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Aramark Building Community: A Decade of Impact

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SOURCE:Aramark

DESCRIPTION:

Millions of families struggle to make ends meet, but through Aramark Building Community, Aramark partners with local community centers to provide solutions. Tens of thousands of employees have shared their skills and expertise to inspire healthy lifestyles and help people succeed at work.

In 2018, Aramark Building Community celebrates 10 years of enriching and nourishing lives in local communities. What started with a few hundred volunteers in three cities has grown to impact lives in more than 50 cities. The program now includes an awards and grant program to recognize outstanding community center leadership, an online academy for local community centers to access a multitude of educational resources, a global volunteer day, when employees around the world demonstrate their year-round commitment to communities with hundred of health and wellness and workforce projects, and Feed Your Potential 365 Clubs that teach families to lead healthier lives.

Since 2008, Aramark Building Community has impacted 5 million children and families in 15 countries, engaged 60,000 employees, and invested tens of millions of dollars in local communities.

Watch the video to see Aramark volunteers at work.

Tweet me:In 2018, @Aramark Building Community celebrates 10 years of enriching and nourishing lives in local communities. Watch the video. http://bit.ly/2nw5KTV

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Good Health and Well-Being, Aramark, ARAMARK Building Community


Dell Eyes a Future That's More Than Just New PC Hardware

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Dell's wide-ranging CES press conference focused less on systems than you might expect, demonstrating the scope of the company's strategy.

SOURCE:Dell

DESCRIPTION:

by Matthew Buzzi

Dell and its Alienware gaming branch took to the stage at CES today to show off its coming lineup for the year, outlining a strategy that looks to include more than just iterative hardware releases.

The event, hosted by TV and gaming personality Jessica Chobot, ran the gamut from ultraportable laptops to environmental responsibility and esports. The new white XPS 13 was the only product revealed ahead of the show, while the rest of the announcements were kept as a surprise until showtime.

Continue reading on PC Mag >>>

Tweet me:Learn what @Dell unveiled at #CES2018 about their #environmentalresponsibility initiatives via @MJBuzzi @PCMag #SDGs

KEYWORDS: Events, Media & Communications, Environment, PC Magazine, environmental responsibility, CES 2018, Dell

Washington Can’t Kill Solar Power: 6 Reasons to Be Optimistic About the Future of Solar

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By: Mike Bloomberg

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

The Trump administration recently announced that the U.S. will be implementing a steep tariff on solar panel imports. Taxing those solar panels up to 30 percent will destroy U.S. jobs, because far more Americans are involved in installing and maintaining panels than in manufacturing them. It will also raise Americans’ electric bills, by making the energy marketplace less competitive. And it will hurt our environment and public health, by slowing the transition away from heavily polluting, carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

Congress should stand up for American workers and consumers and overturn the administration’s harmful decision. But although that is unlikely to happen, there are still many reasons to be optimistic about the future of solar and America’s transition to a clean energy future, as Carl Pope and I write about in our book, Climate of Hope.

To read the six reasons, click here.

Tweet me:Washington Can’t Kill Solar Power: 6 Reasons to be Optimistic About the Future of Solar @mikebloomberg @medium #cleanenergy #climateofhope http://bit.ly/2BHKcgD

KEYWORDS: Energy, Environment, Bloomberg, mikebloomberg, Clean Energy, solar power, climate of hope

LA Kings Join Forces With Enrich LA to Build Edible Garden at East Los Angeles YMCA

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SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

AEG’s LA Kings and Enrich LA joined forces, with the help of Blue Shield of California, to build an edible and interactive garden at Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center last week.

Throughout the day, Kings staff built and installed 13 planter beds with fully functioning drip irrigation systems for the YMCA to further its education initiatives surrounding maintaining healthy lifestyles.

“We could not be more grateful for the generosity of the LA Kings, Enrich LA and Blue Shield of California. The new edible garden their volunteers built will help us to more fully serve the children, teens and families that come to the Weingart YMCA for the self-empowering programs and services they have to come to expect,” said Scottie Biggers, executive director, Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center. “We will be able to provide healthy meals for families and foster an appreciation for home-grown, unprocessed foods, that hopefully will become the foundation for our community to live a healthier lifestyle.”

While the Kings and Enrich LA have previously teamed up to build three gardens in the past year throughout the greater Los Angeles area, this marks the second garden the LA Kings have sponsored exclusively for the YMCA. The Kings will build an additional three gardens throughout 2018 at various YMCAs throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Enrich LA is a community wellness non-profit organization that builds edible gardens for youth and families. Focusing on low-income and underserved neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Enrich LA hopes to engage students in cultivating and appreciating eating simple, home-grown foods.

Tweet me:AEG’s @LAKings join forces with @EnrichLA to build an edible garden with the help of @BlueShieldCA the Weingart #YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center! http://bit.ly/2C0A5z2

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Education, AEG, LA Kings, Enrich LA, Blue Shield of California, YMCA, edible gardens, Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center

  

Xylem Employees Volunteer More Than 35,800 Hours in 2017

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SOURCE:Xylem Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

RYE BROOK, N.Y., February 7, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Employees from Xylem (NYSE:XYL), a leading global water technology company that is dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, logged more than 35,800 volunteer hours in 2017, participating in activities aimed at providing and protecting safe water resources in communities and educating people about water issues. Xylem Watermark, the company’s corporate citizenship platform, launched a service-focused employee engagement program in 2016 in support of this mission with a goal of logging 100,000 volunteer hours by the end of 2018. This year’s achievement brings the total number of volunteer hours to nearly 57,000, more than halfway to that goal. This program is an integral part of realizing Xylem’s vision: a world where water issues are no longer a barrier to human health, prosperity and sustainable development.

