SOURCE:Yum! Brands

DESCRIPTION:

In June 2016, torrential rain caused flooding in West Virginia and parts of nearby Virginia. Twenty-three people lost their lives and thousands more were affected. KFC® Team Member Donald Blake was one of those people.

The water got as deep as 16 inches inside Donald’s Covington, Virgina. home, where he lives with his wife and step-daughter. It took two days to recede and, after that, mud and debris caked the home making it unlivable. The damage was extensive.Donald applied for assistance through the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation’s KFC Family Fund is a crisis assistance program for KFC restaurant employees. He received money that helped get things back to normal.

“I just received a check from the KFC Family Fund. It was a very generous amount. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much,” said Blake in a note to the Foundation. “My eyes watered up and I cried like a baby– tears of joy, not sadness. This will help Sherry and I get back on our feet and back to where we were before the dreaded flood. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”

Since its launch in December 2015, 27 KFC families have received $40,000 in assistance via the KFC Family Fund. For more information, visit KFCFoundation.org

Tweet me:.@KFC Family Fund helps #employee with crisis assistance after West Virginia flooding http://bit.ly/2cBawbk @KFCfoundation @YumBrands

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, KFC Family Fund, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Yum! Brands, crisis assistance, KFC Foundation

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on Also.

Tweet me:.@BloombergBeta's @RoyBahat: Yesterday, I went to prison #blog #startup http://bit.ly/2e2z0R0

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, prison, jail, court system, Venture, venture capital, tech, economies, Business, Health

SOURCE:Corporate Citizenship

DESCRIPTION:

Are corporate foundations relevant in today’s world of sustainable business? What types of innovations are we seeing that could herald a revival of the model based around collaboration, impact and systemic change? Corporate Citizenship, a global management consultancy specialising in sustainability, is conducting research across the globe to gather valuable insight into the future of corporate foundations.

As leading companies move towards adopting a strategic approach to CSR, corporate foundations might be asking themselves where they fit into the picture. Historically, corporate foundations were entities kept at arm’s length from their parent companies, focused solely on writing cheques for good causes. A shift towards a more strategic approach is now emerging and whilst some corporate foundations are keeping their areas of focus broad, others are targeting their attention on areas where they can leverage their parent company’s expertise and advance shared aims. 

Corporate Citizenship would like to invite practitioners from corporate foundations to participate in this short survey. It will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. As a thank you, Corporate Citizenship will share an advance copy of the results with anyone that takes part and provides their email. The full report will be released on 1^st December 2016.

Take the survey now

Tweet me:What is the future of corporate #foundations? Share your views in new survey by @CCitizenship https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TV9P6ZT #csr

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Citizenship, corporate foundations, csr, Sustainable Business

SOURCE:National Diversity Council

DESCRIPTION:

Bellaire, TX, October 12, 2016 /3BL Media/ - The Council for Corporate Responsibility, in partnership with Capgemini, is excited to host the 3^rd Annual Texas Corporate Responsibility Summit at AT&T Inc. on November 15, 2016. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from, and network with, the many of the top Corporate Social Responsibility professionals from leading corporations in the state of Texas. This year’s theme is “Advancing Your Corporate Responsibility Agenda: Lessons from the Leaders.”  

“The Corporate Responsibility Summit provides a great platform for leading business professionals to share CSR best practices,” said Dennis Kennedy, Founder & Chair of the National Diversity Council. “Our hope is that this summit will inspire everyone to implement effective programs that benefit their community.”

The summit will begin at 9:00 a.m. with registration and open networking. Throughout the day, featured panels of CSR experts will lead discussions covering topics such as “Supply Chain Integrity,” “Global Enrichment,” “Social Innovation” and “Environmental Sustainability Best Practices.” Attendees will have the opportunity to share their thoughts in open question and answer session following the presentation of each topic.

Registration for the 2016 Texas Corporate Responsibility Summit is currently ongoing and can be completed at www.corporateresponsibility.org/register. For more information, contact Brandy Berry at brandy.berry@nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

About the Council for Corporate Responsibility

A non-profit organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations to grow in their knowledge of corporate social responsibility. In order for CSR to work effectively, the council believes it cannot be treated as a separate program or initiative. Instead, CSR must be seen as a standard business practice carried out in everyday business decisions in order for it to take complete effect throughout the organization.

More information about the Council for Corporate Responsibility at: www.uscorporateresponsibility.org.

Media Contact:

Dennis Kennedy

Founder & Chairman

National Diversity Council

dennis.kennedy@nationaldiversitycouncil.org

Tweet me:Join the Council for Corporate Responsibility & @Capgemini at the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Summit! More info: http://ow.ly/NV4w30554rc

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Business & Trade, National Diversity Council, Texas Diversity Council, houston, Texas, Dennis Kennedy, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, Capgemini, diversity, Leadership

Largest societal engagement survey of 272 companies finds corporate community affairs professionals increasingly taking a leading role in business strategy

SOURCE:CECP

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, October 12, 2016 /3BL Media/ - In the most comprehensive annual analysis of corporate societal engagement, CECP: The CEO Force for Good, in association with The Conference Board, found in their annual Giving in Numbers survey that the link between a company’s business strategy and their engagement with society is ever more vital, as are the people within the company leading this connection. With the growing recognition that long-term business performance is tied to social responsibility, companies are allocating bigger budgets to the community engagement team, elevating giving officer roles and responsibilities, and ensuring that both employees and customers are able to show their commitment to giving back through the brand.

CECP, a coalition of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies with a combined annual revenue of more than $7 trillion, released, in association with The Conference Board, Giving in Numbers: 2016 Edition, a report on the largest societal engagement survey of 272 companies, now in its 11^th year.  

