Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Los Angeles Middle School Enters a New Era of Innovative Learning

Oct 9, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Daniel Webster Middle School in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has just begun a transformation to a new era of learning. Last spring, the school won a nationwide contest, and ultimately was given the opportunity to take part in Verizon Innovative Learning, the signature program of the Verizon Foundation. This week, Daniel Webster got the first taste of what being a Verizon Innovative Learning school means, as students were treated to an immersive virtual reality field trip.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Fair Trade USA and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council Partner to Pilot the Fair Trade Add-on to Some ASC Certified Farms

Oct 9, 2018 1:45 PM ET

Fair Trade USA, the leading certifier of Fair Trade products in North America, and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), the leading certification and labelling program for responsible aquaculture, have signed an MOU to pilot Fair Trade USA’s requirements in some ASC-certified fish farms. Through this collaboration, the organizations will implement Fair Trade USA’s innovative model of responsible business and conscious consumption in certified fish farms adhering to the robust environmental and social criteria of the ASC standard. The pilot will also examine how the Fair Trade program can work as a ladder towards ASC certification within the framework of ASC’s newly formed “Improver Programme.”

Education

Meet Aby Rodriguez, an Amgen Biotech Experience Alumni

Oct 9, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Eleven years ago, Aby Rodriguez participated in a life-altering experience. A student at CROEM, a public boarding school in Puerto Rico that specializes in science and math, Rodriguez conducted biotech experiments for the first time through the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE).

Environment

Conservation in Cities

Oct 9, 2018 12:50 PM ET

The Conservation Fund is a national nonprofit working to create innovative solutions that make environmental and economic sense while meeting the unique needs that American communities are facing – creating access to fresh, healthy food, mitigating sea level rise, preserving corridors for wildlife to roam, protecting clean water, investing in small, natural resource-based businesses, and helping cities protect and conserve green space as they plan for growth. Since 1985, we’ve demonstrated our passion for the American landscape by protecting more than 8 million acres of wildlife habitat, working forests and farms, parks, historic sites and favorite places across the United States.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Alliance Data Uses Data Science to Help Nonprofit Connect More Citizens with Community Resources

Oct 9, 2018 12:45 PM ET

At Alliance Data, we’re always looking for ways to give back. So, when a local nonprofit needed a better way to measure their impact, a group of our specialized data analysts jumped at the chance to use their knowledge and skills to help.

Energy

General Motors Named EPA National Top 100 Green Power User

Oct 9, 2018 12:15 PM ET

General Motors Arlington Assembly has earned a spot on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Top 100 List of the largest green power users. The plant’s No. 76 ranking in the Green Power Partnership recognizes GM’s efforts to power all its global facilities with 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Developing Nonprofit Leaders Through Skills-Based Volunteering

Oct 9, 2018 12:05 PM ET

At Common Impact, we’ve seen first-hand how leveraging skills-based volunteering to create intentional and thoughtful development opportunities for nonprofit staff can solve this challenge. Skilled volunteerism can be a great way to invest in talent, without having to seek the funding for it.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Las Vegas Sands Offers Real World Experience to Students Around the World

Oct 9, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Las Vegas Sands has made a commitment to helping people thrive and advance in the hospitality industry, whether through courses offered to over 45,000 Team Members worldwide, but also students living in the regions where the company operates.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Schneider Electric Ranked in the Top 15 Companies in the World for Gender Equality, According to Equileap

Oct 9, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Each year non-profit organization Equileap ranks global companies for their progress towards gender equality. In Equileap’s 2018 index, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, secured the 15th rank overall and 1st in the “Industrial Sector”.

Media & Communications

WEBINAR: When Staying Silent Isn’t an Option: If, When and How to Take a STANCE on Divisive Issues

Oct 9, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Nike’s bold move to make Colin Kaepernick the face of “Just Do It.” Levi’s announcement that “Americans shouldn’t have to live in fear of gun violence.” Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO stating its new gun control policy “isn't going to make everyone happy.” Over the last year, we have seen many companies take risks around divisive issues - with varying degrees of success or failure. Today, most companies are struggling with if and how to use their voice, scale and reach to engage on issues.

Environment

How to Create a More Sustainable (and Resilient) Supply Chain: 4 Steps to Take & Missteps to Avoid

Oct 9, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Antea Group’s blog explains what to do and what not to do to create a more sustainable and resilient supply chain.

Media & Communications

State of Corporate Sustainability, Greenbiz Releases Latest Update -- Top Lines: (1) We Are Making Progress and (2) There Are Still Challenges

Oct 9, 2018 11:00 AM ET

It’s three-quarters of the way through the year 2018 – what is the state of the Sustainability Profession? John Davies, writing in GreenBiz (he’s VP & Senior Analyst), shares some interesting highlights gained through the firm’s recent report with us this week.

