Twenty-Third Annual Golf Tournament Raised More than $100,000

SOURCE:CITGO Petroleum Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

MILFORD, Conn., November 28, 2016 /3BL Media/- CITGO Petroleum Marketer Consumers Petroleum recently hosted its 23rd annual Golf Tournament at the Great River Golf Course in Milford, Conn., raising more than $100,000 for the State of Connecticut Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Over the course of 23 years, Consumers Petroleum has raised more than $1.3 million for the MDA.

“These funds have made a huge impact on the lives of those affected with muscular dystrophy here in Connecticut,” said Chasity Bothman, Executive Director, MDA of the State of Connecticut. “The money raised supports a variety of our efforts in the fight to end neuromuscular disease, including research, our care centers, equipment loan closets and summer camp.”

As part of the event, participants enjoyed an exciting round of 18 holes, a men’s and women’s closest to the pin competition, longest drive contests, raffles and silent and live auctions. Also during the event, Dana Parrott, a child diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), spoke to attendees about the impact that MDA has had on her life. 

“We are honored to have a hand in helping to empower those affected by neuromuscular disease, like Dana,” said Mary Sonatore, Senior Marketing Manager, Consumers Petroleum. “Over the years, our partners have been so generous in sponsoring the event. From participating in the tournament, to donating raffle items, we could not make such an impact for this incredible association without them, and we truly appreciate their support.” 

As MDA’s largest corporate sponsor, CITGO and its employees, along with its network of locally-owned Marketers, such as Consumers Petroleum, and Retailers, are celebrating a 30-year partnership that has raised nearly $200 million for the nonprofit health organization since CITGO and the MDA began working together in 1986. 

To learn more about MDA and how you can get involved, visit www.mda.org. For more information about the partnership between CITGO and the MDA, visit www.citgo.com.

About MDA 
MDA is leading the fight to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harm of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life. We use our collective strength to help kids and adults live longer and grow stronger by finding research breakthroughs across diseases; caring for individuals from day one; and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America. Learn how you can fund cures, find care and champion the cause at www.mda.org. 

About CITGO 
CITGO is committed to giving back to the local communities it serves through its network of locally owned locations. CITGO Marketers and Retailers in Connecticut, like Consumers Petroleum, own and operate more than 160 CITGO locations and are proud to support their communities. For more information on the positive impact of the locally owned CITGO stations, visit www.fuelinggood.com.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

Tweet me:Twenty-Third Annual Consumers Petroleum MDA Golf Tournament Raised More than $100,000 for Connecticut Chapter of MDA http://bit.ly/2gazd3G

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Energy, Oil & Gas

America’s Leading Sock Brand Donates 200,000 Pairs of Socks to The Salvation Army and Adds Donation Sites at 160 HanesBrands Outlet Stores Nationwide

SOURCE:HanesBrands Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., November 28, 2016 /3BL Media/ – It has been said that we rise by lifting others, and Hanes, America’s No. 1 apparel label and flagship brand of HanesBrands (NYSE: HBI), is encouraging all Americans to support the homeless by participating in its national sock drive during the holiday season.

Hanes today announced that it will donate 200,000 pairs of socks to The Salvation Army and is expanding this year’s effort by coordinating the collection of new socks at 160 HanesBrands Outlet stores across the country.

“Walking a mile in someone’s shoes takes on a much different meaning when that person is homeless,” said Sidney Falken, chief branding officer for HanesBrands. “Socks are the most requested – and least donated – item in homeless shelters. And access to something as basic as a clean, dry pair of socks can literally save lives within our country’s homeless population.”

According to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, an estimated 2.5 million to 3.5 million Americans experienced homelessness last year. One of the impacts of homelessness is the physical toll. People who are homeless walk an average of 10 miles per day, putting more wear on their socks in one week than the average American does in one year.

HanesBrands has donated more than 1.9 million pairs of socks to The Salvation Army since launching the program in 2009. The program is part of Hanes for Good, the company’s corporate social responsibility program focused on environmental stewardship, workplace quality and community building.

Lt. Col. Ron Busroe, The Salvation Army’s national community relations and development secretary, said: “We are grateful to the company and Hanes brand for spearheading the sock drive for almost a decade. The impact that a donation of this size has on our centers is immeasurable. The donation is about more than just the physical socks — for some of the people we serve, receiving something as simple as a clean pair of socks can have a positive effect on their overall well-being.”

Consumers can join in this effort – and directly support their local communities through sock donations – by visiting one of 160 HanesBrands Outlet stores across the country. Collection bins are located at checkout counters, making it easy to donate as purchases are made. Store employees will distribute the donated socks to local nonprofit organizations.

“During the holidays, our giving spirit and best intentions can sometimes be hindered by our demanding schedules,” Falken said. “With sock collection bins in our outlet locations, Hanes is making it much easier for our customers to help their neighbors in need.”

