SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

Keep Phoenix Beautiful, in partnership with the City of Phoenix, 911Day.org and Cities of Service, conducted a 9/11 Day of Service event to honor the brave heroes of that day and to launch Keep Phoenix Beautiful’s Community Garden.

As a federally-recognized national day of remembrance, a host of community service opportunities have been made available to volunteers across the country. Keep Phoenix Beautiful’s 9/11 Day of Service event, which featured remarks from Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski and Keep Phoenix Beautiful President and CEO Tom Waldeck, focused on the launch of the community garden at its new location, 18th Avenue and Pierson Street in Phoenix.

Keep Phoenix Beautiful received a $25,000 Keep America Beautiful/Lowe's Community Partners Grant to transform the community garden into a vibrant garden and education space with composting, demonstration gardens, a solar greenhouse built by ASU students, and much more. Lowe's Heroes from Phoenix stores as well as across Arizona came to the garden to install a fence around the site, while community volunteers mulched and planted.

Continue reading here.

Tweet me:#FF @kabtweet Affiliate Stories: @KPB_AZ, @CitiesofService, @911day, @Lowes team up for Phoenix 9/11 Day of Service http://bit.ly/2y47V4W

Contact Info:

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

Larry Kaufman
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3014
lkaufman@kab.org

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Keep America Beautiful, Keep Phoenix Beautiful, 9/11 Day of Service, Cities of Service, Keep Phoenix Beautiful Community Garden

SOURCE:Qualcomm

DESCRIPTION:

September 15, 2017 /3BL Media/ - We continue to be concerned about the severe weather developing during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. As Hurricane Irma approaches Florida, and other strong systems develop in the Atlantic, the Qualcomm Foundation is donating $1 million to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy for long-term recovery efforts. This funding is in addition to the $1 million Qualcomm Incorporated recently pledged towards Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy will strategically direct our funds to disaster-response organizations and maximize long-term recovery. Qualcomm will also expand the list of eligible organizations for its previously announced employee matching grant of $250,000 to include national and global organizations.

Our thoughts remain with everyone displaced and impacted by these devastating storms.

Tweet me:.@Qualcomm pledges an additional $1 million to Center for Disaster Philanthropy to aid #hurricane victims: http://bit.ly/2fgo1kO

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Community Development, Qualcomm, Qualcomm Foundation, Hurricane Harvey, Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Contributes Immediate and Long-Term Assistance Through a Network of Public-Private Partnerships Designed to Assist With Wide Range of Needs

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

ATLANTA, September 15, 2017 /3BL Media/ - UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced  more than a $1 million commitment, through The UPS Foundation, in support of recovery efforts in the Caribbean, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma. The pledge is a combination of cash grants, in-kind transportation movements and technical expertise to provide urgent relief, as well as support for long-term needs ranging from rebuilding to personal and financial recovery assistance. This is in addition to the more than $1 million given toward Hurricane Harvey relief efforts on August 28.

“We’re seeing unprecedented need in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer. “UPS is working with its non-profit partners to get help to those who need it urgently. However, there will be much assistance required in the coming months to help rebuild these shattered communities into the resilient neighborhoods that once stood so we’re planning for that as well.”

The UPS Foundation is working with the American Red Cross, The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), The Salvation Army, and other humanitarian aid partners to provide immediate support and assess longer-term needs, committing additional funding and in-kind assistance for recovery needs that will be specified during the post-crisis recovery phase in the coming months. 

When a disaster strikes, The UPS Foundation moves quickly to mobilize its disaster relief network in support of first responders and provides immediate 
in-kind relief to assist with response and recovery efforts on multiple fronts of a disaster.

Immediately, The UPS Foundation is engaging with the following organizations, committing both cash and in-kind assistance:

• American Red Cross – $100,000 in cash and in-kind support, in addition to The UPS Foundation’s annual commitment to the Annual Disaster Giving Program that provides funding that enables the American Red Cross to open shelters immediately for Hurricane Irma survivors. 
• International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) - $50,000 for Caribbean recovery efforts.
• CARE - $75,000 in cash and in-kind support for recovery efforts in Caribbean.
• The Salvation Army - $100,000 in grant funding and in-kind support for hurricane relief efforts and technical support.  
• Points of Light - $125,000 to mobilize volunteer efforts.
• Good360 - $50,000 in additional in-kind support for Hurricane Irma needs.
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster - $50,000 to assist member in-kind needs.
• SBP – An additional $75,000 in funding and in-kind support.  
• Operation Hope – An additional $25,000 to provide financial counseling to disaster survivors to speed their recovery.
• Toolbank Disaster Services – UPS providing additional $10,000 to enable additional tools and support for Hurricane Irma clean up and rebuilding.
• British Red Cross - £10,000 contribution from Marken, a UPS company, to Irma Fund.
• Toys for Tots – $50,000 from The UPS Stores in support for families impacted by the hurricanes.

Additionally, the company has deployed several skilled volunteers with humanitarian logistics expertise to the Caribbean, Florida and Texas to help coordinate support with our partner agencies providing relief.

UPS and The UPS Foundation have a history of leveraging the company’s logistics expertise and moving quickly to assist in delivering humanitarian aid and relief efforts after natural disasters. In fact, providing humanitarian relief is an ongoing program. Last year, The UPS Foundation responded to 20 major world disasters and invested more than $13 million in funding, in-kind, and technical support for community safety initiatives that included enhancing urgent disaster response preparedness, response, and recovery. Also last year, The UPS Foundation provided in-kind support for 468 shipments of humanitarian aid and relief in 53 countries – almost $6 million worth of in-kind services.

