Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Vote Your Main Street

Sep 25, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Partners in Preservation: Main Streets, will award $2 million in grants to Main Street districts in need of preservation support across America, as decided by public vote. Timothy J. McClimon, President of the American Express Foundation explores why main streets continue to matter to cities across the country.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CSX Promotes Safety Near Railroad Tracks Through ‘Rail Safety Week’

Sep 25, 2017 2:25 PM ET

Safety is CSX’s highest priority, and this week the railroad is partnering with the non-profit Operation Lifesaver, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), other freight railroads, Amtrak, commuter rail-service providers, customers and law enforcement agencies across its 23-state network to raise awareness about how to be safe around railroad tracks.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Congratulations to the 2017 Best Community Improvement Finalists!

Sep 25, 2017 2:00 PM ET

The Best Community Improvement Program Corporate Citizenship Award recognizes strategic work to improve local communities. Read on to learn more about the significant, positive impacts these businesses have had in communities, locally and globally.

Responsible Production & Consumption

The Power of Your Cup on National Coffee Day

Sep 25, 2017 2:00 PM ET

For National Coffee Day on September 29th, choose Just One Cup of Fair Trade Certified coffee to support farmers and farmworkers around the world, most of whom are currently facing extreme challenges that are affecting their livelihoods and threatening their very existence.

Diversity & Inclusion

From Pledge to Action: Diversity & Inclusion in Our Workplace

Sep 25, 2017 1:55 PM ET

From a diversity and inclusion perspective, September is particularly important as Merck and MSD celebrates our second annual Global Diversity & Inclusion Experience month. Throughout September, we create a focal point for our 69,000 colleagues spanning more than 140 countries who represent different cultures, backgrounds and experiences.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo Donates $250,000 for Mexico Earthquake Relief Efforts

Sep 25, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross to assist with relief efforts in areas of central Mexico that were devastated by a Sept. 19 earthquake. This donation will help the Red Cross assist with preparedness, relief and recovery efforts following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 200 people, injured hundreds more and destroyed buildings and key infrastructure throughout the region. Wells Fargo has maintained a presence in Mexico since 1860.

Education

Fall 2017 Amgen Scholars Travel Award Now Open

Sep 25, 2017 1:25 PM ET

The Amgen Scholars Global Program Office is now accepting applications for Fall 2017 U.S. Alumni Travel Awards. The deadline for application submission is October 19, 2017.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

British American Tobacco is the Tobacco Industry Leader in the 2017 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)

Sep 25, 2017 1:25 PM ET

British American Tobacco is the tobacco industry leader in the 2017 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and the only tobacco company to feature in both the Europe index and the prestigious DJSI World index.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals Turn Two: the Future of Pro Bono for Ending Hunger

Sep 25, 2017 1:15 PM ET

As a founding member of Impact2030, and on the 2nd anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Taproot is committed to seeing progress made toward this ambitious global agenda. Specifically we’re interested in SDG2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Education

Fueling Future Generations with VMware

Sep 25, 2017 1:00 PM ET

VMware technologies bring inspiring, engaging and equitable educational experiences to students throughout the country and globe. They do so by empowering school districts to break down barriers and build stronger, smarter connections that both streamline and invigorate learning. From providing small rural districts in the Midwest the ability to construct a robust virtual school cooperative to delivering personalized instruction to 53,000 students in one of California’s most diverse communities, VMware technology is fueling the future.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

From Boston to Birmingham: 25 Historic Main Street Districts Across America Vie for $2 Million in Grants Decided by Public Vote During Partners in Preservation Campaign

Sep 25, 2017 1:00 PM ET

American Express and The National Trust for Historic Preservation, in collaboration with Main Street America, announced today that Partners in Preservation is headed to Main Street. Partners in Preservation is a community-based partnership to raise awareness of the importance of preserving historic places and their role in sustaining local communities. This year’s program, Partners in Preservation: Main Streets, will award $2 million in grants to Main Street districts in need of preservation support across America.

Diversity & Inclusion

Mazda and Chase Partner With Operation Homefront to Host Military Appreciation Day at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Sep 25, 2017 12:15 PM ET

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Mazda North American Operations and non-profit Operation Homefront partner with to surprise two military families with a brand new Mazda vehicle and one with a mortgage-free home donated by Chase, for their selfless service to their county. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Don DeGuzman and Marine Sergeant Ricardo Mendez were elated to learn they weren’t just at Mazda Raceway for an exciting weekend of racing, they were there to be honored in a very special way for their courageous service to our country.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Peeking Behind the Corporate Curtain With CSRHub’s Cynthia Figge

Sep 25, 2017 12:05 PM ET

In the just released interview with Rick Wartzman, Cynthia Figge, CEO of CSRHub, speaks about Why It Makes Sense For Companies To Be Socially Responsible. The Bottom Line podcast puts a spotlight on companies that are advancing social progress, and draws out insights into some of the most pressing issues of our time. You can listen to this dynamic and in-depth conversation on Capital and Main, here or below.