Visit Hanes.com/hanesforgood for information on additional ways to give during the holiday season.   

Hanes
Hanes, America's No. 1 apparel brand, is a leading brand of intimate apparel, underwear, sleepwear, socks and casual apparel. Hanes products can be found at leading retailers nationwide and online direct to consumers at www.Hanes.com.  Hanes is a flagship brand of Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE: HBI).

HanesBrands
HanesBrands, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., is a socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia/Pacific under some of the world's strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Playtex, DIM, Bali, Maidenform, Bonds, JMS/Just My Size, L'eggs, Wonderbra, Nur Die/Nur Der, Lovable, Berlei, and Gear for Sports. The company sells T-shirts, bras, panties, shapewear, underwear, socks, hosiery, and activewear produced in the company's low-cost global supply chain. A member of the S&P 500 stock index, Hanes has approximately 70,000 employees in more than 40 countries and is ranked No. 448 on the Fortune 500 list of America's largest companies by sales. Hanes takes pride in its strong reputation for ethical business practices. The company is the only apparel producer to ever be honored by the Great Place to Work Institute for its workplace practices in Central America and the Caribbean, and is ranked No. 167 on the Forbes magazine list of America's Best Employers. For seven consecutive years, Hanes has won the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star sustained excellence/partner of the year award – the only apparel company to earn sustained excellence honors. The company ranks No. 172 on Newsweek magazine's green list of 500 largest U.S. companies for environmental achievement. More information about the company and its corporate social responsibility initiatives, including environmental, social compliance and community improvement achievements, may be found at www.Hanes.com/corporate.

The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Approximately 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

Contacts:

Carole Crosslin                                                                              
HanesBrands                                              
336-519-3201                                                 
Carole.Crosslin@hanes.com

Jamie Wallis
HanesBrands
336-519-4758
Jamie.Wallis@hanes.com

Tweet me:.@Hanes donates 200,000 pairs of socks to @SalvationArmyUS http://bit.ly/2fFLcTO

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, Hanes, Salvation Army, HanesBrands, Sidney Falken, National Law Center on Homeless and Poverty, Hanes for Good, Lt. Col. Ron Busroe, champion, Playtex, Bali, Maidenform

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

Ideas that Matter winner McSweeney’s created an anthology of student work from each of 826 National’s seven chapters. 826 is a network of nonprofit organizations dedicated to inspiring students to cultivate their writing skills—encouraging them to share their voices, explore creativity and imagine a brighter future.

To learn more about their project, please visit: http://bit.ly/2eZ3ejc

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

Tweet me:#IdeasthatMatter winner @McSweeneys is finding ways to help @826National encourage reading and writing with kids: http://bit.ly/2enrVZ9

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, grant, Sappi, anthology, Graphic Design, publishing, Social Good, Ideas that Matter, writing

SOURCE:MicroEdge + Blackbaud

DESCRIPTION:

Get excited (if you aren’t already): #GivingTuesday 2016 is finally here. Even if your team hasn’t done much to prepare ahead of time, taking a few small actions now could help make a bigger difference during this global day of giving. If you have just one hour left to plan for the big day, spend 90 seconds of that time with our quick guide for some last-minute ideas and inspiration.

For more #GivingTuesday tips and how to maximize impact for your foundation, please visit https://www.givingtuesday.org/ and https://www.blackbaud.com/GivingTuesday. 

Please also visit The MicroEdge + Blackbaud Resource Hub for latest trends and insights for the social good community. 

Tweet me:#CSR Leaders: Facing tight deadlines? Try this 1 hour #GivingTuesday plan just for you! http://bit.ly/2gaFKLT @MicroEdgeLLC

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Media & Communications, MicroEdge, GivingTuesday

SOURCE:MicroEdge + Blackbaud

DESCRIPTION:

Calling all champions for social good: #GivingTuesday 2016 is finally here. Even if you haven’t done a lot to prepare ahead of time, taking a few small actions now could help make a bigger difference during this worldwide event. If you had one hour left to prepare, spend 90 seconds of that time with our quick guide for some last-minute inspiration.

For more #GivingTuesday tips and how to maximize impact for your foundation, please visit https://www.givingtuesday.org/ and https://www.blackbaud.com/GivingTuesday. 

Please also visit The MicroEdge + Blackbaud Resource Hub for latest trends and insights for the social good community. 

Tweet me:#GivingTuesday is tomorrow! Here are 3 things your foundation can do in 1 HOUR to maximize impact frm @MicroEdgeLLC http://bit.ly/2gbkrtt

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, MicroEdge, #givingtuesday

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on First Coast News

Growing up, we all have our heroes. For most little kids it might be a policeman or a fireman, but for one little boy in St. John's county, it's the men that do a thankless job everyday, and what they do for him will warm your heart.