About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2016, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $116 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

Tweet me:The @ups_foundation pledges an additional $1 million towards #Irma support http://bit.ly/2h4LZ6n @UPS

Contact Info:

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

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Hurricane Irma, UPS Foundation, UPS, Relief, American Red Cross, Salvation Army

AEG’s LA Galaxy host soccer clinic for 120 students at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Norwalk, Calif. to kick off partnership

SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

LOS ANGELES, September 15, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- AEG’s LA Galaxy Foundation has formed a new partnership with Playworks to support programming in Southern California schools during the 2017-18 school year. As part of the partnership, the LA Galaxy will donate adidas LA Galaxy jerseys to youth in the Playworks soccer program.  Playworks, a nonprofit promoting the power of play for children before, during and after school, serves more than 40,000 children in 64 schools across Southern California.

“The LA Galaxy Foundation is focused on improving our local community and this partnership with Playworks is exactly what that will bring,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “They’ve done some incredible work in our backyard and we’re honored to support that.” In addition to the new Galaxy jerseys that will be presented to youth in the soccer programs, the LA Galaxy Foundation will contribute $25,000 to Playworks during the 2017-2018 school year.”

“We are grateful to receive a $25,000 grant from the LA Galaxy Foundation,” says LaVal Brewer, Executive Director of Playworks Southern California. “Giving children the ability to participate in positive, safe, inclusive play gives them the ability to test out the world; gives them the ability to learn new skills that will carry them through the rest of their lives. It has the potential for changing our world.”

LA Galaxy Foundation launched their Playworks partnership with a kickoff event at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Norwalk, Calif., home of 19-year-old LA Galaxy Defender Hugo Arellano on Sept. 14. Arellano headlined a 90-minute soccer skills clinic for 120 students at the school before presenting the young athletes with their new soccer jerseys for the 2017 soccer season.

Arellano, a product of LA Galaxy Academy and LA Galaxy II, signed as a Homegrown player with the LA Galaxy ahead of the 2017 MLS season at the age of 18, making him one of the youngest signings in club history. In June, Arellano made his MLS debut, fulfilling his dreams to play for his local club.

Playworks will also be onsite at StubHub Center for LA Galaxy II’s final match of the season on Saturday, Oct. 7 for Los Dos’ match against Portland Timbers 2. LA Galaxy Foundation and Playworks will host regionals youth soccer teams, providing them will a soccer skills development clinic and providing participating teams with new jerseys for the 2017-18 soccer season. 

ABOUT LA GALAXY FOUNDATION

The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation (LAGF), the official non-profit of the LA Galaxy, strives to serve the community in which the team works and plays. Through soccer programming that promotes inclusion for all athletes, education opportunities, and a strong spirit of volunteerism LAGF is proud to facilitate over 150 events annually and has donated over $3.5 million to support the local Los Angeles community. For additional information, please visit www.lagalaxy.com

ABOUT PLAYWORKS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Playworks is the leading nonprofit leveraging the power of play before, during, and after school to transform children’s physical and emotional health. Playworks currently serves more than 64 schools and reaches more than 65,000 students directly and through professional training services in Southern California. For more information, visit www.playworks.org/socal.

Media Contact:
Chris Glidden, LA Galaxy
(561) 459-0025
cglidden@lagalaxy.com

Tweet me:AEG’s @LAGalaxy Foundation teams up with @Playworks to support healthy play in Southern California! http://bit.ly/2vZ7V5u

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Education, AEG, LA Galaxy, LA Galaxy Foundation, Playworks, Healthy Play, Cesar Chavez Elementary School, Chris Klein, youth soccer clinic

MLBPA launches 2017 Players Choice Awards program with Marvin Miller Man of the Year nominations

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

The 30 Major League Baseball players nominated by their teammates for the 2017 Marvin Miller Man of the Year award showcase the diverse range of causes, commitments and creative approaches to community service taken by the current crop of big leaguers.

Fan voting is taking place through midnight Sunday on the MLBPA’s official site, www.mlbplayers.com, to determine the six finalists for the most prestigious of Players Choice Awards, which goes to the player whose on-field performance and contributions to his community most inspire others to higher levels of achievement.

Each of the six division finalists chosen by the fans will appear on the Players Choice Awards ballot all players will fill out on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at ballparks across the country.  In addition to the Marvin Miller Man of the Year, Players will select an overall Player of the Year, as well as the outstanding players, pitchers, rookies and comeback players in their respective leagues.

The Marvin Miller Man of the Year is not just about performance, but also takes into account his leadership on and off the field. Past winners of the award named for the legendary MLBPA union leader, include Curtis Granderson, Adam Jones, Clayton Kershaw, Mariano Rivera, Chipper Jones, Michael Young, Brandon Inge, Torii Hunter, Albert Pujols, Jim Thome, John Smoltz, Mike Sweeney, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Eric Davis and Paul Molitor.

Among this year’s nominees are players involved in providing clean water and other necessities to poverty-stricken villages in remote parts of the world, supporting the needs of servicemen and women and their families, building schools, ensuring clothing and meals for inner-city poor,  raising funds for research and respite to cancer victims and their families,  rescuing abandoned and mistreated animals,  and sending truckloads of emergency supplies to victims of natural disasters.