“The leading companies in today’s global economy have infused societal needs in business strategy, binding the well-being of their communities to the health of their bottom line,” said Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP. “Giving in Numbers is an essential handbook for businesses seeking to be industry-leaders of corporate societal engagement in the coming years.”

For more than ten years, Giving in Numbers has been the leading study on the funds, resources, and skills that companies invest in globally to solve pressing societal challenges. Key findings from this year’s survey include:

• Business performance is tied to social responsibility: Companies that increased total giving by at least 10% between 2013 and 2015 saw increases in median giving as a percentage of revenue and pre-tax profit, as opposed to all other companies that instead saw decreases in both metrics. Companies with a stronger sense of purpose also had stronger financial and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics.
• Bigger Budgets: Total giving grew slightly with nearly half (47%) of companies in a three-year matched set between 2013 and 2015 reporting an increase in median total giving—by 1%.
• Elevation of roles and responsibilities: With companies seeing the bottom-line benefits of adding resources to the community engagement office, corporate giving teams are not only expanding (full-time equivalent employees rose 3% from 2013 to 2015), but their prominence within the company is rising, with 29% of teams reporting closer alignment with the CEO’s office. Further, teams are being called on to share materially significant data: 56% of companies say their corporate citizenship department provided ESG information to a particular investor or the company’s investor relations department.
• Employees and customers seeking out new ways to give back through the company and the brand: Employee volunteer participation rate with their company’s community efforts continued to rise to 33% in 2015 from 28% in 2013. Additionally, about half of companies saw building trust with consumers and other stakeholders as a goal of their societal engagement programs. Fifty-five percent of companies used increased trust (e.g., Edelman Trust Barometer, Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Survey, etc.) as a benchmark of success for their community investments.

“Data from 2016’s Giving in Numbers all point to the growing importance of the corporate societal engagement office in leading companies around the world, which should come as no surprise when increasingly, business performance is tied to social responsibility,” said Carmen Perez, Director,Data Insights, CECP. “Giving in Numbers offer data-backed insights for companies seeking robust financial results alongside a meaningful and effective corporate societal engagement program.”

“With employees and customers increasingly rewarding responsible businesses, companies are underpinning their business strategies and brands with purpose,” said Jonathan Spector, CEO, The Conference Board.“The data show those efforts starting to pay off, so it’s no surprise to see companies doubling down on their community engagement by expanding teams and giving department leaders more of an audience with the CEO.”

Key insights from the Giving in Numbers survey of 2015 data were released in front of an audience of 250 corporate societal engagement professionals at the CECP Summit in May 2016.

Additional learnings from this year’s report include:

• Measuring societal outcomes and/or impacts became a more widespread practice: Demonstrating impact and transparency is critical for companies, and as such 87% of companies measured societal outcomes and/or impacts of at least one grant in 2015, up from 79% in 2013. Most commonly, companies focused their measurement efforts on strategic programs.
• Investing with purpose goes along with societal engagements: Companies that took part in impact investing supported community programs more overall. Median total giving for companies active with impact investing was more ($25.7 million) than that given by those not active in impact investing ($15 million).
  • Watch for CECP’s forthcoming White Paper on impact investing, in partnership with Prudential.
• Philanthropic Leverage, a component of “good beyond giving,” is on the rise: Philanthropic Leverage, which refers to the average monetary contributions from employees and non-employees, has increased in the last three years. Philanthropic Leverage is also a component of “good beyond giving” (socially driven corporate activities that are additive to total giving). Companies with higher growth rates of total giving were also the ones with higher Philanthropic Leverage growth rates.

Custom analysis of the data is available to CECP-affiliated companies at no additional cost; these companies can access data through CECP’s secure online portal or by calling CECP. 2015 data is now available online. 

CECP is grateful to Newman's Own Foundation, PwC US, and TheTravelers Companies, Inc. for their support in making Giving in Numbers possible.

Note to Editors: Carmen Perez is available for comment and a more in depth look at the community investment data collected from 272 of the world’s largest companies.

ABOUT CECP: THE CEO FORCE FOR GOOD
CECP is a coalition of CEOs united in the belief that societal improvement is an essential measure of business performance. Founded in 1999 by Paul Newman and other business leaders, CECP has grown to a movement of 150 CEOs of the world’s largest companies across all industries. Revenues of engaged companies sum to $7 trillion annually. A nonprofit organization, CECP offers participating companies one-on-one consultation, networking events, exclusive data, media support and case studies on corporate engagement. For more information, visit http://cecp.co. 

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE BOARD
The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world’s leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org

Tweet me:Read @CECPTweets' Giving in Numbers, the leading report on corporate giving & employee engagement patterns: http://cecp.me/1LCIYN3 #GIN2016

Contact Info:

Jackie Albano
CECP
+1 (646) 863-1926
jalbano@cecp.co

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, esg, CECP, Employee Engagement, corporate societal engagement

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

Local Arlington, Texas resident, Mrs. Locke has been fascinated with landfills for years. Her grandson recently contacted Republic Services, explaining that his grandmother had included on her "bucket list" the opportunity to get a tour of the local landfill and have a picnic lunch at the site among all the activity. Republic invited Mrs. Locke and two of her grandchildren to the Arlington landfill for a tour, a catered picnic lunch and great conversation.

Serving their 14 million customers nationwide, Republic Services knows that service goes beyond handling recycling and waste collection needs. Service is about being a Good Neighbor to the communities you live, work and raise your families. For more information about Republic Services, please visit www.republicservices.com.

