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[VIDEO] Benevity User Conference 2016: Kal Stein on Workplace Giving

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SOURCE:Benevity

DESCRIPTION:

Recently in San Diego, business leaders from the U.S. and Canada gathered at Benevity's Goodness Matters User Conference to discuss the future of corporate philanthropy.

In this video filmed at the conference, Kal Stein, Benevity Nonprofit Community Council Chair, discusses how technology can drive change and efficiency in the charitable landscape.

Read more about Goodness Matters on the Benevity blog

Tweet me:Video from @benevity #GoodnessMatters - Kal Stein discusses how #tech drives change in #workplacegiving. http://bit.ly/1MTlGcW #nonprofit

Contact Info:

Michelle de Man
+1 (403) 237-7875ext. 369
mdeman@benevity.com

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Technology, benevity, Goodness Matters User Conference, Kal Stein


Vigilant Global Helps Students Experience the Thrill of Robotics

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Building Confidence, Community and...Robots

SOURCE:Vigilant Global

DESCRIPTION:

For the fifth consecutive year, Vigilant Global employees mentored students at LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School in Montreal as part of the Robotics FIRST Quebec program. The Vigilant mentors work together with students to build a robot that will attempt to complete a series of tasks at the international robotics competition, which has more than 3,000 registered teams around the world.

While the team's robot didn't win the competition, students and mentors alike get so much out of the annual partnership:

“This is an opportunity for us to help motivate and courage the kids to get excited about science and technology. We have seen the positive impact of our efforts on numerous students over the year who have improved their attitude and grades.”

                -Franz, mentor

“While the work can be hard (the competition’s slogan is “Hardest Fun Ever”), it’s rewarding seeing firsthand how my involvement has had a positive impact on the lives of the students I work with. There’s no doubt that this program build confidence both within the robotics programs, in the classroom, and in their social circles.”

                -Sasha, mentor

 “My favorite part of the process is definitely the build-season, and how everyone gets to work together, because when we share ideas, it turns into something really great.”

                -Rayda, student, involved with Robotics for three years

“I like being involved in the program because I like learning and I really like the team environment. It’s a lot of fun working with everyone and getting different points of view on a certain problem or topic.”

                -Chloe, student, involved with Robotics for three years

“This season, I’m most excited about the competition, and to see our outcome. The build-season is so hectic, but it’s so fun when you get the final result of the robot and actually get to drive it!”

                -Max, student, involved with Robotics for three years 

Vigilant Global mentors are already looking forward to what next year's Robotics FIRST Quebec season will bring!

KEYWORDS: Education, Philanthropy, Vigilant Global, LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School, STEM, Robotics FIRST Quebec

    

Not Everyone is Asked, “What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?”

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SOURCE:GreenMoney Journal

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by Maria Bolis, senior advisor for Private Sector Department, Oxfam America

What if you were never asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” When I was younger, I wasn’t aware that people had different expectations of girls and boys. My parents wanted me to get good grades and have a career. They never asked, “When will you get married? How many children will you have?” Instead they asked, “What are you thinking about” And “What interests you?”

I followed my interests – sometimes circuitously – to graduate school for international development, the World Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, consulting, business school and eventually the New York Fed – free of the constraints of societal or familial pressures that so many women around the world face.

When I came to Oxfam, I began to see things differently. The doors that so easily opened for me – largely because of the “zip code” of my birth – were either shut or perhaps not even visible to others. Education, mentors, books, contacts, encouragement – these were all assets that I’d taken for granted. It killed me that the world was so full of people with incredible talent and drive who were routinely set back, minimized or unacknowledged largely because of their gender or the color of their skin.

I worked in finance and felt confident that the impact investors could be part of the solution. There is a rising tide of interest in gender lens investing that invites investors to create economies that re-value women and their contributions. Furthermore, we knew that tackling a problem as big as women’s economic marginalization requires a “systemic approach” involving multi-sectorial partnerships that bring together the unique skills sets and resources of the financial sector, non-profits and academia. Oxfam would play its traditional convening role and use its platform as a global advocacy powerhouse to trumpet the voices of the entrepreneurs to change the paradigm of what a “successful entrepreneur” looks like.At Oxfam, we set about developing an initiative known as “Women in Small Enterprise” or “WISE.” The objective of WISE is to support the revaluing of women’s economic contributions. We seek to demonstrate how women – especially indigenous women – are already contributing meaningfully to their economies as producers, suppliers and employers, but their contributions are going uncelebrated. We call this “making the invisible visible.” For those women, who are running their own small businesses, generating employment and supporting their families, we want to elevate their accomplishments. At the same time, the WISE initiative tries to make the road a bit easier for those women – through access to business training, coaching, peer networking, and financial links.

We went on to raise Oxfam America’s first ever impact investing fund in support of a pilot that we launched in 2014 in Guatemala. Fund capital is used to provide a partial guaranty to local financial institutions to incentivize increased lending to women-run businesses. This financial access component is paired with coaching and peer-to-peer learning opportunities (supported by separate grant funding) for the women participating in the program provided by our local partner organization, IDEA. The training weaves together business skills with themes of empowerment and agency. The very first training session helps women define their “life plan.” It asks – “What do you want to do?” to women who may never have been afforded the luxury of answering this question. 

Read Mara's Full post - http://www.greenmoneyjournal.com/april-2016/not-everyone-is-asked-what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up/

Tweet me:What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up? - http://bit.ly/1SVjNZI | #investinwomen #women #oxfam #smallbusiness #socent #socimp #impinv

KEYWORDS: Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Business & Trade, Leadership, jobs, Employment, invest, Investing, philanthropy, women, social enterprise, empowerment, financial, Oxfam, oxfam america, community, Microloans, socially responsible investing, World Bank, small business, Employers, supporting families, Financial Sector, Gender, lens, diversity, Entrepreneur, entrepreneurs, impact investing, Guatemala, Business Ownership

 

Wells Fargo Donates $50,000 to VetsinTech

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SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2016 /3BL Media/ –Wells Fargo has donated $50,000 to VetsinTech (ViT) to help support cybersecurity training programs for military veterans transitioning to technology careers.  Wells Fargo shares ViT’s commitment to bringing together a tech-specific network, resources, and programs for veterans. 

“More than 30 percent of the ViT community has expressed interest in certifications and training programs to help bridge the gap between military service and successful careers in technology,” said Katherine Webster, founder of ViT. “We are thrilled Wells Fargo shares our commitment to helping fill that gap.”

