SOURCE:Source Intelligence®

DESCRIPTION:

A joint research project conducted by the ASEAN CSR (Association of Southeast Asian Nations Corporate Social Responsibility)  Network and the National University of Singapore Business School’s Center for Governance, Institutions and Organization revealed that businesses in Southeast Asia are not doing enough to combat corruption. The study, “Corporate Disclosure on Business Integrity in ASEAN,” provided an analysis of top-listed companies in Southeast Asian countries. Just half of the companies surveyed have a public statement outlining anti-corruption efforts, such as company disclosures or policies made available on corporate websites. In addition, only 18 percent of company executives indicated that they are in support of anti-corruption initiatives. 30 percent of the top listed companies either prohibit, or require the public disclosure of, political contributions. Just 20 percent of companies have a policy expressly prohibiting facilitation payments, often paid to public officials to help smooth or expedite documentation or transaction processes.

In some Asian countries, facilitation payments are a deeply-embedded part of business culture, representing a troublesome gray area that makes it difficult to draw a line where traditional business customs cross over into the realm of bribery. For example, a practice called “guanxi” in China describes a network of business relations that encourages cooperation in doing business. Guanxi often results in actions, taken by businessmen or public officials, that could be defined as bribery. Ling Li, author of “Performing Bribery in China: guanxi-practice, corruption with a human face,” argues that entities utilize guanxi as an operating mechanism that enables the facilitation of corruption. In 2011, revisions were made to China’s Anti-Unfair Competition and Criminal Laws, which specify that any facilitation payments made must be reported and submitted to the state, in an effort to prevent guanxi used as bribery.

Last month, Transparency International released a study assessing anti-corruption transparency in growing multinationals in emerging economies. The companies assessed received a score of 3.4, on a scale of 10, but Chinese companies fared the worst with a score of 1.6. These results compelled Transparency International Chair Jose Urgaz to call transparency efforts of emerging market companies “pathetic.” Transparency International also releases an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranks countries according to levels of corruption in the public sector. Most Asian countries, with the exception of South Korea and Japan, scored closer to “highly corrupt” on the corruption perception spectrum. For example, in the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index, China ranked 83rd out of 168 countries, with a low score of 37%. In the 2011 Bribe Payers Index, the country ranked 27th out of 28 countries, and ranked in the 33rd percentile in the 2010 Control of Corruption study. China’s public sector also ranked as “scant or none” in the category of budget openness. Indonesia ranked 88th in the Corruption Perceptions Index, 25th out of 28 in the Bribe Payers Index, and in the 27th percentile in the Control of Corruption ranking. Neither country has signed the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, but had endorsed the OECD Anti-corruption initiative for the Asia Pacific in 2005 and 2001, respectively.

Corruption and bribery are extremely challenging issues for firms and governments to address. For example, political parties of the Australian parliament are currently struggling to come to an agreement regarding the establishment of an anti-corruption commission. Acts of bribery are difficult to identify, measure and prevent, especially if facilitation payments are embedded in the business culture. However, the negative effects of corruption are costly. The existence of corruption in an organization can jeopardize the rights and safety of employees, and expose an entire firm to risk. If a firm is prosecuted for acts of corruption or bribery, fines can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars; in some cases firms are fined amounts that lead to bankruptcy. Individuals convicted for corruption and bribery face criminal charges as severe as lifetime imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime. However, having an effective compliance and ethics program in place can save businesses thousands and sometimes millions of dollars in instances of investigation, prosecution or conviction by government agencies. For example, the United States Sentencing Commission states that companies that have an effective compliance program in place and fully cooperate with the investigation process can qualify for up to a 95 percent reduction in federal fines. This scenario is applicable to prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Governments and corporations can take preventative measures to mitigate risk of corruption in their economies. Governments can implement due diligence guidelines, or regulations and compliance requirements, for public entities and businesses to implement. In any case, businesses have a responsibility to take measures in order to reduce the risk of corruption occurring anywhere along the value chain. Regardless of the existence of governmental guidelines or regulations, businesses can implement mechanisms such as a Code of Conduct for the entity and suppliers to abide by, as well as a Whistleblower Grievance Mechanism made available to all employees along the supply chain.

About Source Intelligence ©

Source Intelligence ® (SI) is a global network of businesses linked together to expedite the exchange and validation of compliance information. SI’s cloud based SaaS platform helps customers make informed decisions about business partners to offer products that meet legal, ethical, and environmental standards. The company’s information and analytics platform provides customers with visibility into supply chains in order to comply with the law, minimize operational and brand risk, and improve efficiency. Founded in 2009 by career experts in environmental solutions and analytics, Source Intelligence ® has headquarters in Carlsbad, California and operations worldwide. www.sourceintelligence.com

Tweet me:New Study Shows Asian Corporations are Lacking in Anti-Corruption Efforts #supplychaintransparency #anticorruption http://bit.ly/2aSfwgG

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production & Consumption, Business & Trade, Anti-Corruption, bribery, Corruption Perceptions Index, FCPA, Source Intelligence

SOURCE:Toyota

DESCRIPTION:

TOKYO, August 3, 2016 /3BL Media/ - WWF and Toyota Motor Corporation have entered into a five-year agreement aimed at accelerating the globe's transition to sustainability. Through this partnership, the organizations will work together to promote biodiversity conservation, raise environmental awareness and accelerate the move toward a "zero carbon" society.