“The spirit of service continues to drive and inspire Xylem colleagues to make a difference,” said Joseph Vesey, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “By engaging in water issues globally and locally, the Xylem Watermark program provides an opportunity for our colleagues to connect with and contribute to the communities where we work and live.”

Over the past year, more than 4,000 volunteers in 38 countries participated in over 430 events, working with local nonprofit organizations committed to water-related issues in their communities. Activities included cleaning and restoring local waterways, planting vegetation to protect shorelines from erosion and salinization, and pledging to conserve water for 30 days.

In 2017, the Watermark program invested more than $2.9 million through corporate grants and employee contributions (including corporate matching) to the company’s global nonprofit partners in support of Watermark’s mission. Those partners – Planet Water Foundation, Mercy Corps, EarthEcho, Water For People, Chinese Women’s Development Fund, and Fundación Avina – have all been critical to the impact made by Xylem volunteers and Xylem Watermark.

Xylem also responded to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and flooding in South Asia by pledging $1 million in financial and volunteer contributions and another $500,000 toward relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Xylem Watermark double matched all employee contributions to Mercy Corps, Planet Water and the Red Cross toward hurricane relief efforts. In addition to these contributions, Xylem sent 100 volunteers to work with Habitat For Humanity Houston to help rebuild houses following Hurricane Harvey. Xylem volunteers also helped to construct 10 Planet Water Aqua Towers in remote areas of Puerto Rico following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

In June 2017, Engage for Good honored the Xylem Watermark program with the Gold Halo Award in the Employee Engagement category. The Halo Awards are North America’s highest honor for corporate social initiatives and cause marketing. The award recognizes social good campaigns and initiatives targeted at employees and/or consumers involving a company and a cause.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to developing innovative technology solutions to the world’s water challenges. The Company’s products and services move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services settings. Xylem also provides a leading portfolio of smart metering, network technologies and advanced infrastructure analytics solutions for water, electric and gas utilities. The Company’s more than 16,000 employees bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying comprehensive, sustainable solutions.  Headquartered in Rye Brook, New York with 2017 revenue of $4.7 billion, Xylem does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands. 

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all – that which occurs in nature. For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

About Xylem Watermark

Xylem Watermark, Xylem’s corporate citizenship program, provides and protects safe water resources for many of the world’s most vulnerable communities and educates individuals around the globe about water issues. This social commitment reflects Xylem’s ethos of valuing the “triple bottom-line:” financial, environmental and social.  The company firmly believes in the notion of doing well by doing good, and dedicates resources to initiatives that demonstrate its commitment. 

Xylem Watermark was founded in 2008 and, with its six nonprofit partners, has provided clean water and sanitation solutions to over three million people in 25 countries. Xylem launched its first Global Month of Service in October 2016 to provide a focused time to inspire employees to get involved and bring the mission of Xylem Watermark to their communities. In 2017, Xylem Watermark launched the Make Your Mark 30 Day Challenge to engage employees in solving global and local water issues in ways about which they are passionate.

To learn more about Xylem Watermark, please visit www.xylemwatermark.com.

Tweet me:.@XylemInc employees #volunteer more than 35,800 hours in 2017 http://bit.ly/2C1WrR2 @XylemWatermark #MakeYourMark #LetsSolveWater

Contact Info:

Michael C. Fields
+1 (845) 476-5718
michaelc.fields@Xyleminc.com

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Environment, Xylem, Xylem Watermark

  

Employees’ Research Leads to Innovative Light Pole Pilot Program

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The use of a spring-loaded metal pole could help change how lights high above the ground are changed at SCE facilities.

SOURCE:Edison International

DESCRIPTION:

A group of employees at Southern California Edison recently found an innovative solution to help fix and replace light bulbs or fixtures high above the ground at its facilities. The spring-loaded metal pole they found online could help reduce injuries among workers.

The SCE employees pitched the idea and it is now being used in a Light Pole Pilot Program at the utility’s Redlands Mountainview facility. Once the pilot is completed, the program could then be used company-wide.

“Our lamping is either attached to the facility’s railing or affixed to somewhere else, so the thought was, the only way to change these out is to get on a ladder and wear fall protection, which is required," said Neil Finch, an SCE instrumentation, controls and electrical worker.

However, that could soon change after Finch and his colleagues on the SCE L.A. Basin Safety Team discovered the spring-loaded metal pole. The metal pole allows workers to use their hand tools to pull the light pole down, change out a broken light fixture or burned-out bulb, raise it back up into the correct position and then lock it into place with an Allen wrench.

“The idea is to replace the traditional metal light pole with something like this that can be pulled down physically because it’s spring loaded. One pipe goes inside another pipe, like a pogo stick,” Finch said. “It allows you to pull it down to a height where you can actually reach the light bulb without getting on a ladder.”

SCE workers are still required to use a ladder and safety harness to reach the top of 120 traditional metal poles — about eight to nine feet tall — located in different places around the Redlands Mountainview facility and at other SCE properties.

But the safety hazards of reaching these lights could soon be a thing of the past, now that the spring-loaded pole has proven to be successful.

“The company that makes the spring-loaded poles gave us two to test in a pilot program. Since the poles continue to work safely and effectively, SCE may replace the traditional poles at all facilities within the service territory,” Finch said.

Finch and his colleagues recently won the “In the Field” category at the “SCE Safety Triple-Crown” safety awards event. The competition recognizes groups of employees focused on transforming the utility’s safety culture by helping SCE achieve its goal of an injury-free workplace this year.