Wells Fargo and ViT recently hosted more than 75 veterans at the “Careers in Cybersecurity Forum” in San Francisco.  Senior cybersecurity leaders from a variety of industries discussed the current challenges and potential solutions, and Wells Fargo recruiters answered questions about opportunities and pathways for careers in cybersecurity.

In addition to Webster, the Forum featured ViT presenters Mike McNerney, advisory board member, co-founder & CEO at Efflux Systems, and Wells Fargo presenters Rich Baich, chief information security officer, and, Lance Lavergne, Enterprise Talent Acquisition.

“Wells Fargo is committed to building a diverse pipeline of talented cybersecurity candidates, including veterans, and creating the working environment for them to thrive in,” said Rich Baich, Wells Fargo chief information security officer. “A strong cybersecurity program will help us protect customers, shareholders, confidential information, and our reputation. As a community bank, we are glad to be part of the solution.”

For more information about ViT training programs and upcoming Forums, please visit vetsintech.co.

About VetsinTech
ViT is committed to bringing together a tech-specific network, resources, and programs for veterans interested in Education, Entrepreneurship, and Employment – the 3E’s.  More than 30 percent of the ViT community has expressed interest in certifications and training programs to help bridge the gap between military service and successful careers in technology. 

About Wells Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

 

Tweet me:.@WellsFargo donates $50,000 to VetsinTech to support cybersecurity training programs for military veterans http://bit.ly/1pC04X9

Contact Info:

LIsa Westermann
+1 (415) 222-6236
Lisa.B.Westermann@wellsfargo.com

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, Veterans, cyber security, Wells Fargo

Astellas Oncology C3 Prize™ to Bring Bright Ideas in Cancer Care to Life with $100,000 in Grants

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Finalists invited to pitch ideas to panel of judges including Robert Herjavec, technology entrepreneur, passionate cancer caregiver and star of ABC's Emmy Award-winning hit television show Shark Tank

SOURCE:Astellas

DESCRIPTION:

BOSTON, April 26, 2016 /3BL Media/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503) announced today the launch of the C3 Prize™, a challenge designed to inspire non-medicine innovations that improve the cancer care experience for patients, caregivers and loved ones. Entries will be accepted through August 8 and following a live pitch to a panel of judges including Robert Herjavec, star of ABC's Emmy Award-winning hit television show Shark Tank, three winners will be awarded a total of $100,000 in grants as well as membership to healthcare technology incubator MATTER to bring their ideas to life. The C3 Prize was announced to a group of 1,100 global leaders in cancer care gathered at the World Medical Innovation Forum organized by Partners HealthCare.

By 2030, the global cancer burden is expected to grow to 22.2 million cancer cases.[1] Despite significant advances in cancer treatments, patients with cancer and their caregivers face significant obstacles to receiving or providing optimal care through all phases of living with cancer.

"As the number of people diagnosed with cancer rises, so does the need for innovative tools and resources to help patients and those that care for them navigate the journey from diagnosis to hopefully survivorship," said Mark Reisenauer, senior vice president, oncology sales and marketing, Astellas. "We're launching the C3 Prize because we want to hear fresh ideas and perspectives from people who want to make a difference in the lives of those living with cancer."  

The C3 Prize seeks submissions in four areas where patients living with cancer and the cancer community face the toughest obstacles along the cancer continuum: navigating the health care system, adhering to complex medical care requirements, coordinating care and surviving life post-treatment.

Five finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas in front of a live panel of judges including Herjavec at the Stanford Medicine X conference on September 17, 2016 in Stanford, California.

Grants will then be awarded to the three leading ideas – one $50,000 grant to the grand prize winner and two $25,000 grants to two additional winners. Additionally, winners will receive mentorship from Astellas and a one year membership to MATTER.

C3 Prize submissions can be made at C3Prize.com and are due by midnight Central Time on August 8, 2016. Entries will be evaluated based on plausibility of idea, creativity and originality of innovation and the ability of the entrant to operationalize/implement the innovative idea for future application.  

For more information, visit www.C3Prize.com.

About Astellas
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceuticals. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AstellasUS or like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS.

About the World Medical Innovation Forum
The World Medical Innovation Forum is a global gathering of more than 1,000 senior health care leaders hosted by Partners HealthCare in the heart of Boston. It was established to respond to the intensifying transformation of health care and its impact on innovation. The Forum is rooted in the belief that no matter the magnitude of that change, the center of health care needs to be a shared, fundamental commitment to collaborative innovation and its ability to improve patient lives. For more information, please go to www.worldmedicalinnovation.org

About Stanford Medicine X
Stanford Medicine X is a catalyst for new ideas about the future of medicine and health care. The initiative explores how emerging technologies will advance the practice of medicine, improve health and empower patients to be active participants in their own care. The "X" is meant to encourage thinking beyond numbers and trends — it represents the infinite possibilities for current and future information technologies to improve health. For more information about MedX, visit www.medicinex.stanford.edu

About MATTER 
MATTER is a community of entrepreneurs, innovators and industry leaders working together to harness technology to improve health and healthcare. MATTER connects and promotes collaboration between entrepreneurs, scientists, physicians, investors and industry leaders in order to bring next-generation products and services to market that improve quality of care and save lives. For more information, visit www.matterchicago.com

[1] Bray F, Jemal A, Grey N, Ferlay J, Forman D. Global cancer transitions according to the Human Development Index (2008-2030): a population based study. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13: 790-801.

Tweet me:.@AstellasUS launches #C3Prize for #cancer care innovations http://bit.ly/1NwUe4W

KEYWORDS: Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Health, Oncology, C3 Prize, Shark Tank, Cancer, astellas, World Medical Innovation Forum, Stanford Medicine X

JPMorgan Chase to Donate $50,000 to Aid Greater Houston Flood Relief Efforts

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SOURCE:JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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HOUSTON, April 26, 2016 /3BL Media/ – JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced today that it will donate $50,000 from its foundation to support flood relief efforts in the Houston area. The grant will go toward The Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund, which is managed by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, to help flood victims in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties.

“Hundreds of our clients and employees in the Houston area have been impacted by the devastating floods,” said Gina Luna, Managing Director for JPMorgan Chase in Houston and a member of the Fund’s Advisory Committee. “Support for the Storm Relief Fund will allow our community partners to help residents recover from this catastrophic situation.”

The JPMorgan Chase funds will be used by The Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund to provide affected residents with services that include shelter and temporary housing, food and supplies, health care, transportation, child care, facility needs for child care and social service agencies.

