Success Strategies to be Explored in February Webinar

SOURCE:SCS Global Services

DESCRIPTION:

Companies around the world are responding to government, investor, and customer pressures by implementing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) management plans.  A key challenge in the implementation of these plans is identifying a strong business case in order to justify the costs entailed, and to ensure that the approach can be sustained financially in the long run.

As I will discuss in detail during the first of our three-part, complimentary webinar series next month (Feb 1st), companies can derive business value from GHG management strategies in numerous ways.  Here are five successful approaches companies are implementing today.

1. Boosting sales through climate-friendly product marketing

Marketing campaigns centered around a product’s GHG benefits can help reach new customer segments and reinforce existing client engagement.  For example, CTC Global Corporation of Irvine, California, manufactures a high-efficiency transmission line conductor that reduces electrical line losses and GHG emissions by roughly 30 percent, an accomplishment certified by SCS.  CTC actively markets the GHG benefits of its conductors to potential customers.

According to a 2015 Nielsen survey of 30,000 people in 60 countries, 66% of global consumers will pay more for sustainable products, up from 55% just the year before. This shows that marketing of sustainable, climate-friendly attributes of products could allow you to bolster prices.

2. Enhancing brand value and recognition

Proactive GHG management can enhance your company’s brand value and recognition, not only supporting product marketing efforts, but also strengthening relationships with customers, investors, and other stakeholders.

For example, Guayakí, a manufacturer of organic, fair-trade yerba mate, recently established its baseline GHG inventory, and has publicized the steps it has taken to reduce its GHG footprint in conference presentations and other venues. Another example is New Leaf Paper, which has marketed the SCS-certified GHG benefits of its recycled paper products in many venues to establish a reputation as an leader in climate-friendly papermaking. 

An even more aggressive option is the establishment of a carbon neutral program, which involves measuring then reducing GHG emissions, supplemented with purchases of carbon offsets to go net-neutral in terms of GHG impacts. (Learn more about going carbon neutral here.) For instance, Beneficio Cerro Alto, a Costa Rican coffee micro-mill, adopted carbon neutrality as part of its overall goal of producing high-quality coffee in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.  Its carbon neutral claim was independently certified by SCS.

3. Earning extra revenue through carbon credits

If your company manufactures innovative products, or uses advanced practices to help reduce GHG emissions, you may be able to qualify for carbon credits and earn revenue on the market. In 2015, carbon credits generated over $275 million USD on the voluntary market, and significantly more on mandatory “compliance” markets such as those operating under the cap-and-trade program in California.  Here are some examples of innovative projects that have generated revenue by generating carbon offsets:

• A project in Kenya used sustainable farming to increase organic matter in soils, leading to increased carbon storage.
• The Big Sky Dairy in Idaho used carbon offsets to help install a biogas generator, which uses manure from its 4,700 dairy cows to generate 1.3 MW of energy.
• The Forestland Group generated over 1.7 million forest carbon offset credits and associated revenue using sustainable harvest practices.
• Rice farmers in California earned carbon credits participating in a program to reduce emissions in their fields. 

Depending on the technology or process you are using, you may be able to take advantage of the offset market to create an entirely new revenue stream.

4. Improve opportunities for grant and investor funding

Many investors and grant providers are actively seeking to add climate-friendly products to their portfolios. Sustainable, responsible, and impact investment funds are growing at a rapid pace, accounting for one in five dollars invested under professional asset management in the US. Developing a proactive strategy with specific programs aimed at mitigating climate change could make your company more attractive to investors. Or, selected investments in climate friendly products could make your company eligible for climate change related grants from philanthropic organizations (see a list here) or the government.

For example, SCS recently advised a manufacturing company seeking a government grant to retrofit its facility to produce low-GHG products, as well as a San Francisco Bay Area startup seeking private investment to develop a climate-friendly alternative to conventional agricultural products.

5. Anticipate Supply Chain Disruptions from Climate Change

Understanding the effects of climate change on your supply chain is crucial from a business standpoint, as it allows you to anticipate and plan for potential disruptions and increased costs. As global temperatures continue to break records, and corresponding global and regional impacts are documented, this is the time to begin to explore implications for your supply chain and the effects they may have on your business.  

To learn more, register now for our February webinar series, in which I will provide sustainability professionals with strategies for effective corporate GHG management planning, and answer your questions live. The first one-hour webinar takes place February 1st at 10 am Pacific.

About the author. Tobias Schultz is SCS’ Manager of Corporate Sustainability Services and one of the company’s senior life cycle assessment practitioners.

About SCS. SCS Global Services has been a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing and standards development for more than three decades. SCS programs span a wide cross-section of sectors, recognizing exemplary performance in natural resource management, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, and more. The SCS Kingfisher certification mark appears on a wide range of products used in the green building and other industry sectors, and is recognized by government agencies, the design community, retailers, and leading green building rating schemes such as LEED, BREEAM, and more. SCS is a California benefit corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practice.

Tweet me:Register for 1st of 3-part webinar series with @scscertified, Feb 1. Generate business value from GHG management. http://ow.ly/wqb8308otcc

Contact Info:

Janelle Kim
SCS Global Services
jkim@scsglobalservices.com

KEYWORDS: Environment & Climate Change, Business & Trade, scs global services, Free webinar, #BeRecycled, climate change, greenhouse gases, climate friendly

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

DESCRIPTION:

NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts, January 26, 2017 /3BL Media/ – As 2017 communications strategies are being planned and some efforts are already being executed, 3BL Media invites executives responsible for communications about CSR and sustainability programs to a lunch-and-learn webinar focused on distribution, measurement and best practices that can help stretch the life of that content.

