by: WA Governor’s Office

SOURCE:Albertsons Companies

SUMMARY:

Complete Eats program allows SNAP participants to buy more fruits, vegetables

DESCRIPTION:

Complete Eats offers extra savings to shoppers who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, referred to as SNAP and formerly known as Food Stamps, at Safeway stores.

Complete Eats is now available at all 150 Safeway locations in Washington, and it is among the nation’s first SNAP incentive programs to be offered in a major national retailer.

“We at Safeway and Albertsons believe that healthy eating creates healthy communities. We are committed to supporting Complete Eats, and doing our part to provide our customers fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables,” said Karl Schroeder, president of the Seattle division of Safeway and Albertsons.

Read the full story from the Washington State Governor's Office

Tweet me:.@Safeway partners with @WaHealthSec to help low-income families on SNAP get access to fresh, healthy foods http://bit.ly/2tTdXTL

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Fighting Hunger, Albertsons, Safeway, Complete Eats, Washington State Governor's Office

By: Brigette Philpot

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Brigette is responsible for leading the North American Safety Team to drive our Zero Harm culture and improve the Quality of Life of our employees, clients and customers by keeping them safe.

As we begin our celebration for National Safety Month in June, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on creating a workplace where safety comes first.

Let’s start by taking a look at the most common kinds of injuries in the workplace. According to the National Safety Council, the top causes of injury in American workplaces last year were:

• Over-exertion and bodily reaction, which includes injuries related to pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing activities at work, caused over 312,000 injuries last year. Most of those—34 percent—resulted from lifting and lowering.
• Falls, slips, and trips accounted for nearly 250,000 workplace injuries. This category includes falls on wet and slippery floors or trips over something lying on the floor.
• Cuts caused nearly 85,000 injuries last year, or 9.3 percent of all injuries in the private sector/all industries.
• Burns accounted for over 15,000 workplace injuries last year, or 1.7 percent of injuries in the private sector/all industries.

When you look at the list above, the most important thing to recognize is that all of these injuries were preventable. Every single one.

I have had the unfortunate experience of losing someone in a safety-related accident that was preventable. I have a passion for keeping everyone safe. I know that the key to preventing accidents like this is to create a total safety culture, in which every part of the day is infused with a focus on safety.

Start with a safety checklist that employees should use before every single task. At Sodexo, we require all employees to ask the following three questions before beginning any task (you can use these questions at home too):

1. Do I know how to do the job?
2. Do I have the right equipment?
3. Is my environment safe?

If the answer is no to any of these questions, speak up to play an active role in preventing incidents and/or causing harm to yourself or others around you.

A check list is the core of a good safety program, but you need to go beyond this to reinforce safety practices throughout the day. In the heat of a hectic work day, it’s easy for employees to forget about safety and rush through a task. A better strategy is to find multiple times a day to talk about safety and keep it top-of mind. For example, at Sodexo we begin every single meeting with what we call a “Safety Moment,” in which the presenter selects a safety topic meaningful to them and facilitates a five-minute discussion about it. It sets the tone for the meeting—that nothing is more important than the safety of our employees and our customers.

At the same time, we run multiple safety campaigns year-round to make sure our employees remember that safety is our top priority. For example, last year, Sodexo launched a global Have A Safe Day campaign to drive safety culture and change behaviors. In the fall of 2016 we celebrated Zero October, and asked all employees to make a personal commitment to their safety and the safety of those around them, whether at work, at home or in between. Now Sodexo is taking it to the next level with a new Safety Campaign called 3-2-1 ZERO, which focuses on the top causes of injury in the workplace that I listed above.

At Sodexo, our mission is to improve Quality of Life for the people we serve: our employees, customers and clients one of the ways we do this is by keeping everyone safe at all times.

What are you doing to create a total safety culture at work, at home and in-between?

Tweet me:Creating a workplace where #safety comes first https://goo.gl/2GVSbc @sodexousa #ZeroHarm #WorkplaceSafety #SafetyFirst

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, safety, national safety month, National Safety Council, Have a Safe Day, injury, Sodexo

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

Seventy percent of Americans believe companies have an obligation to take actions to improve issues that may not be relevant to everyday business operations, according to the 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study. That means addressing some of the hot-button issues in the news today, as 78 percent of Americans believe it’s important for companies to stand up for important social justice issues. To learn more about what Americans expect, click here download the full study.

Tweet me:New #ConeResearch INFOGRAPHIC: Brands & Social Activism: What Do You Stand Up For? http://bit.ly/2tT34S5 #CSR

KEYWORDS: Research, Reports & Publications, Cone CSR Study, 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study, corporate activism, csr

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, June 23, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- The Taproot Foundation announces the election of Matt Holford and Susan Levitt to its Board of Directors.

Matt Holford is Chief Technology Officer at DoSomething.org, a global nonprofit with the goal of motivating young people to make positive change through impactful campaigns. He oversees the development of new tech tools utilized by the organization.

“I'm thrilled to join this accomplished board and work towards Taproot's bright future at the center of pro bono,” says Holford. “DoSomething.org has gained a wealth of hard-won wisdom as we've developed our technology products to power a volunteering movement among young people, and I'm excited to be able to make this useful to Taproot as it scales its impact through technology.”

Holford has been coding for over 20 years, with a specialty in product management, and he has served as an advisor to such companies as Nike, MTV, Sotheby’s, Sony, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among many others. He is a leader in the tech and social good community and is currently a member of CTOs for Good.

Holford is a graduate of Brown University with a degree in Philosophy.