“Greater Houston Community Foundation is honored to serve our community by administering the Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund in partnership with Mayor Turner’s office,” said Renee Wizig-Barrios, Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer, Greater Houston Community Foundation. “Funds will be directed to nonprofit agencies and governments who are helping to meet the immediate needs of our fellow citizens who have been impacted. JPMorgan Chase’s contribution will help significantly in this effort.”

JPMorgan Chase is the largest bank in Houston, with 217 branches and about 7,000 local employees. The firm serves more than one million local customers, many of the top corporations and leading institutions across the city.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

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Tweet me:.@jpmorgan to donate $50,000 to aid Greater #Houston flood relief efforts http://bit.ly/1Tc9z7x

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Philanthropy, houston, flooding, J.P. Morgan, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Chase

Celebrating the Organizations Dedicated to Saving Pets’ Lives

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April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month -- a month dedicated to raising awareness of the issues facing animals

SOURCE:NetSuite Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

I blame my mom for my love of animals. I say blame because it occasionally feels like a bit of a curse to want to rescue every dog that I meet. Growing up, my mom seemed to always be rescuing animals -- baby birds who had fallen from their nest, seagulls who had gotten plastic wrapped around their beaks, and dogs, whatever their size and condition, found wandering the streets.

Her love of animals rubbed off on me, and created a soft spot in my heart for the underdogs – dogs who’ve ended up in shelters or rescues for a whole host of reasons beyond their control. After window shopping at shelters for years, and volunteering at a local animal rescue organization here in the Bay Area, I recently adopted my own underdog, Lindy, a sweet border collie mix who was abandoned and ended up with Milo Foundation, a Bay Area rescue organization.

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month -- a month dedicated to raising awareness of the issues facing animals, from dog fighting to puppy mills, and more. With this in mind, we at NetSuite.org, wanted to highlight and celebrate a handful of nonprofit organizations who go above and beyond to protect and save animals – not just in April, but 365 days a year. Luckily for us, they’ve also chosen to use NetSuite to help them run their programs-- whether that program be distributing microchips or making handmade dog leashes and donating part of the proceeds to rescue animals.

Found Animals Foundation
More than 3 million animals are euthanized each year in the United States. Found Animals Foundation (FAF), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization and grantee of NetSuite.org’s software donation program, is on a mission to reverse the outcome for these animals through its microchip program, automated registry databases, responsible adoption initiatives, and low-cost spay/neuter services.

FAF turned to NetSuite to help it scale its microchip program and enable it to put 2 million microchips into the hands of shelters, rescues and other organizations annually. FAF participated in last year’s Hackathon 4Good where they challenged NetSuite developers, partners, and customers to “hack” together a solution to help them make their sales and fulfillment process seamless for their customers. You can read more about how NetSuite partner Yantra did just that, and how it’s working for FAF here.

San Francisco SPCA
The San Francisco SPCA envisions a community where every animal has a loving home. Founded in 1868 (the organization will celebrate 150 years in 2018!), SFSPCA works toward its vision by offering adoption services, low-cost vet care, training and education programs, and advocating on behalf of animal welfare. In 2015 alone, the organization facilitated close to 5,000 adoptions, performed 11,000+ spay and neuter surgeries, and offered 2,300 vaccinations.

Recognizing the opportunity to improve its business processes to manage its robust and growing programs and offerings, the SFSPCA engaged with NetSuite.org in 2010 to access our software donation. For a look at how the organization has improved business management processes across its 20+ departments, including adoptions, its spay and neuter clinic, finance, marketing, and the vet hospital, read the San Francisco SPCA’s NetSuite case study

Found My Animal
A chance meeting between two strangers on a Brooklyn sidewalk sparked the idea for Found My Animal, a growing manufacturer of high-quality leashes, collars and accessories for dogs and other pets based in Brooklyn.

The company’s founders, Anna Conway and Bethany Obrecht, were walking their respective dogs—a pair of rescue pups both named Walter—when they started chatting on Atlantic Avenue. The conversation quickly revealed a mutual passion for animal welfare, and ultimately led to the launch of Found My Animal in 2007.

Since its founding, Found My Animal has grown tremendously, moving operations from Bethany’s apartment to now occupy a 2,000 square foot studio, hiring and training 15 people from the local community, and expanding distribution globally. And while the core of the business is selling its products, Found My Animal has made animal welfare core to their business, regularly donating products to raise money for local animal rescues, and recently paying for transport and rehabilitation for two severely abused and neglected dogs from Miami, who Bethany says are now “doing incredibly well.”

Learn more about why Found My Animal selected a software donation of NetSuite, and what’s it’s meant for the business.

Richmond SPCA
New to the NetSuite.org software donation grant program, Richmond SPCA has saved 42,000+ pets’ lives since becoming a no-kill shelter in January 2002. In addition to the no-kill shelter, it runs training programs and a low-cost vet clinic. Kids can even celebrate their birthday at the shelter—which sounds like a lot of fun! Richmond SPCA plans to use NetSuite to manage its financials.

This list of mighty organizations is just a short list of all of the amazing organizations that are dedicated to ending animal cruelty. If your organization is interested in learning more about how NetSuite can help manage your operations better, apply for a donation.

 
 

Tweet me:Celebrating the orgs dedicated to saving pets' lives during Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month http://bit.ly/1VR9gpf #nptech

KEYWORDS: Technology, Events, Conferences & Webinars, netsuite, Found Animals Foundation, Found My Animal, SPCA, animal welfare, pets

Allie Kelly and The Ray Featured on Yale Climate Connections

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SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

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Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray was featured today on Yale Climate Connections,  a series of 90-second stories about how people are responding to our warming world. This episode features The Ray and the work that is being done in West Georgia to create more sustainable roadways. 

Tweet me:Working on #sustainable roadways on #theray @CC_Yale @allienkelly @johnalanierRCAF @LangfordPhill http://bit.ly/1SupLRJ

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Business & Trade, The Ray, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, sustainable highway, highway of the future, restorative highway, sustainable transportation, bioswales, Solar Energy, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, noise barriers, noise pollution, light pollution, wildlife conservation, safety, transportation safety


TexProtects Launches First Statewide ZipRisk Map to Help Direct Resources in Fight to Prevent and End Child Abuse

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Partnership with UT Dallas, Alliance Data and Epsilon Provided Expertise and Resources to Produce First-of-its-Kind Interactive Data Technology

SOURCE:Alliance Data

DESCRIPTION:

Dallas, April 27, 2016 /3BL Media/— TexProtects, the Texas Association for the Protection of Children – in partnership with Plano-based Alliance Data and its Epsilon business and the University of Texas at Dallas School of Engineering and Computer Sciences UT Design program – today unveiled the ZipRisk Map, a groundbreaking, interactive data tool that will help advocates and policy-makers across Texas identify the highest-risk areas in the fight to prevent and end child abuse. The new tool – accessible at http://www.TexProtects.org/map– is the first to provide a ZIP code-level view of these high-need areas, enabling state and local organizations to more effectively target their resources and outreach.

