or a delay in realizing, all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; (xii) international trade policies and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position; (xiii) our ability to develop, produce and market quality products that meet our customers’ needs; (xiv) the impact of the highly competitive environment in which we operate on our sales and pricing; (xv) failure to realize all of the anticipated benefits from initiatives to increase our productivity, efficiency and cash flow and to reduce costs; (xvi) additional restructuring costs or a failure to realize anticipated savings or benefits from past or future cost reduction actions; (xvii) inventory management decisions and sourcing practices of our dealers and our OEM customers; (xviii) compliance with environmental laws and regulations; (xix) alleged or actual violations of trade or anti-corruption laws and regulations; (xx) additional tax expense or exposure; (xxi) currency fluctuations; (xxii) our or Cat Financial’s compliance with financial covenants; (xxiii) increased pension plan funding obligations; (xxiv) union disputes or other employee relations issues; (xxv) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or government investigations; (xxvi) changes in accounting standards; (xxvii) failure or breach of IT security; (xxviii) adverse effects of unexpected events including natural disasters; and (xxix) other factors described in more detail under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 17, 2015, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Tweet me:500 Island Project w/ @CaterpillarInc will provide #electricity to over 1.5M rural Indonesians. http://3bl.me/s3e66t

Contact Info:

Matt Lavoie
Global Government and Corporate Affairs (Washington, D.C.)
+1 (202) 898-3223
lavoie_matthew@cat.com

William Oei
Global Government and Corporate Affairs (Asia-Pacific)
+65-68287485
oei_william@cat.com

KEYWORDS: Energy, Alternative Energy, Caterpillar Inc, Remanufacturing, Indonesia, Rural Electrification, infrastructure, 500 Islands

U.N. Sustainable Development Goals: Defending Women in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

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by Kelly Eisenhardt

SOURCE:CSRwire

DESCRIPTION:

Womankind Worldwide has helped more than 18 million women and their families across the globe over the last 26 years with issues of discrimination, poverty, and violence. The organization sees the newly passed U.N. Sustainable Development Goals as a path toward the future and as a way to engage all levels of government and civil society in the safety and empowerment of women and their families.

Claire Hickson is the Head of Policy and Communications at Womankind Worldwide. She has over 15 years’ experience working in international development policy and advocacy, working for the UK Department for International Development in London and Nigeria, Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa, international NGO Saferworld and as a consultant to a wide range of international organizations, including Amnesty International UK, Farm Africa, Self Help Africa and Save the Children UK.

Continue reading the interview on CSRwire >>

Kelly Eisenhardt is Co-Founder and Managing Director at BlueCircle Advisors, an environmental compliance and sustainability consulting and training firm based in Massachusetts (www.bluecircleadvisors.com.)  In her role at BlueCircle Advisors, she is responsible for providing business intelligence, strategy and implementation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk programs.  Her experience aligns well with her client’s needs for technology, compliance, and sustainability expertise by helping companies create and manage their corporate environmental and social responsibility programs. She specializes in strategy, planning, and reporting for Conflict Minerals, RoHS, and REACH. She is also a member of the Corporate Responsibility Association and participates in the Ratings and Rankings, as well as Responsible Supply Chain committees.

Tweet me:The lack of representation of #women in all governments at all levels leads to further discrimination http://3bl.me/rrgz8s via @CSRwire

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSRwire, U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, women’s rights, Womankind Worldwide, Women's Empowerment


Common Impact Showcases Corporate Innovation for Pro Bono Week

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Charles Schwab and Marriott International launch new models

SOURCE:Common Impact

DESCRIPTION:

New York, October 27, 2015 - Common Impact, a nonprofit that pioneered corporate skills-based volunteering as a resource for strengthening local communities, showcased two new models of corporate pro bono service during Pro Bono Week (#PBW15, October 26th–30th).

These models, led by Fortune 500 companies Charles Schwab and Marriott help answer two critical questions that have arisen for companies as skills-based volunteering has gained popularity in recent years:  How do you truly integrate pro bono service into your company’s culture and how do you bring it to scale?   

