Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Education

Partners in Purpose: Consumers Energy Supports the Robotics Revolution

Apr 30, 2019 6:00 PM ET

This past weekend, Consumers Energy sponsored the FIRST Championship for high school robotics teams across the world. The competition was held in Michigan, with 90 local teams participating - more than any other state! By supporting events like the FIRST Championship, Consumers Energy hopes to advance the development of skills employers in the area need, from manufacturing and engineering to marketing and communications.

Diversity & Inclusion

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Sandra Leung Pushes A Plurality of Perspectives

Apr 30, 2019 5:00 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

eBay | A Legacy of Generosity

Apr 30, 2019 4:30 PM ET

GLIDE is pleased to announce the annual eBay for Charity Auction for Power Lunch with Warren Buffett, which will run Sunday, May 26 through Friday, May 31, 2019. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the legendary auction, which to date has provided nearly $30 million to support GLIDE’s comprehensive suite of social services that help San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents. The annual Power Lunch with Warren Buffett is made possible through the support of eBay for Charity—one of the world’s largest charitable platforms, which helps millions of eBay users support the causes they care about.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Awards $3.2 Million to Innovative Education Programs As Part of Its Powerful Communities Grant Program

Apr 30, 2019 3:40 PM ET

Duke Energy announced today it is awarding $3.2 million in grants to support 131 innovative K-12 education programs across the communities served by the company.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Jetblue’s Bluebud Business Mentoring Program Helps Eat Your Coffee, 9 Miles East and Sustainable Snacks Learn What It Takes to Get Their Brands off the Ground

Apr 30, 2019 3:00 PM ET

The BlueBud program launched in 2015 and originally focused on up-and-coming environmentally and socially responsible food brands based in New York. This year, JetBlue expanded the program to also include small businesses in the greater Boston area.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Morgan Stanley Expands Partnership With KaBOOM! Through a New Grant, Creating Additional Innovative Play Spaces for Children in 21 Cities

Apr 30, 2019 3:00 PM ET

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced a new grant to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to ensuring that all kids get a childhood filled with the balanced and active play needed to thrive.

Innovation & Technology

How Do We Raise a Generation of Digital Citizens?

Apr 30, 2019 2:35 PM ET

With security at the core of Symantec’s business, we partner with leading nonprofits, including Common Sense, to educate parents, schools, and students about safe and ethical online practices. Technology has become an integral part of classroom learning. Students of all ages have access to digital media and devices at school and schools further important conversations about the challenges and opportunities of growing up in a digital world.

Diversity & Inclusion

Silicon Valley Companies Come Together to Support Women of Color in Tech

Apr 30, 2019 1:30 PM ET

The tech industry has a diversity problem. Women, specifically women of color, are greatly underrepresented. But some Silicon Valley leaders are working hard to make a change. Adobe, for example, has demonstrated its belief in the power of investing in women for years. Symantec likewise has a track record of supporting women and girls of color over time. TriplePundit recently sat down with Katie Juran, senior director of Adobe’s diversity and inclusion team, as well as Jamie Barclay and Susan Cooney of Symantec’s corporate responsibility team, to discuss each company’s strategy for investing in and supporting women...

Social Impact & Volunteering

Pro Bono Perspectives Podcast: Episode 20 - Farron Levy, True Impact

Apr 30, 2019 1:00 PM ET

Common Impact's latest Pro Bono Perspectives podcast episode featuring True Impact Founder & CEO Farron Levy covers a vital, yet underutilized tool in the social impact sector: measurement.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Male Leaders Committed to Sponsoring Women

Apr 30, 2019 12:50 PM ET

Women ascending the career ladder often need sponsorship, and that can sometimes mean sponsorship from an influential male leader. Bloomberg Chairman Peter Grauer tells Fast Company why it's important at Bloomberg, and how a diverse and inclusive population is crucial for the quality in decision making, execution, and ultimately performance.

Environment

Allbirds Partners with The Audubon Society for Endangered Bird Shoe Line

Apr 30, 2019 12:20 PM ET

As issues like climate change, deforestation and water scarcity heat up, so too doe the plight of animals. In fact, there are more than 27,000 species threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List, that is more than 27 percent of all assessed species.

Events, Media & Communications

WEBINAR: Red Nose Day and the Power of Partnerships: Changing Millions of Kids’ Lives, One Nose at a Time

Apr 30, 2019 12:20 PM ET

In the run up to this year’s Red Nose Day on May 23, ONE HUNDRED, a multi-disciplinary agency that connects the nonprofit sector with leading experts in brand reputation, communications, marketing, and fundraising, will share best practices and key insights based on Red Nose Day’s approach to partnerships to achieve accelerated growth and scale, furthering its mission to end child poverty.

Environment

AEG Facilities Venues Celebrate Earth Month

Apr 30, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Throughout the month of April, AEG Facilities venues around the United States hosted a variety of sustainability-focused events in their local communities in celebration of Earth Month and AEG’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.

