By Matt Foster, Area Manager, AT&T External Affairs, and U.S. Army Veteran

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

Enjoying a day away from the office with a few hotdogs, cold drinks and a lot of sun makes for a great Memorial Day, but that isn’t exactly what the day is all about.   In 2003, I left my family, friends, and future wife for an active duty deployment in the United States Army.  In 2005, I left my wife of 1 month for a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq that would last over a year. Our Forward Operating Base (FOB) would often go on “Comms Blackout,” usually meaning a soldier on our FOB had been killed or seriously injured and their family was being officially notified. 

It’s that experience that gives Memorial Day a deeper meaning than just a day off with hotdogs and led to my involvement with Carry The Load.  Carry The Load works to bring all Americans together to participate in honoring our nation’s heroes every day. This includes a nationwide relay that gives participants an opportunity to walk alongside veterans, first responders and citizens to honor those heroes’ sacrifice and take a turn experiencing the weight of a rucksack.  While the weight and pain of carrying a ruck for miles can be intense, it doesn’t come close to the pain many of our service members and their families have experienced. All of the money raised during the May awareness events goes directly to support Carry The Load’s Continuum of Care program.  Carry The Load partners with other charities to  provide direct services to help those heroes and their families who have given so much to this country.

I could not be prouder that AT&T has become a sponsor of this year’s relay, through both a financial commitment and involvement of our employees. Our company has a long history supporting our military and first responders through our commitment to hire 20,000 Veterans by the year 2020 or using our talents to design an innovative new mobile network called FirstNet to connect our First Responders in a way that’s never been achieved before. 

As a Navy Seal I had the honor of knowing, Chris Kyle, used to tell me, “It’s our duty to serve those that serve us.” I hope that’s a motto we can all live by everyday.

Tweet me:.@ConnectToGood "Restoring the Meaning of Memorial Day" http://soc.att.com/2qWLHBv #ATTimpact #MemorialDay2017

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Events, Media & Communications, AT&T, troops, memorial day, Chris Kyle, Matt Foster, Army, military, Cary The Load, FirstNet, Veterans

Exclusive: Melbourne, Accra and Ulaanbaatar among cities to benefit from funding pledged by former New York mayor to tackle issues from air pollution to obesity

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Originally posted on www.theguardian.com.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire bête noire of both the sugar industry and the tobacco industry, famously fought for a ban on the sale of large-sized colas and other sweet drinks when he was mayor of New York and lost. Although that is not how he sees it.

“We actually won that battle,” he says. “I have always thought if we had not been stopped by the court, it would have died as an issue. Nobody would have known about it. But the fact that it kept coming back to the newspapers was a gift in disguise because people started to think, Holy God, maybe full-sugar drinks are bad for me.

“So what happened was consumption of full-sugar drinks around the world has gone down dramatically. If we had won the thing, I think it would have been less.”

Bloomberg did plenty more for public health while mayor of New York, including imposing one of the first bans on smoking in bars and restaurants in 2003. Since then he has widened his sphere of influence, funding successful campaigns through his philanthropic foundation for sugar taxes in Mexico and Philadelphia and for curbs on smoking all over the world.

To read the full article, click here. 

Tweet me:Melbourne, Accra and Ulaanbaatar among cities to benefit from funding pledged by @mikebloomberg @bloombergdotorg http://bit.ly/2rPDvzY

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Health & Healthcare, Bloomberg, philanthropy, Sugar, smoking, obesity, Mike Bloomberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies, public health, world health organization, Partnership for Healthy Cities

Following the Success in Engaging with Thousands of Students Through Hands-on Engineering and Career Exploration Activities, Qualcomm Offers the Thinkabit Lab Toolkit Free-of-charge to Schools, Libraries, Universities and Businesses in the U.S.

SOURCE:Qualcomm

DESCRIPTION:

May 24, 2017 /3BL Media/- In an effort to reach beyond the more than 12,000 students, teachers and parents who have visited the Qualcomm® Thinkabit Lab™ since its opening in 2014 at the Company’s headquarters, Qualcomm Incorporated announced today the launch of the Thinkabit Lab Toolkit to be offered free-of-charge to organizations interested in creating sustainable and scalable STEM programs, such as school districts, libraries, businesses and universities across the U.S.

By accessing the Toolkit, participating organizations will be able to create their own STEM lab “Inspired by the Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab”, by following guidelines, materials and teaching resources based on the successful signature activities offered at the original Company’s lab. The Thinkabit Lab aims to foster creativity and collaboration among students in a part maker-space, part lab environment, and provides career exploration guidelines and resources, as well as engaging, hands-on engineering activities to inspire and expose participants to future possibilities and STEM career opportunities.