Tweet me:Arlington resident gets private tour of landfill and picnic lunch courtesy of @RepublicService http://bit.ly/2e45afb #GoodNeighbor

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Environment & Climate Change, Republic Services, landfill, waste management, acts of kindness, Outreach, Arlington, Texas

Earth Day 50 Challenge Unites Strange Bedfellows using the “Greenpeace-Walmart Effect”

SOURCE:Future500

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, October 12, 2016 /3BL Media/ — Leaders of a range of global companies and eco-activist groups are setting aside historic differences and joining forces in a new project that uses brand power to tackle three of the planet’s toughest environmental problems.

The Earth Day 50 Challenge aims to secure commitments from 50 of the world’s most influential companies to advance systemic market solutions to ocean, forest, and climate challenges. The deadline for tangible progress is April 2020, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

In partnership with the Texas-based philanthropist Trammell S. Crow and Earth Day Texas, the non-profit stakeholder engagement group Future 500 unveiled The Earth Day 50 Challenge project today with a new report of the same name.

“This isn’t just about recycling boxes anymore; the challenges to our forests, oceans, and climate systems are so daunting, that no one country or company can solve them alone,” said Bill Shireman, Future 500 executive director. “The Earth Day 50 Challenge is all about finding common ground, and using the power of markets to first halt the damage, and then start to repair these planetary systems.”

The Earth Day 50 Challenge is rooted in an approach Future 500 calls the “Greenpeace-Walmart Effect”—advocacy organizations capturing the attention of household names, which then use their supply chains and policy influence to drive change.  At the heart of the Challenge is a focus on systemic solutions—those that remedy the root causes of environmental challenges, rather than address symptoms.

“Outdated business practices and market failures helped bring us to this point,” said Shireman. “But private-sector businesses—driving innovation, coaching suppliers, and working with nonprofits and governments—are a tremendously powerful force for good that we are only starting to tap to drive systemic change.”

The report recommends how companies can drive deep environmental change by working with nonprofit leaders, engaged shareholders, and others. Future 500 convened more than 40 executives from leading global companies with 34 environmental leaders, as well as philanthropists, and academics, to develop the recommendations.

The group met in Dallas this past spring, and plans to meet there again to begin work. Future 500 is actively recruiting new businesses to the Earth Day 50 Challenge.

About Future 500: Future 500 is a global 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California that utilizes market-based approaches to solve social and environmental issues around Energy & Climate, Food & Water, Materials & Supply Chains, and People & Power.

About Earth Day Texas: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on environmental education and awareness, Earth Day Texas has created the world’s largest annual forum for sharing the latest initiatives, discoveries, research, innovations, policies, and corporate practices that are reshaping our world. Earth Day Texas was founded in 2011 by philanthropist Trammell S. Crow.

Tweet me:REPORT: Earth Day 50 Challenge unites biz + activists to reverse damage to environment by Earth Day 2020: future500.org/ED50 #ED50

Contact Info:

Matt Stites
Future 500
+1 (800) 655-2020
mstites@future500.org

KEYWORDS: Environment & Climate Change, Business & Trade, Stakeholder engagement, collaboration, bipartisanship, earth day, Future500

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

Today, 51% of students in U.S. public schools—over 25 Million children—live in poverty. Many of the impacts of poverty—like access to healthy foods, school attendance, and stability at home—are immediate and stretch across generations. Only 9% of students from low­-income families earn a bachelor’s degree, compared to 77% of their high­ income peers. And 65% of children whose parents have no more than a high school diploma go on to live in poverty.

Over the past 35 years, the “I Have A Dream” Foundation has worked in entire classes or schools to offer individualized, long-term social, emotional, financial, and academic support to over 17,000 children from as early as kindergarten all the way through college. Once given access to this individualized support, and the opportunity it provides, our students—who we call Dreamers—are nearly 3 times more likely to graduate college than their low-income peers. That’s about an additional $1 Million Dollars in lifetime earnings per Dreamer.

"I Have A Dream" Foundation's Unique Approach

Our concept—giving every child access to the opportunity a college education provides—is simple, but our methods are high-touch and long-term. Here are some of the methods that set us apart and help us to make a lasting impact:

1. Long- term. We follow the same group of children from elementary school all the way through college, providing a comprehensive program of support along the way.
    
2. Inclusive. We do not "cherry-pick" students–rather, we welcome all children who are in the class or school at the time of program inception. Our staff members work closely with Dreamers, families, and service providers to manage special needs on a case-by-case basis.
    
3. Comprehensive.  While we are dedicated to promoting Dreamers' academic success, we focus just as intently on building life skills and fostering students’ ongoing social-emotional development.

We accomplish this work on a large scale—with over 200 programs to date—but through a highly individualized approach. Here are some of the programs we offer to Dreamers nationally in addition to our day-to-day services:

1. “Work Is Success” Internship Program. After a full interview process and a series of work readiness trainings, Dreamers gain experience with top small businesses, corporations, law & medical offices, higher ed institutions and government agencies, with a 6-10 week paid summer internship.
    
2. National Dreamer Conference. Each year, middle and high school Dreamers from across the nation come to a college campus to engage in a number of activities aimed at college readiness. The Dreamers live in college dorms, eat in the dining hall and attend workshops in college classrooms.  For many of our Dreamers, attending the Dreamer Conference  is their first experience traveling out of state, and with their peers.
    
3. College Savings Accounts. Through our College Savings Account (CSA) Program, Dreamers earn CSA contributions by completing critical, grade-based academic and social milestones on the path to and through college. Our CSAs reinforce a culture of college from a young age, provide families and Dreamers with financial literacy education, and offset the costs of college tuition and supplies. Low-income students with up to $500 in college savings are 3x more likely to enroll in college and 4x more likely to graduate.

How you can help

All of these programs are made possible through the generous contributions of our supporters and partners.