Tweet me:.@SCE employee research leads to #innovative safety solution for electrical workers http://bit.ly/2nNQUIO

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Energy, Southern California Edison, SCE

GRI Podcast February Edition: Business and Human Rights

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SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

In the first episode of 2018, GRI interviews Caroline Rees, President of Shift, the leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. There's also a report from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, where GRI’s Chief Executive Tim Mohin delivered an important message to world leaders. You will also find out how GRI's Regional Hub in South Asia is helping local businesses contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Subscribe to the monthly GRI podcast on iTunes, or listen to previous edisodes here

Tweet me:This month's @GRI_Secretariat podcast is now available: Talk on business and human rights with Caroline Rees from @shiftproject, a report from the #WEF2018 from GRI's @TimJMohin, and an update on GRI's work on #SDGs in India. Click here to listen now: http://bit.ly/GRIPodFeb18

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Development Goals, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, GRI, global reporting initiative, GRI Standards, sustainability reporting, UN guiding principles, SDGs

Serve, Lead, Learn: Corporations Pair Leadership Development With Pro Bono Service to Improve Health in Rwanda

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SOURCE:PYXERA Global

DESCRIPTION:

WASHINGTON, February 7, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Four leading global companies have joined forces to place one of their most precious resources—their people—to work on strengthening health systems in Kigali, Rwanda.  The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), SAP, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and WE Communications will each send top professionals into the field to work pro bono as Global Health Corporate Champions.

The highly skilled business professionals will work for four weeks as pro bono consultants with local non-profit organizations focused on improving public health and well-being in order to increase capacity to serve their stakeholders even better.

 “We are excited to partner again this year with PYXERA Global to give our employees the opportunity to use their storytelling and communications skills to support local health development in Rwanda. Purpose and community have always been at the center of what it means to work at WE. This is why we’re honored to be able to support nonprofits in need with our employees’ expertise in transformative storytelling. We’re thrilled to be able to invest in our employees in this way, and eager to see the difference they will make,” said Kate Richmond, WE Communications Chief Talent Officer.

The practice, known broadly as Global Pro Bono is often characterized as a ‘triple win’: participants gain an unprecedented opportunity to develop their global leadership skills; local organizations gain access to expertise that might otherwise be inaccessible, and companies gain employees with strengthened capabilities, insight into emerging markets, and well deserved reputations for corporate social responsibility.

“For nearly a decade GSK has pioneered pro bono fellowships, sending highly skilled employees on 3 or 6 month assignments to help solve healthcare challenges at home and abroad. But we also want to democratize volunteering at GSK—making it more accessible to people who can’t take on that long of a commitment—and we know that some of the biggest healthcare challenges cannot be solved by one company, industry or sector alone. That’s why we’re so excited about the opportunity to join the other companies for the Global Health Corporate Champions. We know that employees of today and tomorrow don’t just want to make a living—they want to make a difference. This is one more opportunity where we offer them the chance to do just that,” said Ahsiya Mencin, Ph.D. Director, PULSE & Global Volunteering for GSK.

An activity of the USAID Global Health Bureau’s Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) II, implemented by The Public Health Institute and supported by PYXERA Global, the Global Health Corporate Champions is also an example of the power of collaboration across the public and private sectors.

“As the global health field evolves in an increasingly connected world, more and more global health work is being carried out by teams and alliances with multiple players—like the Global Health Corporate Champions–across disciplines, industries, and sectors. We increasingly see the need for effective communication, collaboration, and teamwork in the most challenging and challenged places in the world, which activities like this help to develop, at the same time they serve,” said GHFP-II Program Director Sharon Rudy, Ph.D.

The Global Health Corporate Champions will serve in Rwanda from February 26 to March 23.  Openings remain in a second multi-company cohort of corporate champions which will depart for service in Sub Saharan Africa in mid-July.  For more information, see https://www.pyxeraglobal.org/global-health-corporate-champions/ .

About Global Health Fellows Program (GFHP) II

@GHFPII

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) II is USAID’s premier fellowship program that identifies and supports diverse, technically excellent professionals at all levels to achieve the Agency’s health priorities. USAID uses GHFP-II to address its immediate and emerging human capital needs to support and sustain the effectiveness of current and future health programs. As new health challenges emerge and complex global initiatives are created to meet them, the ability to respond effectively is crucial. The vision of GHFP-II is to develop a diverse group of global health experts by recruiting, placing, and supporting health professionals in Fellowships and Internships with USAID and partner organizations. GHFP-II is implemented by the Public Health Institute and its partners Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International, and PYXERA Global.

About PYXERA Global
@PYXERAGlobal 

For more than 27 years, PYXERA Global has leveraged the unique strengths of corporations, governments, social sector organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to enhance the abilities of people and communities to solve complex problems and attain mutually beneficial goals.

The PYXERA Global team is passionate and dedicated to navigating challenges and pinpointing purposeful global engagement opportunities for its clients and partners. Initiatives include a wide range of services from local content development to global pro bono programs and integrated community development efforts that transform lives and livelihoods.

PYXERA Global will host The Global Engagement Forum: Live 2018, October 10-11 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, focused on solving solvable problems within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

For questions please contact:

Contact:  Katie Levey
Senior Director of Communications, PYXERA Global
klevey@pyxeraglobal.org 
917.593.1989

Tweet me:Four leading global companies @DowChemical, @GSK, @SAP, and @WEcomms have joined forces to place one of their most precious resources—their people—to work on strengthening health systems in Kigali, Rwanda. @PYXERAGlobal http://bit.ly/1WGl3XS #GlobalProBono @GHFPII

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Events, Media & Communications, The Dow Chemical Company, SAP, GSK, WE Communications, Global Health Corporate Champions, PYXERA Global, pro bono, global pro bono, USAID, Tri Sector Partnership, Global Health, Global Health Fellows Program II, SDG, sustainable development goals


Global Survey Applauds TransCanada’s Gender Equality Efforts

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TransCanada named among 104 companies in Bloomberg’s inaugural Gender-Equality Index

SOURCE:TransCanada

DESCRIPTION:

TransCanada has earned global recognition for our efforts to create a gender equal work environment.