“At Qualcomm we are constantly thinking of ways to inspire the next generation of STEM innovators, and to contribute to a better prepared, and more diverse future workforce,” said Susie Armstrong, senior vice president, engineering, Qualcomm Incorporated, and leader of the Thinkabit Lab. “Thinkabit Lab has proven to be a successful way to achieve that, and we are excited to continue expanding beyond San Diego by offering our new Thinkabit Lab Toolkit and by working with organizations committed to bring STEM opportunities to students.”

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), out of 71 countries, the U.S. ranks 38th in math and 24th in science. With programs like the Thinkabit Lab and the Thinkabit Lab Toolkit, Qualcomm is hoping to influence interest in STEM by exposing students in a fun and engaging way to the depth and breadth of the tech industry.

The Thinkabit Lab Toolkit includes two key components of the program: Qualcomm World of Work (QWOW) content and the engineering lab experience. QWOW is a set of career and self-exploration activities based on the work of Qualcomm’s Career Explorations team and the team’s experiences with community youth programs. The engineering lab experience features the highly successful Thinkabit Lab signature activities that culminate in robo-crafting projects, which inspire students’ collaboration and creativity, and demystifies engineering.

Over the past three years the Thinkabit Lab in San Diego has provided students from schools around the county with engaging, day-long, hands-on engineering and career exploration activities. Exposing students from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to STEM education and careers, the Thinkabit Lab has hosted more than 400 classes and camps, promoting STEM career awareness. Today there are nine “Inspired by Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab” sites in varying stages of development, including five middle schools across San Diego county, a library in Chula Vista, CA, and two private-sector businesses in San Diego, as well as a space at Virginia Tech University in Washington D.C.

About Qualcomm 
Qualcomm's technologies powered the smartphone revolution and connected billions of people. We pioneered 3G and 4G – and now we are leading the way to 5G and a new era of intelligent, connected devices. Our products are revolutionizing industries, including automotive, computing, IoT, healthcare and data center, and are allowing millions of devices to connect with each other in ways never before imagined. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, all of our engineering, research and development functions, and all of our products and services businesses, including, our QCT semiconductor business. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Tweet me:.@Qualcomm launches Thinkabit Lab Toolkit free to organizations creating sustainable and scalable STEM programs http://bit.ly/2qXtEuX

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Education, Qualcomm® Thinkabit Lab™, Qualcomm

SOURCE:JetBlue Airways

DESCRIPTION:

“Meeting like-minded and caring individuals across our network not only creates relationships but makes me proud to work at JetBlue!

—Kevin Dong, Flight Ops Analyst, JetBlue

Solidarity is critical to the way we work. It not only feels great to support each other and to volunteer in the community, it also helps us to serve our customers better.

Our crewmember volunteer program, Community Connection, is powered by VolunteerMatch, an organization dedicated to connecting volunteers to causes they are most passionate about at over 100,000 nonprofit organizations. For every 50 hours of volunteer time logged – whether through a JetBlue organized event or their own independent volunteer activity – JetBlue donates two round-trip travel certificates to that crewmember’s chosen charity.

In 2016, JetBlue crewmembers volunteered more than 170,000 hours. That makes a total of nearly 600,000 hours of service since 2011.

Tweet me:.@JetBlue crewmembers who #volunteer earn free travel for #charity of their choice http://bit.ly/2qChoA1 #CSR

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Jetblue, VolunteerMatch

The Arrow team spent more than 200 labor-hours at the Phoenix RMHC facility making Easter baskets, assembling hygiene bags, folding sheets, sweeping up leaves, organizing storage closets and cleaning windows and rooms.

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

In April, as part of Arrow Electronics’ annual Logistics & Operations Management Conference, 100 Arrow employees and 40 vendor partners spent an afternoon volunteering at Roanoke House, the oldest Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

RMHC provides vital resources and compassionate care to children and their families being served by leading hospitals worldwide, thanks in part to the commitment of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

The Arrow team spent more than 200 labor-hours at the Phoenix RMHC facility making Easter baskets, assembling hygiene bags, folding sheets, sweeping up leaves, organizing storage closets and cleaning windows and rooms. They also donated and assembled half a dozen large boxes of goodies-—crayons, coloring books and stuffed animals—for families and their children to enjoy.