Watch the full story on First Coast News

Tweet me:.@RepublicServices employees make little boy's day every week. Watch the full story on @FCN2go http://fcnews.tv/2gPfU14

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Philanthropy, Republic Services, waste management, good citizenship, Role Models, First Coast News, garbage men, acts of kindness

By Mike Bloomberg

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on Standard Digital.

Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and one of the most promising regions for international investment. This growth could be accelerated by addressing a fixable problem: lack of good data.
 Reliable, accessible data plays a critical role in any economy. 

Investors require data before making decisions, and the more complete and up-to-date the data, the greater their willingness to invest. Data also helps public officials make sound decisions that promote growth and innovation, and enables citizens to hold government and business accountable. 

Click here to continue reading the full article.

Tweet me:.@MikeBloomberg: Data can fuel Africa's economic growth http://bit.ly/2fGrHe5

KEYWORDS: Technology, Business & Trade, Government, Mike Bloomberg, africa

SOURCE:Novartis

SUMMARY:

• Rwanda becomes third country to launch Novartis Access portfolio against chronic diseases with first deliveries planned in early 2017
• Since September 2015, Novartis Access has delivered more than 100,000 monthly treatments to Kenya, Ethiopia and Lebanon*
• First-year learnings underline broader systemic issues in roll-out countries

DESCRIPTION:

BASEL, Switzerland, November 29, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Novartis announced today that Rwanda is the third country to sign a memorandum of understanding with Novartis Access after Kenya and Ethiopia. This agreement contributes to the strategy of the Rwandan government to increase investment in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). First Novartis Access product deliveries are expected in early 2017.

The announcement was made during an event on Improving care for chronic patients in lower-income countries hosted by Novartis Access and the Novartis Foundation. The dialogue convened public health experts, government representatives, NGOs and academia. Together they explored ways to improve the continuum of care for patients suffering from chronic conditions in lower-income countries.

Novartis Access is a portfolio of 15 on- and off-patent medicines against key chronic diseases, which is offered to governments and public-sector customers at a price of USD 1 per treatment per month. Since the program’s launch in September 2015, more than 100,000 monthly treatments have been delivered to Kenya, Ethiopia and Lebanon*. Capacity-building activities to screen and diagnose people for diabetes and hypertension have started in Kenya, and discussions are ongoing to introduce the program in more than 10 countries across three continents. Preparing the ground for future country roll-outs, 312 products have been submitted to health authorities for regulatory approval in 19 countries.

“Novartis is committed to bringing affordable drugs to people in lower-income countries – but affordability is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Joseph Jimenez, Chief Executive Officer of Novartis. “Addressing the underlying causes of poor health at the scale needed in these countries requires that governments and NGOs collaborate with companies to incorporate private-sector expertise and resources. This isn’t just desirable, it’s essential.”

Despite progress, the past 12 months have brought to the fore some challenges. In particular, experience on the ground shows that the portfolio approach requires a paradigm shift in how countries procure medicines. In addition, national essential medicines lists are not regularly updated, hindering countries from purchasing Novartis Access medicines. Further, healthcare systems in lower-income countries are often ill-equipped to deliver quality care as they are constrained by an under-investment in infrastructure, which leads to a lack of clinics and hospitals, shortage of medical staff, poor medicine distribution networks and low numbers of trained healthcare providers.

“Programs like Novartis Access can help change the way patients approach chronic diseases,” says Dr. Jonathan Kiliko, Head of Customer Services at Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS). “A virtuous circle of peer education starts when patients know that early diagnosis and treatment can help them live well for many years. They start to teach the rest of the community about the benefits of being screened and treated. This has already been seen in HIV/AIDS, and is likely to be replicated with NCDs.”

As an innovative social business, Novartis Access was recently recognized as best practice in the 2016 Access to Medicine Index. The Index measures the performance of the top-20 pharmaceutical companies to improve access to medicines and healthcare in developing countries. Novartis ranked third in the Index moving up from fourth place in 2014.

Managing NCDs is particularly challenging in lower-income countries as they are faced with the dual disease burden of infectious and chronic diseases.. Twenty-eight million people die every year from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases and cancers in these countries, representing nearly 75% of deaths from NCDs globally¹.

About Novartis Access
Novartis Access is a Group-wide program to help fight chronic diseases in lower-income countries. The Novartis Access portfolio focuses on affordability and availability of 15 on- and off-patent Novartis medicines addressing key diseases areas – cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and breast cancer. The portfolio is offered as a basket to governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other public-sector customers at a price of USD 1 per treatment per month. Beyond the portfolio of medicines, Novartis Access offers capacity-building activities to support healthcare systems in preventing, diagnosing and treating NCDs. We are striving to roll out the program in 30 countries in the coming years – depending on governmental and stakeholder demand – aiming to reach 20 million patients per year by 2020.

