Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Education

Bechtel Inspires School Children to ‘Dream Big’ About Careers in Engineering

Jun 21, 2017 1:45 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Highlights from Taproot Foundation's Corporate Convening at the U.S. Pro Bono Summit

Jun 21, 2017 1:35 PM ET

The Taproot Foundation's U.S. Pro Bono Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from across sectors and industries with a shared vision to make the talents and skills of the business community accessible to social change organizations.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Three Quality of Lifehacks for Handling Vacation Season at Work

Jun 21, 2017 1:25 PM ET

Vacations are essential for improving employee quality of life. A major U.S. longitudinal study of 12,000 middle-aged men found that taking an annual vacation is associated with reduced risk of death due to heart disease. Vacations also improve employee performance. Iowa State University economics professor Wallace Huffman found vacations can boost productivity as much as 60 percent for up to two months following the vacation. Yet, Glassdoor.com reports that many employees are not using their full paid-time off allotment.

As summer swings into high gear, it’s vacation season in offices across America. With temperatures high and the kids out of school, it behooves employers to encourage employees to use some of their paid time off.

Media & Communications

Corporate Philanthropy and Social Media: Engaging Your Audience, Elevating Your Cause

Jun 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

When #GivingTuesday launched in 2012, it provided a counterpoint to two massive celebrations of consumerism: Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, and Cyber Monday. Now some of us will do just about anything to avoid shopping, but both days are intended to lure people out of their post-Thanksgiving food coma to jumpstart the holiday retail season.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FedEx Recognized As One of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies

Jun 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

FedEx is proud to announce it has been recognized by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States. The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo donates $500,000 for El Paso-area revitalization efforts

Jun 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a total of $500,000 in donations to four local nonprofits to help revitalize El Paso neighborhoods through the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT® program.

Innovation & Technology

Qualcomm Wireless Reach and eLimu Use Mobile Technology to Improve Access to Education in Kenya

Jun 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Albert, an 8th grade student in Nairobi, dreams of becoming an architect so he can help develop his country. Mukesh Mittal, Qualcomm’s Senior Director of Engineering, explains how mobile technology makes Albert’s dream possible.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

KeyBank Recognized On Civic 50 List

Jun 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

KeyBank has been recognized by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States. In addition to honoring KeyBank on the 2017 Civic 50 list, Points of Light also designated Key a 2017 Sector Leader in Financials. The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.

Education

Design for Social Innovation Newsletter: June 2017

Jun 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

It’s summer. School is out. Time to reflect, prepare, appreciate; to review the past and think about the year ahead.

Research, Reports & Publications

Metlife Releases Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

Jun 21, 2017 12:40 PM ET

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced the release of the company’s annual corporate responsibility report, which highlights how it manages Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues and makes a positive impact on society and the economy.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecolab Helped Businesses Conserve 161 Billion Gallons of Water in 2016

Jun 21, 2017 12:30 PM ET

In 2016, Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, helped customers save 161 billion gallons of water at more than one million locations around the world. These savings, equivalent to the annual drinking water needs of more than 558 million people, are highlighted in the company’s 2016 Corporate Sustainability Report, available at www.ecolab.com.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Congratulations to Claire Meier of Northern Trust London Named a Top 100 Rising Star in Investment Management

Jun 21, 2017 12:25 PM ET

Claire Meier is a Senior Analyst in Fixed Income at Northern Trust Asset Management, responsible for global sovereign and agency research. She also plays a key role in asset allocation decisions working closely with the chief strategist and chief economist.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Working on Wellness: Simple Steps to Healthier, Happier Office Environments

Jun 21, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Want to perk up your work life? Buy some plants. It sounds simple, but a recent report by the University of Twente, VU Amsterdam and CBRE suggest it’s true.

