Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Energy

The Idea That Transformed the Carolinas

Jan 12, 2018 11:30 AM ET

The Carolinas we know today are shaped from Dr. Gill Wylie’s simple idea more than 100 years ago. He wanted to turn water into electricity.
And with engineer William States Lee Sr. and millionaire industrialist James B. Duke, they started building a series of dams along the Catawba River to provide hydroelectric power for textile mills. This investment drove growth and helped the Carolinas transform from an agricultural economy to emerge as an economic force with manufacturing, retail and financial services.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

King Khalid Responsible Competitiveness Award Winners Honored by King Salman in Saudi Arabia

Jan 12, 2018 11:15 AM ET

The winners of the 2017 King Khalid Responsible Competitiveness (RC) Award were honored in the prestigious annual Award Gala that took place in December 2017 in Riyadh. King Salman recognized and acclaimed winning companies for their excellent sustainability and responsible competitiveness leadership, outstanding management practices and innovative social and environmental initiatives.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Gift of Time: Why Volunteering Can Be a Four-Way Win

Jan 12, 2018 11:15 AM ET

In honor of MLK Day on Monday, we are spotlighting an inspiring story from Steve Neff, one of Common Impact's board members and Head of Technology and Global Services at Fidelity Investments. Steve's commitment to service and dedication to volunteerism provides our team with the motivation to continue to fulfill our mission of strengthening the local communities in which we live and work on a daily basis.

Green Infrastructure

The Ray: 18-mile Stretch of Road Is a Testbed for a "Regenerative Highway Ecosystem"

Jan 12, 2018 11:15 AM ET

What will the highways of the near future look like? This road project aims to create "a corridor that reconnects and restores us."

Education

The Bigger Picture: Is the Issue the Quality of STEM Education, or the Lack of Access to It?

Jan 12, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Today, there are students in America who lack access to computers, the Internet and the basic tech-ed tools to help them develop the skills they will need to thrive in a digitally focused society.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Provides $10 Million To Help Michigan Families Stay Safe and Warm

Jan 12, 2018 10:10 AM ET

Consumers Energy announced today that it’s donating $10 million that will go directly to helping people in need with their energy bills – assistance that will help thousands of families to stay safe and warm through this cold Michigan winter.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Dive Into the World of Sustainability Reporting With GRI's January Newsletter

Jan 12, 2018 10:00 AM ET

First newsletter of the year from GRI includes information about their new Disclosure Review service, practical guidance for companies to engage with SDG 1: no poverty, and an article about collaboration between reporting frameworks. Don't forget to check out the latest CSR events around the world.

Social Impact & Volunteering

What a Difference a Day Makes: Third Annual Global Day of Service Delivers Impact Around the Globe

Jan 12, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Volunteering for a non-profit organization, donating your time and talents for a cause, is incredibly rewarding and makes you feel good. Volunteering also brings people together. Since its launch in 2015, Shire's Global Day of Service has brought thousands of employees together each year from many parts of the organization and all around the globe. This special day, which fosters camaraderie and teamwork and builds on Shire's longstanding tradition of giving back to communities where employees live and work, is a cornerstone of our Responsibility commitment and an integral component of our employee and community engagement program.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Cause Coin Creates a New Global Currency and Sustainable Economy for Nonprofit Engagement

Jan 12, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Cause coins will be a powerful currency for nonprofits impacting social good and the importance of this impact to society. Within this new “cause currency” economy, nonprofits will thrive and be sustainable in a way that has never been achieved before.

Environment

The Arbor Day Foundation in Partnership With Neat Streets Miami, the Miami-dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department, Fedex and Verizon Gift Free Trees to Residents Affected by Hurricane Irma

Jan 12, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with Neat Streets Miami, the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department, FedEx and Verizon will be gifting trees to area residents affected by Hurricane Irma. The distribution event will take place during Florida’s Arbor Day weekend on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at the North Park Trail, 780 NW 127 Avenue, Miami, FL, 33182, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Miami-Dade County residents will be able to select from a three-gallon fruit or other native trees, while supplies last.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Family Grows by ONE on National Adoption Day

Jan 12, 2018 10:00 AM ET

It was 615 long days for William. That’s how long he spent in foster care. Unsure of when he’d have a permanent home. Nearly two years of moving, two years of uncertainty, two years of never feeling settled. That all change this past November when he was finally adopted by the McIntosh family.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sands Academy, Elevate Series: Business Acumen and Strategic Decision Making

Jan 12, 2018 9:35 AM ET

During another installment of the Elevate Series presented by Sands Academy, Team Members in management positions took part in the course on the ‘Business Acumen & Strategic Decision Making.’ This class reminded them of universal terms in the industry to better understand the company’s state of business including revenue per available room (REVPAR), cost per occupied suite (CPOS), average daily rate (ADR), etc. The bigger picture, however, was the connection between all departments, positions, and situational outcomes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank Donates $15,000 to WL Minor Hockey Association

Jan 12, 2018 9:05 AM ET

A $15,000 donation to the Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association during the Rogers Hometown Hockey weekend in the lakecity has its president speechless.