Novartis Access is integrated in Novartis Social Business, a unit which includes the Novartis Malaria Initiative and the Novartis Healthy Family programs. This unit is operationally managed by Sandoz, the Novartis generics and biosimilars division.

Disclaimer
This press release contains expressed or implied forward-looking statements, including statements that can be identified by terminology such as “launch,” “planned,” “roll-out,” “expected,” “ongoing,” “roll-outs,” “committed,” “can,” “striving,” “aiming,” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Group regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such statements. These expectations could be affected by, among other things, risks and factors referred to in the Risk Factors section of Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update it in the future.

About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis

For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com

*In Lebanon, Novartis Access medicines are distributed through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Reference
[1] WHO, Noncommunicable diseases fact sheet, January 2015: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs355/en/

Novartis Media Relations
Central media line: +41 61 324 2200
E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com

Novartis Investor Relations
Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944
E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com 

Tweet me:.@Novartis Access shares one-year learnings and announces memorandum of understanding with Rwanda #NovartisAccess http://bit.ly/2fXyWy0

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Health, Access to Medicines, Corporate Responsibility, Novartis, Novartis Access, Novartis Foundation, Partnership

Iconic Community Improvement Nonprofit Debuts New Mission Video, Unveils Multiple Ways to Support Efforts to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

STAMFORD, Conn., November 29, 2016 /3BL Media/— Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading nonprofit that envisions a country where every community is a clean, green and beautiful place to live, today announced the launch of its year-end individual giving campaign, “100,000 Miles of Beautiful Things.” Central to the campaign is the debut of a new Keep America Beautiful Mission Video — “#DoBeautifulThings” — which aims to build upon the organization’s history while introducing a new generation of community stewards to the essential work of Keep America Beautiful.

In the past year, Keep America Beautiful and its national network of more than 620 state and community-based affiliates cleaned, improved and beautified more than 100,000 miles of roads, parks, trails, public spaces, shorelines and waterways across the nation. The organization delivered more than $236 million in measurable benefits to tens of thousands of communities nationwide.
 
To surpass that milestone and help more Americans #DoBeautifulThings, Keep America Beautiful is asking individuals to help raise $100,000 for “100,000 Miles of Beautiful Things” between #GivingTuesday, Nov. 29, and Dec. 31, 2016. For every $1 donated via the “100,000 Miles of Beautiful Things” campaign, Keep America Beautiful’s National Staff and Board of Directors will match the first $25,000. Individuals can contribute via KAB.org or the organization’s Facebook page.

“As we approach our 65th anniversary in 2018, we’re eager to show a new generation of community stewards — those who were not alive when our historic ‘People Start Pollution. People Can Stop It.’ PSA campaign was released in the 1970s — how the work we do continues to make a tangible and substantial economic, environmental and social impact on communities nationwide…and why it matters more today than ever,” said Mike Rosen, senior vice president, marketing and communications, Keep America Beautiful. “Our powerful affiliate network offers a snapshot of America’s diverse urban, suburban and rural communities and the positive impact individuals, working together, can have to effect meaningful and lasting behavior change.”

“Through our signature Great American Cleanup and America Recycles Day programs, among our key educational and motivational programs and resources, more than 5 million individuals volunteer their time annually to help advance our goals and to fulfill a vision of a cleaner, greener and more beautiful America,” said Becky Lyons, chief operating officer, Keep America Beautiful. “A successful year-end fundraising appeal will empower us to build upon our proud history as America’s leading steward in the fight to end littering, improve recycling and beautify America’s communities.”

In addition to the “100,000 Miles of Beautiful Things” campaign, Keep America Beautiful is providing a variety of other ways to contribute during the holiday season:

• Through a “Give $30, Get $20” gift card promotion in which an individual donates $30 or more to Keep America Beautiful and receives a $20 Amazon.com gift card*;
• Making a donation and receiving a free “How Will You?” Keep America Beautiful t-shirt made from 100% recycled content;
• Purchasing a Keep America Beautiful-branded reusable water bottle — the perfect holiday gift — from Liberty Bottleworks, responsibly made in the USA from 100% recycled content by a company that gives hiring preference to Veterans who have served our country; and
• Selecting Keep America Beautiful as the charity of choice when shopping for gifts via Amazon Smile.

“#DoBeautifulThings,” the new Keep America Beautiful Mission Video, was conceived and produced by Oberland, an ad agency for purpose-driven brands. Agency founder Bill Oberlander said, "The strategy for #dobeautifulthings came from understanding what the benefits of clean, green communities are for each individual in it. A clean park to play ball in. A safe neighborhood to walk home through. A green Main Street to open a business on.  It's not about cleaning for clean's sake. It's about changing and improving behaviors which enable a community to #dobeautifulthings."    