Environment

Duke Energy Invites Students to Learn About Falcons at Indiana Facility

Jun 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Peregrine falcons may not be on the endangered species list any more, but they’ve got special friends in Indiana. After three falcon chicks were born on a perch at Duke Energy’s Gallagher Station smoke stack B recently, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) retrieved them for banding and a naming ceremony.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Where Art and Activism Meet: Zach Ingrasci Seeks to Create a More Equitable World Through Documentary Film

Jun 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

A filmmaker and a humanitarian, Zach Ingrasci is dedicated to using his talents to help empower disenfranchised communities around the world. From living in a tent in a Syrian refugee camp to working as radish farmers and surviving on $1 a day in Guatemala, Zach and his co-director Chris Temple have cultivated an innovative style of documentary filmmaking that sits at the intersection of storytelling and social justice.

Diversity & Inclusion

Yum! Brands Celebrates Culture of Diversity & Inclusion with Pride

Jun 21, 2017 11:45 AM ET

As a global restaurant company, we understand that diversity and inclusion are critical to the long-term success of our business – it’s part of the fabric of who we are as a company. We believe that the more our workforce reflects the global marketplace in which we operate, the more we will be able to satisfy our customers.

Environment

Ted Nordhaus: U.S. Leaves Paris

Jun 21, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Ted Nordhaus is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Breakthrough Institute, an Oakland-based think tank which focuses on energy issues. We discuss Nordhaus's recent piece in Foreign Policy magazine, assess the damage that climate change denialism in the US has wrought on the planet, and examine the methods used by both pro-environment and anti-environment activists.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

First 100 GRI Standards Reports Published

Jun 21, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Created exclusively for the GOLD Community members, the Standards Pioneers Program has kicked off with an impressive participation rate. The 153 Pioneer organizations come from 44 different countries and multiple sectors. More than half of the Pioneers have already started preparing their sustainability report based on the GRI Standards, and the majority of them will publish their report by the end of the year.

Diversity & Inclusion

Arrow Electronics Sponsors 2017 Colorado Women in Technology Conference; Meg Whitman as Featured Speaker

Jun 21, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Arrow Electronics was again presenting sponsor of the annual Colorado Women in Technology Conference, a full-day retreat celebrating women across Colorado’s growing tech community. The featured keynote speaker was Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, who was introduced by Arrow CEO Mike Long.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

AT&T Recognized as No. 1 Community-Minded Communications Company by Civic 50

Jun 21, 2017 10:45 AM ET

For the third time in 5 years, AT&T has been ranked the top community-minded communications company by The Civic 50. The company has been on the list each year since Civic 50’s inception in 2012. This recognition is a testament to the culture of service at AT&T and the commitment from employees to give their time, talent and money in support of the greater good.

Green Infrastructure

Ecocentricity Blog: Front Five - Resource Efficient Transportation

Jun 21, 2017 10:30 AM ET

At speeds of 30 kilometers per hour, velomobiles require 3.5 times less energy than bicycles. Compared to electric vehicles, velomobiles are about 20 times more efficient. They are arguably the most efficient form of transportation on the planet.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

SOIL – Slow Opportunities for Investing Locally

Jun 21, 2017 10:15 AM ET

There are many social and environmental reasons why we are doing this. Climate Change. Nutrition. Community. There are also financial reasons. If we are going to do what needs to be done in the soil, then we are going to need to put aside some of our money in new ways.

Media & Communications

Corinne Bailey Rae Strikes a Chord with Friends of Sands for Singapore

Jun 21, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Grammy Award-winning British singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae shared insights into her musical journey with a group of young people at a special dialogue session organized by Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore International Jazz Festival on Friday. The session was part of Marina Bay Sands’ ongoing ArtScience On Screen: In Conversation With series, which features prominent speakers from creative industries spanning film, music and art. The event is one of the many ways that Marina Bay Sands gives back to the local community through its corporate giving program Sands for Singapore, a part of Las Vegas Sands’ Sands Cares.

Events, Media & Communications

De Beers Group Part-sponsors Diamond Empowerment Fund Gala to Honour Top Actor and First Lady

Jun 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

The glittering awards gala, on 4 June, on the eve of the major JCK Las Vegas jewellery trade show (5-8 June), was set to raise more than US$1 million to help empower diamond mining communities around the world.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Consumers Energy is Providing a Solid Foundation for Stronger Communities

Jun 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

As featured in the Consumers Energy 2017 Sustainability Report: Our Foundation has been working with nonprofits to create sustainable communities for decades.