Susan Levitt is currently a Managing Director and the Head of the Issuer Relations Group at Kroll Bond Rating, where she has developed and implemented long- and short-term sales strategies since the firm’s inception in 2011. Levitt built all aspects of the business development group, and her efforts contributed to the firm’s exponential growth and the establishment of Kroll’s leadership position in the sector.

Previously, Levitt was a Director at Citigroup in the Debt Capital Markets Group and before that the National Treasury Manager at Toyota Motor Credit Corporation.

“I am looking forward to working with the dedicated board members and the talented Taproot employees to increase Taproot’s footprint in the pro bono sector,” noted Levitt. “Taproot is an innovative and impressive organization that will continue to be a leader in the pro bono movement, and I am honored to be part of its future growth.”

Levitt’s community endeavors include serving as Treasure and now ex-officio member of the Board of Directors for the Rodeph Sholom School. She also serves as an advisor to Cornerstone Capital Group, a sustainable money management firm.

Levitt holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from The Anderson Graduate School at UCLA.

“I’m so pleased to welcome Susan and Matt to the Taproot board,” says Liz Hamburg, Taproot's President and CEO. “Susan brings a long history in financial services and Matt has deep knowledge of both technology needs in the nonprofit community and understanding of how to scale volunteerism through online platforms. They will both add tremendous value to Taproot as we continue to scale the way that we bring pro bono services to nonprofits and social change organizations.”

For a full list of Taproot Foundation's current Board of Directors please click here.

About the Taproot Foundation
Taproot Foundation, a national nonprofit, connects nonprofits and social change organizations with skilled volunteers who provide their expertise pro bono. Taproot is creating a world where organizations dedicated to social change have full access—through pro bono service—to the marketing, strategy, HR, and IT resources they need to be most effective. Since 2001, Taproot’s skilled volunteers have served 4,600 social change organizations providing 1.5 million hours of work worth over $160 million in value. Taproot is located in New York, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, and Los Angeles and is leading a network of global pro bono providers in over 30 countries around the world. www.taprootfoundation.org

Tweet me:.@Taprootfound announces election @DoSomething's Matt Holford and Kroll Bond Rating's Susan Levitt to Board of Dir. http://bit.ly/2sQmCZZ

Contact Info:

Taproot Foundation
pr@taprootfoundation.org

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Diversity & Inclusion, Taproot Foundation, dosomething.org, Kroll Bond Rating Agency, Nonprofit governance

The first edition of Sodexo’s President to President series comes to a close after publishing ten chapters exploring themes relevant in today’s academic sector

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 20, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Sodexo, world leader of Quality of Life services, celebrates the success of the first edition of the President to President series upon publishing the tenth and final chapter.  Titled "Integrated Approaches to Student Living and Campus Housing—Enhancing Quality of Life and Performance," the downloadable collection touches on important themes necessary for improving the student experience.

President to President marks 2016-2017 as its 11th year as a series and the first edition of which to be published by Sodexo. Each month a leader in higher education, notable for pioneering viewpoints and practices at their institution, authors a chapter of the series; Sodexo distributes, promotes and posts each chapter on president2president.com as a resource for other university leaders and higher education professionals.

Touching on topics including safety & security, diversity and inclusion on campus, student retention, fostering resiliency and the importance of student living, university presidents from across the nation and beyond explore new ways to improve students’ quality of life through innovation and forward thinking. The series’ 2016-2017 authors include

• MaryAnn Baenninger Ph.D., Drew University

• José Antonio Bowen Ph.D., FRSA, Goucher College

• Ángel Cabrera Ph.D., George Mason University

• Javier Cevallos Ph.D., Framingham State University

• E. Gordon Gee Ed.D., West Virginia University

• Walter M. Kimbrough, Ph.D., Dillard University

• Deborah P. Moore, School Planning & Management (SP&M) and College Planning & Management (CP&M) magazines

• Shannon O'Connor, College Planning & Management magazine

• Santa J Ono Ph.D., University of British Columbia

• Fred P. Pestello Ph.D., Saint Louis University

• Paul C. Pribbenow Ph.D., Augsburg College

• Edward Ray Ph.D., Oregon State University

Highlighting both obstacles and achievements in academia, the authors of the first edition of Sodexo’s President to President series pool their learnings to devise new approaches to enhance the student experience through student living and campus housing initiatives. The downloadable version of the 2016-2017 edition of the series can be found on president2president.com.

"We are grateful to our contributors for the 2016-2017 President to President series, and to Sodexo for publishing this first edition. We look forward to the upcoming influential articles written by presidents for presidents on a variety of important campus topics. We especially thank our readers who sustain the series with their interest and perspective, and invite them to enjoy the forthcoming edition," said editors Dr. Scott D. Miller, President, Virginia Wesleyan University and Dr. Marylouise Fennell, Senior Counsel, Council of Independent Colleges.

The 2017-2018 edition of the President to President series will be titled “Disruptive Innovation and How it can Transform a Campus Environment.”  

Sodexo USA is an American business that is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Delivering more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life, Sodexo is a leading provider of sustainable, integrated facilities management and food service operations. It employs 123,000 Americans at 12,500 sites across the country and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional U.S. jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. In support of local communities across the U.S., the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $30 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger.

Learn more about Sodexo at its corporate blog, Sodexo Insights.

Tweet me:President to President releases downloadable collection to celebrate 2016-2017 Edition http://bit.ly/2sZLnmG

Contact Info:

Sam Wells
SodexoUSA
Samuel.Wells@sodexo.com

KEYWORDS: Education, Innovation & Technology, Academia, academic, Sodexo, President

Partnership to begin with an initiative to fund development of feature documentaries, sponsored by 21st Century Fox and National Geographic

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

Films to be developed and produced by Lightbox and the newly formed ABFF Films division and executive produced by ABFF CEO Jeff Friday and Lightbox co-founders Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn

NEW YORK, June 23, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Today, The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and Lightbox, a multi-platform media company focused on creating high quality non-fiction programming for film, television and digital platforms, announced they will collaborate on a new initiative to foster diversity in the feature documentary arena.