We are one of 104 companies from 10 sectors to be named in Bloomberg’s inaugural Gender-Equality Index (GEI), released January 22, 2018 – and one of only two energy companies to make the cut.

“TransCanada strives to create a workplace that is diverse, inclusive and non-discriminatory,” said Wendy Hanrahan, executive vice-president, Corporate Services. “It’s grounded in fundamental human rights – and it also strengthens our business. Diversity of thinking drives innovation and leads to better quality decisions and outcomes.”

The Bloomberg index measures factors such as workforce demographic statistics, workplace policies and employment practices. Those included on the index scored at, or above, a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect the achievement of best-in-class statistics and adoption of best-in-class policies.

“Twenty-eight per cent of our workforce is women, which is very positive compared to peers in our industry,” said Hanrahan. “And we have strong employment practices to support the needs of a diverse workforce – for example, flexible work arrangements, maternity and parental leave.”

As part of our recognition, Bloomberg cited the number of females on TransCanada’s Board of Directors (three of 13). Female representation on our executive leadership team was also recognized by Corporate Knights in their Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list earlier this year.  Other benefits such as paid adoption assistance, programs to source diverse and local suppliers, online diversity training for leadership, as well as our corporate involvement in the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) are among many of the programs that contribute to TransCanada’s commitment to diversity and gender equality.

“There is a great deal of diversity in the communities where we work across all our operations,” said Hanrahan. “We want to reflect that diversity in our workplace. Gender equality is one element of ensuring that everyone in a diverse workforce can contribute to their full potential.”

We strive to safely deliver the energy society needs by demonstrating our commitment to operating in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner, while recognizing the interests of our stakeholders. We are also honoured to recognized this week for our commitment to responsible development by RobecoSAM, as one of the top-scoring companies in the Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation industry to be included in their 2018 Sustainability Yearbook. The Sustainability Yearbook is the world’s most comprehensive publication on corporate sustainability, listing the world’s most sustainable companies as determined by their score in RobecoSAM’s annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment.

More Information

Tweet me:.@TransCanada is one of 104 companies to be named in Bloomberg’s inaugural Gender-Equality Index. To learn more about our diversity practices: ow.ly/2PNs30i9pT9

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Company Ratings, TransCanada, Gender-Equality Index

Karen Dahut, Ted Sniffin Named to Wash100 List of "Most Influential Executives"

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SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

Booz Allen Hamilton Executive Vice Presidents Karen Dahut and Ted Sniffin have been named to the prestigious Wash100, a yearly list of “the most influential and impactful executives of consequence at the intersection of government and industry,” selected by Executive Mosaic’s organizational and editorial leadership.

“At Booz Allen we are passionate about working with government leaders to support their public service missions. We are proud of our work to transform government services and capabilities, and it’s an honor to again have the firm represented on the Wash100 list,” said Karen Dahut.

This year represents the fifth annual Wash100 award, and Booz Allen Hamilton executives have been included on the list since its inception. In 2014, the Wash100’s inaugural year, Chairman of the Board Ralph Shrader and Karen Dahut were among the 100 most influential. Booz Allen CEO Horacio Rozanski was named to the list in both 2015 and 2016; and Executive Vice President Susan Penfield appeared in 2016 and 2017.  Other Booz Allen Executives who have been part of the Wash100 include Angie Messer, Susan Lawrence, and Brian McKeon.

"We are pleased to honor this year’s recipients of the 2018 Wash100. This is our fifth consecutive year of recognizing executives for their leadership and contributions to the GovCon Marketplace with the Wash100 award,” said Jim Garrettson, President and Founder of Executive Mosaic. “These individuals are recognized by their peers and Executive Mosaic for their outstanding achievements in 2017 and the vision and impact they will bring in 2018.”

Profiles of each of the winners will be featured on the Wash100 website. To view the entire list, visit http://www.wash100.com/.

Learn how Booz Allen is transforming the way government does business: https://www.boozallen.com/markets/civil-government.html

Tweet me:Congrats to @BoozAllen Execs @karendahut & Ted Sniffin, named to @GovConWire #Wash100: http://bit.ly/2FRIRlx

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Most Influential Executives, Booz Allen Hamilton, Karen Dahut, Ted Sniffin, Wash100

Boeing’s “Dollars for Doers” Employee Match Program Takes Community Investments Higher

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Employee benefit part of previously announced $300M tax reform package

SOURCE:Boeing

DESCRIPTION:

CHICAGO, February 7, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Boeing [NYSE: BA] leadership announced today several policy revisions to the Boeing volunteer and gift match programs. As part of the company’s $100 million tax relief investment earmarked for corporate charitable investments, the enhanced “Dollars for Doers” employee match program rewards those employees who give their time, talent and resources to local communities around the world. The “Dollars for Doers” program includes:

  • Higher gift match levels for all employees. Boeing will now match eligible charitable gifts made by employees up to $10,000, increasing the current cap from $6,000.
  • A reduction to 10 hours in the number of volunteer hours needed to obtain a company match, matched at $10 per hour in 10-hour increments. Current program requirements dictate an employee must donate at least 25 hours to the same organization in order to receive a company match.
  • A new team volunteer match program allows teams of Boeing employees to donate their time to non-profit organizations, and in exchange, the company will provide a monetary gift to that organization. Teams must meet minimum hours-of-service requirements, and the gift will be scaled based on the number of Boeing teammates who participate in the activity.
  • The addition of non-U.S. and subsidiary employees to the company’s volunteer and gift match programs.

“Over the years, Boeing and its employees have made lasting impacts in the communities that each of us calls home,” said John Blazey, vice president, Boeing Global Engagement. “The changes we are making to our volunteer and gift matching programs will enable even greater personal and collective investments in those local communities, bettering the world around us one neighborhood at a time.”