The webinar, “Stretching Your CSR & Sustainability Content,” will be held on Feb. 9 at noon ET. Attendance is free and questions will be answered live during this 45-minute event.

REGISTER HERE

“Many organizations are already engaged in planning for the new year,” said Katie Buckland, vice president of business development at 3BL Media. “A lot of time and effort goes into preparing the content for the year and we want to be a helping hand in making the most out of that content. This event offers a convenient opportunity to learn about 3BL Media so an educated decision can be made whether to include our platform in the 2017 communications plan.”

Buckland will be joined by Karen Ammann, vice president of client engagement at 3BL Media, during the webinar. Buckland and Ammann bring both extensive experience with successes brought by the 3BL Media platform and hands-on knowledge of your professional challenges, having played a role in both corporate and non-profit marketing and communications. 3BL Media CMO Dave Armon will moderate the webinar.

About 3BL Media
Founded in 2009, 3BL Media is the leading news distribution and content marketing company focused on niche topics including sustainability, health, energy, education, philanthropy, community and other social and environmental topics. The company works with organizations including multinational corporations, SMEs, and non-profits to distribute multi-format media assets through social, traditional and new media channels. 3BL Media leverages its expertise in communications, technology and social media to enable organizations to more effectively communicate about their initiatives to the press, investors, consumers and other critical stakeholder groups.  Visit us at CSRwire.com, Justmeans.com, ethicalperformance.com SocialEarth.org and 3blmedia.com.

Tweet me:Want to stretch the life of your #CSR & #sustainability content? http://bit.ly/2k85Wcx Join free #webinar on 2/9 at Noon ET

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Business & Trade, 3bl Media

SOURCE:Antea Group

DESCRIPTION:

Challenge:

A client in the food and beverage industry contacted Antea Group for help with wastewater management. One of their plants has a dual UF membrane filtration system to treat the incoming water for soft drink production. Currently the concentrate rejected from the membrane units is discharged to the sanitary sewer, and the facility is facing significant increases of water and sewer rates in the future. 

Read more at the Antea Group website.

About Antea Group
Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more at http://us.anteagroup.com. 

Tweet me:.@AnteaGroup Water Conservation and Reclamation for a Food and Beverage Client http://bit.ly/2hPKwjA

KEYWORDS: Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Water Conservation, water reclamation, Food Industry, wastewater, beverage industry, wastewater treatment, antea group

One day, skills-based volunteer program provides technology support to North Carolina nonprofits

SOURCE:Common Impact

DESCRIPTION:

Durham, January 27, 2017 /3BL Media/ -  Common Impact, a nonprofit that pioneered corporate skills-based volunteering is partnering with Fidelity Investments on its 2^nd wide scale day of service designed to build the technical infrastructure and know-how of nonprofits in the Raleigh-Durham area.  Tech Impact Day will bring together 125 Fidelity technologists to design data, networking and web strategies for 14 local nonprofits, resulting in an anticipated investment of more than $100,000. 

“Nonprofits have very limited funding for the technology infrastructure that enables their programs to run and scale efficiently” shared Danielle Holly, Common Impact’s CEO.  “On average nonprofits spend less than 2% of their budget on critical business functions, such as technology.  Fidelity has realized the asset that their technologists represent for nonprofits in the area and are bringing them out in force.”

Fidelity Investments was an early adopter of skills-based volunteering, a model of volunteerism that is increasingly popular among companies with more than 50% of companies with established pro bono programming.[1]  “Fidelity has made a significant investment in North Carolina, and we have more than 2,000 technologists in the region,” stated Chris Melia, Fidelity’s SVP and regional co leader.  “Our employees recognize the transformative power of technology and are eager to user their knowledge and expertise to make a difference in the communities where they work and live.”

The Fidelity teams help provide the guidance on the technology landscape and frameworks that enable nonprofits to implement solutions that meet their requirements without unsustainable financial investment.  

Tech Impact Day is designed to not only build the infrastructure of these organizations, but also the talents of the Fidelity employees that participate.  Fidelity’s technology leaders view these initiatives as a way to hone the consulting, creative and client-facing skills that it needs to remain competitive in a marketplace that increasingly demands agility and adaptability.  “When our employees take on nonprofits as clients, they need to think creatively about how to solve challenges with limited resources and how to create multi-dimensional solutions that consider both the business and social impact. This approach empowers our employees to be creative, innovative and adaptable, which not only develops skills that are critical to the vitality of our firm, but also to the success of today’s technologists,” said Darrell Fernandes, Fidelity’s Head of IT Strategy and Planning. 

This combination of direct nonprofit impact and employee talent development has driven the recent popularity of skills-based volunteering among companies. “Companies are starting to realize that their people are their most strategic philanthropic asset, and heeding the call of the millennial workforce that demands that companies move past a singular focus on the bottom line.  One of the most powerful social investments that a company can make is through pro bono programs that align employee skills to the nonprofit capacity building challenges they’re best positioned to address.”

Tech Impact Day is being held on Friday, January 27^th at Fidelity’s 100 New Millennium Way, Durham location   Most visible time for the media are 9-10am and 2-3pm.

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 services, impact, and clients.

Tweet me:Today @CommonImpact partners with @Fidelity to kick off the 2nd Tech Impact Day! #FidelityCares2017 #probono #tech http://bit.ly/2jmaYxt

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Technology, Tech Impact Day, Fidelity Investments, Common Impact, pro bono, skills-based volunteering, day of service, Innovation

SOURCE:Northern Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Over 150 London partners built 18 bikes for children and young people in the community as part of the 2016 Seasonal Appeal.