This multiyear program will leverage Lightbox’s success in producing award-winning and commercially successful documentaries with the ABFF’s unparalleled pipeline and record of accomplishment for identifying many of the industry’s most promising Black filmmakers.

To jumpstart this initiative, ABFF and Lightbox are announcing the ABFF’s inaugural Feature Documentary Competition and a national ‘call to action’ will be made the week leading up to the start of the 2017 American Black Film Festival, which runs June 14-18 in Miami Beach. The competition will be open to all African-American documentary filmmakers and any documentary filmmakers interested in exploring non-fiction stories and themes that speak directly to the African-American experience.

Selected films will be developed and produced by Lightbox and the newly formed ABFF Films division and executive produced by ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday and Lightbox co-founders Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. The first of the ABFF’s annual Feature Documentary Competition is being co-sponsored by National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, who will fully fund the development of the selected films.

Based in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox has produced several acclaimed documentaries that speak directly to the experience of people of color in America, including ESPN’s “Fantastic Lies“ about the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal; National Geographic’s “LA 92” that marked the 25th anniversary of the civil unrest in Los Angeles following the verdicts in the Rodney King beating case; and company is currently in production on the only authorized documentary about the life and legacy of the late Whitney Houston. 

“We are honored to be partnering with the ABFF to encourage further diversity in the documentary genre.” said Lightbox co-founders Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn. “The documentary community has a rich tradition of embracing creative voices from a wide array of demographics and perspectives, but there is clearly more work for us to do to support African-American and filmmakers from minority communities who want to express themselves through the powerful medium of documentary story telling.”

For the past 21 years, ABFF has been deemed as the nation’s most prominent film festival, which recognizes and provides a platform for African American filmmakers. This collaboration will help to elevate unique perspectives and vision in the documentary space.

"We're so encouraged by the public's growing appetite for documentary films and are excited to partner with Lightbox, National Geographic and 21st Century Fox Studios to provide this unprecedented opportunity," says Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF Ventures.

Details of the National Geographic/ 21st Century Fox sponsored competition and submission guidelines can be found at the ABFF’s website: www.ABFFVentures.com/films.

Details of the initiative will also be announced following a special screening of National Geographic and Lightbox’s feature documentary “LA 92” in Miami as part of the American Black Film Festival. The film, directed by Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin, will screen on Friday June 16th at 1:45pm at The Miami Beach Cinematheque.

“As we expand our push into premium programming, and especially look for new projects to present under our National Geographic Documentary Films banner, I cannot think of a better opportunity to foster new talent and discover new voices with important stories to tell,” said Tim Pastore, President of Original Programming for National Geographic Channel. “The opportunity to join our parent company in partnering with Jonathan, Simon and the team at ABFF is incredibly exciting. I cannot wait to see what talent we discover.”

Jeff Friday and Lightbox are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

Join the conversation on social media by visiting ABFF’s multiple social media platforms:

Twitter      @ABFF
Facebook   American Black Film Festival
Instagram @AmericanBlackFilmFestival
YouTube    American Black Film Festival
Hashtags   #ABFF2017 #WeAreABFF
Website     www.ABFF.com

ABOUT LIGHTBOX:
Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox is a multinational media company focused on creating high quality non-fiction programming for film, television and digital platforms. It was founded in 2014 by Academy Award and Emmy winning producers and cousins Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. Simon and Jonathan’s partnership represents a seamless melding of two distinct but compatible backgrounds and a strongly shared creative sensibility. Since its founding in 2014, Lightbox has produced many notable projects including documentary films Atari: Game Over and The Thread, for Xbox Entertainment Studios; an ESPN 30 for 30 film about the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal entitled Fantastic Lies; as well as several series for both the UK and US markets such as The Traffickers for Fusion, Inside British Vogue for BBC, The Runner-Up for Esquire, War Child for Channel 4 and the groundbreaking Captive for Netflix. Lightbox recently released its first theatrical feature documentary LA 92, about the 1992 LA Riots for National Geographic’s Documentary Films Division, and is currently in production on the first and only authorized documentary about legendary pop icon Whitney Houston, which is slated to hit theatres in 2018. Prior to co-founding Lightbox, Simon Chinn became one of the world’s most successful feature documentary producers with two Academy Award-winning documentaries, Man on Wire and Searching for Sugar Man, to his credit. His other prior producing credits include Project Nim, The Imposter, The Green Prince, My Scientology Movie. Jonathan Chinn co-founded Lightbox on the heels of a successful career as one of the most respected non-fiction television showrunners in the US, winning an Emmy for American High (Fox/PBS) and the Television Academy’s prestigious Honors Award for 30 Days (FX), the latter of which went on to become FX’s highest rated unscripted series. Other producing credits include Kid Nation (CBS), Push Girls (Sundance) and Hotel Hell (FOX).

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. It supports emerging artists to foster a wider range of images, stories and storytellers represented in the entertainment industry. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content targeted to upscale African American audiences.