Events, Media & Communications

Voting Now Open: Meet the 2019 Finalists for the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge

Apr 30, 2019 11:30 AM ET

Our third annual Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge aims to recognize new business ideas that leverage technology for social impact from student entrepreneurs around the world. The Challenge is open to students and recent alumni from any college or university. You may vote for as many entries as you like, but you can only vote once per entry. Winners will be announced on May 20, 2019.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

MilliporeSigma Tech Talk: Biopharma Recycling Program

Apr 30, 2019 11:15 AM ET

See how we're changing the way the world looks at single-use waste with the Biopharma Recycling Program.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

My Special Aflac Duck® Testimonial: Dr. William Slayton

Apr 30, 2019 11:00 AM ET

his is what health care professionals are saying about My Special Aflac Duck™: “These ducks are a wonderful way to help ease the minds of our youngest patients who are going through therapy. The ducks are programmed to communicate emotion. Through playing with the duck, children can communicate what they are thinking and what their needs are at any given moment. What a terrific tool and wonderful toy to help us better care for our children!" - Dr. William Slayton, Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Reporting 3.0 Announces Conference Keynoters Led by Doughnut Economics Author Kate Raworth and UN Global Compact CEO Lise Kingo

Apr 30, 2019 10:30 AM ET

“If we are to create 21st century economies and businesses that can meet the needs of all within the means of the planet, then Reporting 3.0’s Global Thresholds & Allocations Council is just the kind of initiative that can start making it happen,” says Kate Raworth. “I look forward to exploring and presenting the synergies between Doughnut Economics and Reporting 3.0 in order to promote business for a thriving future.”

Social Impact & Volunteering

Yan Peng: Building a Better World Through Pro Bono

Apr 30, 2019 10:15 AM ET

The 2019 Global Pro Bono Summit, hosted by Taproot Foundation, will take place in New York City this May. Leading up to this gathering, Taproot will be releasing a series of profiles featuring movers and shakers of the pro bono movement, from companies with cutting-edge programs to individuals working towards a more engaged society to nonprofits tapping into pro bono service as a way to deepen their impact on the communities they serve.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Mayor Cantrell Welcomed the Johnson & Johnson Global Pro Bono Team to New Orleans

Apr 30, 2019 10:05 AM ET

The Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, will welcome the Johnson & Johnson Global Pro Bono team to New Orleans for the program’s official kickoff event at City Hall on April 29. Johnson & Johnson has designed its Global Pro Bono program in collaboration with PYXERA Global to tackle healthcare and community issues by harnessing the power of its most powerful resource—its people. The mayor’s attendance shows that the city believes cross-sector partnerships are needed to improve the lives of the citizens of New Orleans.

The 12-person cohort will engage the skills of employees from Brazil, Colombia, USA, and Canada. The teams will work for four weeks with four organizations in the New Orleans area.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

AccountAbility CEO, Sunny Misser, peaks to the Key Trends Driving Sustainability Performance

Apr 30, 2019 10:00 AM ET

AccountAbility CEO, Mr. Sunny Misser, spoke with Mr. Matthew Bechard, Senior Vice President of Communications at the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), about the key trends shaping business in 2019.

Environment

Consumers Energy | Bright Future Blooms

Apr 30, 2019 9:30 AM ET

Tom Hess has worked with many companies during his 28-year career as an environmental inspector.

In many cases, Hess has experienced clients who tolerate his environmental recommendations, or do only what’s required — often with pressure. Thus, Hess wasn’t sure what to expect when he proposed spending extra money to restore construction areas on a major natural gas pipeline project for Michigan-based Consumers Energy. He suggested using seed mix containing native grasses and wildflowers to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators losing habitat across the country.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Nestlé Verifies Three-Quarters of Its Supply Chain as Deforestation-Free

Apr 30, 2019 9:20 AM ET

Nestlé today announced that 77% of its agricultural commodities are verified as deforestation-free. This is a key milestone in the company’s efforts to achieve its zero-deforestation commitment.

Research, Reports & Publications

Re-imagining Olam

Apr 30, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and Group CEO comments: “2018 was another turbulent year for the global economy and the food and agri-industry. Against this backdrop, we continued to focus on ensuring that Olam is future-fit, pioneering a number of major financial, sustainability and digital initiatives to create long-term value for our continuing shareholders and other stakeholders, particularly customers and farmer suppliers.”

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Ethical Corporation Announces a New Event to Its Global Events Portfolio

Apr 30, 2019 6:30 AM ET

For 14-years Ethical Corporation has run the world-renowned Responsible Supply Chain Summit, providing companies with practical ideas and new connections to help solve the key supply chain issues and opportunities. The past couple of years has seen a significant shift where both procurement and sustainability teams have discussed the challenges on how business can embed sustainability at the heart of supply chain activities.

Education

Don’t Recline Behind the Wheel: High School Student from St. Petersburg, Fla. Wins National PSA Video Challenge

Apr 29, 2019 6:00 PM ET

To encourage positive driving habits for young drivers, Shorecrest Preparatory School junior, Caleb Kravitz developed a creative PSA to inspire his peers to practice safe driving skills. His video, titled Don’t Recline Behind the Wheel, is the winner of the Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge, a national peer-to-peer driver safety public service announcement competition. More than a thousand videos were submitted in the TeenDrive365 Video Challenge by teens educating students on the risky behavior of distracted driving.