Scotiabank and Williams Lake branch manager Aaron Mannella made the presentation to WLMHA president Todd Isnardy Saturday, who was overwhelmed by the support.

Media & Communications

Advancing Your CSR Efforts in 2018: Start With These Great Reads

Jan 12, 2018 9:00 AM ET

This year, there have been more articles about the evolution and growth of CSR than anyone could read. Jen Weston-Murphy, Associate Manager of Corporate Leadership at CECP, shares a few of the most thoughtful and important pieces I read from this past year. In total, they take only 45 minutes to read. These are the articles not to have missed.

Energy

Global Supply Stokes New Infrastructure Opportunities

Jan 12, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Even as the global supply of natural gas surges — lowering the cost but also the margins for organizations across the industry — production shows no signs of decelerating. Countries with abundant reserves stand poised to raise their output, hoping to satisfy an increasing worldwide appetite for cleaner energy. But major questions persist about the ability of emerging markets to absorb this expected surge in supply, given challenges that include the lack of terminals, pipelines and other infrastructure.

Energy

UK Energy Sector Transformation Marks Historic Milestones

Jan 12, 2018 9:00 AM ET

In the chronicles of Great Britain’s energy industry, 2017 will go down as a significant year. At a time already characterized by change and uncertainty, two events stand out. One signals a break with the past; the other suggests the shape of things to come.

Events, Media & Communications

Stop Wasting Time! How to ‘Go Big’ With Your Employee Volunteer Program

Jan 12, 2018 8:05 AM ET

We know the benefits employee volunteer programs have on business: increased employee engagement and satisfaction, better recruitment and retention, publicity, skill development, team-building, and more. But how do you maximize these benefits while also achieving the greatest community impact possible? Find out in this free webinar.

Green Infrastructure

Infographic: In Its 41st Year, the Tree City USA Program Is Still Going Strong

Jan 12, 2018 8:00 AM ET

The Tree City USA program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees.

Green Infrastructure

The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation grants $200,000 to Colorado Communities

Jan 12, 2018 7:50 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

The Multiplier Effect: How BAT is Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Supporting Our Farmers

Jan 12, 2018 7:45 AM ET

At British American Tobacco (BAT), we have a long and proud 100-year history in agriculture, working directly with farmers around the world and advancing sustainable practices. While this undoubtedly brings advantages to our business in terms of securing our source of high-quality tobacco leaf, it also plays a significant role in protecting the environment and enhancing farmer livelihoods.

Education

21CF Makes Battle of the Sexes DVD and Discussion Guide Available for Free to Educators to Encourage Classroom Conversation on Gender Equality and LGBT Issues

Jan 11, 2018 7:00 PM ET

21st Century Fox has strengthened its partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) with the release of a free Battle of the Sexes curriculum guide for the classroom. Inspired by the true story of world tennis champion and WSF founder, Billie Jean King, the curriculum offers materials for teachers to guide their students through discussions on sexism, LGBT rights, inclusion, and the landmark Title IX legislation, as well as handouts and activities to supplement key themes. Along with the curriculum’s release, 21CF is also making DVD copies of Fox Searchlight’s Battle of the Sexes available free of charge to educators in high school and college classrooms across the United States.

Media & Communications

New CITGO CEO Arrives in Houston

Jan 11, 2018 5:45 PM ET

CITGO President and CEO Asdrúbal Chávez conducted his first corporate meeting today with top senior executives and management to review the Company’s 2017 results, including the record-setting safety performance and operational achievements.

Social Impact & Volunteering

100 Days to Comcast Cares Day

Jan 11, 2018 5:30 PM ET

At Comcast NBCUniversal, making a positive impact in the communities where our employees live and work is a core value that we embrace all year long.

Through our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, for example, hundreds of our employees mentor local school children at Comcast offices nationwide. They also serve as ambassadors to their local communities to help underserved families bridge the digital divide through access to technology. Additionally, our employees share their professional skills, from marketing, human resources and legal expertise, to help strengthen nonprofit organizations.

Each year, we celebrate this year-round commitment to communities through Comcast Cares Day, which this year will take place on April 21.

Innovation & Technology

Boeing Unveils New Unmanned Cargo Air Vehicle Prototype

Jan 11, 2018 5:20 PM ET

Boeing’s new unmanned vertical-takeoff-and-landing cargo air vehicle prototype evolves autonomy technology for future aerospace vehicles. Powered by an environmentally-friendly electric system, it supports payloads up to 500 lbs.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

PayPal Community Donates $1 Billion During Holiday Season

Jan 11, 2018 4:00 PM ET

At PayPal, we pride ourselves on always looking forward and never standing still. By challenging ourselves to do better and work harder we can better serve our customers and move further towards fulfilling our mission of democratizing financial services. With that said, however, I spent some time over the holidays reflecting on the past year – as I imagine many of you did as well – and wanted to offer a few thoughts and celebrate a meaningful milestone.