“This is the one time each year that our team gets together for planning meetings, and we always perform charity work as part of our teambuilding,” said Megan Kennedy, a logistics value-add project manager for Arrow. “Even these seemingly simple things bring innovation to a community, and we’re honored to have been able to serve the people of the Phoenix during our visit.”   

About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for more than 125,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 465 locations serving over 90 countries. Learn more at www.fiveyearsout.com. 

Tweet me:.@ArrowGlobal employees and partners spruce up Phoenix Ronald McDonald House http://bit.ly/2rTx7YK #Citizenship

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Media & Communications, Arrow Electronics, Ronald McDonald House, Phoenix

Ways of bringing about positive changes to the host community of De Beers’ Venetia mine were on the agenda at a business breakfast.

SOURCE:De Beers Group

DESCRIPTION:

Around 40 business executives and representatives from the Musina Local Municipality and the Musina Youth in Business Forum gathered to identify tangible improvements that could strengthen the economy in the area.

In his keynote address at the event hosted by De Beers at Venetia mine’s Diamond Club, mine Assistant General Manager Hendrick Matjila focused on local procurement and developing a diversified economy.

“Business cannot exist in isolation,” he said. “At Venetia mine, we are cognisant of the fact that we cannot sustain our operation without ploughing back into our communities.

“We know that, if we are to achieve our goal of leaving a lasting legacy beyond the life of Venetia mine, it starts with supporting local enterprises and developing our entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

De Beers offers support to communities in South Africa through an enterprise development programme known as Zimele (it means ‘standing on one’s own feet’), which fosters the development of small or medium-sized businesses. It has supported 3,054 jobs since it began (69 in 2016) and 262 enterprises (10 in 2016).

A US$2 billion underground extension of the Venetia mine is under way, the country’s biggest single investment in the diamond industry in decades. The mine is keen to collaborate with government and local businesses to develop a sustainable and thriving local economy for when mining eventually ceases.

As part of the project, Venetia mine is providing training and capacity building for small and medium-sized enterprises in host communities, as well as technical and financial support to improve local roads and infrastructure.

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

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

Tweet me:#Business leaders gather to discuss making positive changes to Venetia mine’s local communities @debeersgroup https://t.co/DWyVyJNFj0

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Development Goals, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, De Beers Group

SOURCE:MicroEdge + Blackbaud

DESCRIPTION:

MicroEdge + Blackbaud is pleased to announce exciting new updates to its AngelPoints employee giving & volunteering technology solution that will help companies improve the way they engage their employees in volunteerism! Adding a social media feel to the platform that creates excitement and more directly connects volunteers with the impact they are having, employees can now upload and share photos from volunteer events to the AngelPoints VolunteerMe mobile volunteering app.

Additional new features include:

• Redesigned Volunteer Event Detail page, including new streamlined event sign-up workflows with pre-screening, shifts, friends & family, and waitlists 
• Redesigned Event Roster with ability to see names, emails, and activities/shifts of event registrants
• Live count of current participants and available spaces 

Read our white paper, Technology for Corporate Responsibility, to learn more about taking a holistic approach in your corporate giving, employee giving and employee volunteering programs.

To learn more about AngelPoints, visit www.blackbaud.com/angelpoints.

Tweet me:Just in! @MicroEdgeLLC + @Blackbaud increase corporate volunteer engagement w new AngelPoints updates! http://bit.ly/2rRUMcM

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Microedge + Blackbaud

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

By the age of 13, Cody had spent 3,372 days in foster care and been placed in eight different foster homes. That’s more than nine years being moved house to hose, not feeling settled and wishing for consistency. It’s hard to not give up hope in a case like this, but EVERYTHING changed for Cody on April 25 when he was adopted!

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s mission is to dramatically increase adoptions from foster care and we believe no child should languish in the system. We are so thankful for the work of our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter in Toledo, Ohio who found Cody his forever family. Welcome Home Cody! 

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is the signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Through WWK, we are able to provide grants to adoption agencies who hire recruiters, specially-trained by the Foundation. Since 2004, more than 6,200 children have been adopted through the program. 

As you head into this holiday weekend to spend time with family, please remember there are more than 110,000 children in the US foster care system waiting to have a family celebration of their own. #itsworthit

To help us find more forever homes for children like Cody, consider making an online gift. Just click here for more information.