As part of the broader $300 million tax reform package, Boeing officials said the company will introduce additional employee benefits programs throughout 2018.

“We are a company within an industry that has had and will continue to have a meaningful role in the growth of our nation and the world,” Blazey said. “Through increased employee and community investments like the ones announced today, Boeing and its generous employees inspire the dreamers of tomorrow, and we move the world today through our products and our giving.”

About The Boeing Company:
Through purposeful investments, employee engagement and thoughtful advocacy efforts, Boeing and its employees support innovative partnerships and programs that align with the company’s strategic objectives, create value and help build better communities worldwide. This includes improving access to globally competitive learning as well as workforce and skills development and supporting our military and veteran communities. See how Boeing and its employees give their time, talent and resources in communities around the world. Download the 2017 Boeing Global Engagement Portfolio.

Chicago-based Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries.      

# # #

Contact:
Jason Capeheart
Boeing Global Engagement
+1 312-544-2568
Jason.S.Capeheart@boeing.com

Follow us on Twitter: @Boeing

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Events, Media & Communications, Boeing

Announcing Bloomberg’s Data Science Academic Engagement Programs

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SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

February 7, 2017 /3BL Media/ - At Bloomberg, we believe in contributing back to the community. In data science, we contribute back by sponsoring conferences, meetups, publishing our findings in conferences and journals, and contributing code to open source libraries. In addition to these efforts, we support academic research through meaningful engagement with university faculty and Ph.D. candidates. To this end, Bloomberg has established two grant programs which provide funding for academic research, as well as enable faculty and Ph.D. candidates to collaborate with Bloomberg’s data scientists.

Read more here. 

Tweet me:Announcing Bloomberg’s Data Science Academic Engagement Programs #datascience #machinelearning #naturallanguageprocessing @techatbloomberg @bloomberg http://bit.ly/2E23RcE

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, data-science, machine-learning natural-language-processing, Bloomberg, techatbloomberg, code

Fair Trade Gifts for Valentine's Day

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Flowers and chocolate are the universal language of love. We're here to help you diversify your vocabulary.

SOURCE:Fair Trade USA

DESCRIPTION:

Whoever said chocolate and flowers are an unoriginal Valentine's Day gift, think again. While different cultures around the world have their own unique ways of celebrating Valentine's Day, gifts of chocolate and flowers are resounding common threads. In the Czech republic, for example, couples believe a kiss beneath a blossoming cherry tree will bring good luck for the year. In Japan, the women traditionally give chocolate, saving only the best homemade chocolate ("Honmei-choco") for their love interests. And Ghana, one of the world's leading producers of cocoa, has gone so far as to governmentally declare February 14 National Chocolate Day.

Borrowing some of this inspiration, we're here to help you come up with your own fresh take on the classics this Valentine's Day.

For starters, there's nothing like a carefully-planned night in to show your Valentine your love is anything but cookie-cutter. With the money you would have spent on dinner reservations, fill up on fresh Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients and have a special recipe or two picked out for the occasion (we also highly recommend the Guittard Chocolate Cookbook). Voila! Your very own candle-lit dinner. We'll leave the wine pairings to you, but will say that coconut oil massages definitely complement the evening nicely. Just saying.

No matter what you end up doing this Valentine's Day, you can't go wrong with Fair Trade Certified flowers and chocolate. It's a gift that not only says you care about them, but also that you care about the planet, the lives of workers, and the impact of your dollar. Here are our top picks for a Valentine's Day gift that'll keep loving all year long.

Tweet me:It's important that your #ValentinesDay #gifts say the right thing. #FairTradeCertified flowers & chocolates tell your loved ones that you care not only about them, but also people & planet. It's the perfect message of love. Find your #FairTrade gift: http://fairtrd.us/2E9matv

KEYWORDS: Responsible Production & Consumption, Events, Media & Communications, Fair Trade gifts, Valentine's Day, Gifts, shopping, ethical shopping, ethical gifts, fair trade, Fair Trade Certified, Fair Trade USA

        

After Hurricane Maria, Duty Called Him Home to Help

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SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

When Armando Ortiz flew to Puerto Rico three weeks after Hurricane Maria slammed ashore, he wept to see his ravaged homeland.

Now four months later, he is back, this time with other Duke Energy employees helping to restore power.

“It’s incredible, first of all, to me as a Duke employee to come to work in my home,” said Ortiz, 57, an equipment operator based in Clearwater, Fla. “It’s very exciting to help my fellow Puerto Ricans, my family and friends. I feel honored to be here. More than that, I feel a duty."

"When Duke Energy announced it would help in the power restoration effort, Ortiz immediately signed up. “I wanted to go from Day 1. These are my people.”

He is one of 227 Duke Energy employees sharing their expertise. They arrived Jan. 14 and could be there for two months.

Ortiz knows and loves the island. He was born in Puerto Rico and lived there 17 years before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He moved to Tampa about 30 years ago and has worked for Duke Energy since 2003.

After Hurricane Maria swept through with 155 mph winds on Sept. 20, he said he tried for days to get in touch with his mother, his daughter and his grandson.

“There was no communication,” he said. “Nothing. It was nerve wracking.”

He tried contacting other relatives and friends. Nothing.

Desperate to know their fate, he flew in three weeks later. Though he had survived hurricanes as a child, he was not prepared for the devastation. His island home was unrecognizable, leaves stripped from trees and roofs from houses, the landscape gray as if scorched by fire. It was one of the worst natural disasters in Puerto Rico’s history.

“What I saw made me cry,” Ortiz said. “People were wandering the streets. A lot of people were trying to leave.”

He made his way to Mayaguez on the western side of the island, where he found his family and friends safe but without any way to let him know.

“There’s still a lot of devastation,” Ortiz said. “There are wires everywhere, poles leaning on top of houses and on top of churches. It’s crazy.”