Learn more about Northern Trust on our LinkedIN page.

Tweet me:Over 150 London partners built 18 bikes for children and young people in the community @NTCSR http://bit.ly/2ktaW8P #CSR

KEYWORDS: Awards & Recognition, charity bike build, young people, Northern Trust, community service, csr

By: Barry Telford

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

The transition from high school to college, for many, is both a daunting and exciting journey. As parents, we view this opportunity as a means to a beginning – encouraging our children to discover self-sufficiency without expecting them to be fully independent. Surprisingly, 2016 statistics show a steady increase in mental illness among college students, a derivative of this newfound independence and the pressure that comes with it. Knowing the signs and following the advice outlined by professionals in the field sets the foundation for beating mental illness among college students.

Mental illnesses may include symptoms of depression, anxiety, addiction, and eating disorders. According to Time Magazine those with a predisposition to these mental illnesses will likely experience symptoms by age 24; this notion further concludes the correlation between age and mental illness. In 2014, Psychology Today took a closer look at this epidemic by surveying students ages 15-18 and 18-24. Comparatively, they also cited a study conducted in 2000 which found that high school students’ anxiety levels rivaled the anxiety levels of a psychiatric patient in the 1950s. It is unsurprising that 17 years later we are looking at a dramatic increase in mental illness among the latter of the two groups, college students (ages 18-24).

For Generation Xers, baby boomers, and traditionalists the increase of mental illnesses among college students is puzzling at best; surely, the pressure to reach perfection has always been prevalent for some. However, the rise of social media has paved the way for an entirely different, and equally predominant, set of stressors for Millennials and Generation Z. The strain to be perceived as happy and successful on social platforms forces students to conceal their problems, leaving little room to work through their issues.

When looking for signs of mental illness among college students it is important to remember that everyone’s symptoms will vary. According to BestCollege.com, signs and symptoms often include general sadness, lack of interest in activities and social involvement, changes in weight, irritability, fearfulness, tension, and pain in muscles among others. Additionally, thoughts of death or drastic behavioral changes can be indicators of suicide and should never be ignored.

To prevent the appearance or worsening of mental illness or suicide in a student you know there are three steps that can be followed to take action.

1. Checking in

For parents, this does not necessarily mean bombarding your student with questions on a daily basis. Oppositely, checking in can be a good way to get a glimpse of their mental status by asking about their week or visiting them at school on occasion.  Keeping in touch with your student, as opposed to helicopter parenting, allows for you to gage how they are doing and gives them enough space so if there is a problem they feel more willing to discuss it with you.

2. Listening

Once the person openly discusses their bouts with mental illness listening – to ensure you receive all information – is crucial. Actively listening and reacting allows for deeper dialogue and more conversation.

3. Support/developing a plan of action

Regardless of the situation, supporting someone in the midst of their trials with mental illness is a powerful form of reassurance. Whether it is backing someone’s decision to take a leave of absence for a semester or even just deleting their social media platforms, showing support is a sure sign of setting the course for recovery. In developing a plan of action (i.e. seeking counseling, taking a leave of absence, starting medication) college students suffering from symptoms of mental illness can relax knowing the road to recovery has been paved.

Acknowledging the severity of this epidemic, we recognize the plethora of articles documenting suicides committed on college campuses over the years, including the story of Madison Holleran. Holleran, an NCAA athlete and accomplished student at the University of Pennsylvania, committed suicide after succumbing to the stress of college life.  Instances such as this prove that the stigma to reach perfection in academia — while adjusting to the changes of adulthood — are detrimental and in some instances, deadly. By checking in, listening, and showing support we lessen the stigma around mental illness and take preventative measures to halt the epidemic in its tracks.

Barry Telford is the CEO of Universities West for Sodexo North America and the President of Sodexo Canada. A strong advocate for the new performance frontier: Quality of Life, Mr. Telford believes that great performance is driven by strong, inclusive leadership based on family and community-centered values and a commitment to serve others.   Mr. Telford serves on the Board of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, Toronto’s Second Harvest and the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (CCAB).

Tweet me:Three Ways to Lessen the Impact of Mental Illness on College Students http://bit.ly/2jcn7Kd @sodexoUSA #MentalHealth

KEYWORDS: Health, Education, Campus, students, College, University, mental health, Mental Illness, counseling, Sodexo

SOURCE:TD Bank Group

DESCRIPTION:

CDP's 2017 supply chain report, "Harnessing the Power of Purchasing for a Sustainable Future," ranks TD Bank Group above average in supplier engagement. This is the first report TD was scored in since joining the program. The report evaluates organizations on their ability to galvanize their supply chains to disclose and improve upon their environmental performance.

In 2016, TD became the first Canadian company to join the CDP Supply Chain Program, which is designed to help companies manage the environmental risks and opportunities present in their supply chains through. TD joined the program as part of its journey to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

To learn more about the importance of engaging supply chains, click on http://bit.ly/2ixoSBt for the report. 

Tweet me:.@TD_Canada scores above average in @CDP supply chain report. Learn more here http://bit.ly/2kt8uPH

KEYWORDS: Awards & Recognition, CDP Supply Chain Report 2017, tdbank, cdp supply chain

by Sarah Murry

SOURCE:HP, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

In Tunisia, where some 40 percent of youth are unemployed and jobs of any kind are hard to come by, the HP Foundation is working to make a difference.

For the past three years, the foundation has been working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), USAID, the Italian Development Cooperation and other partners on a job-creation project, called “Mashrou3i,” (which in Arabic means, "my project") that fosters a spirit of entrepreneurialism and offers tools that can support fledgling business owners.