• $100—that’s under $10 a month—will cover transportation to send one Dreamer to the Dreamer Conference.
• $350—that’s under $30 a month—will cover all registration costs for one Dreamer for the Dreamer Conference.
• $500 would cover travel to the Dreamer conference for one whole class.
• $1,600 would fund one Dreamer’s College Savings Account for four years.
• $3,000 would cover all programs for one Dreamer for a year.

To support "I Have A Dream" Foundation's work, please donate to them through your company's workplace giving program (CFC#11312 if you're a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). 

Start a workplace giving program to support nonprofits like "I Have A Dream" Foundation:

Click here to learn about our employee giving solutions designed to help large and small organizations give back to the causes they care about.

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities: How @IHDFNational is empowering youth in low-income communities w/ educational opportunities http://bit.ly/2egOIrB

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Education, I Have A Dream Foundation, low-income communities, America's Charities, Employee Engagement, Fundraising, cause marketing, corporate philanthropy, workplace giving, social responsibility, csr

Donations and needed supplies to assist organizations leading the hurricane relief and includes $500 thousand for recovery efforts in Haiti.

SOURCE:Walmart

DESCRIPTION:

BENTONVILLE, Ark., October 12, 2016/3BL Media/ – Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have made a commitment to provide support through cash and product donations of $2 million to organizations helping with relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Matthew. As a part of this commitment, the Walmart Foundation is allocating $500 thousand specifically toward CARE and Team Rubicon Global for relief efforts in Haiti.  In the United States, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have been working closely with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Team Rubicon and Feeding America, coordination efforts are being made with elected officials and governmental entities to meet the needs of those affected.

With widespread wind damage and flooding, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have coordinated efforts as part of the $2 million donation to send bottles of water, food and sheltering supplies to affected areas.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by this disaster,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, President of the Walmart Foundation. “Both Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are working closely with non-profit partners, first responders, elected officials and governmental organizations to see how each can use its strengths to help.”

Walmart has a long history of providing aid in times of disasters, helping communities prepare and recover by donating emergency supplies, such as food and water, home and personal products. In the last 10 years, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated more than $56 million in cash and in-kind donations in response to disaster events.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 260 million customers and members visit our 11,528 stores under 72 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2016 revenue of $482.1 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.3 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.  

Tweet me:.@WalmartGiving contributes $2M donation and needed supplies to assist hurricane Matthew relief efforts http://bit.ly/2dauhXk

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, Walmart, walmart foundation, disaster relief, Hurricane Matthew

Philanthropy, Government and Private Sector Collaboration Ensures that Women Access Rwanda’s Growing Tourism Industry

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on Bloomberg.org

Women in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Economic Development program secured a major deal for the women participating in the business training program with the Marriott International’s first hotel in Rwanda. This signals that the women who have been provided business training through Bloomberg Philanthropies have now entered into Rwanda’s growing hospitality, crafts, and agriculture industry on a larger scale.

The graduates of the training program through the non-profit, Bloomberg Philanthropies supported Relationship Coffee Institute are providing the Marriott with locally grown coffee from their own coffee cooperatives, serving their own brand of coffee at the Q Cafe within the hotels, and working as staff at the hotel providing guest services. Crafts from Bloomberg Philanthropies supported artisans have been prominently placed throughout the hotel for a truly local Rwandan experience for the global hotel.

Please click here to continue reading the full press release.

Tweet me:Women in @Bloombergdotorg Economic Dev Program in #Rwanda Secure Largest Commercial Deal Yet w @Marriott Hotel http://bit.ly/2d9uF8B

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Philanthropy, Marriott, Rwanda, africa, Hospitality, locavore, women, international, Development, Economics

Award Honors Dealership for Environmental and Community Commitment

SOURCE:Cox Enterprises

DESCRIPTION:

ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Cox Automotive presented its Leader in Sustainability Award to Patriot Subaru of Saco, Maine at the 2016 Automotive News Best Dealerships to Work For celebration this week.

Presented by Grace Huang, senior vice president of Inventory Services for Manheim North America, this annual award recognizes a dealership for outstanding community contributions and in-dealership sustainability programs related to waste reduction, energy consumption or water conservation, with a focus on innovation, creativity and engagement with community and/or employees.

“We congratulate Patriot Subaru of Saco for paving the way as a good corporate citizens and demonstrating a commitment to shaping a better world through sustainable business practices,” said Huang. “The dealership’s comprehensive, deep-rooted environmental and community programs embody the spirit of this award.”

Patriot Subaru of Saco, a Subaru Eco-Friendly Dealer, developed a comprehensive green strategy to go from retailing to “greentailing,” built on four cornerstones: Think Green, Act Green, Sell Green and Convey Green. A zero waste to landfill site, the dealership has implemented more than 70 tactics to promote green thinking, reduce energy consumption and foster healthy living, including complimentary bike use, daily composting, zero irrigation landscaping and the creation of a green committee. The team also planted a vegetable garden on-site where they host weekend picnics.

On the community service front, Patriot Subaru of Saco participates in Subaru of America’s “Love Promise,” a commitment to partner with local non-profit education, health, environment and animal organizations. Annually between mid-November and the New Year, Subaru donates $250 to charity for every new Subaru sold nationwide. Patriot Subaru also supports charities such as Preble Street through food drives and monetary donations, and hosts quarterly blood drives for its employees and the community.

For their leadership in promoting green business practices and making a difference through community service, Patriot Subaru of Saco will receive $20,000 to fund two sustainability projects – one at the dealership and another in partnership with a local community organization of its choice. The dealership will also receive an energy audit, performed by Cox Conserves engineers.

“We are honored to receive the Cox Automotive Leader in Sustainability Award in recognition of our green strategy,” said Brian Beattie, general manager of Patriot Subaru of Saco. “We look forward to continuing our greentailing initiatives at the dealership and in our community through the support of Cox Automotive.”