But the landscape has turned green again, the sky blue, the water crystal clear.

As his co-workers witness the beauty of the U.S. territory and the kindness of the people who live there, Ortiz swells with pride. He is working in Yauco, where the remote terrain and coordination have made restoration challenging and time-consuming. But even if residents still don’t have power, he said, that hasn’t stopped them from expressing their gratitude.

Two days in a row, islanders prepared hot lunches for three volunteer crews. “It’s incredible,” Ortiz said. “One day, they cooked a typical meal: yellow rice with pigeon peas, fried pork, homemade bread pudding and pasteles, which are green bananas stuffed with meat, like tamales. I was in heaven."

“I’ve been living in the U.S. for so long, I forgot how we really are in Puerto Rico. We are kind and we care for each other and we are strong. These people have been without power for over 100 days. That’s unheard of in the States. Puerto Rico is an example of being patient.”

When he’s not setting up poles and operating machinery, Ortiz serves as translator for his co-workers, many of whom do not speak Spanish. He’s one of several employees who were born in Puerto Rico, said Rufus Jackson, vice president of Distribution, Construction & Maintenance in the Carolinas-East region, who is serving as incident commander.

“As you go up in the mountains where we’re working, people are mostly Spanish speaking,” Jackson said. Having volunteers who speak Spanish, he said, has been invaluable.

“It feels good,” Ortiz said. “I can communicate. I can help the guys when we’re working.”

Their sixth day there, Jan. 20, was the four-month anniversary of the hurricane. It was also Ortiz’s 57th birthday. His daughter and grandson traveled across the island to celebrate over dinner.

Their power was restored about 70 days after Maria hit. For the millions of islanders still living without electricity, Ortiz sends this message: “We’re here and we’re not leaving until you guys have power.”

Tweet me:For the millions of islanders still living without electricity after #HurricaneMaria, @DukeEnergy employee Armando Ortiz sends this message: “We’re here and we’re not leaving until you guys have power.” http://bit.ly/2nRKkRe

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Energy, Duke Energy, Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico

 

The Strike That Brought Hope to Memphis Sanitation Workers

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Surviving Memphis sanitation workers recall their 1968 campaign for economic equality, and the final moments of Dr. King’s life

SOURCE:FedEx Corporation

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“I remember when I was hired by the Memphis Department of Public Works on April 15, 1967,” recalls Rev. Cleophus Smith. “This particular morning, it was cold. I’m talkin’ about cold, cold. We didn’t have sufficient gloves, clothes, nor did we have water to drink on the job.”

Mid-January, 1968: Memphis, Tenn. The low on most days around this time of year was 19 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). The high, falling somewhere in the mid-20s. Hundreds of men – black workers for the Memphis Department of Public Works – went to work each day in the cold, sometimes having to brave freezing rain, sleet, or snow, too.

No gloves. Holes visible in their shoes. No uniforms.  And, to top it off, they were exposed to dangerous working conditions having to carry open tubs of garbage to their trucks; most of the tubs had holes with filthy trash and liquid seeping through the cracks.

76-year-old Ozell Ueal shared Cleophus’ sentiments about that cold, treacherous day where there was an expectation to get the job done before heading home.

Both men are sanitation workers who went on strike with more than 600 of their peers 50 years ago in Memphis. A unanimous vote was made among the men to strike in protest of low wages and unsafe working conditions.

“A man with the nickname ‘Hookin Bull’ goes and gets a #3 wash tub, and he gets a long rope which he ties to the handle of the wash tub, and then ties it to the back of the truck,” said Rev. Smith. “Well, he ended up making us a fire in the tub, and that’s how we kept warm! We would walk up to the tub to warm our hands since we didn’t have gloves. I remember my shoes had a hole in the bottom.”

Mr. Ueal recounts having a pretty hard time.

“The reason we went on strike was for better working conditions for our families. We were low paid making around $5.00 for a 9-hour workday. When we went on strike, people started donating from all over the country. At one time we were on food stamps for a while.”

On Feb. 1, two of the workers, Echol Cole and Robert Walker, were crushed to death by a malfunctioning truck. Prompted by the horrific deaths, the sanitation workers were determined to change the status quo. There were no policies nor benefits in place to protect them and support their hard work. In the spring of 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Memphis, to support the sanitation workers strike.

“When Dr. King came to Memphis, we felt there was hope,” said Rev. Smith. “Things started getting shaky for us after that speech, but it instilled in us to keep our hope and the dream alive, so that’s what we tried to do.”

Dr. King delivered his final “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech to the workers the night before he was assassinated.

Hope Fulfilled

The Memphis sanitation workers’ strike is now connected to the iconic “I Am a Man” slogan, which verbalized their humanity as men – not a boy, garbage man, sanitation worker, but a man.

The NAACP, ministers, students and community leaders both black and white, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., supported their efforts for change.  Despite the dangers of arrest, police assaults and negative press coverage, the strikers rallied and marched for racial and economic justice. Even in the days after Dr. King’s assassination, a silent march of over 42,000 people was held in his honor.  On April 16, 1968, the Memphis City Council acknowledged the workers and their union.

Elmore Nickleberry, 86, still works for the Memphis sanitation department today. He is listed as the longest working sanitation worker in the city of Memphis.

“I’ve been with the sanitation department 63 years,” he said softly. “I went to work before the strike and I stay active to this day.”

In honor of the workers’ resilience and the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination, FedEx brought four of the surviving sanitation workers – Ozell Ueal, Rev. Cleophus Smith, Elmore Nickleberry, and James Winton to the 2018 NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, CA. The NAACP honored the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers with the Vanguard Award at the ceremony on January 15 for their courage and determination. The ceremony was broadcast live to millions of viewers on the TVOne network.