Toyota is the first car company and the first Japanese company to sign a Global Corporate Partnership agreement with WWF. The agreement went into effect on July 1, 2016.

As part of the partnership, Toyota will support the Living Asian Forest Project, a new series of existing and planned WWF activities to conserve tropical forests and wildlife in Southeast Asia. The project will take place in WWF priority places Borneo (Kalimantan) and Sumatra in Indonesia. In the future, the project will expand to the Greater Mekong region.

The project will also focus on increasing the sustainability of natural resources such as wood, paper and pulp, palm oil and natural rubber. Unsustainable production and use of these commodities are among the main causes of deforestation and increased threats to endangered species in these regions.

Toyota will donate US$1 million to the Living Asian Forest Project in 2016 and will continue its support for a total of five years. The support strengthens efforts toward achieving the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 goals of aiming to reduce Toyota's environmental footprint to zero, while creating value and producing benefit to society in the face of global-scale environmental issues. The Living Asian Forest Project will specifically help accomplish one of the six challenges: to establish a future society in harmony with nature.

With demand expected to rise for natural rubber?the main resource for car tires?the partnership recognizes that the sustainable production and use of natural rubber is required for forest ecosystem conservation. Toyota acknowledges the environmental and social challenges surrounding natural rubber, and will collaborate with industries and stakeholders to contribute to international standard-setting as well as other related activities that WWF promotes.

Throughout the partnership, WWF and Toyota will also work together to help realize a zero carbon society. In order to successfully meet the company's Zero CO2 Emissions Challenges under its Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, Toyota has already joined the Science Based Targets initiative that is aimed at helping companies combat climate change.

Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President of Toyota, said: "We share the same vision as WWF: to achieve a truly sustainable society and leave a living planet for future generations. When we started working on concrete actions to achieve our Environmental Challenge 2050, we decided that joining forces with non-governmental organizations which are experts in their field was essential. Our partnership, and projects like the Living Asian Forest Project, are among the most effective ways for a company like ours to make a positive impact and raise awareness among our employees, suppliers, and customers of the importance of sustainable resource management."

Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International, said: "WWF is delighted to join forces with Toyota in order to accelerate efforts needed to prevent the dangerous degradation of the natural systems we all depend on. Science has never been clearer and awareness of the problems and solutions to the many environmental challenges that the world is facing has never been greater. We need more private sector organizations like Toyota to step up and find solutions to these challenges. WWF commends Toyota's vision to help make a safer, healthier more sustainable world a reality for future generations and our living planet."

Arnold Sitompul, Conservation Director of WWF Indonesia, said: "One of the exciting outcomes of this partnership will be the strengthening of our work to conserve tropical forest ecosystems in Kalimantan and Sumatra. These are important homes for critically endangered species, and essential proving grounds for the sustainable management of natural resources."

Editor's notes
WWF Global Corporate Partnership
This partnership is based on a common understanding of issues, shared ambitions or activities, and a willingness to speak out in public. Typically, three types of cooperation with a partner company will be implemented in the partnership; (a) driving sustainable business practices; (b) communications and awareness raising; and (c) philanthropic contributions to support WWF conservation projects.

Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050
With the aim of contributing to the sustainability of the global environment, in October 2015, Toyota had announced the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050. Toyota is taking on new challenges that consider the world 20 or 30 years in the future that will help address key global environmental issues such as climate change, water shortage, resource depletion, and degradation of biodiversity. The Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 aims to reduce the negative impact of manufacturing and driving vehicles to zero, and also, to create value and produce benefit to society. The challenge is composed of six individual challenges across three areas: ever-better cars, ever-better manufacturing, and enriching lives of communities. http://www.toyota-global.com/sustainability/environment/challenge2050/

Science Based Targets initiative
The Science Based Targets is a collaborative initiative by WWF, CDP, WRI, and the UN Global Compact to support companies to set emission reduction targets in line with what the science says is necessary to keep global warming well below the dangerous threshold of 2°C. The initiative provides a range of guidance documents and tools to support target setting processes. More than 160 companies worldwide have committed to setting such ambitious climate targets (as of July 1, 2016).

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Please refer to www.panda.org/news for the latest news and media resources on the WWF.

About Toyota
Founded in 1937, Toyota is a global automotive company with production in 29 countries and sales in more than 170 countries.

Tweet me:.@Toyota + @WWF join forces on Living Asian Forest Project and #climatechange http://bit.ly/2aTQsTh #CSR

KEYWORDS: Environment & Climate Change, Toyota, WWF

By Carol Baroudi

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

More than ten years ago, a small nonprofit and a Dutch company conspired to make a difference in the lives of impoverished Africans. The nonprofit, Close the Gap, collected usable IT equipment from major corporations in Europe. The Dutch company refurbished the various devices and made them suitable for use. And ever since then, together they have been providing computers to those in need, and have deployed more than a half million computers to help bridge the digital divide.