The 15 American League nominees are: JA Happ,  Blue Jays; David Price, Red Sox; David Robertson, Yankees; Evan Longoria, Rays; Chris Davis, Orioles; Tim Anderson, White Sox; Carlos Carrasco, Indians; Eric Hosmer, Royals; Eduardo Escobar, Twins; Andrew Romine, Tigers; Nelson Cruz, Mariners; Liam Hendricks, A’s; Mike Trout, Angels; Robinson Chirinos, Rangers, and Carlos Beltran, Astros.

The 15 National League nominees are: Steven Matz, Mets; Cameron Rupp, Phillies; Christian Yelich, Marlins; Gio Gonzalez, Nats; Kurt Suzuki, Braves; Michael Lorenzen, Reds; Chase Anderson, Brewers; Adam Wainwright, Cardinals; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs; Josh Harrison, Pirates; Buster Posey, Giants; David Peralta, Diamondbacks; Mike Dunn, Rockies; Clayton Richard, Padres, and Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers.

Each of the nominees will receive a grant from the Players Trust for $2,500 to provide to the charity or charities he selects and the eventual winner will receive a $50,000 grant.

The 2017 Players Choice Awards winners will be announced in November, with winners receiving grants totaling $335, 000 from the Players Trust. To date, the Players Trust has contributed more than $4 million to charities around the world personally selected by Players Choice Awards recipients.

[Help Major Leaguers choose the 2017 Marvin Miller Man of the Year by voting now through midnight Sunday, September 17.]

Tweet me:Help @MLB_Players select the #MarvinMiller Man of the Year. Part of the annual #PlayersChoiceAwards program. http://bit.ly/2wYWOeg

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Events, Media & Communications, Major League Baseball Players Association, Marvin Miller, Marvin Miller Man of the Year, Players Trust, Major League Baseball, athletes giving back, Players Choice Awards

Two bikers from De Beers Group’s Venetia mine have ridden to the aid of homeless young children sleeping on the streets of Musina.

SOURCE:De Beers Group

DESCRIPTION:

Fortune Kutumela and Louis Mashinye saw the children while the pair were out on their motorbikes and were deeply touched by the conditions they were living in.

Louis said: “I could not sleep at night after visiting some of the places where these young children live. I kept thinking about how a young child was trying to fall asleep without so much as a blanket for comfort. That was when I realised that we had the power to change things for them, if we could just pull together.”

So the two diamond ambassadors encouraged members of their biking club to make donations towards blankets for these vulnerable children. They also approached companies to seek support for them.

The result was that bikers from across Limpopo Province joined Louis and Fortune to hand over blankets, clothes, food and sanitary towels to the Musina Resource Centre for Vulnerable and Orphaned Children. They also received donations totalling R20,000 from fellow bikers, as well as from a range of corporate sponsors.

Their actions won high praise from De Beers Consolidated Mines. Corporate Affairs Manager Josephine Pieters said: “We are incredibly proud of our diamond ambassadors Louis and Fortune for identifying a worthy cause and rendering their personal funds and time to touch lives. More importantly, they advocated for their charity and inspired others to support them. This spirit of collaboration and purpose is what employee volunteerism is all about.”

About De Beers
De Beers is a member of the Anglo American plc group. Established in 1888, De Beers is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. As part of the company’s operating philosophy, the people of De Beers are committed to ‘Building Forever’ by making a lasting contribution to the communities in which they live and work, and transforming natural resources into shared national wealth. For further information about De Beers, visit www.debeersgroup.com.

Media Contact 
Press office
Tel +44 (0) 20 7430 3434
pressoffice@debeersgroup.com

Tweet me:Bikers from #Venetia #mine ride to the aid of homeless children sleeping on the streets of #Musina https://t.co/S9QvEUsV10

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Corporate Contributions, De Beers

Another 130 Employees and Contractors Left for Georgia on Wednesday

SOURCE:Consumers Energy

DESCRIPTION:

JACKSON, Mich., September 14, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Consumers Energy is sent an additional 130 employees and contractors to help restore power to Georgia residents in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Crews are leaving from Jackson today to join over 220 Consumers Energy employees and contractors already in Florida’s Boca Raton area performing restoration work. The new contingent of lineworkers, damage assessors, supervisors, safety personnel and other field employees is expected to report to the Atlanta area by Friday and will be working for Georgia Power.

 “We have all seen the images of utter devastation from Irma, and the reports we’re getting back from our colleagues already in Florida emphasize the need for more assistance in the region,” said Guy Packard, Consumers Energy vice president of electric operations. “We have been fortunate to receive assistance from out of state after severe weather in Michigan. Now it’s time for us to return the favor.”

Packard continued, “We made this decision after carefully analyzing our current workload in Michigan and reviewing the weather forecasts. We’re confident we can both meet our customers’ needs as well as help the millions of people affected by Hurricane Irma.”

Consumers Energy personnel are expected to remain in the state for up to two weeks, coordinating directly with Georgia Power.