“Skills-based volunteering has gained significant attention from the business community in recent years because of the deep impact it has on a company’s nonprofit partners, and the experiential learning opportunity it provides to employees,” stated Common Impact CEO Danielle Holly.  “Still, companies are trying to figure out how to make these programs work for the specific talents and resources they bring to bear.  Charles Schwab and Marriott have figured out how to shape skills-based volunteering in a way that brings the most value possible to their communities and their employees.”

Fostering a Culture of Innovation
Last week, Marriott piloted a Community Innovation Challenge as part of Innovation Days, a three day event that incubates creativity in its employees.  The Community Innovation Challenge, designed and facilitated by Common Impact, channeled that innovation skill set to support partner Capital Area Food Bank in transforming their volunteers into life-long advocates for addressing hunger in the DC metro area.  The challenge brought Marriott employees into a friendly competition with each other to identify new ways to inspire CAFB volunteers to join the fight against hunger. 

“The ability to innovate is a critical part of our culture, “ said Anna Mancebo, Vice President insight + strategy + innovation. “We’re constantly identifying ways in which we can design new products, services and experiences for our customers across the globe.  We saw an opportunity to direct those talents towards solving challenges outside of Marriott’s walls -- to support a community partner that’s working to alleviate hunger in our hometown.” 

Several community members, CAFB volunteers and staff members joined each Marriott team and the panel of judges that selected the winning solution. 

“Having the expertise of the Capital Area Food Bank staff side-by-side with our teams of Marriott employees really helped identify creative but feasible solutions,” said Mari Snyder, Vice President, CSR at Marriott.  “Hunger and food scarcity is a key CSR issue Marriott works to address globally.  The Capital Area Food Bank is a long-time community partner of ours with a proven model of success.  It was a perfect match.” 

 At the end of the challenge, Marriott announced that it would provide Capital Area Food Bank seed funds to implement the winning solution.  When asked to reflect on the day, the verdict came through loud and clear.  “Let’s do it again!” exclaimed Marriott employee Julie Halstead.

Bringing Pro Bono to Scale
Meanwhile, across the country, San Francisco-based financial services giant Charles Schwab launched its Pro Bono Challenge, a six-week-long period during which day-long strategic consulting sessions engage more than 50 nonprofits and nearly 300 employees across six key regions:  San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, Orlando, and Phoenix.  The Pro Bono Challenge selects predominately senior level Schwab professionals with expertise in marketing, finance, operations, strategy technology, human relations and client relations and matches them with community partners that are in need of that specific expertise in order to expand the impact of their services.  Each of the Schwab teams in the six regions spend a full day consulting with the selected nonprofits in order to help them achieve targeted goals. Schwab incubated the model in 2014 to better understand how it could quickly scale to all of its regions. 

“We knew we could make a significant, lasting impact if we offered nonprofit s access to professional expertise of Schwab employees right in their home town, “said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, president and chair of Charles Schwab Foundation. “By sharing local Schwab employees’ deep expertise and intellectual capital across multiple business disciplines, our nonprofit partners will be better able to leverage their own strengths and maximize their impact in their local communities.  We are thrilled to ramp up our pro bono efforts on a greater scale this year and look forward to expanding this work in years to come.” 

One of the key elements of scale has been to equip leaders on the ground to steward the program with support from the Schwab Community Services team at Schwab headquarters in San Francisco.  A Schwab employee from each region was selected and trained to implement the program in a way that fit the local culture, employee base and nonprofit organizations. 

The results have been powerful.  Barrie Hathaway, Executive Director of The Stride Center, a recipient of Schwab’s pro bono services, said “We didn’t have an ‘ah-ha’ moment, we had an ‘ah-ha’ two hours. It was invaluable to tell our story and have the team reflect it back to us. We came here to work on a piece of new collateral – we’re leaving with not just new collateral but an entirely new way of marketing ourselves.”  

Schwab Employees are also reaping the benefits. Susan Forman, vice president of public relations at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., said “The freedom to be creative was such a gift. It was very gratifying to see the impact of our work.”

Schwab’s Pro Bono Challenge is estimated to provide $350,000 in value to the participating nonprofit participants during this inaugural year. For more information, visit http://www.aboutschwab.com/community.

About Common Impact
Common Impact is a nationally-recognized nonprofit that works to build a society in which individuals and businesses invest their unique talents towards a shared purpose: strengthening the local communities in which we live and work. Founded in 2000, Common Impact has partnered with Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of the country’s leading nonprofit organizations to create this transformational change through skills-based volunteering. Learn more about Common Impact’s servicesimpact, and clients.