Tweet me:After 9 years in #fostercare, @Wendys Wonderful Kids finds a home for Cody http://bit.ly/2qIDazA @DTFA #adoption #ItsWorthIt

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

Morgan Stanley employees contribute over 8,000 hours to strategy development for nine nonprofits in U.S. Strategy Challenge–more than 110 Charities helped since launch

SOURCE:Morgan Stanley

DESCRIPTION:

May 25, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced the completion of the ninth annual U.S. Strategy Challenge, a ten-week program in which top-performing Morgan Stanley employees provide pro-bono strategic advice to nonprofit organizations on mission critical challenges. This year, nine nonprofits participated in the program, and Morgan Stanley teams presented final strategic recommendations for each nonprofit in a competition at Morgan Stanley’s New York headquarters on May 24.

The winner of the ninth annual U.S. Strategy Challenge was Tuesday’s Children, a response and recovery organization formed in the aftermath of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 that supports youth, families and communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss. New York-based Tuesday’s Children challenged its Morgan Stanley team to provide guidance on how they should expand their Military Families Initiative geographically. After performing extensive analysis, the Morgan Stanley team recommended Tuesday’s Children expand its core family programs to the military community in Dallas and San Diego via a staged rollout.

“The quality of the information provided by the Morgan Stanley team throughout the 2017 Strategy Challenge was not something that we would ever have the capacity to deliver,” said Liz Zirkle, Director of Military Initiatives at Tuesday’s Children. “The team turned what we gave them into actual action plans, and we have already started implementing their ideas.”

The Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge was developed to tap into the skilled and creative minds of Morgan Stanley employees and put their analytical and strategic thinking to work in local communities through pro-bono volunteering with key nonprofit partners. Since its launch in 2009, the program has cumulatively delivered more than 80,900 hours of service to 117 non-profit organizations, providing charities with significant assistance in bringing true value and lasting change to the community, while giving valuable skills training to over 500 Morgan Stanley employees. These figures also include outcomes from the UK Strategy Challenge.

“There is opportunity for real positive change when employees use their skills and experience to provide local non-profits with the tools necessary to address their mission critical challenges,” said Joan Steinberg, Global Head of Philanthropy at Morgan Stanley. “Over the last 10 weeks, we have seen employees come together with a united goal of giving back to charities that give back to the communities where we live and work.”

At the Strategy Challenge final event, each team had 15 minutes to present their work to a mixed panel consisting of a senior Managing Director from Morgan Stanley, a partner from The Bridgespan Group, and an Executive Director from a past nonprofit participant. Police Athletic League was the runner up and Rescuing Leftover Cuisine received third place.

The nine nonprofit organizations that participated in this year’s U.S. Strategy Challenge are:

•  Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

•  Gibney Dance

•  Police Athletic League, Inc.

•  Qualitas of Life Foundation

•  Rescuing Leftover Cuisine

•  Stanley M. Isaacs Center

•  Tuesday’s Children

•  Volunteer New York!

•  Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco)

Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley also concluded the fourth annual Strategy Challenge in the UK, benefitting five London-based nonprofit organizations. Save the Children won the competition, which took place at Morgan Stanley’s Canary Wharf offices in London.

For more on the Strategy Challenge programs in the U.S. and the UK, visit the Strategy Challenge blog and follow #StrategyChallenge on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 42 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

Tweet me:Congrats to the 2017 #StrategyChallenge winning team supporting @Tuesdayschldrn. Learn about all participants at http://bit.ly/2rYzFEW

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, #nonprofits, #Pro Bono, Morgan Stanley, Tuesday's Children, U.S. Strategy Challenge

SOURCE:Alliance Data

DESCRIPTION:

Alliance Data associates all around the world donned our best red noses to bring attention to Red Nose Day as part of our ongoing commitment to help support children's causes in the locations where our associates live and work. With a little bit of silliness and a lot of awareness we know together we can help end child poverty!

Tweet me:Associates from @alliancedata locations across the globe celebrate #rednoseday #endchildpoverty #allforgood http://bit.ly/2r0CHLK

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Events, Media & Communications, Alliance Data, LoyaltyOne, Epsilon, Alliance Data Card Services, Red Nose Day, end child poverty, children's cause, Awareness

Habitat for Humanity to launch effort in nearly 30 communities with $300,000 Wells Fargo Housing Foundation grant, Wells Fargo volunteer support

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, May 25, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Habitat for Humanity and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a new commitment to improve 100 homes with veterans in nearly 30 communities across the country from Seattle to South Palm Beach, Florida.

Launched in May during Military Appreciation Month with the support of a $300,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, Wells Fargo volunteers will work alongside veterans on projects such as painting, landscaping and other improvements that support sustainable housing.