About Keep America Beautiful
At Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country where every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 620 state and community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To donate or take action, visit kab.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook, or view us on YouTube.

*Amazon.com is not a sponsor of this campaign. Except as required by law, Amazon.com Gift Cards ("GCs") cannot be transferred for value or redeemed for cash. GCs may be used only for purchases of eligible goods on Amazon.com or certain of its affiliated websites. For complete terms and conditions, see www.amazon.com/gc-legal. GCs are issued by ACI Gift Cards, Inc., a Washington corporation. All Amazon ®, TM & © are IP of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. No expiration date or service fees.

Tweet me:.@kabtweet launches "100,000 Miles of Beautiful Things" year-end #fundraising campaign on #GivingTuesday. http://bit.ly/2fYSHoZ

Contact Info:

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

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

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, Cause Marketing, Keep America Beautiful, 100000 Miles of Beautiful Things, #DoBeautifulThings, #givingtuesday, Great American Cleanup, America Recycles Day, giving tuesday

Written by: Tammy Halevy

SOURCE:IBM

DESCRIPTION:

Small businesses are critical to the American economy, and are particularly important to driving and sustaining economic development in low-income communities.  On Citizen IBM, read about how an IBM Impact Grant helped the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) develop a first-of-its-kind analysis of the size, scope and impact of small businesses in low-income communities. The findings will enable AEO to advance its mission to assist new and established entrepreneurs in these communities.

Read the full blog story here.

To learn more about IBM's Corporate Citizenship Contributions | Review the 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report

Tweet me:.@IBMImpactGrants helps @AEOworks define key issues for #smallbiz http://bit.ly/2dturcO

Contact Info:

Kristina Kloberdanz
IBM Corporate Citizenship and Community Affairs
kristina@us.ibm.com

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Philanthropy, IBM

Ever wonder what engineering students and software engineers get up to at Bloomberg's Engineering Discovery Day?

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:#Bloomberg Discovery Day: #MannequinChallenge http://bit.ly/2fXRkXI

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Human Resources, engineering, Science, Technology, Corporate, mannequin challenge, bloomberg hq, New York, tech, jobs, Interns

SOURCE:Kimberly-Clark Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

With little warning, Kimberly-Clark employees responded with locally made products from its Beech Island mill to assist over two-thousand evacuees from Hurricane Matthew.

Imagine watching the news coverage and knowing that a huge hurricane is barreling down on the Caribbean, and is headed toward the Southeastern United States. The states of Georgia and South Carolina called for the evacuation of over 1.5 million people from the coastal areas. Evacuees would have to leave their homes and travel 100 miles away, only to live in a school gym for a few days or possibly longer. 

Instinct is to grab priceless treasures, pictures, mementos and family heirlooms, and leave immediately. Most people, however, don’t take the other essentials we sometimes take for granted – paper towels, toilet paper, or diapers. Once you arrive at the shelter, you realize that there are certain basic items you need to just get by. Additionally, the host city is working as fast as it can to accommodate a large influx of people.

Fortunately for the evacuees to Augusta, the Beech Island mill is just across the river and ready to help out. On the afternoon of September 30, Augusta’s mayor, Hardee Davis, contacted Kimberly-Clark to request a product donation for at least seven temporary shelters. These shelters were to house around 2,500 evacuees from the City of Savannah. 

The Beech Island team rallied to prep a variety of products from its inventory, including diapers, pants, toilet paper, facial tissue and towels, and was ready to get the product loaded when city workers showed up with trucks a few hours later.

“I am glad that we were able to respond quickly to Mayor Davis’ call for assistance,” said John Pownall, Mill Manager, Kimberly-Clark Beech Island. “Our Kimberly-Clark employees were proud to step up and support their community during a time of need.”

Click here to contact us and learn more. 

Tweet me:.@KCCorp employees responded from Beech Island mill, assist 2k evacuees from Hurricane Matthew http://bit.ly/2fZa60q #CSR

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Kimberly-Clark, locally made products, csr, Hurricane Matthew, Georgia and South Carolina

SOURCE:JetBlue Airways

DESCRIPTION:

In a giving mood this Giving Tuesday? Donate your TrueBlue points to your favorite charity today and JetBlue For Good and TrueBlue will match up to 1 million points! JetBlue For Good, the airline’s platform for social impact and corporate responsibility, and the airline’s TrueBlue loyalty program will match up to 1 million TrueBlue points donated through JetBlue’s TrueBlue points donation platform between November 1-30.

The TrueBlue points donation program provides TrueBlue members with an alternate way to use their loyalty points. Members have the choice to use points for future travel or donate them to benefit others. Points can be contributed to numerous charities and non-profits featured in the platform. When members donate points, they go directly to the selected charity. Each charity may use the points for travel for their organization. Visit jetblue.com/donate for more information and to donate to a variety of causes. 