The nonprofit has sprouted wings, and the Dutch company is now part of a great big company, but the digital divide continues to widen. In the past ten years, technology has transformed every dimension of life for those with access not just to technology but also to that other critical ingredient, electricity. For those without electricity – some 1.3 billion people around the globe – the digital divide has been insurmountable until now. In sub-Saharan Africa, 628 million people, some 68% of the population, have no access to electricity. But in sub-Saharan Africa, new hope is being born.

In 2015, in partnership with Close the Gap, Arrow helped launch the first-ever DigiTruck – a refurbished cargo container, insulated against the sub-Saharan heat, provisioned with solar panels and equipped with refurbished IT equipment from Arrow’s Value Recovery business, to become a self-contained mobile classroom.

Today, the DigiTruck is at an orphanage in Tanzania. It is impacting the lives of children, and it is reaching around the globe to impact the lives of everyone who chooses to get involved. Once the DigiTruck was deployed at the orphanage on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Arrow business units and employees around the globe were motivated to help as well. This crowdsourcing within the company so far has resulted in an employee-funded scholarship program for orphans, refurbished tablets to extend their online education, internet service at the remote orphanage and a playground.

We invite you to be a part of the work at the Tuleeni Orphanage, and to help spread the word.

Carol Baroudi works for Arrow’s Value Recovery business promoting sustainability awareness and action. She is the lead author of Green IT For Dummies. Her particular focus is on electronics in the Circular Economy, with an emphasis on the IT asset disposition stage, e-waste and everything connected. Follow her on Twitter at @carol_baroudi and connect with her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/carolbaroudi.

Tweet me:.@Carol_Baroudi updates us on how @ArrowGlobal w/ #ClosetheGap launched 5 DigiTruck mobile classrooms http://bit.ly/2aOqvrq #innovation

KEYWORDS: Technology, Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Arrow Global, Digitruck, tanzania, Tuleeni Orphanage, Close The Gap

SOURCE:CBRE Group, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

CBRE has achieved its initial two year UK fundraising target of £500,000 for Shelter, the UK’s leading housing and homelessness charity, in just 18 months. In the wake of this achievement, the global real estate advisor has now extended the UK-wide partnership for a third year and has set a new target to reach by 2018 of £1,000,000. This target will be made up of £750,000 through employee fundraising and corporate donations, in addition to £250,000 of pro bono work and savings on behalf of the charity.

This is the most ambitious charity partnership CBRE in the UK has ever undertaken, and has been recognised through the Better Society Awards 2016. It was recently shortlisted in the Charity Times Awards 2016. CBRE originally announced a two year partnership with Shelter in February 2015 as part of its ‘building a better future’ responsible business plan.

The success of the partnership has been cemented by high levels of employee engagement, including volunteering, fundraising and applying professional skills through pro bono work. Teams across the UK and from all levels of the business have participated in a diverse mix of fundraising activities including bike rides, rowing races, ‘tough mudder’ challenges, quiz nights, cake sales, marathons and climbing challenges along with effective volunteering and pro bono projects.

Pro bono work is an area which has been particularly successful and something CBRE plans to build upon over the next 18 months to help achieve its ambitious fundraising target. This year, Shelter asked CBRE to help with the optimisationof its portfolio of charity shops, highlighting potential areas for further expansion. CBRE advisors produced a detailed analysis of the current portfolio and were able to identify a number of high performing locations where the rent to sales ratio was optimal. Then, using agents on the ground, CBRE was able to pinpoint affordable locations for Shelter’s expansion.

CBRE also successfully advised Shelter on the repossession of its Services Hub in Liverpool by a large, mixed-use developer. CBRE worked to protect Shelter’s position and explore consideration options, and were able to obtain a larger settlement than was originally offered, identifying and securing marriage value.

We are delighted to have extended our partnership with Shelter and are committed to achieving the ambitious new fundraising targets we have set ourselves over the next 18 months. It’s a powerful example of how the property sector can make a huge difference, particularly for those who cannot access decent, good quality housing – something our industry has an important role to help change and many of us might take for granted.

~ Ciaran Bird, UK Managing Director, CBRE UK

We are extremely grateful to the team at CBRE for all the effort and commitment they have put into their fundraising so far, and the fact that the initial target was reached so quickly is testament to their dedication. The funds raised have had a huge impact around the UK and have helped us assist thousands of people in need of housing. Their pro bono property advice has been transformational for several aspects of our operations and really demonstrates the value of corporate partnerships that go beyond fundraising.