Today, the program launched into its second phase, a five-year mission to create some 6,000 jobs and reach more than 25,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in Tunisia.

“Every job created out of this initiative makes a positive impact on the individual’s life and helps support the local community,” said Markus Schwertel, Lead Government Relations Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at HP. “It truly empowers people to be successful.”

In addition to mentoring and technical skills training, participants also have access to HP LIFE, a free, online program of the HP Foundation, which features 27 interactive modules covering business and IT skills training in seven languages, including Arabic and French. It has been used by more than 640,000 people in over 200 countries and territories.

During the first phase of the project, about 1,250 jobs and 160 startup companies were created. In addition, more than 12,000 Tunisians took online courses through HP LIFE and nearly 1,400 aspiring entrepreneurs – more than half of whom were women – were coached to help develop, improve or finalize business plans.

The new influx of support, which includes a contribution of nearly $1 million cash and in-kind technology from HP and the HP Foundation, will help to expand reach, add staff and grow the project geographically into farther-flung governorates in Tunisia. It will also support the ongoing development of  HP LIFE, where aspiring entrepreneurs can learn—for free—everything from nuts-and-bolts online classes in finance and sales forecasting to social media marketing and presentation skills.

“The Mashrou3i project is a scalable social innovation model with proven results,” said Jihed Jahdour, Managing Director, Tunisia, at HP. “There is an urgent need for innovative solutions that provide access to quality education and enable economic opportunity for everyone everywhere, wherever they are in the world. The second phase of the project signals the continuation of our successful partnership to foster employment opportunities for young men and women in Tunisia.”

HP, as a brand with a deep history in the “ed tech” sector is uniquely positioned to deploy its HP LIFE programming and technology into a region where there’s nearly immediate results.

“This has big implications for the future of learning all over the world, as technology continues to disrupt the existing models of education in the so called developed world as well,” HP’s Schwertel said.

“Instead of discussing how many and what kind of devices are needed in the classrooms, the question is, ‘What are the learning outcomes we want to achieve?” he said. “Engaging learning content for personalized learning like HP LIFE, coupled with technology, enables emerging market countries to leapfrog and to get access to top content of the same quality as anywhere else in the world.”

Learn more about Mashrou3i by following the program on Facebook and Twitter and at the #Mashrou3i hashtag.

Tweet me:Five More Years of Hope and Hard Work for @HP Foundation’s Participation in #Mashrou3i http://bit.ly/2ktpwMK @UNIDO @HPSustainable

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, UNIDO, HP, HP LIFE, Tunisia

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

January 27, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Arrow Electronics donated more than $8,000 this past holiday season to the Arrow Scholars Fund, a scholarship program launched by Arrow employees to benefit students at the Tuleeni Orphanage in Africa.

Tuleeni is home to more than 100 orphaned or vulnerable children living in the village of Rau, in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. In 2015, donations by Arrow employees provided scholarship support for five students. The additional funds raised over the 2016 holiday season will enable these same children to continue in their studies, as well as access the orphanage’s educational resources.

What helps make this possible is the Arrow DigiTruck, a novel approach to delivering access to today’s technology. In close collaboration with Neema International, Arrow and its nonprofit partner Close the Gap convert used cargo containers into fully equipped, insulated, secure classrooms and health clinics. Solar panels power the DigiTruck for days at a time, so it can operate in remote areas that have no electricity. Arrow has also provided Tuleeni students with internet access, laptops, tablets and other devices—all of it refurbished by Arrow’s value recovery business.

Arrow employees raised over $4,000, and Arrow’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team worked to secure a corporate match for the funds.

“Arrow provides a full spectrum of technology solutions, and that approach is reflected in our humanitarian work,” said Arrow’s Global CSR Director Joe Verrengia. “After we built and deployed the Digituck to Tuleeni, Arrow businesses around the world donated refurnished tablets, internet service, playground equipment and scholarship money. Together, we’re working to provide the children of Tuleeni with a comprehensive program that enables them to dream big and become tomorrow’s innovators.” 

About Arrow Electronics 
Arrow Electronics is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for more than 100,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 460 locations serving over 85 countries. Learn more at www.fiveyearsout.com.

Tweet me:.@ArrowGlobal expand support for Tuleeni orphanage through holiday giving http://bit.ly/2ku6kiR #CSR

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Education, Arrow Electronics, Donation, holiday season, Arrow Scholars Fund, Tuleeni Orphanage, africa, Children, scholarships

SOURCE:FrontStream

DESCRIPTION:

On January 25, 2017, the #BellLetsTalk hashtag appeared all across social media, particularly Twitter and Instagram. Bell Let's Talk, sponsored by Bell Media in Canada, is meant to focus specifically on sharing stories of mental illness in order to help normalize the struggles that people go through. Each time the #BellLetsTalk hashtag was used, 5 cents was donated to various mental health causes across Canada - this year raising $6,585,250 from 131,705,010 interactions. The yearly initiative has been going strong since 2010. According to their website's mission: "Millions of Canadians, including leading personalities engaged in an open discussion about mental illness, offering new ideas and hope for those who struggle, with numbers growing every year. As a result, institutions and organizations large and small in every region received new funding for access, care and research, from Bell Let’s Talk and from governments and corporations that have joined the cause." Their total donation projection is looking to be $100 million by 2020! Bell Media is a huge corporation in Canada, and for them to adopt this CSR initiative is a great example of how companies can both bring awareness to a cause as well as raise money for it. Here are a few examples of how people responded, both in Canada and around the world:

1 in 4 people are affected by mental illness. Time to have an open dialogue and end the stigma #BellLetsTalkpic.twitter.com/o0BhDDFF4F