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PARTNERS, LLC:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and ecommerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 171 countries and 45 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

PRESS CONTACT:
Michelle Huff Elliott
Strategic Heights Media
michelle@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

#####

Tweet me:21CF and @NatGeo partner with @ABFF and Lightbox to foster diversity in #documentary filmmaking: http://bit.ly/2tWAkI7 @21CF_Impact

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, Events, Media & Communications, 21st century fox, National Geographic, American Black Film Festival, lightbox, Documentary, filmmaking, competition, people of color, Donation, diversity

Four key indicators 5-19 percent below 2012 baseline despite strong growth in production

SOURCE:Boeing

DESCRIPTION:

**This is the third article in a series focusing on The Boeing Company's environmental performance and progress in 2016. Visit www.boeing.com/environment for more information.**

Boeing is improving the environmental footprint of our diverse operations. We are on target to out-perform our goal of zero growth in our four key indicators from our 2012 baseline through 2017.

Boeing generated fewer greenhouse gas emissions, used less water, sent less solid waste to landfills and generated less hazardous waste—all reduced from 4 to 19 percent in 2016 compared to the baseline set in 2012—even with strong growth in production.

This year’s Environment Report also reflects the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2016 recalculation of the National eGRID emissions factors, which represent the emissions footprint of all electric power sources. The EPA biannually recalculates the data and applies the results to the previous three years. A significant increase in the emissions factor was identified for the Northwest region. This was mainly caused by greater use of coal-derived electricity needed to meet the demands of a growing region. This resulted in Boeing’s recalculation of 2014 and 2015 data, which caused an increase of the emissions previously calculated and reported for those years. Despite this change, we remain on track to exceed all goals.

2017 is the final year in Boeing’s five-year plan of environmental performance goals and targets set in 2012. The company will implement new performance goals in 2018 that will demonstrate a continuing commitment to strengthening our global environmental leadership.

The accompanying charts and graphs show data rounded to the nearest decimal point and reflect the environmental performance of the majority of Boeing facilities, calculated against 2012 baseline values. (Note: hazardous waste generation targets are revenue adjusted.)

Boeing also submits environmental data to regulatory agencies and voluntary disclosure organizations, such as Australia’s National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, the United Kingdom’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, the European Union’s Emissions Trading System and Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory.

Tweet me:.@Boeing is out-performing zero-growth environment footprint goals for operations as production grows. Learn more http://bit.ly/2suEV6U

KEYWORDS: Environment, Innovation & Technology, Boeing, csr, CSG, environment report, water, Waste, Emissions, sustainability

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 23, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Subaru of America, Inc. today proudly announced its partnership with PFLAG, a national organization uniting families, allies, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ), for the Cultivating Respect: Safe Schools for All program. Since 2015, Subaru has partnered with PFLAG National and its network of chapters across the country to ensure that all youth – regardless of their family background or personal identity – are welcomed and accepted at school.

“At Subaru, we believe all youth should have access to education in a safe and supportive environment,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “The work that PFLAG does provides the support and resources needed for all students to feel welcomed and accepted at their schools and we are proud to be a partner and help accomplish that goal.”

Subaru’s contribution will support the Cultivating Respect: Safe Schools for All program and its Top Ten Ways to Keep Schools Safe publication. That support will allow PFLAG National to provide critical updates to members and engage concerned stakeholders who care deeply about all youth being able to access education in an environment that is safe from fear, bullying, and discrimination.

“We at PFLAG National are thrilled that Subaru is expanding its support of Cultivating Respect: Safe Schools for All at this critical time,” said Elizabeth Kohm, Interim Executive Director of PFLAG National. “This support will allow us to get important resources out into the nearly 400 communities where PFLAG chapters are leading the way in creating and sustaining safe learning environments for all youth. Subaru's additional partnership on We Are the Change– our national convention to be held in Portland, Oregon later this year – will allow both PFLAG and Subaru to demonstrate further ways we all give back locally.”

For nearly 45 years, PFLAG National has been helping dissipate the fears and prejudices that are widespread in the LGBTQ community. The volunteer-driven organization has served as a resource in almost 400 communities to help family members and loved ones understand and advocate for their LGBTQ youth and friends, promoting changes in social attitudes toward sexual orientation and gender identity and express in the process.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About PFLAG National

PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization uniting families, allies, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ). PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education, and advocacy, and has more than 400 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit http://pflag.org/. Like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/pflag), or follow us on Twitter (@pflag) or Instagram (@pflagnational).

Cultivating Respect: Safe Schools for All is PFLAG National’s safe schools program, part of our efforts to make schools safe and free from fear, bullying, and discrimination. Learn more at http://pflag.org/safeschools

Tweet me:.@subaru_usa & @PFLAG partner to make school environments safe for #LGBTQ youth http://bit.ly/2t084qx #SubaruLovestoCare #Pride

Contact Info:

Diane Anton
Subaru of America, Inc.
+1 (856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Liz Owen
PFLAG National
+1 (202) 467-8180ext. 214
lowen@pflag.org

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, LGBTQ, Subaru of America, pflag national, Cultivating Respect: Safe Schools for All

Correa is #GoingToBat by providing 150 local children with mattresses, frames, sheets, pillows and blankets

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Carlos Correa, a former first overall draft pick, has been one of Major League Baseball's rising stars since joining the Houston Astros in 2015.  He captured the American League Rookie of the Year Award that season, after making his debut at the tender age of 20.  He turned 21 during his rookie campaign, when he became the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to hit a postseason home run, the second-youngest player to hit more than one home run in a playoff game and the following season he became the youngest player in Astros history to go deep on Opening Day.

But, since calling Houston home, Carlos has been a rising star off the field as well. In July 2015, just over a month after being called up to the majors, Carlos supported the Houston Salvation Army’s efforts to help those in need. And, last season, Correa teamed up with the Houston Children’s Charity’s “A Better Night’s Sleep Program” to ensure one thing – children in the Houston area were getting a good night’s sleep.