Tweet me:.@CommonImpact @Marriott & @CharlesSchwab reveal new models of #probono for innovation and scale http://3bl.me/6ehde4 #PBW15 #SBV15

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Business & Trade, csr, Probono, skillls-based volunteering, Innovation, Talent Development, organizational culture, Common Impact

Beam Me Up, Solar – a National Grid Connect21 Video

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Massachusetts has taken a huge leadership position in solar energy. How is solar helping your community?

SOURCE:National Grid

DESCRIPTION:

On this stop of our Connect21 video series, we describe how we’re using 16MW of solar to address two goals: (1) finding new ways to lower energy prices in the region, and (2) continuing to find ways to give our customers access to renewable power.

Join leaders from National Grid, the town of Shirley, Mass, and Borrego Solar, for a glimpse of the power of solar in Massachusetts:

- How is the town of Shirley realizing the benefits of its solar site?
- Why have we started tilting solar panels southwest?
- How many solar panels make up 1MW of solar?

Our video series started with an overview of Connect21 and includes footage of the important infrastructure projects we are working on in each of our jurisdictions. Visit here to watch any you’ve missed. We’ll be ending the tour in a couple weeks in Upstate New York, with an overview of the Potsdam Microgrid.

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, or our Connecting website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube, Like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.

Tweet me:.@nationalgridus Beam Us Up #solar to reduce energy costs http://bit.ly/1O5bddM and give customers access to renewable power #Connect21

KEYWORDS: Energy, Solar, Connect21, National Grid, reduce energy costs, renewable power, sustainability

Get in the (Engagement) Loop: Gamification for Workplace Giving Programs

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SOURCE:Benevity

DESCRIPTION:

Unsung Heroes that Motivate Greater Giving Participation

Tap into your team’s passion for giving – and have a little fun while you’re at it. We’ve put together a list of motivational (but often overlooked) features for corporate giving and matching programs that increase participation by creating an Engagement Loop.

Click here to see the full Infographic.

Tweet me:How to incorporate #gamification into #workplacegiving http://3bl.me/nzvkbh @benevity

KEYWORDS: Technology, Business & Trade, Gamification, workplace giving, Social Change, motivation, Donation, Employee Engagement, employee giving, benevity, Infographic

Do You Work for a Community-Minded Company? Check Out The Civic 50!

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SOURCE:Points of Light

DESCRIPTION:

Does your company care about the communities where it does business? Join us Oct. 30, 2015 for a free webinar about participating in The Civic 50, an initiative of Points of Light that honors the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation each year as determined by an annual survey.

Benchmarking and sharing the best practices of community engagement offers companies that participate in The Civic 50 a roadmap for using their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. The Civic 50 will help translate good intentions into sound business practices for years to come.

In this webinar, from 1 - 2 p.m. Eastern, you will learn:

  • What makes The Civic 50 survey unique
  • Why your company should participate
  • Technical and logistical details about the survey submission process

Register today!

If you can't join us for the webinar, but would like more information, please visit www.Civic50.org, email Civic50@pointsoflight.org or call 202-644-7245.

Tweet me:What community-minded businesses need to know about the #Civic50: ow.ly/TQRuG. Join @TheCivic50 10/30, 1-2 pm ET @PointsofLight

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Awards and Recognition, Corporate Social Responsibility, Points of Light, The Civic 50, corporate volunteerism, Points of Light Corporate Institute

Celebrating ENERGY STAR Day and Our 20-Year Partnership with ENERGY STAR

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SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

In honor of ENERGY STAR Day, we’re looking back on our 20-year partnership with the U.S. EPA’s energy efficiency program.

With ENERGY STAR’s help, we’ve saved $435 million in energy costs in our facilities, and reduced the energy intensity and carbon emissions of these facilities by 40 and 41 percent, respectively.

Here are a few of our biggest milestones from the past two decades of partnership.

1995

  • ENERGY STAR launches its certification program for commercial and industrial buildings and our partnership begins. Just three years after the program’s launch, the ENERGY STAR logo has already become a powerful symbol among consumers, synonymous with a product that is the most efficient of its kind. So for us, joining the program was an obvious choice. We hoped to leverage this emotional appeal consumers had for the ENERGY STAR brand to highlight the great work our plants were doing to reduce their energy footprint.