— Greg Selinger (@GregSelinger) January 25, 2017

I’m seeing huge numbers of RTs on everyone’s #BellLetsTalk posts today. Let’s keep talking! Time to end the stigma around mental health.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 25, 2017

For every retweet of this, Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian Mental Health Programs, and I think that’s amazing. #BellLetsTalk

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 25, 2017

We even got into the #BellLetsTalk supportive spirit in the Toronto FrontStream office:

#BellLetsTalkpic.twitter.com/DnMG6b2Xr3

— FrontStream (@FrontStream) January 25, 2017

#BellLetsTalkpic.twitter.com/3DvfMAeVK9

— FrontStream (@FrontStream) January 25, 2017

All in all, #BellLetsTalk was another successful day of fundraising and awareness, as well as a strong conversation starter when it comes to mental health in our communities - be it our coworkers, friends, or family.

Tweet me:.@FrontStream takes a look at the 2017 impact of #BellLetsTalk http://bit.ly/2ktuvxO

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Media & Communications, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, frontstream, Bell Let's Talk, #BellLetsTalk, Fundraising, Awareness, Engagement, Social Media

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

This month, Comcast NBCUniversal is expanding Beyond School Walls, our workplace-based mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters, to NBCUniversal employees at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Including Los Angeles, Comcast NBCUniversal employees currently mentor local schoolchildren in Comcast offices in 17 cities nationwide. Marissa Miller (pictured right), one of our nearly 400 employee mentors, shares below what it means to her to be "a Big."

For Marissa Miller, it started in school. "My mother is a teacher and growing up I spent a lot of time in her classroom," she said. Marissa remembers having teachers, professors and colleagues throughout her school years who gave her advice and guidance, and helped make her who she is today. "They have given me so much. They were family," she said. They were mentors.

Prior to joining the Talent and Professional Development Team at Comcast, Marissa worked for a management consulting company. "I travelled quite a bit," she said. "I didn't have the opportunity to mentor because I was always somewhere else. So to be able to be home and to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters was a great opportunity." Two years ago, Marissa signed up to become a Big with Comcast NBCUniversal’s Beyond School Walls program, and was matched with Shenia, then 11 years old.

"She’s a phenomenal kid. She’s so smart, sensitive and thoughtful. She’s a really talented artist," Marissa said. During their time together, Marissa and Shenia talk about school, art class, and other every day, ordinary topics. As they grew closer, Shenia, began to share more about her life and struggles. "Middle school is tough and I’m comforted that she’s confiding in me," Marissa said. "We work on problem solving strategies. She’s been able to communicate what’s going on in her life that she hasn’t been able to say before. We work on dealing with stress. She takes what we’ve learned about communication to build a support system. She knows I’m there to help her make positive decisions."

"I’ve ‘got her back,’ as she would say," Marissa said.

For the school children like Shenia who are enrolled in Beyond School Walls, being matched with "a Big" introduces them to futures, careers and possibilities they might not otherwise have explored. "It’s helping her to recognize the potential that she has and the broad world about her," Marissa said. She’s so insightful and kind, but at first she couldn’t see past her circumstances today. Now when we talk about her future, she imagines being an artist or an art teacher. Then she sees that her grades and attendance are important to helping her get there."

Marissa has also, unexpectedly, learned some lessons that she believes make her a stronger employee. "Talking to Shenia makes me think differently. There are times when I’ll stop and think about how I approach challenges," Marissa said. "I work in learning and development. Just like with Shenia, we hear about stress among other issues we all face. This has inspired me to put together a course on stress management to support our employees here at Comcast."

The opportunity provided by Comcast to be a Big brings extra meaning to Marissa’s life and her job. "Insights from our conversations continually broaden my perspective, encourage me to consider various problem-solving approaches that strive to ‘keep it real,’ embrace and overcome challenges, and focus on meaningful growth."

As Comcast NBCUniversal expands its Beyond School Walls program with Big Brothers Big Sisters, see how one Big is impacted.

Tweet me:Celebrating one @ComcastImpact Beyond School Walls Big during #nationalmentoringmonth @BBBSA http://bit.ly/2kupJAa

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, National Mentoring Month, comcast impact, csr, Employee Engagement

Local NeighborhoodLIFT grants address community revitalization, health and wellness, and homeownership for Seattle-King County

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

SEATTLE, January 27, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a total of $500,000 in donations for five local nonprofits that will help revitalize Seattle neighborhoods through the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT® program.

The Wells Fargo Foundation is providing grants to the following Seattle-King County nonprofits:

• Capitol Hill Housing– $100,000 grant to support construction of a mixed-use property in the community of White Center that will provide affordable housing options for low-to-moderate income families.

• Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) – $100,000 grant to provide stable housing, and access to mental/behavioral/physical treatment to address the long-term needs of formerly homeless people living with severe and persistent challenges.

• El Centro de la Raza– $100,000 grant to rehabilitate the El Patio Apartments and preserve affordable housing on Beacon Hill. The renovation will serve low-to-moderate income children, youth, families, elders, immigrants, Latinos and vulnerable populations.

• Homestead Community Land Trust – $100,000 grant to build Riverton Park Phase I, which will create 11 affordable homes for low-to-moderate income homebuyers in Tukwila. Once completed, Riverton Park Phase I will consist of 31 homes.

• Mercy Housing Northwest– $100,000 grant to support construction of Mercy Othello Plaza in Seattle’s Othello neighborhood. Upon completion, the development will include 108 affordable family housing units in two buildings, including indoor and outdoor gathering and activity space.

