Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz Honored as 2015 Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles

Nov 13, 2015 10:25 AM ET

Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz was honored as a 2015 Woman of Distinction at the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles annual ToGetHerThere luncheon on Nov. 5, which celebrates female leadership and inspires Emerging Leaders – high school Girl Scouts who are making a difference in their communities.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Play BIG: From Isolation Towards Integration

Nov 13, 2015 10:10 AM ET

For six years, RSF Social Finance has been the primary organizational partner for Play BIG, an intimate annual convening I lead that espouses the idea of activating one’s “whole portfolio” to mission. Play BIG emerged from pioneering work that Carol Newell funded in British Columbia. It is designed for aspiring and experienced investor/ philanthropists who have many millions in discretionary wealth, recognize the dire planetary situation, and want to direct their money toward solutions.

Health & Healthcare

Leading Lights: Global Trailer

Nov 13, 2015 10:00 AM ET

Education

National Geographic Launches Free ‘Find Your Park, Love Your Park’ Activities, Interactive Map and Curriculum to Celebrate National Park Service Centennial with Support from Subaru of America

Nov 13, 2015 10:00 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas Named to 2015 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index

Nov 13, 2015 9:30 AM ET

Astellas Pharma Inc. (President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka, “Astellas”) today announced that it has been named for the first time to the CDP1 Japan 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) in recognition of its perfect score on the disclosure of information related to climate change.

Events, Media & Communications

Cities Changing Diabetes Summit 2015

Nov 13, 2015 9:15 AM ET

The Cities Changing Diabetes Summit will provide a unique occasion for global and local partners in the programme to connect across cities and unite against the challenge of #urbandiabetes.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Points of Light and Disney Honor 10 Families Who Volunteer Together in Celebration of Family Volunteer Day, Nov. 21, 2015

Nov 13, 2015 8:30 AM ET

Disney and Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – announced 10 families who will receive the Daily Point of Light Award in honor of their exceptional volunteer work. Awards will be presented starting Monday, Nov. 16 through Friday, Nov. 27, to celebrate Family Volunteer Day – a day of service led by generationOn – the youth division of Points of Light. Disney, a proud supporter of the Daily Point of Light Award and Family Volunteer Day, has worked with Points of Light and generationOn for more than 20 years to help mobilize the nation into action through volunteerism and service.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bacardi Recognized for Environmental Excellence by Wildlife Habitat Council

Nov 13, 2015 8:05 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Climate Panel Explores Low-Carbon Future at BSR Conference 2015

Nov 13, 2015 8:00 AM ET

In a panel discussion at the BSR Conference 2015, We Mean Business CEO Nigel Topping and NIKE, Inc. Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President, Innovation Accelerator, Hannah Jones joined BSR Managing Director for Partnership Development and Research Edward Cameron and GreenBiz Group Inc. Chairman and Executive Editor Joel Makower to explore the role of business in shaping a low-carbon future.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

IBEW Funding Supports Local Boston Veterans

Nov 13, 2015 8:00 AM ET

Through its participation in CBS EcoMedia’s WellnessAd program, electricians and telecommunications specialists labor union International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 is supporting local veterans through the nonprofit New England Center and Home for Veterans. The partnership will bring energy-efficient appliances to Single Residency Occupancy Units and impact 59 veterans for the next five years.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Eagle Rock School Recognized for Innovative Approach

Nov 13, 2015 8:00 AM ET

Eagle Rock School’s innovative approach to helping at-risk students take control of their lives and thrive was highlighted recently in two education-focused publications. The Estes Park, Colo., school, which was founded by and is solely funded by Honda, is a year-round, tuition-free residential high school that offers a second chance to students who have not been able to succeed in a traditional high-school setting.

Energy

20th Century Fox Partners with U.S. Department of Energy to Build Greener Film Studios

Nov 12, 2015 7:00 PM ET

In November 2010, 20th Century Fox was selected for an innovative multi-year project with the U.S. Department of Energy's Commercial Buildings Partnership to address the environmental impacts generated by its film and television productions. As part of the program, the nation's top researchers developed a new sustainability strategy for the soundstages at the Fox Studios Lot in Los Angeles. This in-depth analysis from the experts at the DOE allowed Fox to take a considerable step forward in mitigating its unique sustainability challenges. The studio is now saving 2.6 million kilowatt hours per year as a direct result of this program and expects the savings to increase in coming years as it continues to roll out the new strategy. In addition, Fox committed to sharing its findings publicly.