Learn more about how Carlos is #GoingToBat for kids here.

Tweet me:#MLBPlayers #GoingToBat - @TeamCJCorrea providing a good night's sleep to @Astros youth #CareActInspire http://bit.ly/2t3oLlQ

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Health & Healthcare, Carlos Correa, houston astros, Major League Baseball Players Association, Major League Baseball Players Trust, MLBPA, Major League Baseball, athletes giving back, houston, volunteerism

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

In recent years, the refugee crisis has expanded to unprecedented levels, with nearly 1 in 100 people worldwide displaced from their homes. Amidst a widespread perception of federal inaction, companies and NGOs have seen an increasing demand from consumers to step up and do their part to make a difference. In fact, more than two-thirds of consumers cited immigration as a top priority for companies to take the lead on.

On World Refugee Day, June 20, 2017, these companies showed a willingness to be at the forefront of much-needed change through unique efforts grounded in compassion:

• Ben & Jerry’s*: A leader in standing up for social justice issues, the ice cream maker teamed up with the International Rescue Committee to launch its ‘Together for Refugees’ campaign in the U.K. Through a short video bringing awareness to the issue, the campaign rallies consumers to write to their local representatives, asking them to support legislation to help refugees resettle safely in Europe.
• Airbnb: In early June, Airbnb launched its innovative Open Homes platform, designed to connect seven nonprofit organizations with available rooms for refugees, building on its 2016 #WithRefugees commitment. Through the platform, Airbnb users volunteer to host refugees, evacuees, and others in times of need, for free, helping the company meet its five-year goal to provide free short-term housing to 100,000 people.
• Starbucks: The coffee company originally announced in January it would commit to hiring 10,000 refugees at Starbucks locations around the globe by 2022. Expanding on this initial worldwide pledge, Starbucks confirmed an additional goal on World Refugee Day to hire 2,500 refugees within five years to work in its stores across Europe. 

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:These 7 companies stood #WithRefugees though unique efforts grounded in compassion for #WorldRefugeeDay http://bit.ly/2t32GnC

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, World Refugee Day, Airbnb Open Homes, Airbnb #WithRefugees, Ben & Jerry's Together for Refugees, Refugee.Info, Cone Communications

SOURCE:MGM Resorts International

DESCRIPTION:

June 23, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Jenn Michaels, Senior Vice President of Public Relations for MGM Resorts International, has been named a 2017 Outstanding Woman in Hospitality by Women in Travel and Tourism International (witti). Announced earlier this month, the awards are the first of their kind in which women are honoring their peers for outstanding contributions to the travel and tourism industry. 

Witti strives to serve as a forum for increasing the low numbers of women represented at the most senior levels in the travel industry. Women make up the bulk of travel industry employees, ranging from travel agents and advisors to hotel managers and concierges, yet they remain disproportionately under-represented in the most senior ranks of travel and tourism organizations.  

“It’s important to highlight the very significant contributions of women working in travel and tourism today,” said Mandala Research CEO and witti founder Laura Mandala. “These champions of travel and tourism are not only advancing their companies and the industry, but are also mentoring and recruiting the next generation of travel professionals.”

In 2000, MGM Resorts became the first company in the gaming and hospitality industry to voluntarily adopt a formal diversity and inclusion policy. The company has incorporated diversity and inclusion into its values and primary business systems and processes. Fifty-one percent of the company’s 75,000 employees are women. In management, about 43 percent of employees are women. Additionally, the company has been recognized for gender diversity amongst its board of directors by the Women’s Forum of New York.

For more information, read the witti awards announcement. 

Tweet me:.@wittiorg names Jenn Michaels, @MGM ResortsIntl SVP of Public Relations, as “Outstanding Woman in Hospitality”– http://bit.ly/2tY8cUM

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Diversity & Inclusion, MGM Resorts, witti, 2017 Outstanding Woman in Hospitality, Jenn Michaels

How Indiana University Bloomington diverted 300 tons of waste from landfills, kept students on budget

SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

Indiana University Bloomington found a way to turn trash into treasure. At the end of each spring semester, the university’s sustainability office and the City of Bloomington collect items that students left in their apartments for the Hoosier to Hoosier Community Sale.

Instead of university staff gathering and paying to put the items in a landfill, shoppers can buy clothes, TVs and furniture for a fraction of their retail price. A bean bag chair that might retail for $35 is only $5. A futon, which Sustainable IT Services Project Manager Noma Maier said is one of the most popular items, sells for as low as $10 instead of $90 or more at the store.

Maier said many students are unable to take the things they’ve acquired during their college career after graduation. Some international students, she said, come to college with only a suitcase and must be selective about what they take with them.

“They’ve collected what we all would when setting up a household, so when they’re faced with the choice of what they’re going to take with them,” Maier said, “the toaster may have to stay behind.”

Last year, more than 3,200 people attended the sale; some of them lined up at 3 a.m. and paid $5 (students) or $10 to enter an hour early at 8 a.m.

Since the Hoosier to Hoosier program started in 2010, it has diverted nearly 300 tons of waste from landfills and raised just over $200,000 for local nonprofits and sustainability efforts. Indiana University Bloomington is one of several universities in the country hosting community sales to reduce the amount of waste left when students leave college. Purdue, Notre Dame and Appalachian State all have similar sales.

Students bring their items to drop-off sites at each campus residence hall or request a pick up from their off-campus housing. Volunteers pick up the donations and bring them to The Warehouse, a 5-acre event space in Bloomington where the sale takes place in August, the week students move back to campus.

“We find that people buy things they think they need for college, and they really don’t,” Maier said. “We encourage students to wait until they get here to find out what they need.