“Veterans have made extraordinary sacrifices for our country, and by teaming up with Habitat for Humanity we will work side-by-side with veterans to make important improvements to their homes that may otherwise be unattainable,” said Martin Sundquist, executive director of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. “Our team members are active and engaged volunteers and support their local communities by applying their time and talents where they live and work, and this effort is one of several ways we work with Habitat to create affordable and sustainable housing.”

Local Habitat organizations will identify home improvement opportunities in their communities and lead the work with veterans and Wells Fargo volunteers to beautify homes by landscaping, painting and other improvements.

“Access to safe and decent housing is a challenge for far too many households, including our country’s veterans,” said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, senior vice president of Development, Habitat for Humanity International. “This most recent commitment by the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation will enable us to work with veterans to improve their homes and, we believe, make a positive impact to their lives and their neighborhoods.”

Wells Fargo team members have volunteered more than 315,000 hours to build and improve more than 2,100 Habitat homes with low-income homeowners, seniors and veterans since 2010. Wells Fargo Housing Foundation donated more than $44 million from 2010 to 2016 to Habitat locally and nationally, of which $14 million has supported national programs with Habitat for Humanity International and its mission of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

About Habitat for Humanity 

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

About the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation

In 2016, the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation donated $20 million in support of affordable housing initiatives serving low- and moderate-income households – including for seniors, veterans, and families – through community revitalization efforts. Since its inception in 1993, the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation has invested more than $190 million to such efforts, along with mobilizing more than 4.7 million team member volunteer hours to build and rehabilitate nearly 7,100 homes and counting. www.wellsfargo.com/about/wfhf_oview

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $2.0 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,500 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 273,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Tweet me:.@Habitat_org & @WellsFargo will team up with #veterans in 29 communities to improve 100 vet homes http://bit.ly/2r0qeYb

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Veterans, Wells Fargo, Habitat for Humanity

By: Tom Nelson

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

That’s what wide-eyed Andrew asked after his first meal at a No Kid Hungry supported summer meals site in Baltimore. When a volunteer assured him that, yes, they’d be back at the same time the next day, Andrew looked up into the volunteer’s eyes while lifting up his pinky and asked, “Pinky swear?”

For some kids, summer is a time of joy and freedom. For millions of kids who rely on school for regular meals, however, summer can be a time of hunger and anxiety. Research shows that family grocery costs rise more than $300 a month when school is out and school meals disappear, putting a strain on already-tight budgets. That leaves many families making tough trade-offs; two-thirds of all low-income families say they’ve had to choose between food and utilities, two-thirds also had to choose between food and medical care.

Free summer meals are a lifeline for kids in need. Summer meals programs are funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); administered by state agencies, such as state departments of education; and run by public and private organizations, including schools, community centers and faith-based organizations. Team No Kid Hungry is hard at work to make sure families know how to find summer meals sites for kids and teens in the summertime.

This summer, it’s as easy as texting FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 to find free, healthy meals for kids 18 and under in your community. Our summer meals texting program has helped more than 55,000 American families find the nearest summer meal program for their kids.

When the program works well, it’s a lifeline. Today, however, the program just doesn’t reach a majority of kids in need; of the 22 million kids who receive a free or reduced-price school lunch, only 4 million are getting a summer meal. Barriers like transportation, unsafe streets, distance and extreme weather stop millions of kids from accessing the program and getting the food they need.

Thanks to Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s investment and commitment to our work, No Kid Hungry has been conducting innovative summer meals pilots to test the best way to operate a “meals on wheels” style delivery model. We pulled together public-private partnerships and teamed up with food banks, schools, and local nonprofits to take this exciting step forward on behalf of kids who have been shut out by an inefficient system, simply because of where they happen to live.

No Kid Hungry is working to break down other barriers that stand in the way of a hungry kid and a free summer meal. We are building awareness of the program through outreach and advertising, as well as supporting projects to streamline the paperwork burden on community sites offering summer meals.

We are grateful for Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s support of No Kid Hungry and its renewed commitment to partner together and help end childhood hunger in America. There is more work to do but the solution is within our reach. Together, we can create transformative change and ensure a bright future for kids across the nation. To learn more, visit www.NoKidHungry.org.

Tweet me:How @nokidhungry is helping families find summer meal programs for their kids https://goo.gl/Goz2P8 @sodexoUSA #hunger

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Corporate Contributions, No Kid Hungry, public-private partnerships, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, summer meal programs, Sodexo

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

The ambitious new arts center known as the Shed, rising in Hudson Yards, has received $75 million from Michael R. Bloomberg, showing just how much the Far West Side continues to be shaped by a small group of influential billionaires.