(For a video explanation of the ZipRisk project, go to https://youtu.be/Dw018uL7J3k)

“Every day in our state, an average of 183 children are substantiated for child maltreatment. We must do more to protect Texas children from abuse and severe neglect and the best way is to invest in effective prevention programs. The ZipRisk map will guide Texas leaders and private funders to target resources to the highest-need areas of the state with the fewest resources to save children from tragic consequences,” said TexProtects Founding CEO Madeline McClure.

The development of the ZipRisk Map was a collaboration among TexProtects, the University of Texas at Dallas School of Engineering and Computer Sciences UT Design program, and Alliance Data and its Epsilon business. Students at UT Dallas worked with data technology specialists at Epsilon to create the data model that would present the detailed geographic view on behalf of TexProtects. Before the project was completed, this type of data existed only at the county level. With this new geomapping tool now in the public domain, researchers, advocates, legislators, state agencies and other non-profit providers can efficiently identify those areas most at risk and commit resources to support families in those areas.

“Texas benefits when academic institutions, corporations and non-profits team up to find solutions to our state’s challenges. I commend TexProtects, UTD and Alliance Data for working on this mapping tool, which has the potential to help us better identify and protect children at risk,” said Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.

“We are excited to see this innovative ZipRisk mapping tool come online,” said Lisa K. Simmons, President of the Harold Simmons Foundation. “Such a resource should be extremely helpful in guiding our foundation grants to target the highest risk areas of North Texas that have the fewest resources for child abuse and neglect prevention.”

“The ZipRisk mapping technology is a much-needed tool, which can help United Way of Metropolitan Dallas target resources to serve the most need across North Texas. We look forward to using the tool to guide and inform the development and implementation of our new HOPES child abuse prevention initiative,” said Susan Hoff, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Chief Strategy, Impact & Operations Officer.

“Alliance Data’s commitment to social responsibility includes a focus on collecting, analyzing and using data to drive decision-making that helps non-profits create a positive impact in the community,” said Dana Beckman, Corporate Affairs Director with Alliance Data. “Collaborating with UT Dallas students presented an ideal opportunity to develop technology that leverages data for good, and demonstrates how evidence-based programs can support measurable outcomes for those in need.”

The ZipRisk Map is based on modeled data from a set of predictive data indices, including rates of past confirmed child maltreatment and child abuse fatalities, child poverty, teen pregnancy and substance abuse, all highly correlated with child abuse. 

“This type of project is what we’ve desired for years at TexProtects – the public sector, the private sector, and the nonprofit advocacy worlds pooling our resources and passions to change the trajectory for many vulnerable families and their children,” said McClure. “This tool will ensure funds are directed more precisely to match need versus a scatter-shot approach. A more cost-effective investment strategy redirects funds from areas not in need, which is a surer way of saving more lives and improving life outcomes. We are so grateful to Alliance Data, Epsilon and UT Dallas for bringing this vision to fruition.”

TexProtects, The Texas Association for the Protection of Children, was created to tackle issues of Child Protective Services (CPS) reform, prevention and public awareness to bring a collective, organized voice representing the needs of children at risk of abuse and survivors of child abuse and neglect. The organization is autonomous, nonpartisan and nonpolitical, designed to educate decision makers, private funders and the public at large. To date, no one single Texas organization has dedicated its focus on the main issues of protection, prevention, and healing of abused and neglected children. 

For more information, please visit www.TexProtects.org.

Tweet me:New tool helps lawmakers see highest-risk areas to prevent #childabuse @texprotects @alliancedata http://bit.ly/1WSCqTL

KEYWORDS: Technology, Philanthropy, data for good, texprotects, child abuse prevention, technology for good, ut dallas, Epsilon, Alliance Data

 

Talk with Green Guy Show - Ray C. Anderson Foundation and The Ray

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SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is the Platinum Sponsor of "The Green Guy" radio talk show on WGST AM640 - Atlanta.  

Shows air weekly at 9AM Eastern, featuring voices from all aspects of sustainable life - at home, at work, at school and in the community.

Click the icon to listen to the April 24th show below, featuring John Lanier, executive director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray. 

Tune in this Sunday for interviews with former New Jersey Governor, Christine Todd Whitman and Scott Sadler of Green Chamber of the South.

Tweet me:Riding #theray #sustainablehighway #highwayofthefuture @allienkelly http://bit.ly/1Qx5mcr @greenguyatl @johnalanierRCAF

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Business & Trade, The Ray, sustainable highway, highway of the future, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, John A. Lanier, Allie Kelly, Troup County, bioswales, noise barriers, solar roadway, Georgia Department of Transportation, GDOT, Georgia Department of Economic Development, tire pressure, #highwayofthefuture, #sustainablehighway, #ridetheray, #theray, Talk with Green Guy, WGST 640AM, Eric Moncrief, InterFace

 

Pledges from Sustainability Leaders: Domtar's EarthChoice Ambassadors

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Domtar's EarthChoice Ambassadors Share Their Commitments to Sustainability

SOURCE:Domtar

DESCRIPTION:

In honor of Earth Day, Domtar’s EarthChoice Ambassadors across the globe shared the actions they take to demonstrate the EarthChoice commitment to sustainability. From capturing rainwater and landscaping with native plants, to biking to work and volunteering in their communities, EarthChoice Ambassador’s are sustainability champions who lead by example, benefitting both themselves and the organization as a whole.

Domtar’s EarthChoice Ambassador employee engagement program started in 2010 and has now grown to 21 sites across North America and Europe. In fact, three new teams were added throughout 2015, with a fourth set to launch at Domtar’s Hawesville, Kentucky mill this year. As Hawesville Mill Manager Steve Henry recently pointed out, “Sustainability is part of our culture at Hawesville; the EarthChoice Ambassador program will build on and enhance our sustainability efforts.”

Watch this year’s Earth Day video and see the EarthChoice Ambassadors responses to the question, “What’s your EarthChoice?”