The grants are funded through Wells Fargo’s NeighborhoodLIFT program that was launched in July 2016 for Seattle-King County homebuyers with a $5 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost local homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods. NeighborhoodLIFT will create hundreds of homeowners in Seattle-King County through homebuyer education plus matching down payment assistance grants up to $7,500.

Wells Fargo is collaborating with national nonprofit NeighborWorks America, and its local network member, HomeSight, to implement the program. More than $3.3 million in down payment assistance grants are still available and interested homebuyers may contact HomeSight or Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Seattle-King County for information about eligibility requirements.

The Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT local initiative grants for Seattle-King County will provide support for neighborhood revitalization, homeownership, health and wellness, and neighborhood beautification.

“Wells Fargo cares about our communities and we are making these investments to continue the revitalization effort to strengthen the Seattle area,” said Patrick Yalung, Wells Fargo regional president for Washington. “These nonprofits are actively leading programs to help stabilize housing, curb homelessness, and promote health and wellness and we believe these grants will add up to make a big impact.”

About NeighborhoodLIFT

NeighborhoodLIFT^® program is the single largest corporate philanthropic effort of its kind in Wells Fargo’s history. Since February 2012, LIFT programs combined have helped create more than 12, 900 homeowners in 48 communities. A video about LIFT programs is posted on Wells Fargo Stories.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Tweet me:#WellsFargo donates $500k to five #nonprofits to revitalize #Seattle-King County neighborhoods http://bit.ly/2k3AFY1

Contact Info:

Stephanie Grant
+1 (760) 432-5440
stephanie.grant2@wellsfargo.com

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Business & Trade, Wells Fargo & Company, Seattle, NeighborhoodLIFT, Grants

Carl Swope Wins National Recognition for Community Service and Industry Accomplishments at NADA Convention

SOURCE:Ally Financial

DESCRIPTION:

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 27, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Carl Swope, president of Swope Toyota in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was named the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year today.

Swope was selected from a group of 49 nominees from across the country, and recognized at the 100th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention & Exposition in New Orleans on Friday. The announcement of this year's national TIME Dealer of the Year and finalists was made by Meredith Long, Senior Vice President and General Manager, News and Luxury at Time Inc. and Tim Russi, President of auto finance for Ally, at the formal opening of the convention.

"Ally continues to be inspired by dealers around the country, their love for this business and the ways that they do right and give back to their communities," Russi said. "We are proud to honor all of this year’s finalists and the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year, Carl Swope, who has contributed generously to important causes and organizations including Habitat for Humanity and the United Way.”

In its sixth year as exclusive sponsor, Ally donated $1,000 to the charity of choice for each of the dealer nominees and will provide $10,000 to the nonprofit selected by the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year winner. In addition, the three finalists, as well as the state Automotive Trade Association Executive (ATAE) who nominated the 2017 winner, will each receive a $5,000 grant for the nonprofit organizations of their choice. All nominees are featured on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of auto dealers across the United States.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry's most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation's most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Swope, 59, was chosen to represent the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition – one of only 49 auto dealers from 16,000 nationwide – nominated for the 48th annual award. The award is sponsored by TIME in association with Ally, and in cooperation with NADA. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan selects one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year.

“I have realized how powerful a force our dealerships can be if I encourage and support all of our leadership and associates to get involved,” Swope said about his efforts in the community. “Together, we are making Elizabethtown and the central Kentucky region a better place.”

Swope graduated from Elizabethtown High School in Elizabethtown, Kentucky and earned a B.S. in business administration from Indiana University Bloomington in 1978.

A second-generation automobile dealer, Swope followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle who opened their first dealerships in 1952. He has worked in all phases of the retail automobile business at his family stores, and he even sold cars to friends and faculty while studying at Indiana University. Today, he oversees six dealerships representing nine brands in Elizabethtown and Radcliff, Kentucky.

Since the early days of his career, Swope has worked tirelessly to support a wide range of civic activities, from helping families at nearby Fort Knox to raising money to restore the historic downtown district.

In the early 1990s, Swope helped establish the local affiliate for Habitat for Humanity and the statewide Kentucky Habitat. In 1997, he helped organize a Jimmy Carter Work Project called Hammering in the Hills where President Carter, Mrs. Carter and volunteers built more than 50 homes in Pike County over a one-week period. Swope remains active in Habitat for Humanity projects, working with his colleagues to help families in his community.

Swope’s associates have followed his lead, and also make important contributions to the community. They renovate offices and classrooms for local nonprofit organizations and schools through a United Way-sponsored effort called Project United. They also fill backpacks with nutritious food for children in need and prepare care packages for deployed soldiers.

Swope currently serves on the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce President’s Circle; the Knox Regional Development Alliance; Lincoln Heritage Council for the Boy Scouts of America; Elizabethtown Tourism Commission; Elizabethtown Airport Board; and Hardin Memorial Health Foundation.

Swope was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Gay F. Williams, president of the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association. Swope and his wife, Anne, have three children and three grandchildren.

About Ally Financial Inc.

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading digital financial services company and a top 25 U.S. financial holding company offering financial products for consumers, businesses, automotive dealers and corporate clients. Ally's legacy dates back to 1919, and the company was redesigned in 2009 with a distinctive brand, innovative approach and relentless focus on its customers. Ally has an award-winning online bank (Ally Bank Member FDIC), one of the largest full service auto finance operations in the country, a complementary auto-focused insurance business, a growing digital wealth management and online brokerage platform, and a trusted corporate finance business offering capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies.

The company had approximately $157.4 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2016. For more information, visit the Ally press room at http://media.ally.com or follow Ally on Twitter: @AllyFinancial.