Traveling on JetBlue this Tuesday? Look out for members of the #JetBlueForGood Crew! The #JetBlueForGood team will be onboard a select few flights to surprise customers and encourage acts of giving. Throughout the day, the team will distribute gift cards from DonorsChoose.org  to customers onboard these select flights. Aligning with JetBlue’s focus on education, customers will be able to donate to the school/project of their choice. All schools in the DonorsChoose.org platform are Title 1 schools, providing funding to programs that need it the most.  Additionally, one lucky customer onboard on each of the select flights will receive a $100 gift card to donate to DonorsChoose.org. Customers will also be surprised with other items and upon landing will receive a second $20 gift card to share the gift of giving.

Join the #JetBlueForGood conversation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, check for regular update and get involved.

Tweet me:Donate TrueBlue points today #givingtuesday, #JetBlueForGood and TrueBlue will match up to 1M Points http://bit.ly/2g1v2UX @JetBlue

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, jetblue for good, giving tuesday, Jetblue, nonstop giving, csr

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

Three-quarters (76%) of Millennials consider a company’s social and environmental commitments when deciding where to work and nearly two-thirds (64%) won’t take a job if a potential employer doesn’t have strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, according to the 2016 Cone Communications Millennial Employee Engagement Study. So what do Millennials really want when coming to work? Check out this infographic to learn more.

Tweet me:New @Cone Research INFOGRAPHIC: #EmployeeEngagement...The #Millennial Way http://bit.ly/2fe64Rx #CSR

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Diversity & Human Resources, Employee Engagement, millennials, Research, Cone Communications

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas employees and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation donated a total of $281,777.48 this fall to United Way campaigns

SOURCE:Blue Cross Blue Shield

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@BCBSKS employees and foundation make $281,777 contribution to @UnitedWay http://bit.ly/2fYcy81

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Kansas, United Way, Donations, Fundraising, Employee Engagement, The Power of You

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

The Ray Launches a New Website
What if we reimagine the way we connect our communities, our lives and our world? That’s the question we’re asking about 18 miles of I-85 – the stretch of interstate that connects Ray Anderson’s hometown of West Point, Ga. and the birthplace of his company Interface, LaGrange, Ga. We have a vision to make The Ray the most sustainable highway in the world.

Today we’re sharing the journey – join us and “Ride The Ray” virtually through the new website. Learn about innovative ideas that will reshape our most outdated infrastructure – our federal highway system – and meet the partners who share our vision. How are we doing it? Watch our new video to learn. And join the movement.

Foundation Commits $500,000 to Project Drawdown
The Ray C. Anderson Foundation has awarded a $500,000 challenge grant to Project Drawdown, a global initiative based on meticulous research and subsequent traditional and online publications that analyzes how and when we can reverse global warming. As Project Drawdown is proving, the key is to amplify existing, widely practiced, commonly available, and scientifically proven solutions. Read more.

First Ray of Hope™ Winner is Announced 
A team from the Ceres Regional Center for Fruit and Vegetable Innovation in Chile has won the first-ever $100,000 Ray of Hope Prize™ in the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, an international design competition and accelerator program that crowdsources nature-inspired solutions to big sustainability challenges, such as climate change, food system issues, water management, and alternative energy. Read more.

New Biomimicry Global Design Challenge Focuses on Climate Change Solutions
The Biomimicry Institute and the Ray C. Anderson Foundation are issuing a challenge to look to our planet’s living systems to help solve the greatest issue of our time—climate change.

With the new 2016-17 Biomimicry Global Design Challenge theme, Climate Change: Reversal, Adaptation, and Mitigation, we are mobilizing thousands of students and professionals worldwide to tackle climate-related challenges using biomimicry. The goals are to show how nature-inspired design can provide viable solutions to the current climate crisis and to bring much-needed solutions to market quickly, with the help of the grand prize—the $100,000 Ray of Hope Prize™. Read more and watch the new video.

Happenings at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business
A number of exciting programs are underway at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business in the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.  They've launched a 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, and under their leadership, Georgia Tech has become an Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network University.  They have also launched Immersive Tracks as part of their Sustainability Integration program.  Read more.

NextGen Grants $12,500 to Appalachian Offsets Program
The Ray C. Anderson Foundation’s NextGen Committee has matched a $12,500 grant from the Kendeda Fund to the Western North Carolina Green Building Council (“WNCGBC”) to restart their Appalachian Offsets program. Through this program, businesses and individuals can calculate their carbon footprint and donate an appropriate amount to offset it by funding energy efficiency upgrades for local nonprofits. With more efficient buildings, these nonprofits are able to spend less on utilities and more on accomplishing their charitable missions.  Read more.