They include Stephen M. Ross, the chairman of Related Companies, and Barry Diller, the media mogul. Mr. Bloomberg on Wednesday added $60 million to a $15 million contribution he had made to the Shed in 2012, which was previously undisclosed.

“I’ve always believed the arts have a unique ability to benefit cities by attracting creative individuals of every kind, strengthening communities, and driving economic growth,” Mr. Bloomberg said in a prepared statement. “The Shed will help New York achieve all three goals.”

To read the full story, click here. 

Tweet me:Michael Bloomberg Gives $75 Million to Shed Arts Center @mikebloomberg @bloombergdotorg #shedartcenter http://bit.ly/2r0LP2U

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Social Impact & Volunteering, Bloomberg, philanthropy, NYC, community, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mike Bloomberg, Shed Arts, Shed Arts NYC

SOURCE:AkzoNobel

DESCRIPTION:

AMSTERDAM, May 26, 2017/3BL Media/ - AkzoNobel's International® brand has committed to helping young people all over the world learn more about sailing by becoming the official Youth Academy partner for the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race. 

The Youth Academy aims to drive excitement and interest around the race by encouraging more children to experience and enjoy sailing and appreciate the value of winning together. AkzoNobel's involvement will also enable the company to connect and engage with communities along the race route. 

For the more experienced young sailors, a series of races in Optimist dinghies will take place at ten of the 12 scheduled stopovers. Various workshops, training sessions and other activities will also be provided, such as educating and inspiring people to tackle the problem of plastic in our oceans.

"Connecting with young people and possibly helping to nurture the next generation of Volvo Ocean Race sailors is an exciting opportunity and we are delighted that the Youth Academy will be powered by International," said Alberto Slikta, Managing Director of AkzoNobel Specialty Coatings.

 "Building on team AkzoNobel's participation in the next edition, it's a unique chance for us to support young sailors across the globe and broaden our involvement in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race by making a meaningful and lasting contribution." 

The Youth Academy events will take place in the following cities: Alicante, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Cape Town, South Africa; Hong Kong, China; Auckland, New Zealand; Itajaí, Brazil; Newport, US; Cardiff, Wales; Gothenburg, Sweden and The Hague, the Netherlands. The Optimist races will feature eight competing teams, with each team in the main Volvo Ocean Race being represented by a team in the Youth Academy.

"We have already announced our commitment to creating Volvo Ocean Race Academies designed to help young high performance sailors gain the necessary offshore experience to compete for places on participating teams. That is one major stepping stone and the continuation of the Youth Academy is another important one, as this is about inspiring young people, getting them out on the water, educating them about the importance of ocean health and giving them the chance to dream," commented Volvo Ocean Race CEO Mark Turner.

Thousands of local youngsters were inspired, coached and entertained by the Youth Academy during the last edition of the race. International's support will now enable the Volvo Ocean Race to continue its long-established commitment to youth sailing worldwide. 

AkzoNobel's International brand is the world leader in high performance marine and yacht coatings, as well as industrial protective coatings. The broad product range includes antifoulings, foul release systems, fire protection coatings and above and below the waterline yacht coatings and paints.

International's yacht business has been creating the most innovative coating solutions to protect, beautify and improve the performance of all types of boats for more than 160 years.

About AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel creates everyday essentials to make people's lives more liveable and inspiring. As a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals, we supply essential ingredients, essential protection and essential color to industries and consumers worldwide. Backed by a pioneering heritage, our innovative products and sustainable technologies are designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet, while making life easier. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we have approximately 46,000 people in around 80 countries, while our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka. Consistently ranked as a leader in sustainability, we are dedicated to energizing cities and communities while creating a protected, colorful world where life is improved by what we do.

Tweet me:Learn more about @volvooceanrace Youth Academy Powered by @AkzoNobel http://bit.ly/2rYhT4H

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Media & Communications, AkzoNobel, Volvo Ocean Race

A blog from Bruce Cleaver, De Beers Group CEO, discussing the socio-economic impact of the company in Botswana

SOURCE:De Beers Group

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I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that in Setswana, the word ‘Pula’ means both money and rain. 

Not just because both are valuable resources, but also because of how a financial investment in a person or a business can create a ripple effect through the economy just like a raindrop in a reservoir.

The story of De Beers’ partnership with Government has been told many times before. We are rightly proud of the part we have been able to play in supporting Botswana’s leaders in developing the nation, but we recognise that we need to do more to create an even bigger economic ripple effect.

As a business that has so many touchpoints with different parts of Botswana society, simply contributing through royalties, dividends, taxes and employment is not enough for us. We need to look constantly for ways in which we can embed the opportunity for further economic development and diversification.