Tweet me:.@DomtarCorp #EarthChoiceAmbassadors share their #sustainability pledges for Earth Day, watch here: http://bit.ly/1QxHxBh

Contact Info:

Paige Goff, Vice President, Sustainability & Business Communications
+1 (803) 802-8101
Paige.Goff@domtar.com

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Business & Trade, Domtar, EarthChoice Ambassadors, earth day

Impact Inspirations: Fidelity Investments Program

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by Molly Weinstein

SOURCE:Common Impact

DESCRIPTION:

One of the Common Impact initiatives that best exemplifies shared value is its program with the Fidelity Investments Workplace Investing (WI) business. The program offers a unique experiential learning and leadership development opportunity for WI’s senior level associates and delivers tangible, long-term impact for its nonprofit beneficiaries. In 5 years, the program has supported 78 of WI’s strongest talent and future leaders in their career development and yielded a community investment valued at $1,334,725.

Common Impact team member, Molly Weinstein shares her take on how Fidelity’ Workplace Investing’s skills-based volunteering program returns tangible, bilateral value.

1. What is the secret to a successful partnership like this one?

This program matches teams of senior level employees from across business areas with a cross-functional, strategic challenge at a local nonprofit organization. The program is a collaboration between Common Impact, and Fidelity’s Community Relations group, Human Resources team, and  WI business unit – meaning it is an extremely well-supported and well-designed program. Fidelity Community Relations makes the connection to exemplary nonprofits whose work has a significant impact on the broader community.  Fidelity’s HR department helps to select a project each year that will stretch the participating employees in critical growth areas. The business sponsor ties HR’s talent objectives back to the broader business goals and supports the team’s work through executive coaching. And Common Impact is the glue that holds it all together.

The program is so successful precisely because of its shared value premise. Fidelity has connected the dotted lines between social initiatives, human capital development, and business success and we are seeing tremendous returns in the form of business benefits and social change!

2. How has the Workplace Investing program model positively impacted both the corporate and nonprofit sector?

The high-performing employees who are selected to participate in the WI program are granted a unique opportunity to stretch themselves in a dynamic environment with multifaceted, relevant challenges. Employees build the skills needed to excel in their careers, including business skills such as complex problem-solving and end-to-end strategy implementation and “soft skills” such as communication, collaboration, people development, personal effectiveness, and executive presence. The program cultivates a talent pool with keen business acumen and a passion for social impact and connects Fidelity’s next generation of leaders with one another.

The program focuses on business strategy projects within the nonprofit sector, such as strategic plans, feasibility studies for organizational expansion, or business models for new initiatives. Change capital, which allows nonprofits to undertake these broad strategic initiatives, is typically the most difficult type of funding for organizations to come by. Therefore, the WI projects fill a critical gap for our most innovative, forward-thinking nonprofits by allowing them to proactively hone their business model to better address important community challenges. On average, our WI projects deliver from $140,000-$170,000 in social investment.

3. What project are you currently working on and how will it impact the community?

This year’s team is working with the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley (BGCSV) to develop a business plan for their upcoming facility expansion. Their staff’s focus has been on fundraising and planning for the expansion, so they have had limited opportunity to consider what will happen once the new gymnasium and teen center are built. This is where the Fidelity team comes in! They are working to identify community needs and to develop a business plan that will allow BGCSV to meet those needs in an effective and fiscally sustainable way.

The programmatic, operational, and business recommendations the team develops will enable BGCSV to serve a greater number of kids and to reach a new demographic in real need of their services. BGCSV already serves about 20% of the school-aged children in Souhegan Valley - the Fidelity team is helping them to touch an even larger percentage of their community with enhanced and expanded opportunities for growth and learning.

Tweet me:See how @Fidelity's #volunteer programs exemplify #sharedvalue through #leadership development & long-term #impact http://bit.ly/1T53JUZ

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Philanthropy, Shared Value, Fidelity Investments, Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, Workplace Investing, program development, leadership development, skills-based volunteering, strategy consulting

2010 LMU Amgen Scholar Bartosz Helfer Takes His Summer Project to Publication

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SOURCE:Amgen Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

In 2009, Bartosz Helfer was well into earning his bachelor’s degree in cognitive sciences at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, one of the biggest universities in one of the largest cities in Poland.

But even so, Helfer didn’t have much of an opportunity to try hands-on research. The university’s cognitive sciences program was new—his student cohort was among the first—and it emphasized theoretical rather than applied research.

When Helfer heard about the Amgen Scholars Program at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, he jumped at the chance to apply. He got accepted into the 2010 Program to work with the group of his top pick, that of Stefan Glasauer, who studies human-robot interaction.

“[Research] was totally new for me at the beginning,” Helfer says. But he fell into it the daily work easily, learning to operate a motion-capture device and computer programming. His Amgen Scholars summer research helped contribute to a study published June 27, 2012 inPLOS ONE.

For his project, Helfer studied how observing another person or a robot facilitates or interferes with one’s own movement. It’s known that people observing an individual performing a motion are better able to imitate that motion. For example, when a class watches its aerobic instructor doing a side lunge, the observers in the class can better mirror that move. That’s called motor facilitation.

In contrast, the class would have more trouble executing the side lunge if the instructor did something different — say, a forward lunge. That is called motor interference, and it means that the people in the class would vary more in the trajectory of their own side lunges. (Scientists think that a specific type brain cell—dubbed ‘mirror neurons’—underlie the ability to understand and copy others’ actions and may also play some part in motor interference.)

But what happens if the one being observed is a robot instead of a human? For the new study, a group of 33 individuals watched a video of one of three robots—each with different joint configurations that made them more or less human-like—or another person performing a simple motion.

When subjects were asked to do a movement different than the one they were observing, motor interference was stronger in the group that was watching the more human-like robot compared with the other types of robots. That suggests that humans are able to understand the motor actions and intentions of a robot when it has a more human-like configuration.

“In the broader sense, this is important for understanding how we humans understand artificial beings,” such as robots used in health care and in other industries, Helfer says.

His summer with the Amgen Scholars “was the initial spark that led me to LMU for a master’s degree in neurocognitive psychology,” Helfer says. He worked in Glasauer’s group to build on his Amgen Scholars project, before branching out to try research in two other cognitive neuroscience groups, and learning a range of different brain imaging techniques through his coursework. “I was just curious and I’m still curious about science and how things work. I would like to learn as much as possible,” Helfer says.

For his master’s thesis, Helfer is helping conduct an overview of meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for psychiatric disorders. He is working with Stefan Leucht, associate professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy at the Technical University Munich. 