Innovation & Technology

#TechstarsATL: Get to Know 2ULaundry

Sep 25, 2017 11:30 AM ET

2ULaundry is the new way to do laundry and dry cleaning that gives people the time back to do what matters most. Guided by an unwavering commitment to the perfect customer experience and an obsessive passion for quality, 2ULaundry operates with a simple goal in mind: to help people maximize every moment of every day. Customers receive exclusive access to a full suite of offerings including: flat rate laundry and dry cleaning prices, free pickup and delivery, one business day turnaround, and more.

Education

UNICEF Stops Traffic to Campaign for Children in Conflict Zones

Sep 25, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Stunts have long been in marketers’ playbooks as a way to grab consumers’ attention and highlight a specific product or service. Recently however, we’ve seen an influx of cause-related stunts– from 2 Chainz’s pink Trap House to KIND’s giant pile of sugar in downtown New York City. This week, New Yorkers witnessed a stunt, which took advantage of the large city stage and a particular moment in time, bringing an underrepresented issue to light and sparking conversation with a broad audience.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Trane CleanEffects Named First Whole Home Air Cleaning System to Earn asthma & allergy® Certification

Sep 25, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) has announced that the CleanEffects™ whole home air cleaner from Trane®, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, is the first whole home air cleaning system to earn its asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program mark.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PANDORA Wins at World-class Jewellery Awards

Sep 25, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

American Express ranked #1 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace

Sep 25, 2017 10:30 AM ET

For the 11th year, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption surveyed the nation’s employers in search of those with the best adoption benefits. The Foundation compares financial reimbursement and paid leave given to new adoptive parents. This year, there is a new company atop the list.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Aflac | From a Successful Regional Brand to a Company That Serves More Than 50 Million People

Sep 25, 2017 10:25 AM ET

Dan Amos has been chief executive officer for Aflac for more than 26 years. In fact, he is the second longest tenured CEO at the same company in the Fortune 200, behind only Warren Buffett. Over 26 years Dan has learned a few things about leadership, managing risk and why it is important to treat employees with respect and dignity.

Health & Healthcare

The Culture of Food Safety | Handwashing

Sep 25, 2017 10:00 AM ET

When it comes to personal hygiene, handwashing is one of the most important steps in preventing the spread of pathogens and cross-contamination.

Energy

Weatherford Addresses Material Environmental, Social, and Governance Issues

Sep 25, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Weatherford considers material Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues to be those which pose the greatest potential risk to our business, and are important to our key stakeholders including our employees, customers, and shareholders. In 2016, we strengthened our existing process for assessing materiality by canvassing a broader range of internal and external stakeholders and extending sustainability issues across the whole value chain.

Events, Media & Communications

The Best Rates for the BSR Conference 2017 Have Been Extended to September 29

Sep 25, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Microsoft President Brad Smith has joined our already exciting line-up of plenary speakers at the BSR Conference 2017, and we want you to be there! We have extended our best registration rate deadline for BSR17. You can still save up to US$350, but it won’t last long—rates will increase this Friday.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sands ECO360 | Expanding Stakeholder Engagement

Sep 25, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Working in unison with our stakeholders, we can really make a meaningful difference – multiplying our positive impacts both now and into the future.

Environment

One Way Dell is Helping to Save the Monarchs

Sep 25, 2017 9:25 AM ET

The Monarch butterfly and its multigenerational migration is truly a wonder of nature. Already, those butterflies born up in Canada and the northern U.S. are making their way down to central Mexico, where they will arrive in November. Their flightpath gets funneled through Central Texas. No single butterfly makes the whole round trip – the Monarchs I will soon see are at least four generations removed from those who started their journey in their pine-oak winter home in the highlands on the border between Michoacan and the State of Mexico. This home is a World Heritage Site and was only rediscovered by scientists in 1975.

Innovation & Technology

Microsoft Philanthropies Donates $1B in Cloud Tech to Nonprofits, Aims to Triple Impact

Sep 25, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The demands on nonprofits are perhaps greater today than ever. That’s why, in early 2016, Microsoft Philanthropies committed to donating $1 billion in cloud computing resources, over three years, to help 70,000 nonprofit organizations digitally scale their impact and serve the public good. Today, we’re proud to share that nonprofit demand for cloud solutions has dramatically exceeded our expectations. We have reached our original goal a year early and donated cloud services to more than 90,000 nonprofits.