And one important way in which we can provide direct support to Botswana’s businesses is through putting the supply chain to work. The more we can source the required goods and services from local providers, the more economic benefit can be retained in-country from our diamond exploration, mining, sorting and sales activities. 

Last year De Beers Group and its joint ventures spent P4.3 billion with Botswana-based suppliers. This represented more than 80 per cent of our total procurement spend in the country and helps to ensure that other enterprises in the country can grow alongside us. 

For example, working with Debswana Supply Chain Management, five existing local suppliers were identified and supported in 2016 via the Tokafala programme, increasing the viability and sustainability of their businesses.

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

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

Tweet me:Bruce Cleaver, CEO, @DeBeersGroup, on how the company created a ripple effect across Botswana’s economy in 2016 http://bit.ly/2qXVwN3

KEYWORDS: Research, Reports & Publications, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, De Beers Group

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

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Arrow Electronics employees will be cheering on James Hinchliffe, the driver of the Arrow-sponsored No. 5 Indy car, and the entire Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) team on Sunday for the 101st running of the Indy 500.

The video above highlights Arrow’s support for the entire SPM team, including the unsung heroes who help make Hinchcliffe’s success a reality. Like SPM’s pit crew, Arrow works largely behind the scenes, guiding innovation forward for the biggest names in technology, and helping to enable their success.

About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for more than 125,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 465 locations serving over 90 countries. Learn more at fiveyearsout.com.

About Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Established in 2001 and owned by former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt and Canadian businessman Ric Peterson, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) currently competes in the Verizon IndyCar Series. With a storied history in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series with over 70 wins, over 70 pole positions and seven championship wins, the Indianapolis-based team has also found success in IndyCar with five wins, two Indianapolis 500 pole positions and four poles claimed overall, as well as three top-five finishes in the championship points standings. For more information, please visit spmindycar.com. 

Tweet me:.@ArrowGlobal Electronics Cheers on @Hinchtown ‏& the entire @SPMIndyCar Team in the 101st Running of @IndyCar ‏ 500http://bit.ly/2s0fmqJ

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Arrow Electronics, Indy 500, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Team

SOURCE:Aflac

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Aflac was #ThereWhen Aflac employee and policyholder Chad Melvin’s son was diagnosed with a very rare blood disorder called LCH. What started as a day at the pool became a two-year journey for young Grant at the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center. #duckprints 

Tweet me:.@Aflac was #ThereWhen Aflac employee and policyholder Chad Melvin’s son was diagnosed with a very rare blood disorder http://bit.ly/2qsWBP8

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, Diversity & Inclusion, Aflac, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center

SOURCE:Habitat for Humanity

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ATLANTA and CARY, N.C., May 26, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Ply Gem, a North American manufacturer of building products, is partnering with Habitat for Humanity for the second consecutive year in support of the Ply Gem Home for Good project, a campaign to help families in need of affordable housing. Darius Rucker, three-time Grammy Award winner, is this year’s project ambassador.

The Ply Gem Home for Good project is a multi-year initiative that includes a donation of over $1 million of exterior building products and funds to support Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to call home. As part of the Home for Good project, Ply Gem is the presenting sponsor of Habitat for Humanity’s Home Builders Blitz, a weeklong campaign in which Ply Gem and professional homebuilders will donate their time, muscle and talent to help Habitat raise awareness of the need for affordable housing. This year, homebuilders in more than 70 communities across the U.S. will volunteer to help build, rehab or repair more than 200 homes as part of the initiative.

“The need for affordable housing is immense and we are grateful to Ply Gem for its support of Habitat and our mission,” said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, senior vice president, Development, Habitat for Humanity International. “Because of Ply Gem’s continued commitment, we are able to help more families better their lives and their futures.”

“At Ply Gem, we’ve taken our nearly 75 years of experience creating homebuilding products that make beautiful homes, and turned it into our mission through the Home for Good project,” says Gary E. Robinette, chairman and CEO, Ply Gem. “And, we believe it’s our role as a leader to make the entire building industry aware of the positive impact that affordable housing has on local families and communities.”

In 2016, Ply Gem donated building materials – including windows and siding – to help 300 Habitat homeowners build or repair their homes in more than 60 communities.

About Habitat for Humanity

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

About Ply Gem Building Products

Ply Gem, headquartered in Cary, N.C., is a leading manufacturer of exterior building products in North America. Ply Gem produces a comprehensive product line of windows and patio doors, vinyl and metal siding and accessories, designer accents, cellular PVC trim and mouldings, vinyl fencing and railing, stone veneer and gutterware, used in both new construction and home repair and remodeling in the United States and Canada. Visit www.plygem.com for more information.