~ Campbell Robb, CEO of Shelter

CBRE staff remain dedicated and passionate when it comes to our charitable fundraising efforts. Our employees have been very engaged since they voted in our first employee ballot from across our UK offices. I am particularly grateful to our teams for their superb response and look forward to doing what we can to reach our new £1 million goal

~ Steve Timbs, Chairman of CBRE’s UK Communities and Giving Board and Head of Building Surveying

Tweet me:.@CBRE_UK Pledges to Raise £1M to Help the UK’s Leading #Housing + #Homelessness Charity by 2018 http://bit.ly/2aV38MU @CBRE @Shelter

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Positive Change, Community Engagement, CBRE UK, Shelter, homelessness, pro bono

Political strategist Donna Brazile opens the conference as keynote, presenting to sold-out audience; CNN’s Natalie Allen returns as host at MGM Grand Conference Center August 8 & 9

SOURCE:MGM Resorts International

DESCRIPTION:

LAS VEGAS, August 4, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Four women at the top of their fields will offer insights into leadership and advancing in the workplace during a featured panel at MGM Resorts Foundation’s Women’s Leadership Conference, to be held Aug. 8 & 9 at MGM Grand.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the conference has sold out for the third year in a row. More than 1,000 people are registered to attend the two-day event, which offers attendees custom-designed programming to help them grow their careers.  

Natalie Allen, who is returning as conference host for the third time, will moderate “Looking Back to Look Ahead: Is the Glass Ceiling Shatterproof?” The executive leadership panel discussion is set for Aug. 8 and will feature local and national senior leaders, including:

Barbara Atkinson, M.D. UNLV School of Medicine Founding Dean. Dr. Atkinson is an accomplished researcher, educator and administrator in the fields of medicine and medical education. She has spent her entire career in medical school leadership, creating innovative learning environments for future physicians.

Stefanie Miller, Group Vice President, Strategic Partnership Marketing for Coca-Cola Company. Miller applies strategic vision, marketing expertise and leadership to drive growth to the company’s iconic brands. Additionally, she serves on the Advocacy Committee of the Board of Director’s Network, whose mission is to increase the number of women in executive leadership and on corporate boards.  

Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. Murguía is a key figure among this generation of leaders in the Latino community.  Prior to joining NCLR, Murguía worked at the White House, ultimately serving as deputy assistant to President Bill Clinton.

Virginia Valentine, President of the Nevada Resort Association. Valentine is the lead advocate for an industry that contributes nearly half of the state’s general fund. A longtime leader in Nevada with over thirty years of experience working in local governance, Valentine is the former manager of Clark County, Nevada. Her career path—which includes a stint as a design engineer working on irrigation projects—has made her one of the few women in her field.

The Women’s Leadership Conference will feature a full schedule of keynotes and panel discussions with local and national thought leaders. Boston Marathon bombing survivor and inspirational speaker Adrianne Haslet and acclaimed mountain climber, and leadership expert Alison Levine round out a roster of other successful speakers and panelists. Among them are: Donna Brazile, veteran political strategist, and Charlotte Jones Anderson, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. For a full list, please visit: mgmresortsfoundation.org/womensleadershipconference. 

Conference background:
The Women’s Leadership Conference is open to women of all ethnicities, professions and social backgrounds, locally and nationally, and the men who support them. The two-day conference will offer a wide range of learning opportunities, career guidance and personal growth tools, including:

• Exposure to diverse, nationally recognized speakers and accomplished women role models
• Career-oriented workshops that will give participants hands-on opportunities to develop skills based on their career needs
• Three distinct learning tracks for participants who are Emerging Leaders, Emerging Executives and Executives

The MGM Resorts Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c) (3), is the conference’s presenting sponsor. Each year, proceeds from the conference after costs are donated to one or more local nonprofit agencies devoted to the welfare and development of women and children. Southern Nevada Children First, a nonprofit organization that provides support to homeless and pregnant youth, recently received a $30,000 gift from the 2015 conference proceeds. 

Sponsors of WLC include: CBS – Radio, The Coca-Cola Company, MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Southwest Airlines, Bank of America, Millennium Staffing Solutions, R&R Partners Foundation, Cirque Du Soleil, Cashman Photo Enterprises, DAVID Magazine, Large Vision Business Network Mixer, Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, United Way of Southern Nevada, Cox Communications, Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Taylor Communications, Quick Change Display, CORT EVENTS, Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, Kre8 Media, Vegas PBS, Las Vegas Review Journal, and Agilysys, Inc.

Conference supporters include America First Federal Credit Union, Aristocrat Technologies, BMW of Las Vegas and Henderson, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Candid Worldwide LLC, Capital One, City of Las Vegas, Clark County Department of Aviation, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Global Gaming Women, Nevada State Bank, Phyllis A. James, Scientific Games Corporation, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Stewart Archibald & Barney CPAs, The M Resort and Spa, and Whiting Turner Contracting Company. 

For information, please visit: mgmresortsfoundation.org/womensleadershipconference. 

###

About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The Company is in the process of developing MGM National Harbor in Maryland and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. MGM Resorts controls, and holds a 73 percent economic interest in the operating partnership of MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP), a premier triple-net lease real estate investment trust engaged in the acquisition, ownership and leasing of large-scale destination entertainment and leisure resorts. The Company also owns 51 percent of MGM China Holdings Limited (HK: 2282), which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and is developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA Resort & Casino. MGM Resorts is a FORTUNE Magazine World's Most Admired Company. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

About The MGM Resorts Foundation 
The purpose of The MGM Resorts Foundation is to collect and distribute monies and assets donated by employees of MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) for the aid and support of qualified community nonprofit programs, agencies or organizations designated exclusively by MGM Resorts employees. In addition, the Foundation collects and distributes donations to the Foundation by third-party non-employees to support charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors and organized by MGM Resorts employees to benefit qualified non-profit charitable organizations designated by the Foundation's Board.