As a division of Cox Enterprises, Cox Automotive participates in the national Cox Conserves sustainability program. The vision of Cox Conserves is to create positive environmental change in communities by operating in ways that reduce the company’s impact and inspire employees, customers, suppliers and partners.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader®, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, vAuto®, Xtime® and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues of $18 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises’ other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

# # #

Tweet me:Patriot Subaru of Saco wins Cox Automotive Leader in Sustainability Award http://www.coxautoinc.com/?p=16932

KEYWORDS: Awards & Recognition, Cox Automotive Leader in Sustainability Award

SOURCE:IBM

SUMMARY:

IBM is helping nonprofits evaluate and document the success of their programs more effectively, and provide that documentation as required to government and private funders -- freeing up staff time for providing vital services, and helping to ensure that these nonprofits are able to continue their good work.

Read the press release below, and check out the new video that describes IBM's service partners' great work and why the new IBM SafetyNet software is so essential.

To learn more about IBM's Corporate Citizenship Contributions around community health and wellness, 
See the IBM 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report

DESCRIPTION:

ARMONK, NY, October 12, 2016/3BL Media/ - IBM (NYSE: IBM) is kicking off an $18 million grant program to put no-cost cloud hosting, customizable software, and consulting services into the hands of not-for-profit social service agencies that qualify.

Called IBM SafetyNet, the software can help not-for-profits -- such as those that provide services related to behavioral health, child welfare, after school recreation, job training and senior citizen needs -- evaluate and document the success of their programs more effectively. The record keeping and analysis that can be performed with IBM SafetyNet can improve budgetary accountability, lead decision makers to design better programs, and enable staff to spend more time helping clients instead of performing paperwork. Data analysis offered by the software also enables social service providers to pinpoint and address gaps in their client service.

Documenting their programs' success is a prerequisite for continued funding from government and private sources, which sometimes contract with not-for-profits sector to provide social services. (Local governments in the U.S. spend $136 billion annually to fund such social service programs, according to The Urban Institute.) Yet, analyzing information can be a time-consuming and expensive task for many organizations, particularly small agencies with limited staff. IBM SafetyNet can help the contracting agencies, and the local government departments funding those agencies, collaborate more efficiently.

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House in New York City, a not-for-profit that tested IBM SafetyNet, reported that the technology had the potential to enable the organization to spend approximately 30% more time with clients. Said Christopher Hanway, Executive Director of Jacob A. Riis: "When we helped test the technology, IBM SafetyNet provided the hub of our information gathering, reporting, and program evaluation protocol. We became better equipped to respond to data requests in a timelier manner with more accurate data. It was very helpful in the reporting back and managing of government contracts. We've also used the software successfully to figure out how we can serve clients better, whether it's fine tuning a senior citizens program, or afterschool tutoring for high school students."

IBM SafetyNet was deployed as part of a pilot testing program to a handful of New York City nonprofit social service organizations called "settlement houses." These agencies have existed for more than 100 years and typically provide a gamut of services to entire families. In the U.S., these organizations historically specialized in education and workplace assistance to socially and economically challenged immigrants, but their mission has expanded to disadvantaged families of all types.

To develop SafetyNet, IBM collaborated with United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), an association of New York City settlement houses. UNH is piloting SafetyNet at least four of its affiliates, includingHudson Guild, a settlement house serving low-income communities in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. The Guild's programs include early childhood, after school and summer camp, teen and young adult services, a senior center, a mental health clinic, and performing and visual arts programs. Hudson Guild is testing SafetyNet to analyze results of the free test preparation that it provided to students taking the NYC Specialized High School exam.

To view a brief video in which Hudson Guild shares its experience with IBM SafetyNet, please go here.

IBM SafetyNet was developed expressly for this grant program. It uses a combination of open source technology and software from IBM Curam, whose commercial products are designed to improve the productivity of organizations involved in social services, including healthcare, pensions, and disability. It is hosted in IBM's cloud, better protecting information than if it were stored on a PC, and making it more easily accessible to staff wherever they happen to be.

"IBM has a vested interest in ensuring prosperity, education and well being in the communities in which IBM employees live and work," said Stanley S. Litow, President of IBM's International Foundation. "To help bring that about, IBM offers Impact Grants of pro bono consulting services and technology to communities. For those projects, IBMers work with civic, social and economic organizations in public-private partnerships. IBM SafetyNet is consistent with that mission and is the latest grant program in IBM's corporate citizenship portfolio."

Through October 31, interested organizations can apply for the technology and installation support by going to www.ibmsafetynet.org. IBM will evaluate a variety of criteria when choosing grant recipients. Evaluation criteria include demonstrated commitment; staff that can help manage the technology's deployment; and ability and willingness to analyze data.

With a value of approximately $300,000 for each installation, IBM is prepared to make 12 grants annually over five years for a total market value of at least $18 million.

Tweet me:.@IBM's $18m grant program uses cloud computing to help NGOs improve service #IBMSafetyNet http://bit.ly/2cZLMcX

KEYWORDS: Technology, Business & Trade, IBM, 2015 CR Report

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

Today we begin our features on the 2016 Ideas that Matter grant winners. This week we take a look at Design Museum Foundation’s work for Extraordinary Playscapes.They plan to create Playground Passports, outdoor kiosks, a website, and a catalog to amplify the reach of a national traveling exhibition on the design and importance of imaginative outdoor play.

To learn more about their project, please visit: http://bit.ly/2cn9AqP

To learn more about Sappi North America's Ideas that Matter program, please visit: http://bit.ly/1jm9Vfc

Tweet me:Take a deeper look into @DesignMuseumFdn’s work with #ExtraordinaryPlayscapes for @SappiNA's #IdeasthatMatter program:http://bit.ly/2e5xTQA

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Sappi, Ideas that Matter, print, Graphic Design, Social Good, grant

October 10 marks the start on board the ships of the Costa fleet in the Mediterranean of awareness-raising activities to support the project "Pink is Good", promoted by the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi.