Tweet me:.@PlyGem partners with @Habitat_org to build homes across America for its second annual #HomeForGoodProject http://bit.ly/2qSkYWO

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Non-Profits, affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity, Ply Gem Building Projects

SOURCE:Atlas Copco

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The Red Nose Day campaign to support childrens’ charities, is sponsored by Save the Children. By purchasing a nose you donate toward the support and growth of this worthwhile initiative. Their mission is provide health care, opportunity and protection to every child, domestic and abroad by way of:

• Education
• Emergency response
• Health care/awareness initiatives
• Child abuse prevention programs
• Food programs for poverty-stricken families

Half of the money donated will be spent domestically for projects close to home. The other half will be spent in some of the poorest communities internationally. All of the grant money will support projects to keep children and young people safe, healthy and educated.

Click here for more information about Save the Children or the Red Nose Day campaign.

Tweet me:Atlas Copco Comptec Wore Red Noses to Help End #ChildPoverty http://bit.ly/2r4MbFM @AtlasCopcoUSA @Save_Children #RedNoseDay

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Education, emergency response, Child abuse prevention programs, food programs, Atlas Copco Comptec, Red Nose Day, Save the Children

By: Steven Peterson

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

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As summer begins, many of us are looking forward to spending time enjoying the freedoms we’re blessed with as Americans. On Memorial Day, our Nation will take the time to pause and respect the true meaning of these moments, the true price of those freedoms.

At the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation we make it our mission to honor those sacrifices every day. Through thousands of need-based scholarships awarded to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen each year, we’re committed to upholding a promise that no Marine ever has to sacrifice an education for their children.

But of all the ways we honor Marines by educating their children, none is more meaningful than our Heroes Tribute Scholarship Program.

After 9/11 we knew we needed to do more to support our Marines serving in harm’s way. Beyond, tuition assistance, they needed to know that no matter what came next, their children would never be denied the opportunities they served to defend. With a promise of $40,000 to each child of any fallen Marine, this scholarship program aims to provide that peace of mind.

For us, and for these families, it’s about much more than dollars and cents. It’s about investing in the legacy of these Marines and delivering the most lasting tribute we can offer; the promise of a bright, successful future for their children through education. Take the case of scholarship recipient, Taylor Baum, who we met for the first time when she applied for a scholarship in 2014.

Taylor, the daughter of Gunnery Sergeant Ronald Baum USMC, was young when she learned the true meaning of sacrifice. Her father, GySgt Baum was killed in action on May 3, 2004 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. A rocket-propelled grenade impacted the vehicle he was in – GySgt Baum passed away as he was seeing to the welfare of his Marines, in order to ensure their safety, while disregarding his own. He was survived by his wife, and three young children; Taylor was just seven years old.  Few of us can understand the grief that followed the events of that day, but Taylor recently helped me understand what those formative years were like for her:

“In that moment, I felt as if nothing would ever be the same – nothing would ever mean as much as it did when he was around. But as time passed and the hurt became slightly more bearable, I made an important realization: my father would be so disappointed if his absence led to any reduction in my progress towards success. As a man who epitomized sacrifice for a greater America, I decided I would live my life trying to uphold the pride he had in me when he was still alive.”

It’s our honor to ensure children like Taylor succeed. With the help of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Taylor enrolled at Pennsylvania State University and is pursuing her degree in electrical engineering and neuroscience. Taylor has focused her strength towards becoming an exceptional student – she’s a double major and maintains a near 4.0 GPA. Taylor knows that life is precious, she’s living hers to the fullest and in addition to her studies is taking time to explore her individual passions like performing in her band and writing slam poetry. Today, Taylor is carrying on her father’s legacy through a life of Honor, Courage, and Commitment and it’s our promise to be there for her while she pursues her educational dreams.

This Memorial Day, we’re proud to partner with companies like Sodexo to support Marine families, not only through tuition assistance, but also with the peace of mind that we’ll always be there when they have a son or daughter in need. To learn more about the impact you can have when you Honor Marines by Educating Their Children, visit www.mcsf.org.

Tweet me:.@MarineScholars honor sacrifices of Marines & Navy Corpsmen thru thousands of scholarships https://goo.gl/EciYxT @sodexoUSA #MemorialDay

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Education, USMC, marine corps scholarship foundation, tuition assistance, Heroes Tribute Scholarship Program, memorial day, Sodexo