Media Contacts: 
Sonya Padgett 
MGM Resorts International 
702-692-6807 
spadgett@mgmresorts.com 

Callie Driehorst
MGM Resorts International
702-692-6814
cdriehorst@mgmresorts.com

Tweet me:10th annual Women's Leadership Conference @WLCLV sells out earlier than ever due to top national speakers #WomenLead http://bit.ly/2aSIpco

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Event, MGM Resorts, Women's Leadership Conference

By Darcy Thachuk

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

Darcy Thachuk is a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter and works each day to find forever families for children in foster care at the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society in Windsor, Ontario.

Our children are our responsibility, and I do not take this role lightly. I believe passionately and firmly that our children are all adoptable.

I am one of 11 Wendy’s Wonderful Kid’s recruiters for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption - Canada. The support and guidance from the Foundation has been my key area of inspiration to push the boundaries further and to become a champion for all children in government care. The base of my practice is to aspire to be a motivator, an educator and to simply help our children thrive by being their Wendy’s Wonderful Kid’s recruiter and friend. Adoption success is so much more than my role; it is about embracing our community to work together for our children...read the full blog here.

The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program is the signature child-focused recruitment model of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 130,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence- based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.

Tweet me:Darcy Thachuk, #adoption recruiter believes "passionately and firmly that our children are all adoptable" http://bit.ly/1UQNoXQ @DTFA

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Dave Thomas, foster care, adoption, Recruiter, superhero, Wendy's, forever family

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is the Platinum Sponsor of the "Talk with Green Guy"radio talk show on AM640 WGST and iheartradio in Atlanta.  

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

Click here to listen to an interview with Frank Fernandez of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

Tweet me:Hear @Greenguyatl interview with Frank Fernandez @BlankFoundation http://bit.ly/2axdpcU @johnalanierRCAF @640WGST @iheartradio

Contact Info:

Valerie Bennett
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
+1 (770) 317-5858
valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org

KEYWORDS: Environment & Climate Change, Business & Trade

Domtar's Sustainability Committee donates to educational school bus Project Exploration Station in Hawesville, Kentucky.

SOURCE:Domtar

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:Read about how @DomtarEveryday supports #summereducation through Project Exploration Station in #HawesvilleKY: http://bit.ly/2aTA9cm

Contact Info:

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

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Ethical Production & Consumption, Domtar, forestry, Education, Donations, domtar mill

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

DENVER, August 4, 2016 /3BL Media/ The GM Foundation is supporting Earth Force, Inc. with a $100,000 investment to further advance the GM Global River Environmental Education Network (GM GREEN).

The grant will support professional development for the educators that facilitate GM GREEN programs, such as online learning videos reinforcing the organization’s Community Action and Problem-Solving Process. The funds also enable Earth Force to build on its decades-long evaluation program by focusing on STEM education impact and alignment with GM sustainability goals.

“The GM Foundation’s continued commitment supports students in developing the skills, knowledge, and motivation necessary to problem-solve around the issues affecting their communities and the environment,” say Vince Meldrum, Earth Force President and CEO. “Their hands-on partnership makes programs like GM GREEN possible.”

General Motors’ donation to Earth Force is two-fold; in addition to the grant, the company’s employees donate their time as mentors to students in the program. Last year, 235 GM employees volunteered to help over 17,000 students implement environmental protection projects, develop problem-solving skills and discover STEM-related career pathways.

GM GREEN students have designed and implemented a wide array of environmental projects during the last 27 years, including restoring the habitat of a local lake, constructing and donating rain barrels to community members, and creating a native rain garden on a school campus to filter stormwater runoff.

To learn more about Earth Force and the GM GREEN program, visit www.earthforce.org or contact Kristen Mueller at kmueller[at]earthforce.org.

About Earth Force
Earth Force is an international 501(c)3 organization with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Its mission is to engage young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future. Through Earth Force and its network of partners, young people get hands-on, real-world opportunities to practice civic skills, acquire a deep understanding of the environment, and develop the skills and motivation to become lifelong leaders in addressing community issues. Visit http://www.earthforce.org or follow @earthforce on Twitter to learn more.

Tweet me:The @GM Foundation invests $100,000 to evaluate STEM gains http://bit.ly/2aO7vZR

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Education, General Motors, GM, GM Foundation, STEM, GM GREEN, Earth Force

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

For 16 years, Ghetto Film School has given New York's emerging filmmakers the chance to learn directly from Hollywood visionaries, and its latest contest is taking that model and applying it to television.

"Pitch, Please!" is a new contest from The Roster, Ghetto Film School's professional network for diverse young professionals in New York's media and entertainment sectors, and is accepting one-minute video pitches for scripted television series until Tuesday, September 6. Five semifinalists will then pitch their ideas in person to an esteemed panel of television experts, including Empire creator and award-winning filmmaker Lee Daniels, during IFP Film Week from September 17-22. 21CF is a longtime supporter of Ghetto Film School, serving as founding sponsor of GFS Los Angeles and continuing to arrange exclusive behind-the-scenes access and executive masterclasses for the students.