RayDay 2016 Was a Blast
RayDay 2016 was a blast, with a record 1,600 people in attendance.  Highlights included a new children's area with interactive booths, lots of live animal displays, static displays of electric vehicles and drawings for Tesla rentals, TOTO toilets and rain barrels painted onsite at the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's Children's Booth.  We were happy to welcome quite a few new exhibitors this year, and we had live interviews by Eric Moncrief, The Green Guy from iHeartRadio, WGST AM640.  Save the date for RayDay 2017 on Sunday, October 15th at Serenbe.

Radio Interviews
The Ray C. Anderson Foundation continues to sponsor “Talk with Green Guy,” a rapidly growing weekly show hosted by Eric Moncrief from iHeartRadio, WGST AM640, which airs locally Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

Click here to listen to the RayDay interview with Ray's grandsons, Jay and John Lanier
Click here to listen to the interview with the Foundation's Senior Fellow, Michael Molitor

Ecocentricity Blog - 11/15/16
Credit Where Credit is Due - No, we don’t get the credit. The Ray does. They have done the work (amazing work), and all the Foundation does is write the check. Read more.

Note: Ecocentricity is available by weekly subscription and can be delivered to your e-mail box automatically every Wednesday.  When you click through to the blog, enter your information in the orange box in the right column to subscribe.

In the Spotlight
The U.S. Green Building Council announced the winners of its 2016 Leadership Awards. at the USGBC Leadership Awards Luncheon at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Los Angeles on October 6th.

John Picard, our advisory board member, and longtime friend and advisor to Ray C. Anderson, was one of the recipients. Picard is founder and CEO of John Picard & Associates. He was a key consultant in the Greening of the White House under President Clinton and he is a founding member of USGBC. Read more.

Upcoming Events
Captain Planet Foundation Benefit Gala - December 9, 2016 -  Purchase tickets
Southface Winter Solstice Event -  December 15, 2016 - Register Here
RayDay 2017 - October 15, 2017

Tweet me:Ray C. Anderson Foundation's November Newsletter is now live http://bit.ly/2fxUci0 @johnalanierRCAF @LangfordPhill @allienkelly

Contact Info:

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

KEYWORDS: Environment & Climate Change, Energy, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, biomimicry, Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, Project Drawdown, Ride the Ray, The Ray, Ray Day 2016

Increasing Access to Care by Providing 30 Clinics with Educational Tools to Best Serve Underinsured Patients

SOURCE:Baxter International Inc.

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DEERFIELD, Ill., November 29, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Baxter International Foundation and Americares are launching a new oral health project to help combat the negative impact poor oral hygiene can have on patients’ overall health.

The Americares Oral Health Project will give 30 Americares partner clinics across the United States the capacity to deliver oral health education to uninsured, underinsured and low-income patients. Baxter International Foundation is funding the year-long initiative with a nearly $75,000 grant to Americares, the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and supplies.

A lack of dental care disproportionately affects low-income individuals’ overall health and socio-economic status; an estimated 164 million work hours are lost each year due to oral disease. In addition, the Mayo Clinic has found oral health may contribute to various diseases and conditions like endocarditis, cardiovascular disease and premature birth.

The Americares Oral Health Project will train partner clinic staff to integrate oral health education and introduce preventive measures for dental health issues in a primary care setting. In the United States, Americares supports a network of 1,000 clinics and health centers serving 5 million patients in need with medicine, supplies, education and training.

The new program includes a customized “Train the Trainer” webinar series, created in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Advancement, to educate partner clinic staff on how to integrate basic oral health education materials, including those designed for patients with low literacy, into primary and dental care settings. The training sessions will each entail three, one-hour educational modules accompanied by an oral health instructional book, “What to Do for Healthy Teeth” intended for children and adults. The book is an easy-to-follow, elementary guide developed by two dentists covering an extensive range of oral health topics on how to care for every tooth in adults and for children from birth to age 18.

“Baxter is steadfast in our commitment to help provide access to healthcare,” said Stacey Eisen, president of the Baxter International Foundation and vice president, global communications at Baxter. “Our partnership with Americares and the launch of the oral health initiative is paving a new avenue that can engage vulnerable, underserved populations to address issues related to dental care and, in turn, significantly improve their overall health.”

The training and educational resources cover a wide range of oral health topics, including maintaining healthy dental diets and a course of action to follow if a tooth is lost, and will be accompanied by basic dental supplies to help incentivize usage. Clinic training sessions will be recorded and available on SafetyNetCenter.org– Americares open source library containing critical capacity-building resources.

“Patients often believe there is a divide between mouth and body, when evidence shows that oral health affects systemic health,” said Lindsay O’Brien, Americares director of U.S. programs and partnerships. “We are helping healthcare providers teach proper dental hygiene and increase patients’ understanding of the impact it will have on their overall health.”