Collections from campus fill about 2 acres of the building.

“Our goal is for when people walk in and to say to themselves, ‘Look at how much stuff is here.’ We want them to think about their resource consumption,” she said, “and ask themselves ‘Do I really need this item?’”

Maier estimates volunteers spend about 1,700 hours preparing the sale. Duke Energy volunteers have helped with the pickup and drop-off for five years. This year, 20 Duke Energy employees brought six trucks and a trailer to collect donations at three residence halls. Throughout the seven states Duke Energy serves, about 4,000 Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas employees and retirees contributed about 100,000 volunteer hours through Duke Energy in Action last year.

Duke Energy Government and Community Relations Manager Bruce Calloway, who’s volunteered all five years, said he is always impressed by the amount they collect: refrigerators, flat screen televisions, clothes, rugs, hangers and more. He said he hopes more universities will hold similar sales.

“It benefits the environment, encourages people to reuse items and raises money for nonprofits,” Calloway said. “The landfill is 60 miles from here, so we’re keeping those trucks off the highway and reducing the carbon footprint.”

The Hoosier to Hoosier Community Sale is Aug. 19 in Bloomington, Ind. Click here for details.

Tweet me:.@IUBloomington #recycles used dorm furniture with the help of @DukeEnergy #volunteers http://bit.ly/2sH9KW2 #WeAreDE

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Environment, Indiana University Bloomington, Duke Energy, Recycling, sustainability, Nonprofits, Hoosier to Hoosier, tag sale, College, Fundraising

Building a more sustainable future

SOURCE:Boeing

DESCRIPTION:

**This is the fourth article in a series focusing on The Boeing Company's environmental performance and progress in 2016. Visit www.boeing.com/environment for more information.**

Boeing’s commitment to environmental leadership and building a more sustainable future drives a global strategy with three main areas of focus:

Inspire Global Collaboration

Boeing works closely with industry, government agencies, NGOs and customers to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint with a focus on reducing emissions. We engage in policy initiatives, research and development projects, collaborative technology road-mapping and more to further progress on our company and industry goals.

Design in Environmental Performance

Most aviation emissions in an aircraft’s life cycle occur during its use by the airline or government customer. In addition to designing and building increasingly fuel-efficient products, Boeing uses innovative, environmentally progressive technology and manufacturing practices to reduce the environmental footprint and create market value for our customers.

Innovate for Sustainable Operations

Improving the environmental footprint of Boeing’s factories, offices and other facilities requires continually assessing and updating technologies and processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water intake, solid waste sent to landfills and the use of hazardous materials while increasing the use of environmentally progressive materials. Additionally, we are collaborating with experts outside of Boeing to help guide innovative and effective solutions to stormwater management and water-quality improvement. Boeing’s remediation program focuses on using innovative approaches to cleaning up affected sites while relying on close collaboration with community members and environmental groups.

In 2017, Boeing will complete its current cycle of environment-based targets, and is in the process of developing new targets to run through 2025.

Tweet me:Check out how @Boeing 's environment strategy is building a more sustainable future for aerospace. http://bit.ly/2twEaax

KEYWORDS: Environment, Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Boeing, csr, esg, environment report, strategy, Emissions, water, solid waste, stormwater, sustainability

SOURCE:Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council

DESCRIPTION:

Because increasing healthcare plastics means considering all parts of the value chain, HPRC has developed a guidance document for manufacturers that articulates design considerations which enhance the recycling potential and value of the final product or packaging.
​
This guide is intended for product designers and users of disposable medical devices and will enable increased design and use for recyclability. The guidelines may also be of use for waste haulers and recyclers interested in recycling this waste stream.

Read more about these guidelines here.

About HPRC

HPRC is a private technical coalition of industry peers across healthcare, recycling and waste management industries seeking to improve recyclability of plastic products within healthcare. HPRC is made up of brand leading and globally recognized members including Nelipak, Baxter, BD, Cardinal Health, DuPont, Eastman Chemical Company, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Ravago Manufacturing Americas and SABIC Innovative Plastics. The council convenes biannually at meetings hosted by an HPRC member that include facility tours to further learning and knowledge sharing opportunities through first-hand demonstration of best practices in sustainable product and packaging design and recycling processes. For more information, visit www.hprc.org.

Tweet me:.@PlasticChat Design Guidance: Best Practices for Recyclable Packaging http://bit.ly/2tXrdqn

Contact Info:

katie.nordenson@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: Environment, Recyclable packaging, healthcare plastics, disposable medical, healthcare sustainability, plastic waste, HPRC

SOURCE:Voya Financial, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Congratulations to Daniella Gonzalez, who is one of five students to receive a $10,000 scholarship from Voya Scholars – a collaborative program launched by Voya Financial, in collaboration with its nonprofit partner, Scholarship America. 

Daniella is a first-generation college student who moved from Columbia to the United States as a child. Daniella struggled with the English language and could barely communicate with her classmates for several years before she discovered math and science, which were not affected by any language barriers. She is currently a student at Cristo Rey High School and will soon attend Princeton University as an Engineering major.

Learn more about Voya Scholars here

Learn more about Corporate Responsibility at Voya here

Tweet me:Daniella, 1st generation college student, moved from Columbia to U.S as a child wins a 17' @Voya #scholarship http://bit.ly/2sQuSsN

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, language barriers, voya 2017 scholar winner, Voya, csr, Education, math and science

Will Young, Leona Lewis, RuPaul, Doug Armstrong and Geordie Shore’s Marnie Simpson amongst talent confirmed to share coming out stories

SOURCE:Viacom

DESCRIPTION:

LONDON, June 26, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Musical stars Will Young and Leona Lewis, TV personality RuPaul, YouTuber Doug Armstrong and Geordie Shore’s Marnie Simpson, are amongst the high profile talent who have agreed to support Out in 60, a new TV and digital media campaign aimed at raising awareness of LGBT issues and celebrating the act of ‘coming out’ in the lead up to the Pride in London Parade on 8th July. 