Submissions to "Pitch, Please!" are now being accepted, and applicants must be 18 years of age or older and live, work, or go to school in New York. After submissions wrap on September 6, 25 semi-finalists will be selected on September 12 and given All Access Passes to attend the IFP Screen Forward Conference during IFP Film Week. Of that group, five finalists will pitch to Daniels and the panel of filmmakers and television executives, and one grand prize winner will receive one-on-one meetings with the panelists. The contest is open exclusively to members of The Roster, and those who wish to join can do so on Ghetto Film School's website.

"Pitch, Please!" is the latest in a long string of initiatives from GFS to connect diverse young storytellers with some of the leading figures in the entertainment industry, a mission in which 21CF has played a significant role. In May, the company brought together a cast of Hollywood actors including Max Greenfield (New Girl), Grace Gealey (Empire), and Dascha Polanco (Joy) to perform two short-film scripts written by GFS LA students. Daniels, fellow GFS Board Member David O. Russell, and Brett Ratner were on hand to offer notes.

Keep reading at impact.21CF.com. 

Tweet me:Diverse young filmmakers can pitch their TV ideas to @leedanielsent through #PitchPlease contest: http://bit.ly/2aWwSc3 @21CF_Impact

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, Corporate Social Responsibility, 21st century fox, ghetto film school, the roster, empire, lee daniels, brett ratner, david o. russell, hollywood, Entertainment, media, creative education, diversity in hollywood, Television, new voices

SOURCE:LIVESTRONG

DESCRIPTION:

At LIVESTRONG, we focus on three important areas: serving individuals, building communities and changing systems. Throughout the month of August we will be sharing real stories from people who have been helped in these areas by LIVESTRONG.

You’ll hear from Wendy, who faced a cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment that would mean she might lose her ability to have children.

You’ll hear from Michelle, a young mom of two, whose treatment for breast cancer meant she lost her energy and physical strength to do everyday tasks.

And you’ll hear from Scott, a testicular cancer survivor and caregiver who is now using his experience to fight for a truly patient-focused approach in the future of cancer care.

These stories, and many more, are possible because of you, but the fight is far from over.

Over 3.5 million people have been served through LIVESTRONG, with many more expected to need help as cancer survivorship will grow 37% over the next decade.

We need your help today to ensure that we can continue offering free programs and services to cancer survivors and their loved ones.

Please make a donation toward our $15,000 goal and know that your gift will make a life-changing impact for cancer survivors.

Thank you for your continued support.

LIVESTRONG,
Greg D. Lee, CPA
President

Your support changes lives. Help LIVESTRONG reach our $15,000 goal today!

Tweet me:LIVESTRONG focuses on three important areas: serving individuals, building communities and changing systems http://bit.ly/1RnLdGc

KEYWORDS: Health, Cancer, survivor, LIVESTRONG

SOURCE:MicroEdge + Blackbaud

DESCRIPTION:

Forces of change within generations, approaches to philanthropy, and giving sector technology have collided at a point of impact where results-focused giving with measurable impact is no longer a shift, but a reality. The wider giving community agrees that impact is the point, and that measuring outcomes is a key to more effectively achieving missions and making progress toward the changes we want to see in our world. 

Download the MicroEdge +Blackbaud Point of Impact white paper and learn how to become a stronger champion for a better world amidst the ever changing philanthropic landscape. 

To learn more about this and other topics, visit the MicroEdge + Blackbaud resource hub!

Tweet me:Results-focused giving is the new status quo for #philanthropy. Learn more via @MicroEdgeLLC Point of Impact paper http://bit.ly/2aNqXWZ

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Business Ethics, MicroEdge, Blackbaud

Mothers Against Malaria

SOURCE:Kimberly-Clark Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Parents everywhere want their babies to be happy and healthy. But mosquito-borne diseases like malaria threaten their safety. There were an estimated 214 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2015, mostly affecting pregnant women and babies. And sadly, 91 percent of those who died from the disease were in Africa.

Inspired by our vision to lead the world in essentials for a better life, we’re motivated to help babies thrive in communities around the world. We know that millions of parents throughout Africa trust our Huggies brand of diapers to keep their babies dry and clean, which also means happy and healthy. 

We quickly learned that mothers and babies in Kenya didn't just need nets - in some cases they needed awareness and even help with treatment. But to make this happen, we knew that we needed a partner.

ORIGINS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

Our involvement began several years ago. We had begun exploring how non-woven materials, like those used in our Huggies brand of diapers, could potentially be used to make mosquito nets. At the same time, our team in Brazil had developed an insect repellant specially designed to be safe for infants. Together, these two projects got us thinking about other ways we could contribute to the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases.