2000

  • We officially integrate energy into our business plan, developing daily processes and allocating a dedicated budget for energy efficiency improvements across our facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Top leadership understands the business value of energy reduction and we increase funding for energy management projects as a result. Investing in energy efficiency benefits our bottom line.

2001

  • We join ENERGY STAR’s newly formed Motor Vehicle Manufacturing focus group. The group is a partnership among automakers that share best practices and insights in order to improve energy efficiency across the entire manufacturing sector. We remain active in the program and continue to benefit from networking with other energy managers from our industry today.

We often collaborate with our competitors – it’s an important and necessary step to driving industry-wide change. But as you might expect, there’s always a sense of reluctance when you ask companies to share their best practices with direct competitors. As a neutral party, ENERGY STAR helps alleviate those concerns. They also provide a valuable outside perspective that may otherwise be overlooked from our focus group members looking through a purely automotive-manufacturing lens.

2002

  • We earn our first award from ENERGY STAR for Excellence in Energy Management in recognition of efforts to include environmental issues into our everyday business decisions.

2004

  • Because of continued progress, GM earns the ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence in Energy Management.

2006

  • We host our first formal “energy treasure hunts” at GM facilities in Asia and Europe to engage employees in identifying energy savings opportunities. Though we had already developed and organized several activities for our energy managers in past years, we continue to refine and improve our energy treasure hunts by incorporating best practices and resources from ENERGY STAR’s Energy Treasure Hunt Guide. We now use energy treasure hunts as an educational tool for graduate students as a part of the EDF Climate Corps summer fellowship program we support.

2010

  • By 2010, we implemented our Energy OnStar management system to track energy data in our plants. The system provides real-time monitoring of energy per unit produced and continuous commissioning of facility heating and cooling systems, allowing for real-time analysis and adjustments. 

2011

  • We engage enter all of our facilities in the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, and 30 U.S. facilities meet the challenge by reducing energy intensity by at least 10 percent in five years or less. These 30 facilities cut energy intensity by an average of 25 percent – equivalent to the emissions from powering nearly 100,000 U.S. homes.
  • Our Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant becomes the first GM facility to earnENERGY STAR Certification and the right to hang that iconic ENERGY STAR logo on its building. The plant uses efficient lighting, monitors hourly energy use and engages employees to think green.

2012

  • ENERGY STAR names GM a Partner of the Year for energy management, citing our commitment to energy efficiency, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and $15 million savings in annual energy costs.
  • Our Lansing Customer Care and Aftersales parts distribution center becomes GM’s second U.S. facility to earn ENERGY STAR Certification, generating 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions and 35 percent less energy than similar buildings nationwide.

2013

  • We earn the highest recognition a corporation can receive from the U.S. EPA – ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence for energy management.
  • Three GM facilities meet ENERGY STAR’s Battle of the Buildings for their 2012 performance. This program provides a platform for companies to save not only energy, but water and money, too. Together, the three buildings cut energy use by more than 20,000 metric tons of CO2.

2014

  • For the second consecutive year, we receive the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for energy management. ENERGY STAR also recognizes us as a Partner of the Year for climate communications for efforts to create awareness among our employees, customers and other stakeholders about the importance of energy efficiency and the impacts of climate change.

2015

  • Déjà vu: GM is named 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence in Energy Management and Partner of the Year for Climate Communications for the third and second years in row, respectively.
  • We host an energy boot camp with other automakers, suppliers and ENERGY STAR at our Warren Technical Center, home to our LEED Gold-certified data center and global energy management team. ENERGY STAR suggested the format based on a similar event organized by partners from its Small Business Network.
  • To celebrate National Energy Action Month, we launch “Bring Your Green to GM,” an employee energy awareness campaign that incorporates many of the ideas outlined in ENERGY STAR’s Bring Your Green to Work checklist.

We have come a long way in the 20 years we’ve worked with ENERGY STAR and have benefitted greatly from the partnership. We look forward to the next 20 years of our partnership with ENERGY STAR and continuing to drive energy efficiency improvement across our organization and the industry at large.