By the Numbers:

• Today’s announcement brings to over350 the number of Consumers Energy employees and contractors dedicated to Irma restoration. This exceeds the 340 company employees and contractors sent to the East Coast to help restore electricity and natural gas following Hurricane Sandy in November 2012.
• Twelve lineworker crews and Consumers Energy bucket trucks, comprised of 36 individuals from a dozen service centers from Traverse City to Battle Creek, will be making the trek to Georgia. About 20 support personnel are also coming from various locations across Michigan.
• The Edison Electric Institute, a national trade association of energy providers, says nearly 60,000 workers from across the United States and Canada are involved in the effort to restore power following Hurricane Irma.
• As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Edison Electric Institute reported over 5.5 million customers in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina lacked power. At the peak after the storm, there were 7.8 million outages.
• While Consumers Energy crews are providing restoration support, the company and its employees also are helping in other ways. The Consumers Energy Foundation is donating $25,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The foundation is matching full-time employee contributions to the fund through Sept. 30 for up to another $25,000.
• Over 220 Consumers Energy employees and contractors are in Florida helping restore power

Media Contacts 
Brian Wheeler
517-788-2394 
Terry DeDoes
517-374-2159

Check out Consumers Energy on Social MediaFacebook | Twitter | YouTube
 

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com

Tweet me:.@ConsumersEnergy increasing its commitment to restore power after #HurricaneIrma http://bit.ly/2xZIVf5

KEYWORDS: Energy, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Consumers Energy

Euan Wilmshurst named Global Engagement and Partnerships Director

SOURCE:Business Fights Poverty

DESCRIPTION:

LONDON, September 18, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Business Fights Poverty, the leading global collaboration platform for international businesses seeking to harness and scale their social impact today announced the appointment of Euan Wilmshurst as Director, Global Engagement and Partnerships.

Wilmshurst joins the team to drive Business Fights Poverty’s plans for rapidly scaling its international reach and impact.  He joins with over 20 years’ experience in public relations, CSR, corporate reputation, sustainability and inclusive business, public affairs and communications across the public, voluntary and private sectors in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  Most recently Wilmshurst served as CEO for Burson-Marsteller’s Singapore office, and previously held senior in-house communications roles at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Pearson PLC and The Coca-Cola Company.

“We are excited to welcome Euan into our passionate and dedicated team”, says Business Fights Poverty Founder and CEO, Zahid Torres-Rahman.  “He brings an immense depth of real-world experience across business and civil society that will strengthen our ability to help international companies work collaboratively to tackle their social impact priorities.  With his impressive track record in building partnerships, Euan will play a central role in scaling our unique collaborative model that pools the collective intelligence of the best and most passionate experts and organisations across our global network and beyond”.

In his role, Wilmshurst will focus on building Business Fights Poverty’s relationships with international businesses, civil society organisations, international donor agencies, foundations and the wider development community.   He will strengthen Business Fights Poverty’s ability to understand and respond to their needs through its innovative Challenge-based approach to collaboration.

About Business Fights Poverty

Founded over 10 years ago, Business Fights Poverty has grown into one of the leading collaboration platforms globally for international businesses seeking to harness and scale the positive impact of their core business.  At its centre are international businesses, DFID and the CDC Group, alongside partnerships with 80 organisations from academia and civil society.  What makes Business Fights Poverty unique is its global community of tens of thousands of business, civil society and government professionals working to harness and scale the social impact of business.

Business Fights Poverty has developed an innovative approach to driving open collaboration around specific, fast-paced “Challenges” faced by the companies, enabling it to effectively harness the collective intelligence of those within its network and beyond over 3, 6 or 9 months. At the heart of each Challenge is a Core Group—consisting typically of two to three international businesses, a donor, an NGO and an academic institution—which defines the Challenge question, output, outcome, activities and metrics.

Business Fights Poverty has launched 13 Challenges since January 2016, and has nine in the pipeline.

The Challenges have a number of distinct benefits: the generation of high-quality outputs that help address a specific priority question/barrier for businesses wanting to scale their positive impact; a collaborative approach underpinned by Business Fights Poverty’s strong convening power that enables is to draw together the best people and organisations from across its network and beyond; and the building of long-term, trust-based relationships through the process of developing these outputs, leading to greater peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.

For more information, visit www.businessfightspoverty.org

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, Events, SDG, Poverty, csr, inclusive business, Social Impact, business fights poverty

SOURCE:Aflac

DESCRIPTION:

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. More than 20 years ago, Aflac adopted the charge to further childhood cancer research and treatment and to support families in that struggle. This month, we are “going gold” alongside the childhood cancer community to continue to help raise awareness and funds for these kids.

Join the conversation on Facebook 

Tweet me:September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, GO GOLD with @Aflac http://bit.ly/2whh65n #Duckprints

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, Aflac, Childhood Cancer Awareness

by Claudine Galloway

SOURCE:General Mills

DESCRIPTION:

Malnutrition is India’s silent crisis.

About 20 percent of India’s population lives on less than US$1.90 a day, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

General Mills works to advance nutrition wellness in India through unique partnerships with global and local nonprofits, starting with the country’s school meal programs. For school children, a nourishing daily meal can make a remarkable difference.

That’s because with 1.3 billion people, India is the world’s second-largest country. Blend in the country’s economic disparity and nutrition for children becomes one of India’s biggest human development challenges.

Rani, 7, loves school and never misses a day of class. She likes to play sports with the boys during recess, and wants to become a doctor when she grows up, in part so she can help take care of her parents.

She and her family live well below the poverty line. Her parents rely on the country’s midday meal program to keep their children healthy and well-nourished.

WFP considers Rani a poster child for nutrition in India. She’s featured in this Faces of Hope story.