Environment

Republic Services Launches Bigger, Faster Recycling Plant

Nov 12, 2015 7:00 PM ET

Environment

A First Look Inside the Southern Nevada Recycling Center

Nov 12, 2015 6:00 PM ET

Environment

Republic Opens Largest & Smartest Residential Recycling Center in North America

Nov 12, 2015 5:00 PM ET

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) opened a new residential recycling center today that will enable customers throughout Southern Nevada to achieve their sustainability goals for years to come. The Southern Nevada Recycling Center is capable of processing two million pounds of recyclable material per day, or 70 tons per hour, and is expected to double recycling capacity in the area.

Social Impact & Volunteering

European Amway Business Owners Help Upgrade Two Schools in Bali and Greece

Nov 12, 2015 5:00 PM ET

At this year’s European Diamond Conference and European Leadership Training Seminar, Amway Business Owners made donations that will improve the facilities at two schools in Greece and Bali –and enhance the experiences of the children attending them.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Transforming Lives, One Pledge at a Time

Nov 12, 2015 4:45 PM ET

Education

International Students Information Session

Nov 12, 2015 4:30 PM ET

Welcome to our international information session, wherever you are in the world. We have a tradition to post, after our New York reception, an online welcome of sorts to all our international applicants.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Why My Trip to Cartagena Was Heartbreaking Yet Absolutely Life-Changing

Nov 12, 2015 4:15 PM ET

Meet Dana and her grandmother, Beatriz. I met Dana (6) the first day I visited one of CI's community centers in Cartagena, Colombia, as an employee of TOMS on one of our Giving Trips. She followed me around the center all day — from the time our eyes met when we arrived until she ran after the van when we left.

Events, Media & Communications

Kevin Brady’s “Sustainability Status Report” and the Trends for 2016

Nov 12, 2015 4:00 PM ET

Kevin Brady, a respected sustainability pioneer and a member of Canada’s Clean 16 has just completed a major report on the status of the sustainability movement in North America. Join us on Wednesday November 25th as he shares his findings on the status of the CSR movement and where he sees it going in 2016 and beyond. (Kevin’s paper will be made available to all event attendees.)

Social Impact & Volunteering

American Heroes Really Are All Around Us

Nov 12, 2015 3:35 PM ET

Veterans Day is a special day for our nation, and it compels us to take action in many different ways. Whether it’s volunteering for a military charity or simply thanking a veteran or service member, each of us are reminded to extend meaningful acts of gratitude to our American heroes.

Health & Healthcare

Astellas USA Foundation and Starlight Children’s Foundation Support the Life and Health of Kids and Families with Two State-of-the-art Healing Environments

Nov 12, 2015 3:20 PM ET

Astellas USA Foundation and Starlight Children’s Foundation announced today the completion of two new, state-of-the-art healing environments that will support the health and wellness of thousands of pediatric patients and their families at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City and Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge in the Chicago-area.

Innovation & Technology

Global Meeting on the Valuation of Social Outcomes Takes Place in Italy

Nov 12, 2015 3:05 PM ET

On the 21st September, Social Value International (SVI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) convened a global meeting for experts in valuation of social outcomes. Taking place in the Bellagio Center on Lake Como and sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, the meeting brought together 22 individuals from a range of sectors and countries to discuss how a variety of valuation techniques relate to each other and can be mapped and brought together with clearer guidance.

Events, Media & Communications

Jack Daniel's and ASYMCA Kick Off Fifth Year of "Operation Ride Home" on Veterans Day

Nov 12, 2015 3:00 PM ET

The Jack Daniel Distillery and Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) today announced the fifth year of its “Operation Ride Home” (ORH) campaign that assists junior-enlisted service members and their families travel from military bases to homes across the country this holiday season.

Innovation & Technology

On the VERGE of Something Big

Nov 12, 2015 2:35 PM ET

For the second year in a row, I’ve attended a conference powered by an alternative energy microgrid. When you think of business conferences being “off the grid”, this isn’t usually what comes to mind. However, if you put sustainability and tech folks together in the Bay Area, thinking outside the box is encouraged, and going off the grid from a conference ballroom suddenly looks much different.