Health & Healthcare

Albertsons Companies Pharmacies Release Online Education Tools With Aim to Vaccinate 1.5 Million People This Flu Season

Oct 9, 2018 11:00 AM ET

To bolster the public’s awareness about flu vaccinations and the fact that many insurance plans will cover most or all of the cost, Albertsons Companies pharmacies have fully revamped their informational consumer flu websites with new features, easier navigation, and interactive

Social Impact & Volunteering

Alexion Employees Serve Local Communities During 2018 Day of Service

Oct 9, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Our employees from around the globe brought passion, smarts and tons of fun to this years’ Global Day of Service. From rebuilding schools, to helping students improve their resumes and making bread for underserved communities, we’re thankful to have such an inspiring team.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

CSRHub’s Bahar Gidwani Talks About ESGHub Bloomberg App With Proactive Investors

Oct 9, 2018 10:45 AM ET

CSRHub co-founder and CTO, Bahar Gidwani was recently interviewed by Christine Corrado of Proactive Investors about CSRHub and the new ESGHubTM app on the Bloomberg App Portal.

ESGHub provides subscribers with the ability to compare metrics from Bloomberg and CSRHub at the portfolio level and drill down on the details associated with more than 9,000 companies.

Education

Hallmark Reaches Youth By Hosting Champions in Hometown

Oct 9, 2018 10:35 AM ET

For the first time in 30 years, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships returned to Kansas City, Missouri, in 2017. As part of their long standing tradition of supporting local and national events in its hometown, Hallmark and Crown Center served as the local presenting partners of the event.

Green Infrastructure

The UPS Foundation Awards Tree Planting Grants to 19 Keep America Beautiful Affiliates Nationwide

Oct 9, 2018 10:20 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, today announced the distribution of 19 grants totaling $100,000 from The UPS Foundation for the 2018 Keep America Beautiful/UPS Community Tree and Recovery Tree Planting Grants program. The grant recipients’ projects will result in more than 1,200 trees being planted in support of local tree-planting initiatives.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Housing Foundation Announces $6 Million in Neighborhood Revitalization Grants

Oct 9, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced $6 million in neighborhood revitalization grants to 50 nonprofits through the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation 2018 Priority Markets Program.

“These 50 nonprofits share our focus of strengthening communities through local neighborhood revitalization efforts in support of sustainable housing,” said Martin Sundquist, executive director of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. “The impact of each dollar invested through this program will be magnified by enabling nonprofits to combine funding with other community grants as the catalyst for their neighborhood revitalization work, serving as a powerful example of the positive impact that can be achieved with thoughtful public-private collaboration.”

Education

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation to Bring Garden Benefits to America’s Most Vulnerable Children in Partnership with the National Head Start Association

Oct 9, 2018 9:55 AM ET

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation today announced its multi-year partnership with the National Head Start Association to combat some of the most pressing challenges facing today’s youngest generation, improving access to healthy food and increasing time spent outdoors connected to nature.

Health & Healthcare

The Refugee Crisis Is a Test of Our Collective Conscience

Oct 9, 2018 9:35 AM ET

In Lebanon, Johnson & Johnson has partnered with the nongovernmental organization Save the Children to provide refugees displaced by the crisis in Syria with access to early childhood development services.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Texas Community Tree Recovery Campaign Partners With Praxair, TruGreen, FedEx, Texas A&M Forest Service, LMC/Embark and Memorial City Mall to Distribute Free Trees to Local Texas Residents Affected by Hurricane Harvey

Oct 9, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Texas Tree Recovery Campaign will hold a tree distribution event in Houston, TX on Saturday, October 13, 2018, for homeowners to replace trees lost in Hurricane Harvey.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Recognized as a Best Company for Latinas

Oct 9, 2018 8:45 AM ET

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to Quality of Life, was listed on the 2018 LATINA Style 50 Report for the organization’s efforts to encourage training, mentorship and the promotion of Latinas within Sodexo. This the tenth consecutive year Sodexo has been recognized for this distinction.

Social Impact & Volunteering

VIDEO | Aflac CSR Hero Angela Vitellaro Helps Girls Overcome Cyberbullying, Low Self-Esteem

Oct 8, 2018 11:55 PM ET

For Angela Vitellaro, Aflac CSR Hero and an independent agent licensed to sell Aflac products, compassion is key when it comes to her role as a volunteer coach with the youth development program Girls on the Run of New Jersey East.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Relief Efforts for Indonesia: How You Can Help

Oct 8, 2018 6:30 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo and Murray State University to Enhance Dining Options for Campus Community

Oct 8, 2018 4:35 PM ET

After a comprehensive review of vendor proposals by a committee representing University constituents, Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life, has been selected to provide dining services to the Murray State University campus community in Kentucky of more than 10,000 students, faculty and staff beginning December 15. The University’s Board of Regents’ subcommittee established to review the recommendation approved the contract on Monday, October 8.