With the support of the General Mills Foundation, and in partnership with the WFP, students like Rani in Odisha, India, are now receiving fortified school meals that contain vital micronutrients, which are delivered as a powder mixed into curry, or as fortified rice.

The addition of these specially formulated vitamins and minerals – like iron, zinc and vitamin A – help prevent deficiencies that can lead to illness, infection and even blindness, especially in young children.

The pilot phase of this program resulted in a 20 percent drop in incidence of anemia among children.

“More than 130,000 children in Odisha, India, now have added goodness in their meals that can make them stronger,” says Jan Delbaere, WFP’s deputy country director in India. “This school meals effort in Odisha is vital, as it is helping reduce anemia, micronutrient deficiency disorders, and to prevent illness. Our efforts together with the government of Odisha are helping in changing lives and feeding dreams.”

In India, where it has operations, General Mills also partners with Tata Trusts, a nonprofit organization that addresses the country’s complex malnutrition and sanitation challenges in rural areas with a multi-pronged approach.

Powered by local employee volunteers from the General Mills office in Mumbai, a nutrition education program complements Tata’s programs that provide local children with healthy meals from centralized kitchens.

The volunteer-led educational program offers lesson plans taught in schools that focus on proper sanitation, hygiene and nutrition. Coupled with a fortifying meal, this helps support the healthy growth of school children.

“General Mills’ engagement with Tata Trusts has made a very positive impact on students and staff with the introduction of the nutrition awareness program in schools,” says Sai Siddharth, program associate for Tata Trusts. “The entire General Mills India team has been exemplary in their commitment towards corporate social responsibility and has synergized their volunteer efforts with Tata Trusts towards combating malnutrition in the tribal schools.”

Nicola Dixon, associate director of the General Mills Foundation, says, “Our philanthropic work in India with Tata Trusts and World Food Programme leverages the central role that school meals play in delivering daily nourishment to some of the most vulnerable children in the country.

“It’s been incredibly inspiring to see volunteers from our Mumbai office lending their expertise in food safety, nutrition and product development in a way that can strengthen India’s school meal programs and the central kitchens which serve many thousands of school children daily.”

Learn more in this video about Tata Trust’s efforts to improve the nutrition of school meals and the capacities of central school kitchens in India.

In the Mumbai area alone, 464 General Mills India employees dedicated more than 2,500 volunteer hours of their time and talent last year.

They supported initiatives such as the programs with WFP and Tata Trusts, in addition to Udaan India Foundation and BAIF Foundation. It’s all  part of General Mills’ mission to increase food security and strengthen our hometown communities.

September is World Hunger Month. To learn how you can help support malnourishment issues in India, visit the websites of the nonprofit partners we support.

Tweet me:.@GeneralMills is spurring #nutrition and #FoodSecurity for children in India http://bit.ly/2vSdhiY

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, Nutrition, United nations world food programme, General Mills, India, Tata Trusts, food security

SOURCE:CSRHub

DESCRIPTION:

CSRHub Co-Founder and CEO, Cynthia Figge, will be speaking at the 28^th Annual SRI Conference. This event will be held on November 1-3^rd in San Diego, CA. During this conference, thought leaders, investors and investment professionals from all corners of the Sustainable, Responsible, Impact (SRI) investing universe convene to gain and share knowledge and strategies that align financial performance with positive change. Cynthia will be speaking at a session titled “Know What You Own: Truth Beyond the Façade”.

Tweet me:.@CSRHub Cynthia Figge to Speak at the 28th Annual http://bit.ly/2xaFW41 #SRIConference #AllinForImpact

KEYWORDS: Environment, Awards, Ratings & Rankings, CSRHUB, Cynthia Figge, csr, esg, sri conference, SRI

CFSI Conference Focuses on Responsible Sourcing from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas

SOURCE:Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition

DESCRIPTION:

ALEXANDRIA, Va., September 18, 2017 /3BL Media/ - The Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), a coalition of leading companies dedicated to improving the security and human rights conditions in their minerals supply chains, today announced that former U.S. diplomat and Congressman Tom Perriello will provide the keynote address at CFSI’s annual conference in Santa Clara, California on Oct. 19, 2017.

Perriello has been the Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2015-2016), the U.S. Special Representative for the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (2014-2015), and a U.S. Representative for Virginia's 5th congressional district.

Moved by the terrible atrocities of Sierra Leone’s civil war, Perriello moved to West Africa in 2001 to support courageous women and former child soldiers, demanding peace and accountability for the worst warlords. He then served as Special Advisor to the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone that forced brutal Liberian dictator Charles Taylor to peacefully surrender power. Inspired by these advocates, Perriello continued supporting peace negotiations and transitional justice efforts in conflict zones around the world, including work in the Balkans, Darfur and Afghanistan.

In July 2015, Perriello was appointed as Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, where he worked to prevent mass atrocities and advocated for peaceful, constitutional transitions of power. Working in strong support of comprehensive negotiations led by Congo’s Catholic bishops, Tom’s diplomatic efforts helped to produce a historic New Year’s Eve agreement on Dec. 31, 2016, that lays out a path to the first peaceful transition of power since the country’s independence in 1960. While this roadmap has not yet been followed, the efforts continue to promote a historic constitutional transfer of power in the DRC and restore a path to sustainable development.  