SOURCE:Carnival Corporation & plc

DESCRIPTION:

Genoa, October 13, 2016 /3BL Media/ – To coincide with breast cancer prevention month, Costa Cruises has announced the beginning of a series of awareness-raising activities from October 10 to the end of the month on board its ships deployed in the Mediterranean.  The initiatives are being staged in support of the “Pink is Good” project carried out by the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, which has always been at the forefront of efforts to prevent and cure breast cancer.

Thanks to the fundraising activity promoted by Costa, cruise guests will be able to make an active contribution by helping to fund a scholarship for a deserving young Italian researcher.  At the same time, an information campaign will be conducted on board with the aim of conveying the mission and values of “Pink is Good”, a Fondazione Umberto Veronesi project that has the set objective of finally beating breast cancer by promoting prevention and providing annual support for many medical researchers.

“Thanks to enlightened and forward-thinking partners such as Costa Cruises we can provide ongoing support for more and more of the most deserving researchers who have decided to dedicate their lives and work to the study and treatment of breast cancer, a disease that affects over 48,000 women in Italy every year.  Above all, by supporting the scientific research of the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi you are also forming a new generation of scientists of the highest level,” explained Fondazione Umberto Veronesi General Director Dr. Monica Ramaioli.

“We are proud to support the 'Pink is Good' campaign. There will be a total of 9 of our fleet ships involved.  The goal is, on the one hand, to make a significant contribution to the awareness-raising efforts of the Foundation and, on the other, to give tangible support to their research by donating all the proceeds from these events in October entirely to the Foundation,” said Costa Cruises Sustainability and External Relations Director Stefania Lallai.   

Pink is the color of the campaign and pink hues will set the tone on the Costa ships participating in the project.  Special events will include a “Pink Day”, when guests can make their own donations to the cause and help advance research, for example by buying one of the delicious non-alcoholic pinkcocktails or a pinkmask in preparation for the “Notte in Maschera” (Costume Party Soirée).  The company is also organizing a special marathon on the external decks of the ships and runners will be able to support the Foundation by purchasing their race bibs on board.  Last but not least, during the "Pink" events onboard souvenir portraits will be taken and printed with a pink frame; guests can purchase them later, again with the proceeds going to scientific research.

Breast cancer prevention month will also provide a chance to inform Costa guests about the related issues: a video will be broadcast in their cabins illustrating the details of the “Pink is Good” campaign, accompanied by a study pack and a schedule of all the “pink” happenings on board included in the diario di bordo (onboard daily program).  Thanks to Costa’s engagement, guests will also be invited to take part in drawing and painting activities designed to convey the message and values underpinning the “Pink is Good” project.

For further information:

Costa Cruises

Press Office -  Tel. +39 010 5483523 / 010 5483068 -  costapressoffice@costa.it

Gabriele Baroni – Communication Director – Cell +39 3497668013 - baroni@costa.it

Press releases and photos available at www.costapresscenter.com

Tweet me:.@CarnivalPLC's @CostaCruises supports @pinkisgood_fuv w/ @Fondaz_Veronesi to fight #breastcancer http://bit.ly/2dceuY9

Contact Info:

Claire West
LDWWgroup
claire@ldwwgroup.com

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Costa Cruises, pink is good, Mediterranean, #Awareness, Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, cure, fight breast cancer, fundraising activity, scholarship, pink day

With: AT&T Aspire International Champion Ruth Agyei, Specialist, Business Administration

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@ConnectToGood "A Conversation on Mentoring" http://soc.att.com/2e8yst1 #ATTimpact

KEYWORDS: Education, Philanthropy, AT&T, Mentoring, Aspire, champion, EMEA, students, Teachers, Sponsor

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

Pat O’Brien is a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter who works each day to find loving, permanent homes for children in foster care.

I’ve been working to find adoptive homes for children in foster care for 30 years. After 18 years working at a nonprofit, that I founded, called “You Gotta Believe!” which focuses on finding permanent families for youth on the verge of aging out, I moved on to become a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) recruiter. It was a job I knew well as I worked with these men and women for 18 years before deciding that I too should be a recruiter.

The job comes with many challenges and sometimes the largest challenge is convincing the employees of residential care that there really are committed families who want to give forever homes to the young in danger of aging out. When we use our Child-Focused Recruitment strategy we are only looking for people who care about our youth and will sign up for a lifetime commitment.  Hence, the next family we recruit will have a dramatically different parenting philosophy from all the previous parents that this youth had.    

One story that sticks out is a young boy who lived with his great grandparents.…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:Pat, a @Wendys Wonderful Kids recruiter, says "you gotta believe" that a #foreverfamily is out there http://bit.ly/29Qrzug @DTFA

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

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on WHO

Our modern way of life is a major cause of many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Initially lifestyle diseases of industrialized countries, they have long since reached developing countries and lead to serious consequences and tremendous costs for health care systems worldwide. Above all, the implementation of sustainable solutions calls for political action.

The biggest health threats worldwide do not always attract headlines, but confronting them is an urgent challenge. Chronic, lifestyle-related diseases – such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, known collectively as noncommunicable diseases – are the deadliest diseases of our time: these diseases kill 16 million people each year before their 70th birthdays. Too often, these diseases are accepted as inevitable. They are not

Click here to continue reading the full commentary.