About Americares

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Each year, Americares reaches more than 90 countries and all 50 U.S. states with over $600 million in innovative health programs and quality medical aid. Americares is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit www.americares.org.

About Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation

Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation are committed to saving and sustaining lives and creating healthier communities. Every day, Baxter employees strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who depend on Baxter products, and in the communities where employees live and work.  The company focuses on three core areas including improving access to healthcare; fostering tomorrow’s innovation and serving its communities. Baxter works closely with public and private partners around the world to ensure people have access to the healthcare they need, to develop the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing care, and to create long-lasting impact in Baxter’s communities. The Baxter International Foundation supports initiatives and organizations that make a positive, lasting impact on increasing access to healthcare for the disadvantaged and underserved.

Tweet me:.@baxter_intl, @Americares announce oral health project to prevent systemic health issues in low-income patients http://bit.ly/2fY4yDI

KEYWORDS: Health, Nutrition & Well-Being, Baxter International, Americares, oral health

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

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Today on #GivingTuesday, we are giving thanks for everyone who has supported and will continue to support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Every gift makes a difference and moves us one step closer to our goal to find loving families for children waiting in foster care. We can and will accomplish this together.

Make your gift today.

Tweet me:You can give family on #GivingTuesday - consider donating to @DTFA http://bit.ly/2fQIBpI #fostercare #adoption #itsworthit

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Dave Thomas, foster care, adoption, forever family, Wendy’s, It’s worth it

by Kimberly Bowman, Cisco Community Relations

SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

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It is the start of the annual holiday season. In the United States, we have a day for getting deals (Black Friday), a day to support local businesses (Small Business Saturday), and a day to buy goodies while shopping online (Cyber Monday).

Then, we have #GivingTuesday — celebrated annually the first Tuesday after the Thanksgiving holiday — a day for “doing good” through the power of social media and collaboration. In its fifth year, #GivingTuesday is becoming a global phenomenon among philanthropists and techies alike.

In a day and age where social media allows you to connect with old and new friends, give updates on daily routines, and keep tabs on your favorite celebrities, Cisco will use that power to “do good” on #GivingTuesday.

As part of our Be the Bridge: Annual Giving Campaign, we will use our corporate social media handles on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat to highlight the good work of over 20 of Cisco’s nonprofit community partners in local communities around the world. We’ll be providing our employees and our social media following the opportunity to “Be the Bridge” to these organizations.

Starting with Australia, moving from East to West and ending in the US, we’ll release a tweet acknowledging the donations from our employees around the world. For every retweet, whether it’s from an employee or anyone else on Twitter, we’ll donate an additional $1 to those organizations, up to $10,000 (aggregate total contribution for all participating organizations). The retweet challenge closes at 6 p.m. local time in all markets.

The locations listed below reflect areas where Cisco has a presence and employee base. The nonprofits were selected based on employee donation trends in the past, and a genuine need for amplification of the great work that happens in local communities around the world. If you retweet this blog post, we’ll split all funds generated equally among these 23 organizations!

Now through December 16, we hope to inspire thousands of employees worldwide to support the cause of their choice, and together, raise more than $5 million in donations and matching funds through our Be the Bridge: Annual Giving Campaign.

Join us in spreading the word by using social media to let the world know how you are “being the bridge.” Share your stories by using the #BeTheBridge and #WeAreCisco hashtags and inspire others by posting to the Cisco CSR Facebook page.

Tweet me:Using the Power of Social Connections to ‘Do Good’ on #GivingTuesday http://bit.ly/2gfLjsA @CiscoCSR #BeTheBridge

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility, cisco csr, giving tuesday, Be the Bridge, Employee Engagement

SOURCE:Cargill

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What makes the Cargill Global Scholars Program unique? Scholars from six different countries share their experiences during the 2016 Global Leadership Seminar held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more information, please visit https://www.cargillglobalscholars.com/.

About Cargill
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 65 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center.

About Cargill Community Giving and Education
Cargill gives back to communities by contributing 2 percent of its global consolidated pre-tax earnings (based on a three-year trailing average). Cargill donated $69.9 million in 57 countries during its 2012 fiscal year. We provide support to organizations, projects and programs that fall in three focus areas: nutrition and health; education; and environmental stewardship. In the education area, we support innovative programs that improve academic achievement and increase access to education for socio-economically disadvantaged children. Our commitment to education also includes grant making to selected higher education institutions, a higher education employee-matching-gifts program, and post-secondary educational scholarships. In fiscal 2012, Cargill donated more than $18 million to support education programs.

Tweet me:VIDEO: @Cargill Global #Scholars discuss their experience at Global Leadership Conference 2016 http://bit.ly/2g1PaGF

KEYWORDS: Education, Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainable agriculture, Cargill, cargill global scholarsprogram