The CFSI two-day conference begins on October 18 and brings together experts and practitioners from industry, governments and civil society from around the globe to discuss strategies, programs and emerging issues as they relate to sourcing minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. Sessions will include topics such as supply chain assurance across industries and minerals, due diligence in conflict-affected and high-risk areas, approaches to sensing supply chain risks, and managing supply chain incidents.

“Collaborative initiatives such as the CFSI are critical to facilitating responsible engagement in high-risk supply chains. These efforts incentivize peace and stability in what can be incredibly challenging political and security contexts.” said Tom Perriello. “I look forward to addressing this audience of industry professionals, government representatives and human rights activists who are all committed to improving conditions in the global minerals supply chain.”

“Tom’s international experience and work in conflict-affected and high-risk areas make him an ideal keynote speaker for the CFSI Annual Conference,” said EICC Executive Director Rob Lederer. “We greatly appreciate his participation and insights as we convene industry and stakeholders to discuss and develop ideas to drive positive change for miners and their communities.”

Who Should Attend CFSI’s Annual Conference:

• Companies that use minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG) or cobalt in their goods or products, companies that supply these minerals to downstream companies, and companies subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act (Section 1502) and/or legislation in the European Union and elsewhere related to sourcing from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.

• Government officials interested in learning about industry efforts to decouple the link between raw material supply chains and conflict, operationalize the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, and drive greater accountability and transparency in minerals supply chains.

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on human and labor rights, supply chain transparency, conflict/security, due diligence, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), and regulatory compliance.

• Audit and other firms that provide services to facilitate supply chain transparency and responsible sourcing assurance.

Key Dates:

The Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative's Annual Conference follows the EICC's Responsible Electronics 2017 conference, which requires separate registration.

• EICC Members-Only Meeting: Oct. 16
• EICC Responsible Electronics Annual Conference: Oct. 17-18
• CFSI Annual Conference: Oct. 18-19
• CFSI Members-Only Meeting: Oct. 20
• EICC Code of Conduct Training: Oct. 19-20

Location:

The CFSI Annual Conference, Responsible Electronics 2017, and the EICC Code Training will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California.

Learn More and Register:

Visit the conference website to learn more and register here. For help with registration, or to become a sponsor or exhibitor contact Valerie Esty.

About CFSI

The CFSI is a multi-industry initiative with over 360 member companies, including associations and service providers. Our members contribute to the development and international uptake of a range of tools and resources, including independent third-party audit programs for smelters, the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template, Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry data, and guidance documents on responsible sourcing of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG). The CFSI runs regular workshops on responsible sourcing issues and contributes to policy development with civil society organizations and governments. For more information, visit conflictfreesourcing.org.

Media Contact:

Jarrett Bens, Director of Communications
Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition
Phone: +1 571.858.5721
jbens@eiccoalition.org

Tweet me:Former U.S. Diplomat & Congressman Tom Perriello to Keynote #CFSI Annual Conference on Oct. 19: goo.gl/uAtmwv #ResponsibleSourcing

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Events, Media & Communications, Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative, CFSI, Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, EICC, 3TG, OECD Due Diligence Guidance, EU Conflict Minerals, Forced labor

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

St. John and St. Thomas, two islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, were devastated by Hurricane Irma. A week later, the recovery efforts are just getting underway, thanks to private efforts.

Watch: Mike Bloomberg on NBC's Meet the Press to talk about the devastation in the US Virgin Islands.

Tweet me:After Hurricane Irma, Bloomberg Heads to USVI to Raise Awareness http://bit.ly/2x7BAgC

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Environment, Bloomberg, mikebloomberg, philanthropy, hurricaneirma, meetthepress

SOURCE:Habitat for Humanity

DESCRIPTION:

ATLANTA, September 18, 2017 /3BL Media/ — Rock band Daughtry is making a major contribution to Habitat Hammers Back, the initiative effort helping to repair and rebuild in the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The band is donating $50,000 and is encouraging their fans to contribute as well.

“We’ve been struck by the images coming out of Texas and Florida after these two devastating storms,” said Chris Daughtry, lead singer of the band. “The destruction is enormous, but so is the love and compassion we’ve seen with people helping each other out. Habitat for Humanity is already on the ground helping folks assess damage, dig out and repair their homes. We’re making a donation to Habitat, and we’d like to ask you to join us by visiting habitat.org/hurricanes to make a contribution today.”

Working through its local offices as well as by deploying trained Disaster Corps volunteers, Habitat conducts rapid assessments of storm damage and helps clean out homes damaged by winds and floodwaters. Habitat’s long-term post-disaster recovery efforts include repair of damaged homes and construction of new affordable homes. Construction plans are determined after evaluations and are dependent on the level of support received from donors, volunteers, corporate partners and other community organizations.

Habitat has been responding to disasters since 1997 and to date has helped more than 230,000 families in 52 countries through its disaster response work. Following Hurricane Katrina, Habitat organizations along the Gulf Coast built more than 6,000 homes and removed debris and cleaned more than 2,500 homes in preparation for rehabilitation. Habitat also mounted responses to Superstorm Sandy, tornadoes through the South and Midwest, and earthquakes and typhoons overseas.

More information on Habitat for Humanity’s response to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma can be found at habitat.org/hurricanes.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.