Tweet me:Today @GM is celebrating #ENERGYSTARDay and reflecting on its 20-year partnership with @ENERGYSTAR http://bit.ly/1MgHesP

KEYWORDS: Energy, Awards and Recognition, GM, General Motors, Energy Star, #ENERGYSTARday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Challenge for Industry, Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, EDF Climate Corps, LEED

     

China’s Cheap Steel Has High Cost to the Environment

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by Sangeeta Haindl

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

Xi Jinping, China’s President visited Britain in the same week that Tata Steel announced job cuts at its U.K. steel plants. Global steel price is at its lowest level in more than a decade, so it is no surprise that the U.K.’s production is becoming economically unviable. China’s economic slowdown has caused a fall in their demand for steel of four percent last year. It could be six percent lower this year. It’s estimated that despite China’s current slowdown, it will still produce one billion tons of steel per year by 2030; that’s roughly half of all global production.

The U.K. steel crisis threatens severe knock-on effects, with jobs threatened throughout the supply chain for the industry. Many towns with steel plants rely on the sector’s workers to spend money in local shops and other businesses. Steel itself provides the basic material for infrastructure and construction needs around the world. It is the material to build climate resilient cities and coastal protection, as steel-based protective designs minimise the impacts of natural disasters. It could be the solution to many challenges from increased emissions of CO2, use of scarce resources and growing challenges to the disposal of waste. As steel can be recycled, its by-products and waste energies are valuable resources.

To continue reading, click here

Photo CreditWikipedia

Sangeeta Haindl writes on women and children; social innovation; social enterprise and social entrepreneurs. She is the founder of Serendipity PR, in London, U.K., where she works with high-profile brands and organizations in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors, winning awards for her work from the communications industry. She is chairman of and director of London's leading conscious well-being organisation, Alternatives, which hosts leading speakers such as Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch and many other well-known names. She describes herself as a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Conscious Explorer; enjoying helping others, paying it forward and being a mum.

Tweet me:Cheap steel, but at what price? http://bit.ly/1k7AkzF via @Justmeans @SangeetaHaindl

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, China, Climate Change Talks Paris, steel, UK, pollution, Cause Global, Justmeans, tata steel

3BL Media Webinar Focuses on ROI of Community Involvement Programs

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Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship Discusses Latest Research

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

SUMMARY:

Join 3BL Media and Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship for a free webinar Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. ET. 

Register here

DESCRIPTION:

Corporate social responsibility and sustainability executives trying to make the business case for community involvement activities should attend the next 3BL Media “Best Practices” webinar, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. ET. 

During this free event, the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship will discuss its 2015 Community Involvement Study, a unique research report that explores how companies are investing in communities and how these efforts connect to their businesses.

Conducted for the 11th time since 1995, the study finds that the majority of companies today report that community involvement contributes to key business goals including improved reputation and the attraction and retention of employees.

Registration is now open for the webinar. 

Register here.

“Business decisions are made using hard data, and this comprehensive study of the value of community involvement activities helps companies gain a better understanding of the strongest direct and indirect benefits of this growing aspect of corporate citizenship,” said Dave Armon, CMO of 3BL Media, who will moderate the 45-minute roundtable discussion. “

The findings will be presented by Colleen Olphert, director of membership for the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship.

Webinar attendees will hear how companies continue to fund community K-12 education and youth programs, and how health and wellness initiatives are gaining momentum as priorities.  The BCCCC study also identified community involvement efforts as contributing positively to companies entering new markets, reducing waste and achieving sustainable supply chains.

About 3BL Media

Founded in 2009, 3BL Media is a corporate communications platform exclusively for the distribution of corporate social responsibility and sustainability news and content. Founded in 2009, the company works with corporations and non-profits to distribute multi-format media assets through social, traditional and new media channels. 3BL has grown organically and through acquisition, operating a network of focused, authoritative sites including CSRwire, Justmeans, SocialEarth, Ethical Performance and ReportAlert. Content issued by 3BL Media clients also appears on hundreds of thousands of Bloomberg and Reuters terminals.

About the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

Based in the Carroll School of Management, the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship is a network of over 400 member corporations integrating best practices, experience and research helping align corporate citizenship objectives and business goals.