Contact:

Sari Jensen

646-781-2539

sari.jensen@ally.com

Tweet me:.@TIME and @AllyFinancial announce 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year, Carl Swope http://bit.ly/2kpfH2e

KEYWORDS: Awards & Recognition, Philanthropy, Ally Financial, Time Dealer of the year, Time

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

Each year your organization works hard to meet its social responsibility and employee engagement goals while also meeting your employees' expectations. How did your 2016 employee giving and engagement programs perform?

Here are five key evaluation metrics to consider:

1. Participation rate
2. Amount raised
3. Program impact in the community
4. Employee satisfaction
5. ROI for the organization

Limited time only! Get a free evaluation of your 2016 giving program. Offer ends January 31, 2017.

Since 1980, America's Charities has been helping organizations like yours achieve their social impact goals. We recognize the importance of evaluating programs annually to gauge success and areas that need improvement, and our clients value our support and expertise. Our clients recognize on average a 10% increase in pledge volume year over year using our services. In fact after switching to America’s Charities' All-in-one employee giving and engagement solution – one of our clients experienced an 11% increase in their employee participation between 2015 and 2016 alone.

We would like to offer that same quality and level of support to your organization through a complimentary audit. To take advantage of this limited time offer, click here and request your free review by January 31, 2017. 

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities: Offer Ends Jan. 31! Get a Free Evaluation of Your #EmployeeGiving & #EmployeeEngagement Program http://impact.ac/2iXUK2f

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Business & Trade, employee giving, csr, America's Charities, Employee Engagement, Fundraising, cause marketing, corporate philanthropy, workplace giving, social responsibility

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

20th Century Fox Television’s hit series Fresh Off The Boat has partnered with Six-Word Memoirs on a new crowd-sourced book: Six Words Fresh Off The Boat: Stories of Immigration, Identity, and Coming to America (September 2017). This newest compilation in the bestselling series will feature the personal, complex, and profound emotions that generations of immigrants have felt as they built new lives in America.

“Fresh off the Boat reflects and celebrates the immigrant experiences of millions of people across generations. With this crowd-sourced book elevating voices from all across America, we hope to inspire anyone who identifies with the subject matter directly or through the lives of past generations to share their story in six words,” said Steven Melnick, Head of Marketing at 20th Century Fox Television. His six-worder: “Grandma's Sunday greeting: gotenyu zisa boychickel,” which translates from Yiddish to “Dear God, what a sweet boy.” Other examples—

Carried few possessions and many dreams.

Sister pretends she can't use chopsticks.

Feuding with three family members? Persian.

Fresh Off the Boat, now in its third season on ABC, is loosely based on the memoir of entrepreneur and restaurateur Eddie Huang. The show follows a Taiwanese-American family as they adjust to a new life in 1990’s suburban Florida. The Six-Word Memoir Project was started by Larry Smith in 2006 when his tweet, “Can you describe your life in six words?” went viral around the world.

Fans can submit their own immigrant stories at sixwordmemoirs.com/FOTB through February 15 to be considered for publication in the book.

Tweet me:Fresh Off the Boat & @20centuryfoxTV want to hear your immigration stories! Check out #sixwordsFOTB & find out more: http://bit.ly/2kbAava

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Human Resources, fresh off the boat, 20th century fox television, Immigration Stories, Six-Word Memoirs

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Posted on 3bl.

NEW YORK, January 27, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that it has been recognized in the 2017 Bloomberg Financial Services Gender-Equality Index (BFGEI) for its strong commitment to gender parity. Voya was recognized as a leader among its peers in the 2017 index, which includes only 52 firms across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Americas.

The BFGEI arms managers and investors with more comparative information across the gender-equality space. The index encourages disclosure, provides greater market transparency and raises awareness of gender-related issues. Voya’s presence in the index showcases its commitment to creating an environment of inclusion and, alongside its peers recognized in the BFGEI, its commitment to better understanding the gender-equality issues that customers, colleagues and communities face.

Click here for more.

Tweet me:Voya Financial Recognized in 2017 Bloomberg Financial Services Gender-Equality Index http://bit.ly/2jWKwyh

KEYWORDS: Awards & Recognition, Diversity & Human Resources, Gender, equality, Index, Markets, bonds, stocks, EMEA, Bloomberg, Voya

An Interview with Handan Şahin, VP Holding Turkey & Middle East

SOURCE:Atlas Copco

DESCRIPTION:

What is Atlas Copco's general perspective towards women's career? Can you provide information on the global approach? 
Equal opportunities, fairness and diversity are fundamental pillars of AC’s people management process. The common purpose of all Atlas Copco companies is to increase diversity both in term of nationality and gender. Our priorities for sustainable, profitable growth include the ambition to recruit a workforce that reflects the diversity found in society

We have a vision that aims to develop women by being an attractive employer for them, to increase their loyalty to the company; and most important, to provide women with different point of views by giving them a work environment in which they can put themselves in every ways and realize their potentials. Of course, I may summarize our basic role as the Holding managers, as putting those theories into practice and spreading the group vision to all areas under our responsibility.

Are there any actions taken or planned globally in order to realize those goals? 
Diversity remains a challenge and it is addressed through initiatives such as the launch of programs with short term assignments abroad, mentorship programs (Pleiades), a global network and policies.

For instance, recognizing the need to develop more female managers, and ultimately recruit from the full base of talent within Atlas Copco, the first high-level female mentorship program –Pleiades*- was launched. The proportion of female recent graduates during the year among White collar workers rose to 39% from 31% the year before.