Tweet me:#Daughtry boosts #HabitatForHumanity’s response to hurricanes Harvey and Irma http://bit.ly/2fvtdl1 #HabitatHammersBack @Habitat_org

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Disaster Relief, Habitat for Humanity, Habitat Hammers Back, Daughtry, hurricane relief, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma

These six players placed on Players Choice Awards ballots for league-wide player voting on Tuesday, Sept. 19

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

New York, NY, Monday, September 18, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Thousands of baseball fans participated in a poll on MLBPlayers.com between September 12 and 17 to determine which players inspire others to higher levels of achievement by their on-field performances and contributions to their communities.

From this list of 30 players, David Robertson (New York Yankees) was tabbed to represent the AL East, Eduardo Escobar (Minnesota Twins) the  AL Central, Mike Trout (L.A. Angels) the AL West, Steven Matz (New York Mets) the NL East, Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs) the NL Central and Buster Posey (SF Giants) the NL West.

These six players will have their names placed on the 2017 Players Choice Awards ballot to determine this season’s Marvin Miller Man of the Year award winner. 2017 Players Choice Awards ballots will be distributed to all Major League players on Tuesday, September 19, when the accounting firm of KPMG conducts the league-wide, players-only voting.  Winners will be announced in November.

The 2017 Players Choice Awards also honor the outstanding player, rookie, pitcher and comeback player in each league, as well as the overall Player of the Year. 2017 Players Choice Award winners in all categories will designate charities to receive grants totaling $260,000 (including a $50,000 charitable contribution on behalf of the Man of the Year winner) from the Major League Baseball Players Trust. The Players Trust has recognized the outstanding on-field and off-field performances of Players Choice Awards winners by contributing more than $4 million to charities around the world.

Continue reading in our Press Room.

Tweet me:Fans pick 6 #MarvinMiller #MOY finalists! #MLBPlayers to pick winner during #PlayersChoiceAwards balloting on 9/19 http://bit.ly/2xsXtH9

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Events, Media & Communications, Marvin Miller, Man of the Year, Players Choice Awards, Major League Baseball Players Association, MLBPA, Major League Baseball Players Trust, Major League Baseball, mike trout, Buster Posey, david robertson, Eduardo Escobar, Steven Matz, Anthony Rizzo, athletes giving back

SOURCE:Diageo North America

DESCRIPTION:

SAINT CROIX, Virgin Islands, September 18, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Captain Morgan parent company Diageo has pledged $1,000,000 to support relief and recovery efforts in the US Virgin Islands as they face an unprecedented storm season. The funds announced are in addition to the $250,000 Diageo and its brands have committed to hurricane relief support over the past month. 

“The US Virgin Islands has been home to Captain Morgan since we opened our distillery on St. Croix in 2010. As a native of the USVI I am delighted Diageo and the Captain Morgan brand is able to support our community and people in this way,” said Cynthia Arnold, Operations Director, Diageo USVI.

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett commented, “Diageo’s contribution toward the rebuilding efforts in the USVI will be a strong infusion of support for hurting Americans and devastated islands. I am grateful for Diageo’s commitment to partnership in the Virgin Islands.  I look forward to continuing to work with Diageo team members and other generous partners as we all collaborate to rebuild our US Virgin Islands as we persevere through a destructive hurricane season.”

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About Diageo USVI

In June 2008, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. and Diageo USVI jointly announced a public-private initiative for the construction and operation of a high capacity rum distillery on St. Croix, USVI. This 30-year commitment will provide a major economic stimulus for the entire Territory of the US Virgin Islands.

About Captain Morgan

Captain Morgan, the original party spirit, is the third largest brand in the U.S. spirits market and the second leading brand of rum. The Captain Morgan Rum Co. portfolio includes CAPTAIN MORGAN® Original Spiced Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN®LocoNut, CAPTAIN MORGAN® Cannon Blast, CAPTAIN MORGAN® Black Spiced Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN® White Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN® Pineapple Rum, CAPTAIN MORGAN® Coconut Rum and CAPTAIN MORGAN® Grapefruit Rum. For more information, visit us.captainmorgan.com.

Tweet me:.@CaptainmorganUS parent company @Diageo_NA pledges $1 million to hurricane relief in USVI http://bit.ly/2fvf6vR

Contact Info:

Kristen Crofoot
Diageo
+1 (917) 445-2835
kristen.crofoot@diageo.com

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, hurricane, hurricane relief, USVI, Diageo North America, disaster relief

A Q&A with Ryan Berger, Philadelphia Magazine’s Best Teacher Award Winner

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@subaru_usa Q & A with Subaru's "best #teacher award" winner http://bit.ly/2vlP1K0 #SubaruLovesLearning

KEYWORDS: Education, Academia, subaru

Charter announces $350,000 in cash contribution to Spectrum Housing Assist partner Rebuilding Together for home repair and renovations in impacted areas $1 million pledged in PSAs

SOURCE:Rebuilding Together

DESCRIPTION:

STAMFORD, Conn., September 18, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Charter Communications, Inc.  (NASDAQ: CHTR) today announced a $350,000 contribution to Rebuilding Together to support relief efforts and specifically assist with home repairs and renovations needed in areas impacted by Hurricane Irma.

"This contribution, in addition to our Hurricane Harvey donation, reflects Charter's unwavering commitment to supporting the communities where our customers and employees live and work, particularly in times of need," said 
Tom Rutledge, Chairman and CEO of Charter Communications. "Our thoughts are with the people and the communities throughout Florida, the Caribbean, and Texas who have been impacted by the disastrous effects of Hurricane Irma and Harvey."