Contact: Dave Armon of 3BL Media, 866.508.0993, ext. 123, or darmon@3blmedia.com

Tweet me:Webinar to cover ROI of Community Involvement http://3bl.me/anwrdd. Join @3BLMedia and @BCCCC Nov. 17 at 11AM ET #corpcomms

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Media & Communications, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship (BCCCC), 3bl Media, sustainability communications, #3blwebinar


Volunteer Programs: Developing and Managing an Effective Employee Volunteer Program

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SOURCE:Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

DESCRIPTION:

Our forthcoming Community Involvement survey finds that among companies that measure, more than 90% of companies with employee volunteer programs see higher employee engagement. Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship research finds that nearly 70% of executive respondents view employee volunteer programs as a top priority. Yet, according to the Community Involvement survey, participation in volunteer efforts hovers in the 30% range. Read more.

So how can you deliver more business and social value by increasing employee participation in corporate volunteer programs?

Volunteer Programs: Developing and Managing an Effective Employee Volunteer Program will help you design an effective volunteer program or breathe new life into a legacy program. Find out more.

Tweet me:Are you looking to breathe new life into a legacy employee volunteer program? or start from scratch? Learn more: http://bit.ly/1S7YJAB

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Events, Conferences & Webinars

BCSFA Publishes First Sustainability Progress Report

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SOURCE:BC Salmon Farmers Association

SUMMARY:

Salmon farmers in British Columbia are taking further steps towards increasing the availability of information on farming practices and key areas of public interest by publishing a Sustainability Progress Report, released today at GOAL 2015 in Vancouver.  The report, a first for salmon farmers in B.C., includes information on all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. 

DESCRIPTION:

VANCOUVER, October 27, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Salmon farmers in British Columbia are taking further steps towards increasing the availability of information on farming practices and key areas of public interest by publishing a Sustainability Progress Report, released today at GOAL 2015 in Vancouver.  The report, a first for salmon farmers in B.C., includes information on all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. 

The report provides clarification and updates on a number of issues of public interest. Key highlights include:

  • Antibiotic use in the B.C. salmon farming industry, while low, has decreased seven-fold over the past decade, currently sitting at approximately 50 grams of antibiotic prescribed per tonne of production.
  • Significant improvements have been made by feed development companies to replace marine oil and protein sources with plant and animal sources.  Today the majority of salmon feed contains less than 18% marine-based products.
  • Salmon farmers are committed to third-party certification: every farm in B.C. meets the requirements of at least one third-party system. 
  • 78% of salmon raised in B.C. is done so under an agreement with First Nations. 
  • Salmon farming contributes over $1.1-billion towards the B.C. economy and results in about 5,000 jobs. 

“There have been great gains made in many facets of this business, which began in B.C. just over 30 years ago, and there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director of the BCSFA.  Our members have shown the commitment and dedication to ensuring the long-term stability of the sector, the ocean environment and marine wild species.  This report helps to both share those gains and continue the dialogue on further improvements.” 

The BCSFA intends to release annual updates to its Sustainability Progress Report, which is in addition to information published by member companies, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and other academic sources, provides an extremely comprehensive view into the operations of B.C.’s salmon farms.  In addition, BCSFA member companies growing Atlantic salmon have also begun publishing information on sea lice management online on a monthly basis.  This information will include lice levels on farms as well as any management measures that may have been taken.   

The BCSFA Sustainability Progress Report was released during a session to delegates at the Global Aquaculture Alliance GOAL conference, which has brought 400 aquaculture industry leaders, as well as retail and foodservice professionals, academia, representatives of NGO’s and governments from around the world to Canada for the first time.  

About the BC Salmon Farmers Association:

B.C. salmon farmers grow 58% of all salmon raised in Canada and account for 60% of the total landed value of seafood in British Columbia, generating more than $1.14-billion towards the provincial economy.  The BCSFA represents the province’s vibrant and diversified salmon aquaculture sector, inclusive of companies raising salmon, as well as the businesses that proudly provide services and supplies.

