Positive Change

There is a consequence of war so huge and powerful that it can envelop a veteran’s entire life and dreams, upending his or her family’s lives as well. The internal anguish of post-traumatic stress and brain injury doesn’t always show on the outside. But it can be as difficult and frustrating – to both veterans and caregivers – as physical battle injuries, simmering relentlessly for decades and sometimes exploding at unexpected times.

CITGO Petroleum Corporation announced today that it has made a donation of $500,000 to the Coastal Bend Community Foundation to assist local authorities in providing services to those afflicted by the Hurricane’s devastating path. The donation is in addition to potable water and fuel the company has already donated to local residents and first responders.

Weatherford International plc (NYSE: WFT) pledged $25,000 to Feeding Texas, the Texas Food Bank Network, and $25,000 to J.J. Watt's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to support and assist in relief efforts across impacted areas. These funds will help provide immediate resources across the state of Texas including food, water, and cleaning supplies, and will aid in long-term rebuilding efforts.

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with Alison Holder, Director of Equal Measures 2030 about harnessing gender data for gender equality. Alison explains that the biggest challenge the initiative faces is the lack of data that exists and the unfortunate gaps in gender data. Whether it has been through poor data or biased data, Equal Measures 2030 plans to change that, thus providing a framework for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

When Kaitlyn Martinez heard that one of her friends failed a homework assignment because she didn’t have the simple school supplies of a pencil and paper at home, she wanted to do something to help. Two years later, 14-year-old Kaitlyn is CEO of nonprofit Backpacks 4 Kids AZ, providing students across Arizona with backpacks full of the school supplies they need to succeed.

How does a company or organization develop and sustain successful public-private partnerships to achieve large-scale impact?

Determine when, and how long, to engage: Successful public-private partnership programs are strategic multi-year, multi-phased engagements, not single transactions. It’s important to provide flexibility in the level and length of engagement. But, to have large-scale impact, a core set of partners should be committed for the long-term.

For perhaps as long as the game has been played, Major League baseball players have cared deeply about the places where they play and live, and that passion and compassion came to the forefront this week when baseball took a backseat to many players’ concerns for the people in communities devastated by Tropical Storm Harvey.

Charter Communications, Inc. today announced a $350,000 contribution to Rebuilding Together to support relief efforts and specifically assist with home repairs and renovations needed in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

As part of Xylem Watermark’s inaugural Global Month of Service in October 2016, a team of employees helped replenish critical wetlands that protect the New Orleans region of the Mississippi River from soil erosion and flooding.

Twenty Xylem employees partnered with Keep Brazos Beautiful (KBB), an organization in Bryan, TX that works to educate and engage Brazos County citizens on the importance of keeping the community clean, green, and beautiful.