Tweet me:Dr. Margaret Chan & Michael Bloomberg: Political will needed to win fight against noncommunicable diseases #WHO http://bit.ly/2e2zhUl

KEYWORDS: Health, Philanthropy, Politics, public health, WHO, Children, Medicine, vaccines, disease, Death, UN, united nations, world health organization

World Food Day 2016 is the start of a new 1,000 Day initiative for Nutrilite™ Power of 5 Campaign

SOURCE:Amway

DESCRIPTION:

October 16, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Amway announced today that the Nutrilite™ Power of 5 Campaign has exceed its 2016 goal of providing nutrition to more than 14,000 malnourished children by distributing more than 5 million servings of Nutrilite™ Little Bits™. By year’s end, the campaign will have served 30,000 children in 15 countries around the globe.

Today, on World Food Day, Amway further announced a new goal – over the next 1,000 days the campaign will expand to provide nutrition to more than 500,000 malnourished children by the end of 2019.  The first 1,000 days of development are most critical for the child’s survival and ability to grow and learn. It’s been proven that an individual’s lifelong health is influenced by nutritional choices during this time, including a predisposition to obesity and certain chronic diseases.

“Over the course of the next 1,000 days, the Nutrilite™ Power of 5 Campaign will continue to expand in size and scope. We will involve more countries, more partners and more children,” said Jeff Terry, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Amway. “We are thrilled with the support we’ve gotten so far. Our Amway Business Owners and employees are very involved in helping ensure that Nutrilite™ Little Bits™ micronutrient powder reaches as many malnourished children as possible.”

Nutrilite™ Little Bits™ is a micronutrient powder enhanced with plant nutrients that provides 15 essential vitamins and minerals for children 6 months to 5 years old. The powder is delivered in a one-gram packet that families can mix into a child’s food once a day.

“As the world’s number one selling brand of vitamins and dietary supplements*, Nutrilite™ is in the ideal position to impact childhood malnutrition,” said Terry. “To help bring solutions to the issue, success hinges on effective partnerships – a combination of private sector expertise and innovation with nonprofit and government organizations.”

To support Amway’s efforts and find additional information about the Nutrilite™ Power of 5 Campaign, visit powerof5.nutrilite.com.

###

About Nutrilite™ 
Nutrilite™ exclusively by Amway is the world's #1 selling brand of vitamins and dietary supplements* developed for personal daily vitamin and mineral nutrition, heart health, strong bones and weight management. Backed by 80 years of science and research, the Nutrilite™ team has perfected a proprietary “seed to supplement” practice to preserve quality and maximize the consistency, efficacy and safety of its products. The Nutrilite™ brand is the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest and process plants on its own certified organic farms*, located in the United States, Mexico and Brazil. The Nutrilite™ Global Phytonutrient Report, commissioned by the Nutrilite™ Health Institute, provides an examination of global fruit and vegetable intake, availability, and potential impacts on health. More information at: globalnews.amway.com/global-phytonutrient-report.

About the Nutrilite™ Power of 5 Campaign
Amway created the Nutrilite™ Power of 5 Campaign to build awareness of childhood malnutrition, the critical role nutrition plays in early childhood development and, ultimately, to help more children reach their 5th birthday, which is a critical milestone in human development. The campaign launched in May 2014 and has improved the daily nutritional value of thousands of malnourished children’s diets.

The campaign also raises funds for the distribution of Nutrilite™ Little Bits™ micronutrient powder as part of established non-governmental organization programs that distribute food, provide education and measure children’s growth. For additional information or to make a donation, please visit powerof5.nutrilite.com

About Amway
Amway is a $9.5 billion direct selling business based in Ada, Michigan, USA. Top-selling brands for Amway are Nutrilite™ vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, Artistry™ skincare and color cosmetics and eSpring™ water treatment systems – all sold exclusively by Amway Business Owners. Global sales in 2014 made Amway the No. 1 direct selling business in the world, according to the Direct Selling News 2015 Global 100. The company’s annual sales figure includes revenue from direct selling operations and other business holdings. For company news, visit globalnews.amway.com.

*Based on population data available about the specific markets and surveys conducted in China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam between May 2013 - June 2014 by an independent research firm.

Tweet me:#WorldFoodDay2016 begins new 1K-day initiative for @Amway's #Nutrilite #Powerof5 campaign http://bit.ly/2cZGeiy #malnutrition #WFD2016

KEYWORDS: Health, Corporate Social Responsibility, Amway, Nutrilite, Power of 5, childhood malnutrition

By Tina Morefield, AT&T Director, Community Engagement

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@ConnectToGood "AT&T Employees Break Records for Stop Hunger Now" http://soc.att.com/2e8zO75 #ATTimpact #ATTemployee @Stop_Hunger_Now

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Diversity & Human Resources, AT&T, Stop Hunger Now, meals, Employee Engagement, ERG conference, employee resource group, Hunger, record breaking

Up To 150 Emergency Medical Drone Flights a Day

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

US, Atlanta and Kigali, Rwanda, October 14, 2016 /3BL Media/  - Today, Rwandan President Paul Kagame launched the world’s first national drone delivery service during a ceremony in the country’s centrally located Muhanga District. Starting today, the Rwandan government will begin using drones to make up to 150 on-demand, emergency deliveries per day of life-saving blood to 21 transfusing facilities located in the western half of the country.

The drones and delivery service are built and operated by Zipline, a California-based robotics company. While Rwanda’s drone delivery service will initially focus on blood, an international partnership between UPS, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Zipline will help the country quickly expand the types of medicines and lifesaving vaccines that can be delivered.

"Drones are very useful, both commercially and for improving services in the health sector. We are happy to be launching this innovative technology and to continue working with partners to develop it further,” said Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

The Global Problem

Throughout the developing world, access to lifesaving and critical health products is hampered by what is known as the last-mile problem: the inability to deliver needed medicine from a city to rural or remote locations due to lack of adequate transportation, communication and supply chain infrastructure.