For more information visit BCSalmonFarmers.ca

Tweet me:.@BCSalmonFarmers publish first #Sustainability Progress Report http://3bl.me/bb25n6

Contact Info:

Sabrina Santoro
BC Salmon Farmers Associaiton
+1 (604) 202-4417
sabrina@bcsalmonfarmers.ca

Neha Prihar
BC Salmon Farmers Associaiton
+1 (604) 209-1559
Neha@bcsalmonfarmers.ca

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Local Farming, BC Salmon Farmers (BCSFA), Sustainability Progress Report, Salmon Farming

  

The UPS Foundation Sets Global Goal to Plant 15 Million Trees by the End of 2020

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Awards $2.5 million in environmental grants

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

ATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2015 /3BL Media/ - The UPS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of UPS (NYSE: UPS) which leads the company’s global citizenship programs, today announced  it will fund the planting of 15 million trees by the end of 2020. Since 2012, The UPS Foundation and its environmental partners have planted more than 5 million trees in 46 countries.

“Tree planting is a very effective way to remove carbon from our environment and generate decades of positive impacts for communities around the world,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation.  “These include creating better farming conditions to increase available food, jobs and shelter as well as providing protection for areas that are vulnerable to extreme weather events.”

The UPS Foundation also awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to 12 non-profit organizations dedicated to environmental sustainability. These awards will support programs that advance environmental research and education, carbon reduction and energy conservation – all vital to economic growth and community stability.

For the second consecutive year, The UPS Foundation’s largest environmental grant recipient is The Nature Conservancy, an organization that works to preserve ecologically important land and water resources through conservation. This award will enable The Nature Conservancy to plant more than 800,000 trees in at-risk or eroded ecosystems throughout the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, China and Guatemala.

UPS’s contribution to The Nature Conservancy includes a partnership extension for the company’s own Global Forestry Initiative, a program designed to plant, protect and preserve trees in urban and rural areas and forests worldwide.

“As one of our four philanthropic pillars, programs designed to protect and improve the environment are essential to long-term strength and resiliency for global communities,” said Martinez. “We are honored to expand our financial and volunteer service commitments to further support our sustainability-focused community partners.”

In addition to The Nature Conservancy, The UPS Foundation has awarded environmental grants to the following 11 organizations:

  • DonorsChoose.org, in support of environmental education classroom projects submitted by public school teachers in rural U.S. communities.
  • Earth Day Network, to fuel the Trees for Communities project geared toward planting more than 400,000 trees in Mexico, India, Kenya, Uganda and the Boreal Forest in Canada.
  • Earthwatch, in support of two new education and research workshops included as part of the organization’s 2016 Climate Ambassadors Program.
  • Keep America Beautiful, Inc., to fulfill 30 community tree-planting grants and five post-recovery tree planting grants.
  • National Arbor Day Foundation, for continued support of reforestation programs across both the U.S. and Canada’s Boreal Forest.
  • National Council for Science and the Environment, to support the EnvironMentors program, which focuses on environmental education and stewardship for underserved high school youth.
  • National Park Foundation, to extend reforestation efforts in reclaimed mining land near the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Penn.
  • Student Conservation Association Inc. (SCA), in support of its National Conservation Internship Program for college students interested in environmental stewardship careers.
  • World Business Council for Sustainable Development, to provide organizational and program support at its annual conference.
  • World Resources Institute, to continue its Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Principles for Sustainable Development of Renewable Natural Gas research programs.
  • World Wildlife Fund, to build local capacity for tropical rainforest restoration and reforestation in Africa, Asia and Latin America through 10 Education for Nature Reforestation grants.

For more information about UPS’s corporate giving, please visit UPS.com/Foundation.

About The UPS Foundation

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads the global citizenship programs for UPS which includes philanthropy, corporate relations and community engagement in local, national, and international communities. In 2014, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $104 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

Tweet me:.@UPS_Foundation awards environmental grants and sets goal of planting 15 million trees by end of 2020. http://bit.ly/1M28PCs

Contact Info:

Kristen Petrella
UPS
+1 (404) 828-4182
kpetrella@ups.com

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Philanthropy, tree planting, UPS, The UPS Foundation, Global Forestry Initiative, 15 Million

My Disability is One Part of Who I Am

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By Celeste Carrasco

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

Every October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month businesses around the country reflect on and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. For 70 years, the Department of Labor used this time of year to showcase the talents of workers with disabilities and encourage diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the workplace. This year, the Department of Labor is focusing on the theme, “My Disability is One Part of Who I Am.” I am incredibly proud of AT&T’s commitment to the disabled community and to its employees with disabilities, and that commitment is especially meaningful to me because of my own disability.