Helfer will graduate this summer, and hopes to land a spot in the neuroscience PhD programs he applied to in Munich and in the United States. His chances already look good: Leucht says, “He’s one of the best students I’ve had. I would like to have him as PhD student — there’s no doubt about that.”

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To learn more about the Amgen Scholars Program, please visit our website and check out the #AmgenScholars hashtag on Twitter. Visit AmgenInspires.com and follow @AmgenFoundation to stay up to date with all STEM-related news from the Amgen Foundation.  

Tweet me:2010 #AmgenScholars alumni Bartosz Helfer explains how his summer project went to publication: http://bit.ly/1VKEj4A

KEYWORDS: Education, Philanthropy, Amgen Foundation, Amgen Scholars, Amgen Scholars Program, Bartosz Helfer, Ludwig-Maximilians University

TruGreen Helps Keep America Beautiful

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America’s Leading Lawn Care Provider Awards TruNeighbor Grants to Iconic National Nonprofit Organization to Help Beautify Communities Across the Country

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 28, 2016 /3BL Media/ — TruGreen today announced a partnership with national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful to help fulfill a vision of a country where every community is a clean, green and beautiful place to live. Starting with projects in Jacksonville, Florida; Kansas City, Missouri; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Keep America Beautiful affiliates will submit community improvement ideas for a chance to secure TruGreen TruNeighbor grants of up to $15,000, including in-kind services.

TruGreen has partnered with Keep America Beautiful as part of the company’s TruNeighbor program, an initiative aimed to reduce community blight, increase access to green spaces and help more people live life outside. TruGreen launched two beautification pilot projects last year in Lansing, Michigan and Gary, Indiana. Working in partnership with each city’s mayor and local community leaders, TruGreen helped revitalize a public gathering space in Gary and is creating a public orchard in Lansing.

“We take pride in being a ‘TruNeighbor’ to the communities where we live, work and play,” said David Alexander, TruGreen President and CEO.  “It’s our hope that by improving the quality of a neighborhood’s outdoor spaces we can also improve the quality of life of its residents by helping them to live life outside. Keep America Beautiful has shared in that mission for more than 60 years, and we are honored to partner with them on important community improvement projects across the country.”

Keep America Beautiful recently kicked off its annual Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program. In its 18th year, Great American Cleanup events and education programs help to renew public spaces such as parks, trails and recreation areas; clean shorelines and waterways; remove litter and debris; reduce waste and improve recycling; and plant trees, flowers and community gardens among other activities. Last year, the Great American Cleanup engaged more than 5.4 million volunteers and participants across the country and has delivered, on average, $175 million annually in measurable benefits to tens of thousands of communities nationwide in the past five years.

In 2015, Keep America Beautiful released “Charting the Multiple Meanings of Blight: A National Literature Review on Addressing the Community Impacts of Blighted Properties.” The report provides a contemporary snapshot of how researchers, experts and practitioners describe and understand the complex conditions that create blight. The executive summary and full report of “Charting the Multiple Meanings of Blight” is available on the Keep America Beautiful website.

“We’re excited to forge a new partnership with TruGreen to forward our mission to inspire and educate people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment,” said Jennifer Jehn, president and CEO, Keep America Beautiful. “The support from TruGreen bolsters our efforts to bring people together to transform public spaces into beautiful places and to make a positive environmental, economic and social difference in communities nationwide.”

About TruGreen
Memphis, Tenn.-based TruGreen is the nation’s largest lawn care company, serving more than 2.3 million residential and commercial customers across the United States with lawn, tree and shrub care. TruGreen believes more life should be lived outside and is committed to providing a beautiful lawn to serve as the foundation for outside experiences and lifelong memories. As the leader in the professional lawn care industry, TruGreen helps define responsible lawn care practices, conducts industry-leading education and training for our people, pioneers new application technologies and educates our customers on proper mowing and wise-use watering techniques. Today, there are more than 260 TruGreen lawn care branches and satellite offices in the United States and Canada. Go to TruGreen.com or facebook.com/TruGreen for more information.

About Keep America Beautiful
At Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country where every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To learn how you can donate or take action, visit kab.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook, or view us on YouTube.

Tweet me:.@trugreen partners with @kabtweet on #community improvement #TruNeighbor Grant program. http://bit.ly/1Sqatku

Contact Info:

Mike Rosen
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3008
mrosen@kab.org
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork

Danielle Sullivan
MSLGROUP
+1 (781) 684-0770
danielle.sullivan@mslgroup.com

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Business & Trade, Keep America Beautiful, TruGreen, TruNeighbor Grants, csr

GSK Supports the Philadelphia Science Festival

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SOURCE:GSK

DESCRIPTION:

GSK is proud to partner with The Franklin Institute in support of the Philadelphia Science Festival engaging Philadelphians in the wonders of science. 

GSK scientists will volunteer their time at the finale Carnival to inspire a new generation of STEM professionals! Our booth is called “How is Medicine Developed?” and can be found along the Delaware River in the “yellow zone.”

For more information about the 100+ great events happening now through April 30th  check out the event calendar: http://www.philasciencefestival.org/calendar

Tweet me:Kids love @PhilaSciFest! @GSKUS has a booth called “How is Medicine Developed?” Stop by the yellow zone #GetNerdyPHL http://bit.ly/2370GS2

KEYWORDS: Education, Philanthropy, GSK, philadelphia science festival

  


Sappi North America Releases 2015 Sustainability Report

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The seventh annual report in Sappi North America’s sustainability series highlights its excellent goal performance and a clear, aspirational vision for the future

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

BOSTON, April 28, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, has announced the release of its 2015 Sustainability Report. The report showcases Sappi’s industry leading sustainability performance.

“Each year, we look forward to reporting our progress against the five year goals we set to ensure that Sappi North America continues as a thriving, sustainable, re-investable company,” said Mark Gardner, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have an eye to the future and are committed to make those decisions which best position our company in the changing business environment.” 

Sappi’s 2020Vision
In 2015, Sappi Limited established an aspirational vision for the future that was structured around concrete, measurable initiatives with clear baselines for performance. The goal to become a truly diversified wood fiber group, targeting a substantial increase in EBITDA through an expanded product portfolio, reflects Sappi’s confidence in its ability to evolve with the changing world; continually maintain and improve returns in mature markets; and deliver top-line growth in newer businesses, like specialty packaging. 