Click here to continue reading about Mothers Against Malaria

Tweet me:Since 2014, @KCCorp has worked w/ @MalariaNoMore to end malaria deaths, starting w/ moms & babies in Kenya http://bit.ly/2aU9yZv

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Malaria No MOre, Mothers Against Malaria, Kenya, csr, Kimberly-Clark

Follow Friday: Keep America Beautiful Affiliate Stories

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

Mississippi is well known for its natural beauty. But over the years, the amount of native wildflowers has dwindled because of the common threats of habitat loss and invasive plants.

To address the loss of wildflowers, Keep America Beautiful state affiliate Keep Mississippi Beautiful (KMB) took action to transform its public spaces into beautiful places by launching the Wildflower Trails of Mississippi project during Keep America Beautiful’s 2015 Great American Cleanup.

After a year of working with many community partners and volunteers, the project is blooming, planting the seeds to ensure Mississippi residents and visitors to the Magnolia state -- as well as pollinators -- will appreciate the sights and smells of wildflowers. The project complements other KMB beautification initiatives throughout the state.

Keep America Beautiful conducts its National Planting Day on the first Saturday after Labor Day each September with community-based activities happening throughout the month. Continue reading here.

Tweet me:#FF @kabtweet Affiliate Stories: @KeepMSBeautiful helping #wildflowers flourish again in #Mississippi. http://bit.ly/2b0QOaB

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

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

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Volunteering, Keep America Beautiful, Affiliate Stories, Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Wildflower Trails of Mississippi, native species, wildflowers, National Planting Day

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Reprinted with permission from Alex Muller's August 3, 2016 blog post on Trim Tab.

Keeping plants in your home has been said to reduce stress and create a healthier living environment. However, the associated care with house plants is often a barrier for people.

In California, a group of students recognized the importance of having bits of nature in the home and submitted a winning solution to the student Living Product Prize competition.

Aquacity is a biomimicry-inspired product that combines the structural integrity of a honeycomb, the luminescence and water sensitivity of the Lobed Comb Jellyfish, the habitat of a Suriname sea toad, and the earth’s water cycles.

Read more.

Tweet me:Aquacity's indoor gardening program wins @Living_Future Living Product Prize in #Biomimicry Global Design Challenge http://bit.ly/2azHfwN

Contact Info:

Valerie Bennett
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
+1 (770) 317-5858
valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org

Erin Connelly
Biomimicry Institute
+1 (415) 800-1407
erin.connelly@biomimicry.org

KEYWORDS: Environment & Climate Change, Awards & Recognition, biomimicry, Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, Ray C. Anderson Foundation

A Gesture of Love and Hope Goes a Long Way During Cancer Treatment

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

RYE BROOK, N.Y., August 5, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Subaru of America and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) wrapped up their June initiative, Subaru Loves to Care, which literally brought warmth and hope to thousands of patients fighting cancer across the country.

The campaign, an extension of Subaru’s Love Promise, helped communities come together to make an incredible impact. Fifty four LLS chapters across the country worked alongside 393 participating Subaru retailers to deliver 30,000 blankets to patients undergoing cancer treatment at nearly 250 local hospitals and treatment centers nationwide.

“Our collaboration with LLS has truly embodied the spirit of Subaru’s Love Promise – supporting causes near and dear to the hearts of Subaru and our owners,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We truly hope that both the blankets and messages of inspiration help provide comfort and warmth as patients continue their fight against cancer.”

Throughout June, visitors to participating Subaru retailers were given the opportunity to share personalized, hand-written messages of hope which were delivered to local cancer patients along with blankets, to provide comfort and warmth while they receive treatment at hospitals nationwide. Those who wrote a message of hope received a Subaru and LLS awareness bracelet, to help spread awareness of LLS and Subaru of America’s goal to provide hope and care, one gesture at a time.

“The generosity of Subaru has helped LLS deliver on its promise to improve the quality of life for blood cancer patients and their families,” said LLS president and CEO, Dr. Louis J. DeGennaro. “We are proud and grateful to Subaru for this unique collaboration with its hundreds of retailers, who have shown such energy, compassion and enthusiasm for LLS’s goal to find cures for blood cancers and ensure access to treatments for patients who need them.”

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan.

Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in a zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit  www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

(Video caption: The California Southland Chapter of LLS heard about the Subaru Loves to Care partnership, and immediately knew to send the blankets to City of Hope in Duarte, CA. The chapter has many patients who are treated at City of Hope. They documented this journey from sign making to blanket delivery to Subaru’s impact. )

Tweet me:Month-long #SubaruLovesToCare initiative brings hope to thousands of #cancer patients http://bit.ly/2aZfLpY .@subaru_usa .@LLSusa

KEYWORDS: Health, Business & Trade, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, subaru, Subaru Loves Care, Cancer

SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

Gilead Sciences, Inc. has issued its first Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which provides an overview of the work the company is doing around the world to improve the lives of people with life-threatening diseases and to make a positive impact on public health and local communities. 

“A genuine sense of corporate citizenship has long been at the heart of everything we do,” said John Milligan, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. “As CEO, my vision for Gilead is to continue to innovate at every level – delivering lifesaving medicines to patients and making a positive contribution to all of the communities we serve and of which we are a part.”