In Rwanda, postpartum hemorrhaging is the leading cause of death for pregnant women. Blood requires storage and transport at safe temperatures and spoils quickly. Because there are many different blood products and no way to accurately project future needs, many transfusion clinics do not keep all the blood they may need in stock.

During Rwanda’s lengthy rainy season, many roads wash out becoming impassible or non-existent.  The result is that all too often someone in need of a lifesaving transfusion cannot access the blood they need to survive.

The Solution

Rwanda’s national drone delivery program enables blood transfusion clinics across the Western half of the country to place emergency orders by cell phone text message. The orders are then received by Zipline at its at its distribution center located in the country’s Muhanga region where the company maintains a fleet of 15 drones, called Zips.

Each Zip can fly up to 150 km round trip—even in wind and rain—and carry 1.5kg of blood, which is enough to save a person's life. Zips take off and land at the Nest, and make deliveries by descending close to the ground and air dropping medicine to a designated spot called a “mailbox” near the health centers they serve. Zipline will make 50-150 emergency flights a day to 21 transfusion clinics across the Western Half of Rwanda and can fulfill orders in around 30 minutes.

Rwanda plans to expand Zipline’s drone delivery service to the Eastern half of the country in early 2017, putting almost every one of the country’s 11 million citizens within reach of instant delivery of lifesaving medicines.

“The inability to deliver life saving medicines to the people who need them the most causes millions of preventable deaths each year around the world. Zipline will help solve that problem once and for all,” said Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo. “We’ve built an instant delivery system for the world, allowing medicine to be delivered on-demand and at low-cost, anywhere.”

Rwanda and Beyond

The commercial partnership between Rwanda and Zipline is expected to save thousands of lives over the next three years. Through this effort, Rwanda is leading the world by using cutting-edge technology to leapfrog the absence of road infrastructure and to provide cutting edge healthcare access to all its 11 million citizens.

The work in Rwanda is being further supported by an international partnership between Zipline, UPS and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Thanks to a $1.1 million grant from the UPS Foundation, the partnership will study Rwanda’s blood drone delivery operation with an eye towards helping the country quickly expanding the types of medicines and lifesaving vaccines that can be delivered.

Leveraging UPS’s extensive global supply chain and logistics expertise, Gavi’s deep public health and vaccine knowledge, and Zipline’s cutting edge last-mile delivery technology, the partnership hopes to use the knowledge gained in Rwanda and export it around the world.

UPS’s logistics expertise and resources are expected to play a critical role in helping the partnership to expand the reach of this important work. The company was actually able to transport the entire Zipline system from California to Rwanda in record time in a “Browntail” cargo plane, helping to ensure Zipline’s distribution center could be constructed in just four weeks.

"One of the most important focus areas for The UPS Foundation is to spark public-private partnerships that create powerful scale and drive demonstrable impact in support of global humanitarian aid and relief," said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer at UPS.

“The shared belief in the ability to save lives through applied innovation, combined with Rwanda's vision, is now not only poised to advance humanitarian logistics – and logistics as we know it – around the world, but also to save lives. Now is when our partnership between The UPS Foundation, Gavi and Zipline counts most, as we see the first operational missions dedicated to shipping lifesaving blood, and keep our eye on what the future can bring for other life-saving commodities, as well as for other parts of the world.”

“Drones have the potential to revolutionise the way we reach remote communities with emergency medical supplies. The hours saved delivering blood products or a vaccine for someone who has been exposed to rabies with this technology could make the difference between life and death,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“This project will also act as an important test for whether drones are a viable way to improve targeted vaccine delivery around the world. Every child deserves basic, lifesaving vaccines. This technology could be an important step towards ensuring they get them.”

Over the course of the next year, and with the support of the partnership with UPS and Gavi, Zipline plans to expand drone delivery services to countries across Africa and the Americas. Additionally, Zipline recently announced plans at the White House to expand it service to the United States, where it will serve Indian reservations in Maryland, Nevada, and Washington State.

Media Assets: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cy2tuim7jsqerml/AADC4ndSWX8jAOmAG_ePmbjoa?dl=0

About Zipline

Zipline is a robotics company based in California. The company—which includes seasoned aerospace veterans who previously worked at companies and organizations like SpaceX, Google, Boeing, and NASA—designs and manufactures autonomous aircraft for delivering lifesaving medicine to the world’s most difficult to reach places .

Zipline’s long-term mission is to build instant delivery for the planet, allowing medicines and other products to be delivered on demand and at low cost without using a drop of gasoline. Zipline is supported by some of the smartest investors in the world, including: Sequoia Capital, Google Ventures, SV Angel, Subtraction Capital, Yahoo founder Jerry Yang, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Stanford University.

About UPS

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 2015, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $110 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To get UPS news directly, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow @UPS_News and @UPS_Foundation.

About Gavi

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines.

Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of nearly 580 million children and the prevention of approximately 8 million future deaths. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is funded by governments (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Russia, South Africa, Spain, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States), the European Commission, Alwaleed Philanthropies, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as private and corporate partners (Absolute Return for Kids, Anglo American plc., The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Comic Relief, the ELMA Vaccines and Immunization Foundation, The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (IFPW), the Gulf Youth Alliance, JP Morgan, “la Caixa” Foundation, LDS Charities, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Majid Al Futtaim, Phillips, UPS and Vodafone.

Tweet me:Rwanda Launches World’s First National Drone Delivery Service Powered By Zipline - http://buff.ly/2dNuGmQ

Contact Info:

Glenn Zaccara
UPS
+1 (404) 828-4663
gzaccara@ups.com

KEYWORDS: Technology, Philanthropy, drones, Rwanda, UPS, GAVI, Zipline, Healthcare