Sustainability Goals
Sappi North America’s sustainability goals are segmented according to the three most critical elements of its business: PEOPLE, PLANET and PROSPERITY. Collectively these goals account for an aggressive approach to increasing safety and education for Sappi employees, building returns on net operating assets through increases in operational efficiency; and reducing energy and raw material waste. Some of this year’s performance highlights include:

  • 100% of our fiber was procured in accordance with the SFI® Fiber Sourcing standard as well as the FSC® Controlled Wood standard, and 58% of our fiber came from certified sources.
  • We remain the manufacturer with the lowest carbon footprint out of all domestic producers of coated freesheet papers in the US, and our combined direct and indirect emissions total just 0.4 tons CO2/ton of product. 
  • The solid waste sent to landfills reached its lowest level in the past five years, due in large part to the continued expansion of our beneficial use program where by-products are used by local landowners as a soil amendment. 

“As a member of Sappi North America’s Sustainability Customer Council, I have seen firsthand how invested and dedicated the organization is with respect to its sustainability efforts,” said Larry Westlake from Sandy Alexander. “They proactively engineer solutions to promote a sustainable future for not just the paper industry, but everyone.”

To read Sappi North America’s 2015 Sustainability Report and learn more about its sustainability initiatives, please visit http://www.sappi.com/group/Sustainability/2015-Sappi-North-America-Sustainability-Report.pdf

About Sappi North America
Sappi North America, headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of our four diversified businesses – high quality Coated Printing Papers, Specialised Cellulose, Release Papers and Specialty Packaging – is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people and advantaged assets, products and services. Our high quality Coated Printing Papers, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are the key platform for premium magazines, catalogs, books and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Specialised Cellulose used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods, and one of the world's leading suppliers of Release Papers with our Ultracast and Classics lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries. Our Specialty Packaging products, such as LusterPrint and LusterCote, represent an important asset in the food packaging and labeling industries. Customers rely on Sappi for high technical, operational and market expertise; products and services delivered with consistently high quality and reliability; and, state-of-the-art and cost-competitive assets and innovative spirit.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 13,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at: www.sappi.com/na.

# # #

For further information:

Olga Karagiannis
Sappi North America
+1 617-423-5409
Olga.Karagiannis@Sappi.com 

Jackie Fraser 
Matter Communications
+1 978-358-5840
jfraser@matternow.com 

Tweet me:Today @SappiNA announced the release of its 2015 Sustainability Report. Read more here: http://bit.ly/1TyR4Na

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Energy, sustainability, csr, Green, Recycling, Sappi, sappi north america, Paper and Pulp, WOOD FIBER, forestry

Avista Employees March for Babies

21CF Supports Education for Syrian Refugee Children with $125,000 Donation to Malala Fund

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SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

21st Century Fox has announced a contribution of more than $125,000 to Malala Fund, an organization advocating for secondary girls' education around the world. The gift consists of funds raised through a company-wide employee matching program, as well as a social media campaign led by 21CF and the National Geographic Channel, and will help provide education for Syrian refugee children. The donation is the culmination of the company's year-long global campaign to support "He Named Me Malala," Fox Searchlight and National Geographic Channel's documentary about 18-year-old activist Malala Yousafzai, and raise awareness of the more than 60 million young women who are out of school around the globe.

"Malala's incredible journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring," said Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, co-presidents of Fox Searchlight. "Her bravery in the face of adversity brought us to tears. The chance to bring her story to a global audience [is] an honor for all of us here at Searchlight."

21CF launched the employee matching program shortly after the theatrical release of "He Named Me Malala" in October 2015, and by the end of the year, the initiative generated nearly $70,000. In February, ahead of National Geographic Channel's global commercial-free broadcast premiere of the film, 21CF and Nat Geo hosted a social media campaign to raise additional funds. 21CF donated $1 for every tweet with the hashtag #withMalala and every Facebook user who changed his/her profile picture to a special campaign video.

"This incredible and critically acclaimed film left movie audiences applauding this young woman's journey and left them wanting to make a difference," said Courteney Monroe. "We are extremely proud and honored to have dedicated National Geographic's collective resources to bring awareness of Malala's advocacy for girls' education to our global audience."

Malala Fund will use these gifts to support the educational needs of Syrian refugee girls currently living in Lebanon and Jordan. According to a report from the UN High Commission on Refugees, more than 1.1 million Syrian children are refugees, and over 75% of them are under the age of 12. More than half of all school-age Syrian children in Jordan and Lebanon are not in school. Those who are face overcrowding, inadequate funding, and discrimination. Malala Fund is working to provide quality education for these children.

"This is a heartbreaking tragedy--the world's worst refugee crisis in decades," Malala said when she opened the Malala Yousafzai All-Girls School in Lebanon in July 2015. "[The girls'] courage and dedication to continue their schooling in difficult conditions inspires people around the world, and it is our duty to stand by them."

Keep reading at impact.21CF.com. 

Tweet me:.@21CF supports Syrian refugee children, donates to @MalalaFund: http://21.cf/1SD7hi2 @21CF_Impact #education #withMalala

KEYWORDS: Education, Business & Trade, 21st century fox, malala fund, Malala Yousafzai, Syria, students, Girls' Education, girls, united nations, fox searchlight, National Geographic, Davis Guggenheim, he named me malala, Donation, Charity, employees

Pizza Hut Harvest: Fighting Food Waste, Hunger and Greenhouse Emissions, One Slice of Pizza at a Time

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Guest Blog by Tyler Hampton, Yum! Brands Foundation

SOURCE:Yum! Brands

DESCRIPTION:

We’ve all been there. That point when you realize you ordered too much food at a restaurant or bought more groceries than you can eat before expiration.  Throwing away perfectly good food knowing that there are plenty of hungry people out there who could benefit from a hot meal, you might feel a moment of guilt when you chuck your leftovers in the trash. In these instances we all have a hand to play in the food waste epidemic and it’s no different for global businesses.

The sad fact is that 30- 40% of all food is wasted each year. Yet, 1 in 9 people suffer from chronic hunger. The simple math says that hunger is a solvable problem and a more connected food chain would provide enough sustenance for everyone. As the largest pizza company in the world, it is Pizza Hut’s privilege and responsibility to fight waste and hunger wherever we can and since the early 90’s we’ve been using the Harvest food donation program to help combat these two crippling global issues.