Have you reached to the point where you targeted with Pleiades?
Pleiades has provided interaction among successful, talented, dedicated and highly-motivated women by exceeding all functional, sectional, regional and geographical limits. This kind of interaction for sure brings many benefits like; motivation and inspiration, a greater understanding of Group operations, more awareness of opportunities for new challenges and professional development.

How is Atlas Copco Turkey's approach to diversity?
In order to carry on the Pleiades spirit within Turkey and ensure that the female employees are able to interact with professionals holding different visions, we started to work with the Professional Women's Network (PWN). We thought thatAtlas Copso's perspective on the gender diversity and vision supporting women's career would correspond to PWN's working groups and activities, therefore we did not hesitate much to be a corporate member. From the very beginning of our membership, this have been a collaboration towards which all our female employees approached with excitement.

If had to provide us some information about the Professional Women's Network, what would you like to say?
Having started its activities as an official association in 2013, PWN Istanbul provides the professional women with a cross-sectoral network and training platform, through aiming development of women in terms of leadership. Every month it organizes events in which people who were successful in their own fields share their knowledge and experiences, provides mentorhip opportunities and gives people the chance to experience creating a positive impact on the society by generating projects in different working groups and working in a non-governmental organization.

What are your collaboration principles with PWN?
By joining PWN's monthly seminars, Atlas Copco Turkey's female employees are both interacting with other members of the association and benefiting from knowledge and experiences of the senior-level lecturers. We contributed to the 2016 mentor/mentee program with 2 mentors and 3 mentees. We actively worked in the Engaging Men workshop. We took place in social responsibility projects. I can say that we spent the year 2016 in a very productive way.

Can you tell us a little about your plans for the year 2017?
This year we again are planning to actively take place in the PWN working groups, support participation to monthly events and maintain our contribution and active attendance to the mentor-mentee program. The fact that details on the mentor-mentee program is awaited impatiently is extremely pleasing and motivating both for me and the company. Besides these activities carried out with PWN, we also planned Pleaides meetings among us. We will start to put our event plans into practice as of February. Our first internal event will be with the Lawyer Mert Yalcin who is one of the associate partners of the YTT Law Firm. Last year we again had held a seminar on "women's position against the law". And so we will continue this year. We are planning to organize the internal Pleiades meetings within 2017 in the most frequent time intervals possible.

For more information please contact:
Duygu Evrankaya
Senior Communications Professional Corporate / Mining and Rock Excavation Business Area
Telephone: +90 (0)216 581 0579
Fax: +90 (0)216 581 0479
Email: duygu.evrankaya@tr.atlascopco.com

Tweet me:Learn More About @AtlasCopcoGroup’s #Diversity Approach http://bit.ly/2kLOp7n @AtlasCopcoME @AtlasCopcoTR #WomeninBusiness

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Human Resources, Business & Trade, Atlas Copco, Turkey, Middle East, inclusion

Enrollment is open now

SOURCE:Realized Worth

DESCRIPTION:

TORONTO, January 31, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Today, openSAP and the RW Institute (RWI) announce the rollout of Empathy in Motion: The Power of Employee Volunteering, a new, free Massive Open Online Course available to companies and volunteers globally.

Learn more about the RW Institute. 

openSAP is SAP’s Enterprise MOOC provider

Tweet me:Proud to partner w/ @openSAP to offer online course Empathy in Motion – http://open.sap.com/courses/pev1

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, opensap, RW Institute (RWI), Empathy in Motion, Realized Worth

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network is a partnership between General Motors, the nonprofit Earth Force, and local schools and conservation groups in GM communities designed to introduce youth to environmental science and careers in STEM. In 2016, GM employees from 51 facilities worked with over 15,000 students to retrieve, test and analyze water samples, and channel findings into a sustainable action plan addressing water quality in the community while helping youth better understand their impact on the environment. 

Tweet me:#GREEN annual report @GM @earthforce http://bit.ly/2kLQ394

KEYWORDS: Reports, Awards & Recognition, General Motors, GM, Earth Force, Green, STEM, Canada, Flint, Flint Water Crisis, environmental motivation, civic skills, Formal Project Award, GREEN Mentor Award, Conservation, students, Employee Engagement

SOURCE:Aramark

DESCRIPTION:

Through a collaboration with Aramark at NRG Stadium, a team of student chefs from Westside High School (Houston Independent School District) -- Dominique Jackson, Michelle Meadows, and Vivian Romero -- worked alongside Senior Executive Chef Mark Cornish’s culinary team to create the Bayou City Bánh Mì 51 – a Bánh Mì-style sandwich with grilled fajita steak, avocado spread and pickled vegetables.

Aided by development parameters and under the direction of their classroom instructors, the students tested recipes and concepts before presenting two dishes to a panel of Aramark judges, who selected the winning item. The Bayou City Banh Mi will be featured at NRG Stadium’s concessions stands during the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.

Aramark is the exclusive food and beverage provider for NRG Stadium and Super Bowl LI, and is also the food services provider for Houston Independent School District

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, state-of-the-art healthcare providers, the world’s leading educational institutions, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world.  Our 270,000 team members deliver experiences that enrich and nourish millions of lives every day through innovative services in food, facilities management and uniforms. We operate our business with social responsibility, focusing on initiatives that support our diverse workforce, advance consumer health and wellness, protect our environment, and strengthen our communities. Aramark is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, rated number one among Diversified Outsourcing Companies, as well as an employer of choice by the Human Rights Campaign and DiversityInc. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Tweet me:Houston Independent School District students collaborate with @Aramark, NRG Stadium to create Super Bowl sandwich http://bit.ly/2koUDty

KEYWORDS: Awards & Recognition, Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Aramark