"Following a natural disaster, our low-income and disadvantaged neighbors are all too often underserved in long-term recovery efforts," said 
Sandra Henriquez, Chief Operating Officer of Rebuilding Together. "With the support of Charter, we can ensure people in the path of Hurricane Irma who most need our help are back on their feet in a timely manner."

Spectrum Housing Assist partners with nonprofit organizations and engages employee and community volunteers in order to provide critical home repairs across the U.S., with a goal of making 25,000 homes safer and healthier by the year 2020. Since 2015, Spectrum Housing Assist has improved 11,500 homes with the help of 3,000 Spectrum employee volunteers, for a total of 17,500 volunteer hours impacting the lives of thousands of residents.

The company is also offering an additional $1 million in public service announcements to air at no cost to assist organizations with fundraising and awareness for disaster relief efforts.

In Florida alone, Charter serves 2.2 million customers and employs a growing workforce with over 7,500 employees. Charter operates local call centers in Auburndale, Bradenton, DeLand, Maitland, Melbourne, Orlando, Riverview, and St. Petersburg. Spectrum Bay News 9 and Spectrum News 13 deliver 24-hour local news programming highlighting the people and communities in Tampa Bay and Central Florida.

About Charter 
Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading broadband communications company and the second largest cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including Spectrum TV™ video entertainment programming, Spectrum Internet™ access, and Spectrum Voice™. Spectrum Business® similarly provides scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data networking, business telephone, video and music entertainment services, and wireless backhaul. Charter's advertising sales and production services are sold under the Spectrum Reach™ brand. Charter's news and sports networks are operated under the Spectrum Networks brand. More information about Charter can be found at charter.com.

About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing with more than 40 years of experience. Together, with our corporate and community partners, we transform the lives of low-income homeowners by improving the safety and health of their homes and revitalizing our communities. Rebuilding Together's local affiliates and nearly 100,000 volunteers complete about 10,000 rebuild projects nationwide each year. Learn more and get involved at rebuildingtogether.org.

Tweet me:Charter Communications commits $1.35 million to @RebldgTogthr for #HurricaneIrma Relief Efforts http://bit.ly/2f5U72p

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Energy, rebuilding together, Hurricane Irma, Florida, Charter Communications, Spectrum Housing Assist

SOURCE:Aflac

DESCRIPTION:

Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the U.S. and a longtime champion of the childhood cancer cause, today participated as a Diamond Sponsor of CureFest for Childhood Cancer. A grassroots event held at the National Mall in Washington D.C., CureFest aims to make childhood cancer research a national priority by uniting the childhood cancer community, the general public, the brightest medical minds and elected leaders as one voice against childhood cancer. This is the second year that Aflac has sponsored CureFest after becoming the event’s first national sponsor in 2016.

Since 1995, Aflac has contributed more than $118 million to the cause of childhood cancer. Each month the company’s independent agents contribute more than $500,000 to this cause. Whenever someone posts or shares on social media using the hashtag #Duckprints Aflac contributes $2 up to $1.5 million to the Aflac Foundation, which supports the company’s childhood cancer initiatives.

To download photos from CureFest please click or cut and paste http://bit.ly/Aflac_Wire_091717 and use the password “aflac”.

For more information about the Aflac Children’s Cancer Campaign, please go to www.AflacChildhoodCancer.org

About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For more than six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leader in voluntary insurance sales at the worksite. Through its trailblazing One Day Pay^SM initiative, Aflac U.S. can receive, process, approve and disburse payment for eligible claims in one business day. In Japan, Aflac is the leading provider of medical and cancer insurance, and insures 1 in 4 households. Aflac insurance products help provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For 11 consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2017, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 19th consecutive year and included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 16th time. In 2015, Aflac's contact centers were recognized by J.D. Power by providing "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience" for the Live Phone Channel. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One Day Pay^SM, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.

Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

Media contacts 
Jon Sullivan
706.763.4813
jsullivan@aflac.com

Aflac analyst and investor contact
David A. Young
706.596.3264 or
800.235.2667
FAX 706.324.6330
dyoung@aflac.com

Tweet me:.@Aflac serves as Diamond Sponsor at CureFest for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month http://bit.ly/2x7tUv2 #Duckprints

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Health & Healthcare, Aflac, CureFest, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Children of all ages are waiting in foster care to be adopted

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

Jayden met his adoptive parents at 14 months old after being in foster care for nine months. His mom shared, “We never expected the adoption process to take as long as it did, but we would do it all over again! He was our son from the first day we met him.” 

Children like Jayden wind up in foster care by no fault of their own. They are victims of their circumstances. Sometimes it is neglect, other times it is abuse, but they are removed from their biological families for their protection. Sometimes children in foster care can return to their biological families, but when a judge determines that is not possible, the parental rights of the biological family are terminated and the child is then able to be adopted.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption works to find forever families for the children most at risk of aging out of foster care and not being adopted. We work with older children, sibling groups and children with special needs. Our adoption recruiters are steadfast in their duties and use our signature child-focused recruitment model. When implemented, our model is up to three times more likely to find a permanent home for a waiting child.

Thank you so much to the families out there who have opened their hearts and homes to children in foster care and WELCOME HOME Jayden! #ItsWorthIt

Tweet me:.@DTFA helps to find forever families for children in #fostercare. Read Jayden’s #adoptionstory here http://bit.ly/2vGEEvA

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