Launching on 24th June for a two week period, the campaign will feature a series of user-generated videos telling ‘coming out’ stories from those involved in the campaign. It will run across Viacom’s UK network of adult and youth TV channels and digital apps and websites – including public broadcaster Channel 5 – to enable the 60-second spots to reach a potential audience of more than 15 million.  The project marks the first time that Channel 5, MTV and Comedy Central have supported UK Pride simultaneously in this way. 

“Research and personal connections tell us that even today in the most liberal of cities, coming out and sharing your sexuality and gender identity with the people you love can be difficult and often scary,” commented Georgia Arnold, Senior Vice President, Viacom International Social Responsibility.  “With Viacom’s broadcast and digital network at our fingertips and UK Pride just around the corner, Out in 60 is a fun, fast way to celebrate the experience of coming out at the same time as raising awareness of the issues that the LGBT community continue to encounter.”

In addition to the confirmed talent from the world of music and entertainment, the LGBT community and YouTubers, the general public will be encouraged to join the movement by submitting their own and often very different 60-second coming out stories on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #OUTIN60. 

Selected video submissions will have a rainbow filter applied ensuring that the look and feel of each clip is consistent and more information, together with all the Out In 60 videos can be found at outin60.mtv.com/home, as well as via each channel brand’s microsite.

About Viacom International

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Paramount Channel and Spike, alongside a number of key local brands including Channel 5 (UK) and Telefe (Argentina). Viacom brands reach more than 3.9 billion cumulative subscribers in 180+ countries via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties, in more than 40 languages. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR. For more information about Viacom visit www.viacom.com.

Tweet me:.@Viacom celebrates #UKPride2017 with first-ever cross brand on-air and digital #ComingOut campaign, #OUTIN60 http://bit.ly/2tTgyNx

Contact Info:

Kelly Todd
VIMN Communications
+44 20 3580 2105
todd.kelly@vimn.com

Anna Dally
VIMN Communications
+44 20 3580 2104
anna.dally@vimn.com

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, LGBTQ, Out in 60, Viacom, UK Pride 2017, Will Young, Leona Lewis, RuPaul, Doug Armstrong, Marnie Simpson, Viacom International

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on www.nytimes.com. 

Michael R. Bloomberg will throw his financial might into helping beleaguered American mayors, creating a $200 million philanthropic program aimed at backing inventive policies at the city level and giving mayors a stronger hand in national politics.

Mr. Bloomberg intends to announce the initiative on Monday in a speech to the United States Conference of Mayors in Miami Beach, where he will castigate federal officials and state governments around the country for undermining cities. He plans to describe the program, called the American Cities Initiative, as a method of shoring up the global influence of the United States despite turmoil in Washington.

A wealthy former mayor of New York who seriously explored running for president in 2016 as an independent, Mr. Bloomberg, 75, has embraced a public role since the election as a kind of elite-level organizer against certain policies of the Trump administration.

In an interview, Mr. Bloomberg said his city-focused initiative would serve in part as an extension of his advocacy for national policies that address climate change, gun violence, public health and immigration. That largely liberal agenda is aligned with the growing aspirations of big-city mayors, who are mainly Democrats and who have vowed to check conservative mandates emerging from Washington by using their power at the local level.

To read the full story, click here. 

Tweet me:Bloomberg’s Next Anti-Washington Move: $200 Million Program for Mayors @mikebloomberg #mayorschallenge #parisaccord http://bit.ly/2tarTfb

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Environment, mikebloomberg, philanthropy, Bloomberg, bloombergphilanthropies, bloombergdotorg, mayorschallenge, parisaccord, parisagreement

SOURCE:3BL Media, LLC

DESCRIPTION:

In the previous CSR Minute, I described C.E.O. Action, a collaboration by 150 corporations to promote open discussion in the workplace on the issues of ethnicity and gender. In this week’s Minute, I’ll outline a few individual efforts. Dow has launched Project Search, a program to increase representation of persons with disabilities in the workforce.

Mastercard has formed Business Resource Groups, self-governing employee associations to leverage the diverse experience and skills of its workers to inform the company’s business strategy. Mastercard has also launched Give Me 5! to address gender inequality and has installed customized training to uncover unconscious bias. Merck and MSD have also introduced Unconscious Bias Education to its senior leaders.

 These companies and many more—including JLL, Kellogg, Mondelez, Visa, Wyndham Worldwide, PwC, Staples, Viacom, and Morgan Stanley—are showing that business can take effective action to address the urgent issues of diversity and inclusion in a transparent way. I’m John Howell for 3BL Media.

Video sources: Business Takes Action on Diversity and Inclusion, Part II

Tweet me:Business Takes Action on Diversity and Inclusion. #CSRminute @3blmedia http://bit.ly/2u9Y5fT

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, CSR Minute

MGM Resorts International Earns 4 Green Globes Certification for 45 million square feet of property. Green Globes benchmarks and documents commitment to environmental efficiency practices

SOURCE:MGM Resorts International

DESCRIPTION:

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is pleased to announce that MGM Resorts International has earned Four Green Globes® certifications for 26 retrofit building projects at various MGM Resorts’ Las Vegas properties. More than 45 million square feet of hotels, casinos, convention centers and resort campus spaces were retrofit to save energy and water, improve the indoor environment for guests and staff, reduce emissions and resource waste, and employ environmental management methods. 