“The Memphis Sanitation Workers made history by standing up for principles that we at FedEx have embraced since our company’s inception,” said Shannon Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief HR and Diversity Officer at FedEx Express. “Those bedrock principles include maintaining an environment where all people are treated with dignity and respect. As a company, it was indeed a privilege for FedEx to fly these courageous history-makers to Pasadena where they were honored during the live national telecast. We continue to salute the Memphis Sanitation Workers for their commitment to civil rights and human dignity.”

“We received a lot of support during the strike,” said Rev. Smith. “A lot of days we would march and people would come out of their homes to join us. We didn’t know them, but this was the type of support we received. Thanks be to God. We overcame.”

Tweet me:.@FedEx brings together surviving 1968 Memphis sanitation workers at the 2018 #NAACP Image Awards to honor their campaign for economic equality #MLK50 http://bit.ly/2nTXRYL

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, Reduced Inequalities, FedEx, mlk, NAACP, Memphis, naacp image awards, strike

 


Bloomberg Benefits: Among the Most Generous Parental Leave Policies at Major U.S. News Organizations, According to Columbia Journalism Review

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SOURCE:Bloomberg

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February 8, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Bloomberg has always aimed to provide world class benefits to employees: It’s been a business imperative that has helped propel the company to reach its 36th consecutive year of revenue growth in 2017.

Twenty five years after the U.S. Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act, Columbia Journalism Review is out this week with an article looking at how U.S. news organizations stack up in parental leave policies.

The bottom line: Bloomberg is among the most generous to employees. Bloomberg’s policy for new parents provides 18 fully paid weeks of leave for the primary caregiver and 4 weeks fully paid leave for non-primary caregivers. We also provide 15 days of backup child care.

In 2015, the company doubled down on parental leave, establishing a gender neutral policy that treats all parental leaves equally to better reflect the needs of modern families, including same-sex couples and adoptive parents.

As Columbia Journalism Review reports, Bloomberg also provides manager training and transition coaching for parents returning from leave, according to Erika Irish Brown, Bloomberg’s chief diversity and inclusion officer.

Brown explained that Bloomberg “aims to be world class in HR,” in order to remain a competitive employer-of-choice.

In addition to comprehensive health, dental and vision care, Bloomberg also provides employees with on-site health centers in our largest offices, fresh fruits and snacks in all of our locations and in the U.S., four weeks of vacation for full-time employees.

Our colleagues are our most important asset. As we continue to grow, Bloomberg remains focused on recruiting and retaining a talented and diverse workforce, providing comprehensive benefits evolving to meet the needs of our 19,000 colleagues around the globe.

To read more about Bloomberg Diversity and Inclusion, click here

Tweet me:Bloomberg Benefits: Among the Most Generous Parental Leave Policies At Major U.S. News Organizations, According to Columbia Journalism Review http://bit.ly/2E6sghc

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Bloomberg, Parental Leave, maternity leave

AT&T Announces One of the Largest Corporate Renewable Energy Purchases; Signs on to Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles

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Wind Farms in Oklahoma and Texas to Provide 520 MW of Renewable Energy

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

AT&T will purchase 520 megawatts (MW) of wind power through 2 agreements with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest operator of renewable energy projects. Together, these deals constitute one of the largest corporate renewable energy purchases in the U.S.* It’s also a key component of our goal to develop and leverage technology solutions that enable carbon savings 10 times the footprint of our operations by 2025.

220 MW of power will come from the Minco V Wind Farm located in Caddo County, Oklahoma. 300 MW will come from a wind farm in Webb and Duval Counties in Texas. The projects are expected to generate savings equivalent to taking 350,595 passenger vehicles off the road or providing electricity for a quarter million homes a year.**

“As one of the world’s largest companies, we know how we source our energy is important,” said Scott Mair, President, AT&T Operations. “Many companies are focused on their own carbon footprint but we believe our industry can do more. We’ve been working for a long time to ensure our wind projects deliver for both our business and the environment. We will continue to explore renewable energy solutions to help create a better, more sustainable world.” 

As part of this purchase, we’re also signing on to the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles. The group is led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and is made up of large energy buyers working to spur progress on renewable energy and fulfil their increased demand for it. AT&T is also a member of the Business Renewables Center, an initiative that, along with the Buyers’ Principles, forms part of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance.

“AT&T’s decision to scale up its use of renewable energy is a signal of the growing power of corporate demand to drive energy markets,” said Marty Spitzer, World Wildlife Fund’s Senior Director of Renewable Energy and Climate. “Big companies setting big commitments is key to driving our nation’s transition toward a clean energy future. AT&T is joining the ranks of companies for whom renewable energy is the new normal.”

“We’re proud to work with AT&T to achieve one of the largest U.S. corporate renewable energy purchases,” said Mike O’Sullivan, senior vice president of development, NextEra Energy Resources. “It’s clear that renewable energy presents a tremendous opportunity to power America’s companies with clean, affordable electricity and AT&T is helping to lead the way forward. Renewable projects like these also drive growth in rural communities, creating good jobs, providing additional revenue and generating positive economic impact.”

The large-scale renewable energy purchase is one part of our larger commitment to the environment and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Since 2010, we’ve implemented more than 65,000 energy efficiency projects resulting in annualized savings of $427 million.*** By the end of 2016, we reduced fleet emissions by 99,000 metric tons of CO2e and reduced the size of our domestic fleet by 1,800 vehicles.****

In addition, AT&T recognizes that climate change is a problem, and we are committed to going beyond our own operations to be part of the solution. We’re collaborating closely with customers and technology leaders to deliver innovative solutions that can enable carbon reductions.  These IoT for Good solutions can help reduce emissions by connecting everything from trucks, to farm equipment, to city infrastructure and more.

Read more about AT&T’s commitment to the environment10X Carbon Reduction goal, and other corporate social responsibility and sustainability programs at www.att.com/csr.