Pizza Hut has a strong legacy with food donations, dating back to 1992 when we became the first company to create a national surplus food donation program.  At that time, Bill Reighard, a former Pizza Hut/PepsiCo executive, decided to leave the company and found Food Donation Connection (FDC).  With Pizza Hut as his first client, Bill thought he’d be coordinating pizza donations forever. But now, FDC is the go-to expert in all types of food donation coordination, working with many brands in over 17,000 restaurants. At Pizza Hut, we donate error pizzas, no-show pizzas and leftover buffet items that are perfectly safe to eat. Partner charities make weekly pickups and then distribute to families living in the area. To date, FDC has helped Pizza Hut coordinate more than 94 million pounds of donated food, and we continue to donate 5 million pounds to over 2,500 domestic charities each year.

Since we began our Harvest initiative in 1992 it’s been encouraging to see that the domestic food waste conversation is changing for the better and receiving the attention it deserves. There are more companies donating their surplus food thanks in part to new federal incentives. In December 2015, Congress passed the PATH Act which allows companies to earn an enhanced tax deduction for donating selected surplus property, including food. The federal government also protects good faith donors from civil and criminal liability, should the product later cause harm to its recipient, with the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. These laws create an environment where donors can feel comfortable making food donations and are even encouraged to do so. To quote the book Food Foolish: The Hidden Connection Between Food Waste, Hunger and Climate Change by John Mandyck and Eric Schultz, “As financial returns begin to align with our better humanitarian and environmental impulses, the global food chain is a process ripe for rapid and dramatic improvement.”

We like to say that Harvest feeds people, not landfills. When food is tossed in a landfill, it quickly breaks down and becomes a significant source of methane which has 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world next to the U.S. and China. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists donation as the second best way to reduce food waste next to source reduction. We are happy to report that Pizza Hut Harvest donations have diverted more than 1 million metric tons of methane from the environment since 1992.

As a global restaurant leader in surplus food donations we don’t want to just give, we also want to leverage our voice to raise awareness for the food waste epidemic and partner with other companies to make measurable impact.  Which is why our parent company, Yum! Brands including KFC, has pledged to donate 10 million pounds of food in 2016 as part of the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge. We’re also partnering with the National Restaurant Association as part of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance in a joint effort with the Grocery Manufacturers Association to combat food waste. This alliance will only grow stronger by sharing the Harvest program model with other national brand restaurant companies.

We take pride in knowing that Harvest helps people every day, folks who are sacrificing their food money to pay rent or keep the lights on. Deborah in Ohio, for example, works part time because she has a house full of young children. Receiving Pizza Hut donations from her local food pantry are a huge help so she can focus on paying other expenses, plus the pizza serves as a nice treat for her family!  A charity partner in Harlan, KY called Christ’s Hands recently reached out to thank Pizza Hut for the more than 33,000 meals they’ve received since 2008. Hearing from these partners and seeing the faces of those who benefit from these donations really makes the Harvest program worthwhile.

If you’d like to learn more about Harvest please visit http://www.yumcsr.com/community/harvest.asp and stay tuned as we fight both global food waste and hunger by expanding the program internationally!

Tweet me:.@PizzaHut fights #hunger, #foodwaste & #greenhousegas 1 slice at a time http://bit.ly/21jNkT0 @YumBrands @FoodToDonate

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Environment and Climate Change, Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut Foundation, Pizza Hut Harvest, Food Donation Connection (FDC), hunger relief, greenhouse gasses, Food Waste

Sodexo Employees Celebrate 20 Years of Fighting Hunger in North America as 2016 Stop Hunger Servathon Concludes

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Annual volunteer effort throughout April encourages Sodexo’s 420,000 employees worldwide to fight hunger in local communities

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 1, 2016 /3BL Media/ — Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, celebrated the successful 20th year of employees impacting hunger issues in communities across North America in April. Its annual Stop Hunger Servathon, a month-long, global effort, drew to a close last week. Every year during the month of April, Sodexo employees, clients, customers and local stakeholders join forces to fight hunger and raise awareness about related health and nutrition issues. Results for the worldwide effort will be announced in June.

Employee-led, community-based efforts like Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Servathon are especially critical at a time when global hunger organizations are expressing concern about 2017 government budgets and appropriations that will further restrict rather than expand flexibility in nutrition services. According the Food Research and Action Center, such programs provide a critical safety net and help millions of struggling households.

“Sodexo is committed to supporting local communities and nothing is more essential to that support than ensuring food access,” said Lorna C. Donatone, region chair for North America and CEO schools worldwide. “Inadequate funding of supplemental nutrition programs may be penny wise and pound foolish. A study released in March by Bread for the World Institute conservatively reports that hunger saddles the U.S. economy with as much as $160 billion per year in health care costs.”

Fighting hunger is the focus of Sodexo’s community service efforts. As part of its Better Tomorrow Plan commitments, the Stop Hunger program mobilizes entire Sodexo communities, including employees, consumers, clients and suppliers to join forces to make a difference. Servathon is Stop Hunger's largest global annual event, and this April Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation funded over 100 Global Youth Service Day projects across the country with Sodexo partner Youth Service America.

Sodexo Stop Hunger Servathon: Acting Globally, Impacting Locally

At the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, Sodexo employees worked with area business partners on a food drive as part of their local Stop Hunger Servathon efforts. Sodexo district manager, Joey Carles and his team, collected more than 3,000 food items, which were delivered today in support of the Salvation Army Homeless Program. Contributions came from Sodexo employees and donations provided by J.W. Mills and Grace Management, Sodexo subcontractors.

Stop Hunger Servathon events are about much more than food donations. Kate Giere, a Sodexo wellness director at State Street Financial in Boston, engaged with local youth and community residents on how healthy foods fuel their bodies. She led an interactive cooking demonstration, and facilitated active games with prizes. The Saint Peter's dining team, led by Sodexo general manager Jeff Weissinger, also taught a free cooking class to families from the Sacred Heart School in Jersey City. It featured recipes ranging from smoothies, cereal snacks, healthy side dishes, two different chicken preparations, and a dessert. Each family went home with a grocery bag full of fresh produce and recipes for each item demonstrated.

In 2015 Sodexo employees and youth in North America engaged 278 nonprofits, provided more than 314,700 meals and raised $87,000 for Servathon efforts aimed at alleviating hunger. Globally, the number of Sodexo employees volunteering last year increased by 47 percent and the total funds that were raised to combat hunger increased in 2015 by 22 percent. Impact figures for 2016 will be announced in June.

Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The global Fortune 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.

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

Tweet me:#Sodexo employees celebrate 20 years of fighting #hunger in North America http://bit.ly/1SGKZfr

Contact Info:

Samuel Wells
Sodexo, Inc.
+1 (301) 987-4893
samuel.wells@sodexo.com

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, Sodexo, Hunger, community, Servathon, Employee Engagement

  

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