The report focuses on four key areas of Giving and Access, People, Products and Environment. 2015 highlights from each of these include:

• Giving & Access: In 2015, Gilead donated nearly $500 million to almost 2,000 organizations worldwide that are helping to address unmet medical needs and lessen the impact of disease such as HIV and viral hepatitis. Last year, Gilead was named the number one funder in terms of charitable donations among Fortune 150 companies by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
• People: Gilead added 900 jobs around the world in 2015, more than doubling the company’s overall workforce since 2010 and surpassing 8,200 employees in total.
• Products: Many of Gilead’s products are category firsts or are among the leading medicines used to treat the diseases they address. With 20 marketed products by the end of 2015, Gilead produced more than 900 million tablets of oral medicines and approximately 9 million vials of liquid medicine last year.
• Environment: At the Foster City, California headquarters, Gilead drove a 23 percent reduction in landscape water use in 2015 compared with a 2013 baseline, far exceeding the city mandate of 12 percent reduction.

To find out more about Gilead’s 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, visit: www.gilead.com/csr2015  

About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. We strive to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world, always keeping the patients and the communities we serve at the forefront.

Media Contact:
CSR at Gilead Sciences

Tweet me:.@GileadSciences issues 1st #CSR #Report. Focus on Giving & Access, People, Products & Environment http://bit.ly/2b1LlQX via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: Reports, Corporate Social Responsibility, Gilead Sciences, ReportAlert

By Tim Shults

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

During the month of August, Subaru of America is focusing on a certain branch of the Subaru Love Promise: education. By partnering with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and with Adopt a Classroom, Subaru aims to impact the future of over 50,000 students through “Subaru Loves Learning.”

Continue reading full original article on The News Wheel

Tweet me:This August, @Subaru_USA focuses on #education http://bit.ly/2aAM6Rm .@aaas .@Adopt_classroom #SubaruLovesLearning .@thenewswheel

KEYWORDS: Education, Business & Trade, Adopt a Classroom, Subaru loves learning, AAAS, subaru

SOURCE:Yum! Brands

DESCRIPTION:

In 2016, Taco Bell and the Taco Bell Foundation launched the Live Más Scholarship, a program aimed at empowering the nation’s next generation of dreamers, innovators and creators – those whose passions don’t fall into the conventional “academic” or “athletic” qualifying categories of traditional scholarship programs.

After awarding scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 to 220 youth.  Taco Bell wanted to hear from the winners themselves to see what they thought about winning a Live Más Scholarship!

“Hope…it gave me hope that my dreams are possible.” – Justin Susan. Justin is a writer from Peoria, Arizona. He has already written an 80,000 word novel about a young man who lives in a world where choices are rare, but chooses to find the answers. Justin hopes to publish his book in the near future and will be attending Northern Arizona University to study creative film and media where he will put his writing skills to the test.

Visit ta.co to read more testimonials!

Tweet me:Meet @TacoBell's #LiveMás #Scholarship Winners http://bit.ly/2aGPZHB @YumBrands

KEYWORDS: Education, Business & Trade, Yum! Brands, Taco Bell, Live Más Scholarship

SOURCE:Source Intelligence®

DESCRIPTION:

Earlier this year, palm oil producer IOI Group had its RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification suspended after failing to meet RSPO certification standards. The RSPO announced in a statement last Friday that IOI Group will regain its certification starting today (August 8, 2016).  The RSPO has found that the IOI Group is now fully compliant with RSPO standards and has plans in place to compensate stakeholders.

After IOI Group’s suspension, many multinational companies such as Unilever, Kellogg, Mars, and Cargill discontinued business with the palm oil producer. IOI Group prepared legal charges against RSPO which were later dropped. Unilever may reconsider its business relationship with IOI Group, and will release a more concrete update in  several days. (in the next few days, or, in several days)

The RSPO has emphasized that an expert team will be confirming that the IOI Group is truly implementing its action plan in accordance with RSPO standards. If the team “finds significant failures in the implementation of IOI’s commitments to RSPO,” the IOI Group could easily face re-suspension.

Many international groups have set standards for sustainable and ethical materials production and sourcing. RSPO’s progress on palm oil is significant; many of its members are globally recognized consumer brands that are fully committed to sourcing sustainable palm oil, and as a result, supply chain transparency. Other global stakeholders have vocalized strong requests for companies to commit to sustainable palm oil, such as the WWF and the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.  The World Resources Institute also released a palm oil risk mapping tool earlier this year to help companies remove unsustainable producers from their supply chains.  

Similarly, other groups such as the IRSG (International Rubber Study Group) have established best practices for the sustainable sourcing and production of rubber; members include international brands, rubber producers, and governments. Tracing materials to the source is now easily accessible for all companies; cloud-based software has enabled unprecedented supply chain communication and data aggregation, forcing producers furthest upstream in the supply chain to be accountable for their social responsibility performance. Click here to explore how cloud-based software helps companies uncover social responsibility violations in the supply chain, and how it can help you.

Tweet me:IOI Group Regains its Certification as a Sustainable Palm Oil Producer http://bit.ly/2b8zAYZ

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production & Consumption, Business & Trade, Source Intelligence