When I was five years old, I lost vision in my right eye. My family always encouraged me to overcome challenges and to never let setbacks stand in the way of my success. I am privileged to have worked with disability groups in Washington, D.C. that have inspired me to view my vision loss in a new way.  While I have encountered challenges that have made me stronger, I am constantly impressed by the ways in which our world has become more accessible. These experiences give me a view of the world that is unique and propels me forward.

AT&T fosters an inclusive and accessible environment, where I am comfortable identifying myself as a person with a disability. AT&T encourages the use of technology as avenues for accessibility in the workplace and also maintains a focus on Universal Design skills in hiring, which will help us remain focused on creating and developing technology that is accessible to everyone. But our commitment to people with disabilities does not end there. AT&T continues to lead the way, developing and supporting the next generation of connected devices, including Real-Time Text, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which offer numerous benefits to many people, but particularly to people with disabilities and seniors. 

AT&T’s commitment doesn’t just include its products and services, it brings those same values to its organization. My colleagues who, like me, have unique experiences because of disabilities bring different perspectives to the workplace. These perspectives allow AT&T to think critically and in a more dynamic way about the products and services they bring to the market, providing more connectivity and accessibility.

These devices and connected technologies offer new options and tools that people with disabilities can use to navigate daily life, to work, and to participate fully in our economy and our society. Connected Home and mHealth (mobile health) technologies offer improved quality of life, better health outcomes and management of chronic conditions, and even increased personal security and independence.

AT&T is proud to support individuals with disabilities by developing technological solutions to everyday challenges faced by many people. As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I am proud to be at a company that strongly recognizes the value of employees with diverse backgrounds, creating an inclusive environment that empowers and enables them to do great things in and out of the workplace.

Tweet me:.@Connect2Good "My Disability is One Part of Who I Am" http://soc.att.com/1P5aCaz #ATTImpact

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, Health, AT&T, disability, Vision, National Disability Employment Awareness Month

CSX Employee Wins Rail's Highest Honor for Environmental Professionals

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SOURCE:CSX Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., October 28, 2015 /3BL Media/ – CSX employee Raghu Chatrathi today received  the 2015 North American Environmental Employee Excellence Award from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the highest honor for industry environmental professionals. Chatrathi, the director of environmental remediation, engineering and advanced technology, is the seventh CSX employee to receive this honor in the last 14 years.

“Raghu embodies the dedication to excellence and innovative thinking that are so critical to both environmental stewardship and team leadership,” said Skip Elliott, vice president of public safety, health and environment. “Raghu’s ability to turn challenging problems into process-driven solutions and his unfailing commitment to constant improvement lead his colleagues to higher and higher measures of success – and ultimately help CSX minimize its environmental footprint.”  

Over the course of his career, Chatrathi has led many environmental remediation, sustainability, and compliance programs at CSX, and he has designed processes and protocols for a variety of environmental stewardship initiatives. His accomplishments include:  

  • Transforming a contaminated property in Tampa, Florida, into a location that recently achieved the Wildlife Habitat Council’s “Wildlife at Work” certification.
  • Conducting a system-wide study of renewable energy use, the results of which led to a project that saved the CO2 emissions equivalent of burning 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year.
  • Developing formulas behind the rail industry’s first Carbon Calculator, an online tool that tallies the emissions avoided by converting shipments to rail.
  • Establishing environmental protocols for CSX’s “Rails-to-Trails” conversion program, including directly working on 150 miles of community trails.

Chatrathi is the third CSX employee to be recognized with the industry’s top environmental awards this year. In May, CSX’s Romano DeSimone received the AAR’s Holden-Proefrock Award for his career contributions to the safe transportation of hazardous materials by rail.  Additionally, AAR recognized CSX employee Suneil Kuthiala with the John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award for his outstanding environmental leadership, especially in the area of fuel efficiency.

About CSX

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For nearly 190 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com.  Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

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Tweet me:.@CSX Employee Wins Rail's Highest Honor for Environmental Professionals http://3bl.me/n6weyb

KEYWORDS: Awards and Recognition, Business & Trade, CSX

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