"This recognition from GBI is a great honor for MGM Resorts International," said Cindy Ortega, the company's senior vice president and chief sustainability officer.  "Achieving Green Globes certifications are the result of MGM’s efforts to build and maintain the most sustainable facilities possible. Designing and operating green buildings are a key part of our environmental sustainability strategy."

“GBI’s goal is to increase the adoption of green building best practices, and we are pleased that MGM Resorts International chose Green Globes to certify its properties,” GBI President Vicki Worden said. “The Four Green Globes certification is the highest assessment given by GBI; it documents MGM Resorts International’s leadership and commitment to environmental efficiency practices.” 

Green Globes is based on a 1,000-point system covering seven areas of green building best practices. A third-party certified Green Globes Assessor evaluates every building based on practices specific to each building. A Four Green Globes certification is awarded to buildings that have achieved compliance with 85 percent or more of Green Globes criteria.

MGM Resorts International properties that received Four Green Globes include: the Bellagio Hotel, Casino and Convention Center; the Delano Las Vegas Hotel; the Mandalay Hotel, Casino, Convention Center and The Shoppes at Mandalay Place; the Excalibur Hotel and Casino; the Luxor Hotel, Casino and Tower; the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, MGM Garden Arena, MGM Grand Convention Center, the Mansion at MGM Grand, and the MGM Grand Campus; the Mirage Hotel and Casino, Convention Center and Villas; New York New York Hotel and Casino, Podium and Convention Center.

###

About the Green Building Initiative
The GBI is a nonprofit organization and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards Developer dedicated to accelerating the adoption of green building best practices. Founded in 2004, the organization is the sole U.S. provider of the Green Globes® and federal Guiding Principles Compliance building certification programs. To learn more about opportunities to become involved in the GBI, contact info@thegbi.org or visit the GBI website, www.thegbi.org.

About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:  MGM) is among the world’s leading entertainment companies.  With national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an inspired array of restaurant and retail offerings, MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands.  The MGM Resorts portfolio includes 15 of the most recognizable hospitality and resort brands throughout 27 locations.  The company is expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, recently opening MGM National Harbor in Maryland and very soon, MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and MGM COTAI in Asia.  The 77,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud to be recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.

Tweet me:@MGMResortsIntl earns four #GreenGlobes certifications for 26 properties @TheGBIorg #greenbuilding – http://bit.ly/2tcBTVa

KEYWORDS: Green Infrastructure, Awards, Ratings & Rankings, MGM Resorts

By: Rebecca Middleton

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Back in 2013, I joined the Alliance to End Hunger after a decade as a corporate lobbyist. As with any major life change, this one had implications on our family routines. One night over dinner, my husband and I talked about my new job with our children — then 8- and 6-years old. That evening at bedtime, my daughter, Sarah, said thoughtfully, “But Mommy, if you end hunger you won’t have a job anymore.” My response to her was “And wouldn’t that be wonderful.”

We can end hunger by the year 2030. While this is my own steadfast belief, it is also one of the goals that the world agreed to through the Sustainable Development Agenda. Worldwide, we are making fantastic progress. Since 1990, we have cut poverty in half and have nearly halved hunger as well. But the last few miles of this marathon are the hardest. To eliminate hunger and malnutrition in their entirety, we need to build sufficient public and political will to see that this is done — here in the United States as well as abroad. Engaging the energy and optimism of youth can help push us across the finish line.

In mid-June, with the support of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, the Alliance to End Hunger dedicated a chapter of our Advocacy Playbook to motivating and empowering our nation’s youth to engage their elected officials in the issue of hunger. The youth of this country have an amazing desire to dedicate themselves to activities that they know are improving their communities and around the world. Ending hunger is no exception. Many organizations — The Campus Kitchens Project, National FFA, Universities Fighting World Hunger, and No Kid Hungry, to name a few — are successfully tapping into this enormous potential, and the Alliance aims to better connect these opportunities to youth who seek to make a difference.

In my various trips around the country, I have seen the power of youth displayed in many different ways. Meal packing events, food drives, college campus organizations, and other volunteer events are numerous, and they attract countless young people seeking to do their part in the world. I also see the unlimited optimism youth bring to this work: They truly believe we can end hunger. Every time I see this enthusiasm and dedication, I can’t help but ask how we can harness this same energy for another critical aspect of fighting hunger—advocacy.

The first step of engaging youth in advocacy is to build motivation.  Once again with the help of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, the Alliance to End Hunger is developing a “one-stop shop” web tool to help youth easily find opportunities to get involved in the issue of hunger. With a planned launch in late July, the website tool will help youth get connected with high school programs, internships, fellowships, scholarships, ways to volunteer, and other opportunities and programs.

But this is only the beginning. In addition to these various opportunities, the Alliance will provide youth with a range of ways in which they can engage in advocacy. These advocacy actions could be as simple as tweeting a member of congress or as involved as having an actual in-person meetings with legislators. We can already see youth taking on activist roles in various issues relevant to our political landscape, so why not hunger?

Responsibility for youth engagement also lies with our various organizations, not just in the youth themselves. We need to work to create opportunities for genuine youth engagement that makes it clear that youth have a meaningful role — and in many cases a leadership role — when it comes to ending hunger. We need young people like my daughter, Sarah, to get excited about advocating to put an end to hunger, and, as she observed those years ago, to put me out of a job.

Tweet me:How to harnessing the energy and optimism of youth in advocacy https://goo.gl/cYsG6A @toendhunger

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, fighting hunger, Alliance to End Hunger, youth advocacy, hunger relief