 

*Business Renewables Center (2017). BRC Deal Tracker. http://businessrenewables.org/corporate-transactions/

**EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator   

***AT&T. CSR Website. FAQ - Energy Management (2017). http://about.att.com/content/csr/home/frequently-requested-info/environment.html

****AT&T Sustainability Reporting. Progress toward 2020/2025 Goals. (2017). http://about.att.com/content/dam/csr/sustainability-reporting/PDF/2017/ATT-Goals.pdf

Tweet me:.@ConnectToGood "@ATT Announces One of the Largest Corporate #RenewableEnergy Purchases; Signs on to Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles" http://soc.att.com/2GWoXqO #ATTimpact

KEYWORDS: Environment, Energy, AT&T, wind farms, renewable energy, NextEra Energy Resources, carbon reduction, World Wildlife Fund, Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, Business Renewables Cente

The Solvable Problem Challenge

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We need your help identifying solvable problems!

SOURCE:PYXERA Global

DESCRIPTION:

We invite you to submit a solvable problem to be considered for one of the collaborative action tracks at the next Global Engagement Forum: Live, a two-day event this fall that will bring together leaders from the private, public, and social sectors to develop cross-sector concepts that address urgent, yet solvable problems within the United Nations Global Goals. Many of the world’s most pressing challenges identified within the Goals are inherently solvable because solutions have already been tested and proven on a smaller scale.

Join us. Submit your idea by February 28 and take on a new challenge.

Learn more about the Solvable Problem Challenge here.

Tweet me:What is a solvable problem? Watch this video to find out. Next, submit your solvable problems within the @UN Global Goals by Feb 28 to be considered for one of the collaborative action tracks at the next #GEFlive in October #WeCanSolve #SDGs @PYXERAglobal http://bit.ly/2DeLWfg

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Social Impact & Volunteering, SDGs, Solvable Problem Challenge, United Nations (UN), Global Goals for Sustainable Development, Global Goals, PYXERA Global

Fortune 1000 Leaders Help Remove Long-term Dumping From Desert

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SOURCE:Benevity

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JOSHUA TREE, Calif., February 8, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Corporate citizenship leaders from 40 Fortune 1000 companies have joined the Mojave Desert Land Trust in a stewardship event organized by Benevity. 

In just two hours, a 20-yard-long dumpster donated by Burrtec was filled with old tires, household debris, broken glass, building waste, clothing and shell casings. 

Aided by Mojave Desert Land Trust volunteers and the Bureau of Land Management, 67 corporate high-flyers helped remove trash from 2-3 acres at Long Canyon, a BLM property bordering Joshua Tree National Park and Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. 

Such canyons are sand sources for the Coachella Valley. Micro trash originating in these areas can break down and enter the blow sand systems in the valley which support endangered species such as Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard. 

Each year at their annual Goodness Matters Client Conference, Benevity partners with a local organization for a volunteering event. For the second year in a row, Benevity has selected MDLT as they want to give back to their host community in a meaningful way and understand how important environmental concerns are to Californians.

"We were happy to partner with Benevity once again in this stewardship event. Thanks to the hard work of these corporate citizenship leaders, we were able to remove large-scale waste from an important piece of land bordering Joshua Tree National Park. We applaud Benevity for creating opportunities for people to connect and do their part to conserve this incredible landscape." - Jacqueline Guevara, Director of Public Engagement, MDLT

"Our clients are driven by a shared purpose of infusing Goodness into their workplace and the global community. As we come together in Palm Springs to share best practices and discuss trends that are transforming the corporate giving landscape, it's only fitting that we share some of that passion by volunteering with an organization that protects and cares for the local environment and wildlife." - Sona Khosla, VP Marketing at Benevity

Benevity, Inc., a B Corporation, is a global leader in online workplace giving, matching, volunteering and community investment software. Many global brands rely on Benevity's award-winning cloud solutions to power corporate "Goodness" programs that attract, retain and engage today's diverse workforce by connecting people to the causes that matter to them. With software that is available in 17 languages, to more than four million users around the world, Benevity will process over a billion dollars in donations and 10 million hours of volunteering time this fiscal year to more than 100,000 charities worldwide.
 
The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. For more information, visit www.mdlt.org

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Media Contact
Jacqueline Guevara, Director of Education & Public Engagement, Mojave Desert Land Trust
Phone: 760-366-5440 x 226
jacqueline@mdlt.org

Tweet me:What a haul! In just 2hrs, employees from 40 @benevity client companies & @MojaveDesertLT filled a 20-yard dumpster with trash (incl tires, debris, broken glass, clothing and shell casing) from long-term dumping on 2-3 acres of land in Long Canyon Peak http://bit.ly/2nNpHpi

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Mojave Desert Land Trust, benevity

  

After 900 Days in Foster Care, Little Girl is Finally Home

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SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

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For nearly 900 days, little Saphina didn’t know if she’d have a forever family. That’s how long she spent in foster care before her last name was officially made “Tetreault.”

Since then she has been thriving with her adoptive family. Her mom and dad dote on her and she has the family she deserves.

There are more than 117,000 children just like Saphina who are in foster care right now and need to be adopted. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, through its Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption Program searches high and low to find the perfect family for each waiting child.

The Foundation focuses on the children who are most likely to age out of care without a family and children who have been in foster care the longest. The work is tough, it can take a long time, but when you see a family created through foster care adoption and the judge declares them a family, it’s worth it.

​Not everyone can adopt, but anyone can support foster care adoption. Learn more at davethomasfoundation.org.

Tweet me:For 900 days in #fostercare, little Saphina didn't know if she'd ever have a #foreverfamily. Today, she's been #adopted and is thriving. http://bit.ly/2Ewsn2D @DTFA

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Dave Thomas, foster care, adoption, Wendy’s, Recruiter, forever family

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